Returning to the Sneetches

So I survived the fiasco of reading to the little children and I drew a thank you card for allowing me to read to her class.  I thought the card came out kind of cute:

It's summer.  And it's really bright outside.

 The inside of the card.

It took me forever and  a day to write in this font (also, I was an idiot and used ink and brush).  And then,  I misspell The Sneetches.  Yes,  I perpetuate stupidity to the unsuspecting generation. Yes, I know, I should be ashamed of myself.

I used FW ink again.  I diluted the ink to make it a more water colour-feel.

I just finished watching a J-drama TV series and movies of live action Nodame Cantible.  And this here is how I should my appreciation, by drawing the naughtiest conductor of the series, Streissman:

Streissman is blessing you.  You have been blessed by a 2-D entity on a whiteboard. Pretty much how I  spend my time at work.  Welcome to my religion.

Also, my mannequin is fabulous.

I think she needs a better photographer than me to really execute her fabulousosity.

Procrastinating with my buddies Prismacolor markers and then clashing my two obsessions together

I really should be schoolworking.

But, I'm not.

Instead, I'm playing around with Prismacolors because I was super curious how they're like in comparison to Copics.

My conclusion is that Copics are the better designed markers. I feel like the colors are more vibrant and are easier to blend.   I also like how versatile Copics can be with appearance, like you can create cell-coloring drawings or watercolour painting-like drawings. As for the physical design of the marker, I feel like I spend less time with Copics in trying to figure out what color marker I'm holding. However,  I also noticed a sense of comfort with Prismacolor Markers that I don't have with Copic Markers.  Despite my love for Copics, I actually get pretty nervous when I hold Copics, like I'm not worthy of being in the presence of these magnificent markers.  I often have to give myself a pep talk before I can get the Copic markers to meet the face of the paper/board.  For Prismacolors, I just go for it.  In a sense, I think Prismacolors is beneficial when you just want to do quick sketches.

I've noticed a trend. I find that when I want to experiment with new material, I tend to draw self-portraits.  

Yupe, that's me boppin' my head to music in front of the teeny mirror that I use for self-portraits and expression references.

Ever since I got into Attack on Titan/Shingeki no Kyojin (進撃の巨人）series, I've been  thinking about which Takarazuka actress could play which character from Attack on Titan.

In this sketch, I tried out (from top to bottom):

Ayabuki Mao = Hanji Zoe

(she, uhm, well she was in a lot of troupes, like Flower and Snow).  Ayabuki Mao has such a wide smile and she wears thick-rimmed glasses so well, she reminds me of Hanji-san.  Also, she has a cute dimple. I always enjoy her lovely and warm performances, she never disappoints. Another actress who kind of reminds me of Hanji-san is Hokushou Kairi.

Suzukaze Mayo = Rivaille/Levi

(Former Moon Troupe Otokoyaku Top Star AND the voice of Anime Kenshin from Rurouni Kenshin).  Suzukaze Mayo was considered a Fairy-type otokoyaku. She does resemble a fairy and she's short for an Otokoyaku.  And Levi, well, he's short.  Despite the fact that Suzukaze Mayo is naturally cute and feminine, she has a freakishly amazing man-deep (speaking and singing) voice and she can also do this (death) glare that pierces through you.  With these elements, I thought she would be a perfect Levi, but I think my sketch just made my Suzukaze Mayo/Levi look like a drag queen.  I tried to make her look more Levi-like but it became a senseless task after 5 minutes. Another actress I was thinking about for Levi was Ichiro Maki, who also can do a chilling glare. I might try her next time.

Otozuki Kei = Petra Ral 

(Former Snow Troupe Otokoyaku Top Star) Actually, I was debating between having Otozuki Kei be either Eren or Petra because Otozuki Kei looks boyish, but she also reminds me of Petra because she is always grinning and happy-like.  I was also considering for Mikasa too.  I think I'm just in love with Otozuki Kei's face.

I totally picked up the wrong marker when I was doing Otozuki Kei/Petra.  Audience, White China Marker can be your friend in dire Marker times.

I think it's ironic that I'm playing with markers because in the past I refused to believe in markers.  I thought markers were rigid and only cocky Manga fans used them. 

Hahaha. 

Haha.

Ha.

Does this mean I'm a cocky manga fan?

Beginning Inspirachannel Themes

There is an artist named Carli whose work and ideas I quite like.  She created this blog community, Inspirachannel, to inspire and motivate fellow artists or creative beings.  This is a fantastic concept because, I, myself, am a lazy artist so if I don't have an art class I tend to stop drawing all together. The way Inspirachannel works is that Carli posts a new theme almost everyday, and we submit our work to the blog so we get to see what everyone else did.  It's pretty sweet.

Theme 1: Self Portrait

100% caffeinated painting.  Well, with exception of the occasional ink intrusions

I hadn't painted in coffee for awhile, so I thought I would give it a go.  As I was going along, I wanted to give up because it looked like a huge brown blob of blehness, forgetting how difficult rendering in coffee was.  But around 60% into this, it started to look like a person, well, like me, so I was pleasantly surprised.  Now, I feel this painting looks prettier than real life me.  Does this mean that if I douse myself  with coffee, I'll be a beauty queen?  It'll be the greatest beauty discovery ever.

Theme 2: Spiritual Animal

Just chillin' on me tree with me hibiscus laced coffee.  

 To be honest, I don't have the same intensity in affection towards sloths like Kristen Bell, not even 50%, but I do think they are adorable and I move kind of slow, like a sloth.  Also, I smile and laugh terribly a lot.  It's quite ridiculous.

Theme 4: Greek Mythology

Seriously, Daphne got the short end of the stick.  I mean, in summary, she got stalked and then was immobilized.  The story of Apollo and Daphne sounds like a plot for a really bad American horror movie.

When I was a child, I used to love reading a beautifully  illustrated Greek Mythology book and one of the stories was Apollo and Daphne.  Basically, Apollo is a cocky bastard who pisses off Cupid, (FYI, bad idea lady and gents) who in turn makes Apollo fall in love with Daphne.  Now Daphne is a rather modern-like maiden with the radical idea to not get married.  As Apollo vigorously pursues Daphne, Daphne pleads to her father, the River God, to help her escape her stalker and her father turns her into a tree. Yes, that was her father's solution to "help" her, to turn her into a tree that has no means of running. AND then Apollo proceeds to feel her up and use her barks and leaves for his beloved rituals.  For young Rie, this story sounded romantic for first 30 seconds but seemed mostly unsettling  and unfair for Daphne.

Theme 5: Horror

Sadako is groovin' by crawlin'.  Apparently, the TV is not as spacious as advertised. 

Hands down, Japanese horror film Ringu is more terrifying than its American counterpart. If you don't mine, I prefer not to talk about Sadako because she scares me shitloads and I prefer not to dream about her tonight.

Oh, it seems like I miscounted?  Well dear reader, excellent observation skills. I actually haven't drawn Theme 3: Shuffle song yet. Saving it for next time.

Also, Carli said she liked my work and I was like:

OMG THANK YOU

Dealing with my obsessions, one fan art at a time, while busting out my rusty Photoshop skills to Shhhh

A little while ago, I bought a new pen holder and nibs from the "Manga" section of a Japanese bookstore, mostly out of curiosity. And, they're Made in Japan.  Clearly, they're far superior than the Made in USA ones.  I mean, come on, Japan completely knows how to make their manga-makin' swag. All kidding aside, they are actually rather lovely, and currently my favorite babies for art-ing, or, I guess lately more for fanart-ing

Obsession 1: Haruno Sumire and Takarazuka

Takarazuka is an all-female musical theater troupe in Japan that has been around for almost a century.  There are 5 main troupes in Takarazuka: Flower, Snow, Star, Moon, and Cosmos.  The Takarazuka actresses are generally split into otokoyaku (actresses who play men) or musumeyaku (actresses who play women).   I can go on and on, but essentially these actresses are triple threats: they sing, dance and convincingly act their assigned gender. 

Takarazuka holds a special place in my heart because I discovered them the summer I was going to transfer from a community college to a big university.  That summer I was scared shitless. There were days I felt really hopeless, and I just wanted to roll up in a corner to forget the world exists.  Then one day when I was looking for the clips on Youtube for the Viennese musical, Elisabeth, I came across clips of Takarazuka's Elisabeth. And, I fell in love. 

Yes, that is the story of my life.

A few weeks ago, I went on a Takarazuka fan art spree. So, Voila.

Haruno Sumire, a former Flower troupe otokoyaku  top star (2002-2008), is my favorite Takarazuka actress.   I mean, look at her (she's Death, or Tod, the Emperor of the Death -- The one with the white wig and military-like uniform).  She is so lovely and graceful.  Like, her voice and smile are hugging you.

I don't know, my Made in USA nibs didn't want to behave and kept on dripping on Haruno Sumire.  It was a bit frustrating, why USA? WHY? 

Otozuki Kei, Former Snow troupe otokoyaku top star (2010~2012), is bunches of cute.  She's interesting because she looks like a short little girl, but since she is an otokoyaku she is a little taller than the average Japanese woman and once she starts acting, she BOOM turns into cute little boy.  She did a cover of K-pop boy band's song Doushite Kimi wo Suki Natte Shimattandarou  and I was confused because I couldn't figure out if she was playing a woman or a man.  Based on the lyrics and the original K-pop version, I'm going to take an educated guess and say she's playing a man.  I might be biased, but I thought Otozuki Kei's version was much more heart wrenching and better story-telling, and, well, better everything.   

There's a move that she does in the music video that I really love....Little did I know how difficult drawing dance moves is.  *insert nervous laugh*

I actually have original Takarazuka actress characters who are best friends.  The otokoyaku (left) was actually a pop idol before she joined Takarazuka and her musumeyaku partner(right) is her bff who marries the otokoyaku's twin brother after her retirement. This explanation would probably less confusing if I actually assigned names to these characters, but I seem to be never be able to make up my mind.  I'm Japanese, I'm indecisive.  

My OCs are probably awkwardly sitting in back of my brain wondering why they even exist or if they should even bother having their existence known...since their creator is too lazy to even properly tell their story or acknowledge their existence. 

Also, I created a secret love child of the otokoyaku character, and called her Ryu but she isn't aware of her parentage. Ryu has a bit of darkish and muddy past.  She was kidnapped as an infant and raised to be a child assassin by a secret organization.  However, when she was 10, she was rescued by a woman and she is the only adult Ryu trusts.
Yes, I realize it's a very manga-like plot.
I lived and breathed manga during my developmental period.  It's soaked into my brain.  

Also, I'm Japanese.  It's in my blood. 

There simply is no escape for me.
I'm not sure why I'm having a child have such a life. I'm a horrible, horrible adult.

Ryu (right) originally had a different character design for a really long time,but I really like Otozuki Kei's appearance, so I changed her design to resemble Otozuki Kei.

Obsession 2: Attack on Titan/Shingeki no Kyojin

Shingeki no Kyojin is a great manga.

It is.

Shhhhhh, don't question it. Just accept it.

I really like the character Petra.  I like her because she is femininely cute, sweet, and kind, yet she is a soldier who has mad survivor skills and has respect from her superior.  She is also one of the few characters who still treated Eren with humanly kindness even after he was discovered to be a titan.

  

There is irony in this fan art.  Just a tad bit.  I'd like to think that she was happy on a tree once.  I think she deserved at least that.

I drew most of these with FW ink.
I was a little horrified when I scanned these drawing because I found out that everyone's heads were too big for their heads to be supported by their bodies.  So I had to search for my long lost photoshop skills and fix their heads to look less terrifying.  It was a pathetically long task because my skills were like covered 2-inches of amnesiac rust.

Until next time, amazing people who kindly read this through the whole thing.  I tip my imaginary Daiso Fedora to you.

Name Tags with paws and The Sneetch

The past 3 weeks I've been working on these sweeties:

Let's be honest, the true star of this picture is the premier laminating machine.

I was making these name tags for some of my co-workers.  There's an inside joke, but I can't tell you because then I would have to kill you for finding out too much about our secret sect and our ultimate plan to take over the world. 

I'm kidding, of course.

Or, am I?

Anyway, since I've been kind of lazy and heat weary, and it's been increasingly harder to hide my art adventures at home, it took me 3 weeks to make these. 

My boss had to teach me how to laminate. Lamination takes great knowledge and skills.  And practice.  Use the Lamination wisely, dear friends.

These aren't for my coworkers but for my friends:

Everyone loves kittens.  You cannot deny this fact. If you understand the reference to the top kitty, we should be friends.  As soon as possible, if you don't mind.

In my academic life, I'm taking an anthropology class that has an assignment in which I need access to a child and read Dr Seuss' The Sneetches.  I actually don't have any confidence in dealing with children.  In hopes to win the love of little children and avoid judgement from their innocent all-seeing eyes, I made this:

Yo, I'm a Plain-Belly Sneetch.  Whaddup?

There's a star upon thars. Thou art a Star-Bellied Sneetch now.  Go Forth Chosen One and become a Plain-Bellied Sneetch.

The Sneetches is a brilliant book, by the way.  Y'all should read it. Let us hope the children won't eat me alive when I finally do read to them.

Belated July 4th, y'all

Happy Belated July 4th...

I really wanted to draw American Girl, Felicity and Ben and they are from colonial America era, I thought it was kind of appropriate for Independence Day...

oh? What is Ben holding an in accurate colonial American flag, you ask?  I am not sure, I guess he felt futuristic and patriotic?

I have been collecting various colors of FW inks the past few months and I wanted to play with them so I wouldn't regret buying them.  I also bought some Japanese nibs.  They are AmaaaAAAaaaaZing.  I could be biased though, because I'm Japanese.

My Board-- mostly because I couldn't think of an intelligent title

For two weeks or so I  lugged around a 10" x 24" wood panel to and from school to work on a "late" project for my illustration class.

Ready for Painting Adventures, I was.  Readily equipped with paints, gessos, water containers, and different types of brushes.  Ready, I was.  Very much awkwardly, too. And, my arms got exercise. Yes, they did.

I wanted to avoid painting at home, so I tried to paint at school as much as possible, leading me to paint and ink in public often.  Consequently, I got interesting questions/conversations from random strangers:

I originally wanted to respond, "With paint and paint brushes."  But, I thought that that might be rude to strangers, so I pretended that I didn't speak English.

Also, For motivation and to help me to stay up at nights, I decided to take pictures of my process, and I even posted some on my Facebook.

1.) Phase One:

At this point, I was kind of feeling good about myself. =D


2.) Phase Two:

Still feeling pretty good at my progress...

3.) Phase Three:

Despite the fact I spent some quality time with Google Image looking at tube images and I had been marching band for 6 years, I did not seem to know what a tuba looks like.

Also, at this point I was pretty much:

4.) Phase Four

Barbara Streisand Fish is riding a float made from flowers.  Such fun. And look at 'em rain clouds turn into roses.

Also, I was starting to feel a bit of despair because it seemed no matter how much I worked on it, it never seemed to be close to finish:

5.) Phase Five

Done! Or, close to done as I could get.

Oh. If you're curious what the actual assignment is, it was to illustrate three phrases.  My three phrases were:

Don't rain on my parade.-- Funny Girl
And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow. -- Gilbert K. Chesterton
I think fish is nice, but then I think that rain is wet, so who am I to judge? -- Douglas Adams, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe

If you look closely, you can see these phrases throughout the panel.

I used a combination of acrylics, regular and clear gesso, and FW ink.