I am alive!

Had miraculous free time today to do a quick digital paint of a tulip.

Shapes are a wee bit off, but this was mainly a colour thing.

I'm now working in an ad agency and work has been crazy hectic, but I managed to do so much stuff that I've not done before. Can't wait to spend some time updating my website with new things. :)

Some good resting!

Completed my digital portfolio and managed to put it up on the website last night! The site's now also a temporary white surface with links to places I inhabit on the internet. Once I manage to decide on how big I want my thumbnails to be (yeah, what the heck), the complete look will be uploaded! *aghast*

I managed to become a Creative Professional on behance.net, but I haven't gotten a chance to tinker around their portfolio building tools yet. Need to prune my works as well as work on more projects that are current and show the level of my skills. There are so many inspiring people on Behance and Cargo Collective, it's mindblowing. :) There is also my pile of design books I need to ravage (currently I'm into {Typography Workbook}) so my knowledge of the basics are at least sound.

And by the way, I got 91/100 in this html5 kerning game http://type.me . :D I got killed by the first question and on another when I wasn't paying attention. o_O Kerning can be so addictive, though. It's something once learnt, you cannot unlearn and all these unkerned logos I see on local websites make me :6.

Other news, I'm always on the lookout for short courses I can attend. I found Orita-Sinclair offering Typography courses at 16hours each. It's a little depressing that timing's 3pm to 5pm, which I was hoping I could try for now that I have flexible hours, but I have my interview this coming Monday at 4pm... :( I wonder if they'll offer this course at 7pm? At least if I get a full time job, I can still go for their classes. *weeps*

So I have been able to dispatch my resumes out to the local companies looking for designers. One interview's set on the 31st this month. I can't wait to be lulled by the flow of working every day. Of course, I still want my weekends to last four days. Life is only this short, other than doing good on your full time job, there is also doing good on your full time life. ;) Before I continue with the typography book, I'm halfway through the last book of {The Hunger Games}! Didn't want to read it because it sounded depressing, but the plots and characters push me on. 3: Cried quite a bit over the unfortunate happenings in it too.

Okay, I think I should head on to working on my doll clothing brand {lovesprung}. Recently decided to change the name and work up a proper branding and identity thing for it. Oh ho, after reading {Logos Design Love} and other branding publications, it is imperative that this project of mine be sounder. :)

Do it again...

Was scrolling through my past posts and since August the 19th, I have more or less gotten most of the stuff I wanted. I've got all except the A3 papers and an iMac. Haha... The initial design for the new website had frames, but then since I'm not an amazing coder, I've decided to stick to just a single page and using tables instead.

So it's starting a little like all over again, and I'm still in the midst of starting proper, with a concept behind the website and all. All I know is I want to display large pictures on a clean layout with a touch of me in it. Thing is, I'm not sure what design. Hopefully after more brainstorming, I can finally get it going.

I've started my temp job yesterday, working half days this week so I can devote the extra time on working out my site and portfolio. Learnt a fair bit from the previous job that I could only stay for a month and 3 days. I am still reading more design books (currently at the first few pages of Typography Workbook) to increase my knowledge. School just wasn't enough and it took me too long to realize that the education I got was just a tiny touch of the surface.

Oh well, better late then never. I am just glad there are so many good books on grids, universal principles of design, typography, page design etc. for me to read. I just got my {Before & After Graphics for Business} book in the mail today! <3 I've referred to their {How to Design Cool Stuff} and {Page Design} books and liked how useful the information was. I just wish I could read faster!

In the worksss

Howdy. Yes, this is taking way too long. The revamping of the website. :c

Anyway, finally there is progress! Here are two sneak previews!

Would be keeping this idea clean and simple.

Had a rather active Saturday, 20 minutes past. Spent good time reproducing Bridgman's drawings in the central library on top of some shopping, ramen slurping with a good buddy and trying to know more about my finances. :> It's getting late and off to bed I go if I want to head to the gym successfully tomorrow morning.

Beginning of some Collection drawings

So I found this unused sketchbook lying around with smooth cream paper and a beautiful rose red cover that I've been keeping for 'one day'. This day just so happened to be that 'one day' and I have decided to doodle my collectives in it. I have plans for purses, handbags, perfume bottles, types of ferns, stationery etc. in mind.

I left the first page blank for a proper 'cover page' when inspiration hits, and drew some heels I like on the first arting page with their respective brand titles. Some labels write up gorgeous descriptions for their products, and I like noting them down forever with pen on paper.

Ahhh~ Smooth paper is still the best for these COPIC Multiliners. <3 Oh my, so the previous sketchbook will be abandoned for now? :'(

Here's a look at the completed first page:

There's a washing machine there because Miss Selfridge stated their sandals are machine washable. For real? Won't the heels dent the insides of your machine?

The future looks sparkling~

As the end of August draws near, I can't help feeling more and more excited. There is a public holiday to be had and then comes the beginning of a brand new chapter in my life. *happy dance* I need to save more money, keep my finances in check but oh boy, there are so many things I would love to have!

I shall publish my wishlist here:

- Maruman Mnemosyne A5 Graph style notebooks: for layout sketching fun! I'll be touching more on publications with my new place, this would come in handy. :>

- iMac: I *still* want one. ;_; My CS5.5 lags on my miserable old MBP.

- Moschino Glamour fragrance: Smells inspire me.

- A3 drawing paper: I've recently been invited to join Artflakes, a platform for selling art prints. Would like to draw bigger so more details can be incorporated and finally sell art again.

As well as things to do:

- Complete ABC app

- Draw

- redesign my website (yesss, when can I do this...)

I've been reading up on various articles and books on design for the past few weeks, learning stuff as I go along. <3

Anyway, I look forward to spending my half-day off from work getting my hair cut as well as another attempt to tidy up my room. I want my cupboards neatened up and more useful instead of just there for storage and mess. *faints* TGIF! :D

sketch walk

Went on my first proper sketch walk with a friend this National Day (Tuesday). It wasn't very long before our stomachs protested, but at least we enjoyed the quiet time doodling this interestingly detailed building on our way to Duxton Plain.

Here's what I managed to do:

There were so many more buildings on our way to our lunch destination, beckoning for us to stop and draw them. We agreed that the next trip out shall begin at 9am on full stomachs as well as bags stocked full of sandwiches and water. :p

Since my last post, my portfolio look has since changed and I managed to find a new design job! Whoopee! :D I can't wait for the first of September.

changes, changes & more changes!

Alrighty, I think my website layout needs an update as well. The previous try seemed a little too cluttered. Will try bigger graphics again. How I wish I get a whole week off from work and I can devote all my time on the site and portfolio. Quite a few doodles to scan in and need to create more cute animal graphics for a friend's app.

Test-printed a few pages of my portfolio and I badly need to buy the Color Index books. :/ I need to hit that exact colour I want for my printed works and it irks me when it's not accurate. Pfft, I know, a student who studied design oughta know all these. Arr, I want them booooks. ;__; But I be low on funding for the month. -weeps-

portfolio in the works!

Bought an A4-sized cream white portfolio case from Kinokuniya yesterday for displaying my works. This will replace the bulky A3-sized black carrier case I had since school days.

The new portfolio design for this year is in the works and here are some of the pages I've been working on these past few days. :> There are still some tweaks here and there I'd like to do (the tags were inspired by the New Super Identity book I recently got). Can't wait to read Grid Systems in Graphic Design by Josef Muller-Brockmann. I studied him and the grid system in my school days, but it was just a superficial touch. Even did some layouts inspired from his grids for a project. I was most proud of them. Should go dig the scans out!

Mojo coming back?

Found a site called Pinterest, where people share their inspiration boards online with the digital images they see every day on the internet and thought I'd join in the fun. It just seems so convenient to 'pin' up online images for easy reference.

My boards and pins can be found here. Can't wait to doodle out the various shoes to compile into a complete piece great for hanging up on room walls. There's so much inspiration available and I like that I can easily refer to them on this website. Can't wait to use what I've found. :)

By the way, site layout was put on hold while I am busy with work and part-time studies. My pride would not like to admit this, but I fear the majority of brain cells necessary for the understanding of topics like Economics and Finance have passed away and the right-side of the brain is now the only side that's functioning. Oh, but the function of present and past (a left-brain function) works amazingly well for me.

Some information from this Herald Sun (just for fun; the first time I saw the dancer, I was full-on Right-brainer. After tweaking/blinking, I was a left-brainer... It's nuts!):

LEFT BRAIN FUNCTIONS
uses logic
detail oriented
facts rule
words and language
present and past
math and science
can comprehend
knowing
acknowledges
order/pattern perception
knows object name
reality based
forms strategies
practical
safe

RIGHT BRAIN FUNCTIONS *me!*
uses feeling
"big picture" oriented
imagination rules
symbols and images

present and future
philosophy & religion
can "get it" (i.e. meaning)
believes
appreciates
spatial perception
knows object function
fantasy based
presents possibilities
impetuous
risk taking

busy busy!

Started working on my new site layout and finally finished planning for one of the pages.

Here's a peek (I haven't finished aligning the arrows all to the right yet)! -

Hmm, looking at the w.i.p. shot up there makes me feel there might be changes to the layout. Oh well, I see things differently every day. Haha... Hopefully, the final layout I put up will be one I'm proud of.

It's going to be quite an ambitious layout. I want to put in more effort in displaying my works, as well as have fun working on my layouting. I've done a study on grids in school a long time ago and loved how it works. Josef Müller-Brockmann's such a genius with it.

Oh, darn, my macbook's O key is conking up. 3: Not now! I've yet to start saving up money for an iMac. It's been on my wishlist for the longest. Hope I can get it this year?

Arr, I'm so tired and sleepy already. Gotta wake up early for work tomorrow.

Can't wait to complete more pages tomorrow! <3

some music to get you going

Just last night, I discovered Korean girl group f(x)'s newest song Danger. The first listen didn't yield much emotion from me, however, after watching the mv and listening to it a couple more times, I was moving to the beat in no time. I like their side-head-bobbing and the zig zag dance moves. Listening to this makes me do chest popping a lot! :>

I also find it intriguing that they have a tomboy in the group. I've heard of Amber some time back when I was watching clips of Key from SHINee. I had thought she was a boy and a cute one too. She's famous for her boyish charm. It's great that Kpop has this genre of artistes too. More people will be able to identify with the various types of people in the entertainment industry. Other than the cutesy, the sexy, the girl next door, we now have the charming tomboy too.

Here are some screenshots from their colourful mtv. The Koreans always spend so much effort creating interesting and artistic backgrounds for their artistes. I'm not a fan of their clothes sometimes, but the overall style and feel works.

Can you see I'm partial towards the blond girl's style? Love the fuzzy hair and sparkly eye makeup.

The following scene had these members standing and with their clothes changing over and over. I wonder if they had to keep changing their clothes and go into the same position to get this done, or whether it was composited?

I hope they can become more popular and earn big bucks. Korean music artistes work so hard in their singing and dancing so they can give audiences the highest quality entertainment they can get. They practised dancing till they're soaked in perspiration, and their stamina would probably be one of the best because they can sound awesome singing AND dancing. It's not just simple gliding around, it's hip hop moves. This makes Kpop groups number #1 on my list of favourite pop groups around the world. No half-hearted slipshod moves and weak vocals from these folks.