Friday, December 28, 2012

Year In Review

So I've decided  to look into my old post that I made almost a year ago about new years resolutions. And I'm a bit happy that I did accomplish most of them, not all mind you, but most.

Lets take a look at the list:


1. Work in different mediums when doing stuff in my sketchbook. 
I was able to accomplish this I did put in more water color sketches, but my classes did push me to try new things. 

2. Get some bookmarks done. 
I was able to do more on this, but the document hasn't been printed yet... so no merchandise yet. I did have another great idea. Which I will point out in my New Years Resolution area/page.

3. Get some key-chains done.
accomplished this!!! YAY! I say this because it has now become something that people just keep wanting at my store. And I plan to make different characters. 

4. Put more stuff on sale on the web-site
I was able to put up a print for sale, I know it's not a big improvement but I plan to do more. I have a couple more paintings that I want to make into prints and I will probably go to the same place that I went to before to get the printing done. Which for the record is Grand&Toy, for the record they are a bit expensive, but I can't argue with the quality that does come out from it. 

5. Attend more Conventions.
I was hoping it would be more than 4, but I can't go to everything I want. I think that's where the balance comes from. I think the next year will be the same. I might find more mini conventions that I could go to.

- MTAC
- Anime North
- Mini con at my University
- Naru2U

6. Go to Sweden!
No dice on Sweden, but then again I'm always hoping I'd be able to go. 


7. Make the blog posts more regular.
I still wasn't on the greatest schedule... just as the year was starting I was full of hope and through the middle I think I gave up. I'm going to try harder next year to make the blog posts a little more regular. 

8. Start an online comic. 
Not started yet. I just should, instead of just putting off. 

Next post... the New Years Resolutions
And just for good measure... here's a drawing :)


As most of you already know, I'm a bit of a Harry Potter fanatic... I'm on pottermore, and I've been sorted into Slytherin and I'm very happy about it. 

Till next time!

Monday, October 8, 2012

Abstract Painting

I've been taking a long hiatus from this blog just hoping that I would be able to get a spark of something new to do, and school happened and I was able to do art. I think I just need some motivation. I always want to try something new with my art projects, something that takes some time but I never see them through to their full completion. It reminds me of Leonardo da Vinci in a way, by no means am I comparing my self to him just the way he would work. He was some what of a flake in many of his art projects, sometimes he wouldn't complete them because he got distracted by something else like math problems or that cool water formation that he saw a few days ago. I feel that way about the internet, I find my self distracted by it and intrigued by its ever changing quality, it's never the same internet. There's always something new to look at, and something else to do. I guess to the easily distracted this is paradise.

I digress... back to showing you some art:

I have an abstract painting class this semester and I'm not too worried about it. I have a great teacher and I've been keeping up with the course load. In one word: Easy. First, the project starts with us getting an unprimed canvas (3ft by 8ft), laying it on the floor and splashing paint onto it. We then had to cut the whole thing up and sow/glue/staple it back together making something else entirely. 

This is what I started with:

The prof explained that it might be better for me if it had a bit more variation in the color. This is what came next:


Now at this point the painting was very wet and I had used a lot of paint that was water down. The logical thing would have been just to let it dry in it's place, but I was told that there was going to be another class later that day and they needed the work space as well so I had to move it. Unfortunately when I picked up the canvas (all 3ft by 8ft of it) all the colors began to run into each other and I was left with a muddle of pink and purple. Luckily for me the prof came to my rescue and told me to relax and that I would be able to play with the back side of the canvas as well to created some contrast. 
Now the cutting, I had an elaborate plan to make a hanging 3D structure that would come down from the ceiling and look a lot like a Christmas tree with various triangles. Good thing: the prof nixed it. Bad thing: I had already started cutting the triangles. This is what I ended up with. I grabbed my hot glue gun and started gluing the pieces together, folding and layering until I ran out of glue sticks for the glue gun. I then grabbed the needle and thread, which of course isn't as fun because it took a long time to do anything and the fabric was too thick... so yay for blistered fingers. 


All in all the prof actually liked it. It taught me a new way of processing art. 
Till next time!

Saturday, July 7, 2012

30 Day Drawing Challenge - Day 7

Day 7 - Favorite Animated Character

Schnitzel! <3


From the Cartoon Network show Chowder! I feel so giddy talking about him. He's so adorable with all his grumpy glory. He only says one word 'Rada' and he is absolutely awesome. I saw him two years ago when I was in Sweden while I was watching the television with my cousins, and I got completely hooked on the show.  

Day 8 - Favorite T.V. Show

Till next time!

Friday, July 6, 2012

30 Day Drawing Challenge - Day 6

Day 6 - Favorite Movie

Finding Nemo!  


I watched this move four times when it first came out and I still crack up when Dori speaks whale. I can't tell you how many times I've actually seen it because honestly I've lost count. And I know I'd probably watch it again with fresh new eyes completely enthralled in the story. 

Day 7 - Favorite Animated character

Till next time!

Thursday, July 5, 2012

30 Day Drawing Challenge - Day 5

Day 5 - Favorite Book(s)


From J.K. Rowling and Margaret Atwood. I've read Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire about 6-7 times. And my favorite chapter is the 'First Task'. I didn't think the movie did it justice. It's just a lot more awesome in my head. :P 

I recommend Oryx and Crake to any one interested in post-apocalyptic stories. I think I'm on my 4th read of the book. I've lent it out to one of my boy friend's brothers. I love the commentary on the stuff we put in our body. 

Tomorrow - Day 6 - Favorite movie

Till next time!

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

30 Day Drawing Challenge - Day 4

Day 4 - Best Friend(s)! 


I've got a few more... but I couldn't fit them all in. The taller one is Liz and the shorter one is Kayla (the height difference is true!). I've know both for more than 10 years now. :D We've taken a cooking class together during high school and they made it just more awesome. We were also in our high school's concert band together. I played the flute, Kayla played the saxophone and Liz played the trumpet. And I consider them as surrogate sisters. Liz is now married and still an avid Batman fan. Kayla's is the one that I go to cons with, she makes awesome lolita clothes and accessories!

Day 5 - Favourite Book

Till next time!

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

30 Day Drawing Challenge - Day 3

Day 3 - Favourite food!


Any one who has ever come with me to an all you can eat sushi restaurant can vouch for my love of Salmon. Just thinking about it makes me drool. I was thinking about colouring this picture, but cravings made stop. I love just drenching the salmon sashimi in soy sauce and eating some sushi rice separately. It's my happy place, I also do a happy dance after the first bite.  

 I have cravings now, I'll be back in a bit... gone to get some salmon sushi.  

Day 4 - Best Friend

Till next time!

Monday, July 2, 2012

30 Day Drawing Challenge - Day 2

Day 2 - Favourite Animal


Tigers!!! I know some may not believe in the Chinese Zodiac, but I'm born under the year of the Tiger! I don't know if that has any pull in what I do or the way I lead my life but I like it none the less. I don't know why I decided to do a baby instead of a grown adult tiger, one reason could be that I don't feel like a complete adult just yet. And those of you who know all about the Chinese Zodiac more would be able to figure out how old I really am! Don't tell anyone please! :P 

Day 3: Favourite Food
Till next time!

30 Day Drawing Challenge - Day 1

I decide to complete a 30 day drawing challenge to:

1. Kill some time
2. Improve my skills
3. To see if I can actually do this 

I'll be posting each day to keep up with it each day. So with out further ado... Day 1: Me!

I did two versions of myself, but I think that they are both a caricature of my self not anything close to "natural". I do like both versions though. 

So if I do eventually get through this, I might do a pokemon related 30 day challenge. 

Day 2: Favourite Animal!
Tomorrow

Till next time!  

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

AnimeNorth Aftermath

I can't believe it's been one year since I started "Tangles". I honestly thought that I'd never get past AnimeNorth 2011. It's just on the strange side. I can't get past the craziness of it. 

So AnimeNorth 2012 was just completely awesome. I saw a few old friends, got a couple of new posters, picked up a manga and ate a really awesome burrito. Oh burrito, how you complete me. 

Well with out any further ramblings about food, here is our booth!


I was join by my friend Kayla (the one with the pink hair) and Carol (she isn't in the picture :( or she could be hiding). This picture was taken on Sunday, when we finally had a chance to breathe. The TCC was packed with people, I mean really really packed. I was expecting a lot less people on Saturday, but I guess people were there for sales. But all in all a good time was had by all.

I also had some of my art work at the Gallery Momiji at the convention. I was able to dig up an old picture that I posted on this blog earlier in the year and show some progress of the art. I wish I could have had a middle work in progress picture possibly just to show some progress. 





It sold at a live auction for about $35. Which isn't too bad, I was expecting it to go for much less. I think I will put a posting up on Etsy to sell prints, I've got a ton of them left over. 

 Another think I introduced at the con were Adventure Time Tangles! Last time I think I only had Jake and Princess Bubblegum. Then I added Marceline and Jake. They are now on Etsy as a set. :D 


I think the next con that I'm heading to is Atomic Lolipop, if they could just get back to me about a table. 

Well till next time!

oh man.. burrito cravings!!!  

Saturday, May 12, 2012

What time is it?

ADVENTURE TIME!!!

That's right I've been working on Adventure Time Tangles I've got Princess Bubblegum done as well as Jake the Dog. Finn the Human is about half way done and the others are slowly getting painted. 


I have tones of stuff to do for the prep for Anime North, I need to finish way too many paintings although I did do some planning for the time and the frustrations that come with Anime North, I forgot something. 

I have another table set up for the Gallery Momiji at Anime North as well as a Dealers room table with my good friends Kayla, Carol, and Amy. Now at the table for Gallery Momiji, I will have paintings for auction . They are one of a kind paintings and they also include prints of the paintings. Unfortunately for me, I am a little behind on completing the paintings. I've only got one done. I'm planing to have nine for the table. I think I put way too much on my plate. But it's always been like this. Here's one that I'm working on.



It's a compilation of all the popular animes and the power house that is studio Ghibli. Unfortunately the people who buy the prints miss out on the awesomeness that are the sides of the painting. I want people to enjoy a painting from all sides. This painting is just going to be black and white no colour just cool designs. This painting size is at 10 inches by 5 inches and is a perfect size for portability. 

Some other fun news includes my Tangles; couple of my paintings are at Youtopia in Pacific Mall. Charlie the unicorn and Domo are set up for viewing! Go check them out if you have the time!

Sorry for the long hiatus. And I'm sick once again. 

 Till next time!

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Counting Another Sick Day

First off, Happy Easter to those who celebrate it! :D Second, I'm sick, so I'll keep this pretty brief. I just want to show you guys what I completed for my first project back in February I believe. Some of you remember I drew this: 



That was in my sketchbook. I had to create a bigger version of it for my first project. I decided on a Dumbo theme like mentioned before. I made the clouds look like elephants, I exaggerated the ears and made them look more comical. The drawing is made up of two pages, and each page is about 22 inches by 30 inches. 

I decided to add myself into the picture to show my connection to Dumbo as per the project. The drawing was done with a brush pen and watercolour pencils. And I'm pretty happy with it. I will be putting this up somewhere in my room, just don't know where yet.  


Other than that, I'm sick again and I have my exams coming up and I feel like I should be studying more despite my illness, but I can't concentrate all that much. 

Till next time!

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Post Convention Report

I had a bit of fun at my last convention. Okay, a lot! I shared a table with one of my good friends Carol. She sells jewellery like earnings, necklaces and other fancy things. Here's her shop on Etsy. She had a ton more stuff for the convention, like a pair of creeper earrings!! Those of you who love minecraft will know what I'm talking about. A couple of friends popped by and said 'Hello' which I liked. I love being able to see a familiar face in the crowd. Again with this convention as well as many other I got many requests for custom paintings, which I love being able to do. One customer asked for a snoopy, which I unfortunately did not take a picture of, but I did have the inclination to paint a Charlie Brown.

(One customer couldn't stop laughing at Charlie Brown, she was in some hysterical laugher mode, and couldn't believe that she found my paintings.) 

I brought in some new stock for the convention, I added Pokemon to the collection. 

I think I might change the design of Charmander and Bulbasaur, I don't care for the 'shine spot' on their heads. I might also add a Master Ball and an Ultra Ball to the Pokemon paintings. I'm also thinking for the next big convention I will be adding quite a few things:
- Sailor Moon and her scouts
- Power Puff Girls (Mojojo - maybe)
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 
- Possibly Adventure Time (maybe if I have time)

Till next time! 

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Commissions

I recently had a commission on my Etsy Site where someone had requested a character from Neon Genesis Evangelion. The character's name is Rei I believe, and the person who requested her is a huge fan :) She asked for two magnets one for her fridge and one for her collection. They are magnet Tangles and their design changed through the painting process. I went with the first one because of the way the hair fell. I hope she likes them! 


I usually write a card with every thing I send out, it's just a 'Thank you' card and a little drawing too.  For the customer that asked for the commission, I decided to draw the commissioned character. And I coloured it too! I hope she'll like the surprise@


This is what I usually put for the people who order the Harry Potter trio from my store.  It's just the Harry Potter characters as cute little chibis. I picked that style because of how easy/quick it would be to draw and still get the care it would need to show the customers how grateful I am for their business. Harry always ends up with bigger glasses. 


Till next time!
See you guys at the con!! 

Monday, February 20, 2012

Adam West!

He's sooooo dreamy!! 

And he has such an awesome chin!! 


But nothing can get past his awesomely drawn on eyebrows, he is always going to be that happy. This was actually a commission for my boyfriend. He had told me how much he had loved Adam West's Batman, and I thought I'd surprise him with this. 

On another note I have confirmation that I have a table for the convention in March. MTAC, March Toronto Anime Convention, held in the metro convention centre. 


My friend Carol and I will be selling our stuff, and if you're in the area please come by!
Here are the Convention times:

March 10th : 11:00 - 18:00
March 11th :  11:00 - 17:00

Tickets are $20 for a day pass or $30 for the whole weekend!

Till next time!

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Mr. SquarePants


The one problem with SpongeBob is that his name suggests that he has "square pants", however his pants are rectangular. Blasphemy you say, but take a closer look: 





His pants... Rectangular!! And yes he is very porous I can't deny that. I do my painting in layers and SpongeBob is about 10 layers. I also do multiples of each character to save on time. So right now I have 9 sets of SpongeBob eyes looking at me, and they're all smiling. It's a bit creepy but it's SpongeBob so it's okay. He's a little one only 2 inches by 2.75 inches, and I'm still debating making bigger paintings of him. It would enhance the "Tangles" experience, but I'm lazy. Maybe not for the next convention, possibly Anime North. They get all the good stuff. 

 I'm going to make a post next Sunday with the bigger drawing of the elephant picture that I posted in early January. I'm really proud of that piece and I'll be putting it up in my room when I get it back from my evaluation. 

Till next time! 

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Sick Again

I should start counting out how many times I get sick a school year. Sorry this is probably going to be very short. First picture is from my sketch-book. It going along with this awesome artist called Mattias. His work is just mind blowing for me and I wish I able to have as much dedication as he does. 

 


Can you guess what I'm painting?


Till next time!


Sunday, January 8, 2012

Beginnings

For the next few days I'll be moving my sales site from Artfire to Etsy. No reason really, I just want to. The new site will be Tangles on Etsy From now on I will be updating this blog on every other Sunday and post a few pictures of what I'm doing. These posts are going to be a bit shorter than the previous depending on how much drawing I'm actually doing. But I'm going to make it regular. 

I want to try something different with my sketches for my sketch book. I'm trying to use more of the space given by the sketchbook. I'm trying not to limit my self to just one side. It's tough for me and I'm not used to it at all. I'm doing an Image and Narrative class this semester and I need to be able to work out my ideas in a systematic way and follow a time line. And see it through completely to the end. 


So I'm trying to work out what the assignment is about, it's pretty vague with hardly any direction. The one line we are supposed to get our ideas from is "The human factor, Animal myths, What I know and how I know it". And I'm struggling a bit. I'm more of a "here's a project, this is how you do it, now do it" sort of person. I may recycle some ideas that I've had in regards to previous projects but right now I'm aiming for the "Animal myths" part of that line. It reminded me of Dumbo, and that's sort of a Disney myth that most of us grew up with. 

So now that elephant looks a bit high and I think I might add clouds, pink ones. 

Till next time!