Gobble, Gobble

I have so very much to be thankful for in life, and I hope y'all do as well.
A very merry Thanksgiving to all!

OMG, OMG, OMG.

Look who's coming to town! And no, I'm not talking about Santa...

The pic above is a clue (a clip from his most recent short, "Planting the Seeds").
Find out who I'm raving about by clicking HERE.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

... D'oh! You're fake! *SIGH* Must you toy with my emotions?!

Gosh, I can't decide. Is it worse to have no tree or to have a fake tree? I'm hugely against fake flowers, but I don't know... I'm kinda' torn about the fake tree. As long as it's covered with sparkles, I think I just might be able to accept it. Hmm.

Last night, le cougar cub and I stopped by Century City mall for a meal of Brazilian barbeque. (We shared.) Afterwards, as he accompanied me to my favorite, overpriced fro-yo joint for its seasonal toppings, we came across this magnificent, but sadly, FAKE tree.

Really looking forward to smelling some live Christmas trees post-Thanksgiving...

Marinating...

Have been working on my 15 second short (15 seconds, talk about short!)...
It's taking a little longer than I'd planned due to the clean-up work involved, but I think my project is coming along just fine. Sneak peek? See above. My character's painting a Pollock with squid ink (and un-pictured pigeon poop)!

P.S. For every 1 second of animation, I've got 24 frames to draw! A whole lot more work than one could possibly imagine...

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

I do realize that Thanksgiving has yet to pass, but I'm reeeeally looking forward to Christmas. I loooooove Christmas. I love the smells (pine trees, eggnog, and gingerbread, oh my!), I love the sparkles (strung lights, glittery ornaments, bedazzled holiday dresses), and as expected, I love the presents (who doesn't?!). But as much as I love receiving, I also love giving. This year, as a graduate student running on empty (an quickly emptying pocketbook, that is), I will be considering some fabulously frugal options. I've been giving this year's gifts a lot of thought, and my list of favorite finds will be posted soon. When's Oprah posting her's?!

$2.75

A small amount to pay to attain happiness.

I'm cuckoo for Christmas lights. I always have been and am particularly fond of clear ones. If it weren't for the fact that I'm no longer a college student (I'm a graduate student... does that count?!), I would have them up year-round. So festive! I think Beans likes them as well.

Que Sera, Sera

Had my animated, animating classmates (and their significant others) over for dinner last night. I would've, could've, probably should've spent the day working on my A-film, however, I ended up spending it cooking. Would've, could've, should've... that's what losers say!

The following was served to my party of 12 :)

Tim's Jalapeno chips and Cheetos (Shout-out to my classmate Alexis and comeback queen, Ms. Britney Spears)
Pear-endive-blue cheese salad
Mario Batali's Bolognese Pappardelle (Incredibly easy and yummy!)
Flame-grilled chicken (El Pollo Loco. Didn't want people leaving hungry!)
Four-cheese quesedillas
Veggie curry (for the vegetarians)
Sauteed wild mushrooms with spinach
Green bean almondine (Whole Foods)
Magnolia's Banana Cream Pudding (Fool-proof. Thank you, Marichelle!)
Lots of Martinelli's sparkling cider, beer, and wine

Everyone seemed pleased with the meal and I think they had a relaxing time. Felt much better about having "sacrificed" a work day knowing that. Plus, I've got the entire weekend to work on my final animation. Ai-yo... worries, shmories. What will be, will be.

What We're Into

Daniel Craig as Bond...

Babies named Geronimo, Olive, Gemma, Maggie, Jasper, Maya, Leigh, and Bret... The cub and I want our future litter to come into the world with British accents...

This song. It's our song.

Mirror, Mirror

...on the wall... who's the prettiest of them all?
MAMA!
Wishing my mommy (a fellow Scorpio), a crazy-wonderful birthday!!!

Lay Like Broccoli

The bff's in town. Between her and my final animation project, there's a way too much going on... oh how I long for a day to spend vegging in bed. A tall hazelnut latte on top of it all would also be swell.

Looking Forward To...

Attending one of these.
The bff (Pam!) is getting hitched to Mr.Debs (Andrew) over Thanksgiving at the Little White Chapel in Vegas. I am so excited for her. She wants one of these at her Vegas wedding, but I want her to have one of these. Just because.

Bringing home one of these.
I la-la-la-love the way they smell! Beans will help decorate. Sparkly lights are a must.

Investing in one of these.
Inspired by Naomi. Am determined to take some smashing pictures.

And finally, traveling with one of these. *teehee* Le cougar cub's is heading home to Taipei with me over winter-break. He'll be meeting my ma and pa.

Wonder if Josh (the cub), is looking forward to the same things I am...

LOL

I can't stop laughing, and all it took was THIS. How old am I?!

That's All Folks

Last post for the day.

Le cougar cub won't be around to celebrate my big two-nine with me tonight as he's flying up to San Francisco (yes, we were there just yesterday!) for a consulting conference. I will miss him. As will Beans.

Even Chubbies Need Loving

Figure drawing is most fun when the model's got a bit of meat on his/her bones.
I exaggerated my model's fat pads ever-so-slightly. I don't think she was watching.

Made Me Smile

I rarely see graffiti on the UCLA campus, but last week I saw the above-pictured pastel drawing on a wall of the Eli Broad Art building. *teehee* The university left it up for an entire day before washing it away...

Out With the Old

and in with the new! Finished Neal Gabler's "Walt Disney" a while back (a tad dry for my liking, but the photo inserts make up for what the book lacks) and will soon be starting on David Michaelis' "Schulz and Peanuts". I can't wait!

I'm Not Old

I'm VERY old!

Every day is a happy day, but today is a happy birthday! M-m-m-mine!
Am embracing my wrinkles alongside some much-deserved ice-cream.

Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained

I've been testing out a new medium to doodle with. Watercolors! A couple years ago, I followed the recommendation of a fellow illustrator/animator, Gerald, and bought myself a pocket-sized Winsor & Newton paint set. The quality of these watercolor paints is fantastic, and the colors produced are delicious! I'll have to post additional works that better illustrate the power of these paints, but will have to experiment a little more before doing so. I'm in foreign territory!

Milestone

The main reason le cougar cub and I chose to drive up to San Francisco for what really amounted to a single day was to hand-deliver my very first commissioned painting. With the help of Will and the cub, I was able to meet my patron in San Mateo outside of Golden Island desserts and execute our much anticipated transaction. In broad daylight I exchanged a piece of art for a roll of hundred dollar bills. Feeling pretty pimp. Perhaps I should go roll around in my dough now.

A Lovely Day

We're in the Bay! For the day...
Le cougar cub and me in line for comfort-food at Mama's at Washington Square Park (in SF, not NY)... yum, yummy, yum.

Much thanks to "Emery", DBD, JenYen, Pammy, Will, and le cougar cub for my surprise birthday dinner! As or the Dora the Explorer and Spiderman balloons, I will cherish them always.

Return of the Mac

I've got both a Macbook and an IBM Thinkpad (from my b-school days) but have been neglecting the albino (my nickname for the Mac). But last night, I revisited the albino in order to create an animatic using iMovie. Not as good as Adobe Premier, but it will have to do until I get my hands on a copy of A.P.!

So Wrong

Yet so right. I have a soft spot for the off-beat. What fun.
Pictured: adorable model at the Charle Anastase show sporting exaggerated bottom lashes and hard-to-miss glasses and yet another sartorialist gem -- young lady donning the perfect tee with imperfect bangs.

She's Da Bomb

Cindy Crawford and Elle Macpherson have got nothing on Judi Sheppard Misset. Came across this video via dlisted. OMG, OMG, OMG.

Another One Bites the Dust

Spent another morning and afternoon sketching nudes. The model I worked off of today was very awkward looking -- perfectly suited for our "exaggerate the form" lecture. She looked like an Egon Schiele. Oddly angular, yet unexpectedly beautiful. After finishing up at the Animation Guild, I met up with my dear friend Sophie who's currently visiting from Amsterdam.

Had a tremendous time window-shopping and eating with Sophie, and omg, hot off the press, Sophie's ENGAGED! The ring is gorgeous (his grandmother's from the 1930s), and her now-fiance is good to her. Am so incredibly happy for her and her and "Apple." That's right, her manfriend's last name is Apple. Pretty damn cool.

Geek Chic

After spending an entire morning and afternoon sketching nudes, I met up with Katherine "Momma" Chang for an evening of much deserved splurging and grubbing. My partner-in-crime and I hit up Los Feliz on Hillhurst. It was my first time there and I was overwhelmed by all the too-cool-for-school hipsters. ANYHOW, our first stop in the charming neighborhood was the Steven Alan sample sale. Ooh-lah-lah... how I covet everything GEEK CHIC! With the help and encouragement of "Freddy," the manager of the soon-to-arrive-to-L.A. Steven Alan Outlet shop, Kathy and I left the store with a respectable number of items. I made my way out with three of Steven Alan's too-perfect-for-words reverse-seam shirts (pink & grey checks for le cougar cub, teenty-tiny pinstripes for the lil' bro, and a green and purple print for me), and ooh, an adorable red and navy plaid cotton frock which I plan to layer under a comfy sweater coat and over a pair of dark tights and caramel-colored boots. Uber-cool fall duds as an early birthday present for myself! Our eventful evening came to a perfect end with a meal at the charming French bistro, Figaro. Try their mango-shrimp-honey-yogurt salad. Super yum! Looking forward to introducing le cougar cub to Los Feliz -- L.A.'s answer to Brooklyn. It makes me miss New York!

P.S. Steven Alan himself was in attendance.
P.P.S. Michelle Williams is wearing my dress in a different print. Hmm... the dress doesn't look very flattering in this photo though, does it?

IF: Vacant

Illustration Friday topic: Vacant

“If you leave the smallest corner of your head vacant for a moment, other people's opinions will rush in from all quarters” - George Bernard Shaw

I did not have time to sketch any thing new this week (apologies!), but I think this two year-old piece fits. Kinda' sorta'...

Umami

Merriam Webster's word of the day is "umami"--not to be mistaken with the ever-so-delicious "unagi". According to M-W, umami is "a taste sensation that is meaty or savory and is produced by several amino acids and nucleotides (as glutamate and aspartate)." Le cougar cub and I first encountered this word put to use, while watching "Mad Men" on AMC. We failed to speed through a commercial for Kikkoman, and it was their commercial that featured a non-Japanese woman's voice uttering "umami" several times over. It's so much fun to say. Say it with me... "oo-MAH-mee"...

Shweeet.

Isn't this photo cute? Was browsing Etsy when I couldn't fall asleep last night (all the election excitement got to me). I'd bring the photo home with me (along with this one, while we're at it) if they all weren't so pricey. My loss... your gain?!

Have an animated walk-cycle due as well as a logo to complete for a former classmate. Time to scribble...

So Happy Together

Am collaborating with Vancouver-based CO+LAB(squared) to design some teeny tiny apparel for tots and babies. I was provided with several topics, and I chose "Go Green." Sharing my uncolored roughs--the one of the trapezing tree. I've also got a racing tree (Get it? Go green?!) but am saving that one for a later posting...

New Puppy For Sasha and Malia

Received an e-newsletter from the folks at Columbia earlier today pointing out that, "Barack Obama '83CC will be not only the first African-American but also the first Columbia degree-holder to occupy the Oval Office." Aww... I'm all smiles!

Fabulous letterpress art by YeeHaw via Etsy.

What a Feeling

VOTE, VOTE, VOTE!!! I filled out an absentee ballot for this year's election (I'm feeling the need for CHANGE) and found the bubbling process to be somewhat confusing. Dammit. I really am becoming increasingly stupid.

On the bright side, and totally irrelevant, my dear friend Sophia is going to be in town with her manfriend, Mr. Apple (that's his actual last name) this weekend. She moved to Amsterdam from Los Angeles a couple months ago -- for looooove -- so I've been really deprived of time with her. Am really looking forward to hanging with my gal. And ooh, there's a too-cool-for-school Steven Alan sample sale happening this weekend as well. We will most definitely be there in search of a good bargain.

Still working on my storyboards for the helmet safety public service announcement. Due tomorrow. Grr. Can't decide what kind of music I want to set it to. Listen to my selected options here and here. Vote, vote, vote!

Rollin'... Rollin'...

The website's not done yet, but Corine and I are trying to finish things up. A sneak peek.

Don't Be Vain, Protect Your Brain!

Alongside the cougar cub, I picked up some heavily discounted Halloween candy from "Tarjay" earlier today. I'm insisting that he hides the chocolate at his place in Santa Monica, because we all know what happens when sugar's within my arm's reach. Bad.

Am working on a new storyboard assignment. We've been told to work on PSAs, and I'm thinking of working on one encouraging bicycle helmet safety. After the legendary Bob Balser's visit to the workshop this past Thursday, I am inspired to execute a '60s-style piece along the lines of Saul Bass' opening sequences, but knowing my capabilities and tendencies, my end results will probably be more like THIS (if LUCKY)! Hahaha. Thumbnails to be posted.