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.

Boo-Who?

A screening of WALL-E with writer/director, Andrew Stanton at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences... a visit from the uber-talented Bob Balser, one of two directors of "The Yellow Submarine" starring The Beatles... my first Halloween with a "real" costume... I'm a chubby honey bee, and le cougar cub's a BANANA! Life's not bad...

Happy Birthday, Madge

"All the world is birthday cake, so take a piece, but not too much.”
- George Harrison

D'oh... I should've drawn you a cake. I have a lil' something to send you. Will be belated.

WALL-E

Attending a free screening of WALL-E at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Theatre in North Hollywood tomorrow. A Q&A with Director/Writer Andrew Stanton to follow the screening. I'm so very excited!!!

First is the Worst, Second is the Best

Third is the nerd with the hairy, hairy chest.

My favorite flavor of ice-cream is Neopolitan, but le cougar cub tells me that that's not a real flavor. My second favorite flavor of ice-cream is Rocky Road. With that in mind, le cougar cub surprised me this afternoon by picking up a tub of the chocolatey, nutty, marshmallowy goodness from Ralph's on his way back home. It's awfully hot here in LA... feeling like August in October. Mmm... I am very pleased with my surprise. Well done, cub.

Gimme, Gimme...

An oldie but goodie. Sketch is one of myself and my puppy, "Beans."
In case you cannot tell, we're ghosts.

New holiday drawing to be posted.

You're Old!

So I was informed, when a classmate asked for my age.

I'd answered, "28," only to realize that while I am, technically, still 28, I'll be 29 in a couple more weeks. So to those of you who think I'm old at 28, I'm not old. I'm VERY old!

Making plans for my birthday, and am considering "The Happiest Place on Earth"...
We'll see.

IF: Repair

Illustration Friday topic: Repair.
If you ask me, few relationships can't be repaired through the sharing of milk and cookies...

I Scream, You Scream,

We all scream for...
There is no ice-cream in my freezer. But there is a tub at le cougar cub's apartment in Santa Monica. I secretly spooned some Cookies n' Cream this morning. *tee hee*

Karaoked with fellow Andersonites on Sawtelle Friday night, drummed and strummed some Rock Band at Larry's on Saturday, lunched with Carebear and Lil' Miss Ting at Ramenya today... good times.

Flasher

Doodling during class. Meet dog-tective, "Flasher...

Unruly Children Will Be Fried

I'm dunzo!!!

What Next?

Le cougar cub and I are seriously considering Marrakesh for Spring Break 2009. Camels and belly dancing totally do it for me. Come with?!

I Vote Puppies

Watch THIS.

Easy Breezy

Storyboards are so much easier when done in ink. Less erasing!

Pictured: One of the final panels for my "non-verbal" set of boards. Yet to title it, but it's about an elephant who wants to get a pedicure. Suggestions?

Tah-Dah

Le cougar cub went to Target this past weekend to pick up a few knick-knacks for his place in Santa Monica, but oooh... he brought back a surprise! Oh, how I adore surprises. Particularly edible ones! He picked up a box of Target's own Choxie-brand "dark chocolate nut truffle meltaways". Hmm. I have yet to enjoy a chocolate with a name so complex, but I look forward to finding out.

Pictured: A panel from my storyboards for my 15 second short titled, "Untitled."It's the super quick tale of a little girl who, inspired by a Jackson Pollock piece at the MoMA (she's checking it out in the top scene)creates a drip art piece of her own through the use of squid ink and bird poop. (Her brain, leads her on this path towards creating art through otherwise over-looked mediums.)

Better Late Than Never

Website's a little delayed as my fabulouso web-designer, Corine, has a day job that she needs to tend to. But hey, it WILL be up soon. And by soon, I mean by my birthday. That's mid-November...

Slaved over two sets of storyboards of the weekend, but managed to make time to hang with Katherine "Mama" Chang. She joined me at The Coffee Bean on Wilshire in Santa Monica on Saturday. It's become my new office. I even get freelance work out of my stakeouts there!

Sunday evening was delish. Grubbed at "Park's", le cougar cub's numero uno favorite Korean bbq restaurant in Los Angeles. Was great catching up with Kim, Lan, their sig-O's, and Turkish delight, Deniz.

Weekend came to an abrupt close with me feeling ill (it's the strange fickle LA weather, I tell ya!) and staying up super late (working on the boards). GRR!

Help Me...

Help you... (Trust me, there are few things worse, or stinkier, than having to clean-up the runny poop of a 80 pound pup!)

Beans has had the runs for four days straight and I think his ass is on fire. But his watery caca FINALLY came to a stop today. I bought him doggy diarrhea medication yesterday afternoon, and it's working like a charm. And as an added bonus, Beans seemed to enjoy lapping up the Pepto Bismol-like concoction. My little man is a trooper...

Pump Up the Volume

Or not. Shhhhhhh!

Have two sets of storyboards due next week -- one set which I will ultimately work into a 15 second short. Both sets of boards are to be void of verbal content (which is fine by me - less work!), but get this, sound as well. Aww... I'd been hoping to employ some upbeat Django Reinhardt jazz. Or some offbeat Fujiya & Miyagi. Next time.

Without a Doubt

The Obama-Biden ticket. Three debates down, I'm looking forward to change.

Show and Tell

Work-in-Progress for one Mr. Ku.

Explanation accompanying this unfinished piece titled, "Unruly Children Will be Fried" to be posted when the final version gets posted.

Lunched with an old friend this afternoon at Clementine's. I had an incredible time catching up and hope to see more of her knowing that fate brought the two of us together to UCLA. She's finishing up her Master's in Special Education. Bravo, Nancy!

Mr. Beans has been battling diarrhea. Poor puppy. He's usually rather mute, but today he wouldn't stop whimpering. When you've gotta go, you've gotta go!

Happily Ever Now

It is with a hop and a skip that I enter Melnitz (UCLA's Film & Television building)everyday. I looooove my new program and am so thankful for the opportunity to be a part of it. WTF. I've become a gusher. Note to self: must stop.

Anyhow... Tonight I'll be presenting an edited version of last week's storyboards - one factoring in our presentation feedback. Pictured here. Beans (yes, that's him at the top)is a fan.

La Di Da

Gosh, I love Annie Hall.

School aside, I've been busy working on my second commission. The piece should be complete by Wednesday. I hope my buyer likes it!

Photo of random objects taken over Spring Break back in Tokyo. I really adore the color palette. Light and fruity.

And ooh, check THIS out. I was on Drawn's site and there it was. I'm always curious as to how other doodlers go about their work. Look at Baseman go. Wow-wee!

Introducing...

Moy Boy.

"Gimme, gimme... moy...
Gimme, gimme...
Gimme, gimme, moy..."

It's Gettin' Hot in Herre...

... so take off all your clothes...

I sketch naked dudes and dudettes for four to five hours every Friday at UCLA and for three hours every Saturday at the Animation Guild in North Hollywood. I enjoy my life drawing sessions with Glenn because I know they will help me become a better animator.

This week he had us visualize the female model as a sack of potatoes. Don't think she appreciated the exercise so much as Glenn kept referring to sagging areas of the sack.

Lovin' You...

... is easy, cuz you're beautiful..." - Minnie Ripperton.

Did you know that the late soul crooning Ripperton is the mama of Ms. Maya Rudolph? Yes, well, she is.

Front row at the Largo watching one of my fav SNL alums, Maya Rudolph perform sketches penned by Paul Thomas Anderson alongside current SNL cast member, Fred Armisen... not a shabby way to spend a Saturday evening! I was in good company as well... which made an already fantasic night all the more fantastic...

TGIF

Thank you, David Kim, for the old-school quote.

Trick or Treat

TREAT!

Am running out the door to attend my five hour, no, four-and-a-half hour (factoring in lunch) life drawing session, but thought I'd share the following link with y'all:

Oktapodi

Watch it! It's a real treat. This CG animated gem was created by a group of student animators from the Gobelin School in Paris. Emud, one of the talented artists who worked on this winning short while studying abroad in Paris for his third-year, is a student at UCLA's Animation Workshop. He's currently working on his thesis.

So, so, wonderful.

Square Peg No More

I'm IN!!!

I've been admitted into UCLA's Animation MFA program.
Class of 2011, baby!

They've even included me on their Workshop's official webpage!!!
See here!

I'm so happy, so happy, so happy.

Statement of Purpose

I am in the process of officially changing my major at UCLA from MBA to MFA, and a "Statement of Purpose" is necessary for Celia and Chuck to review - TOMORROW. Oh boy. What is my purpose? I don't know now, but I'll know by tomorrow...

Fairy Godmother

I have one, and her name is Celia. Celia Mercer. My UCLA enrollment worries may be over, and I owe everything to her. Believe it or not, there is goodness in the world.

On a side note, It's super hot in my apartment. So hot that le cougar cub has resorted to holding a frozen Lean Cuisine meal (jumbo rigatoni with meatballs - in case you were wondering) up to his forehead.

And ooh... my storyboards are done. They're not very pretty - I drew up 56 panels for two, read it, TWO mere pages of text - but hey, they're done!

Masochist

I'm not a masochist, but I take a cold shower every morning. - Roman Polanski

The gas in my unit has been turned off due to a stupid mix-up and my service will not be back on until Wednesday. Until then, I will be enjoying - yes, enjoying - a cold shower every morning. I'm going to have the teeniest pores on campus.

Nomad

I'm still in limbo. My Thursday meeting was rescheduled. Jury duty called! (Not me, but Celia.) Class registration closes next Friday. While I've got all the PTE numbers necessary to formally enroll, "Voldemort" has put a hold on my student record. I'm in no-man's-land. Happy-happy-joy-joy.

In the meantime, I've been conducting business as usual. Can't let a single asshole get the best of me. Thursday evening, Chuck Sheetz, the "Writing for Animation" professor, let us sit in on a screening of Animation Workshop alum, Gil Kenan's latest work, "City of Ember". (Kenan's most recent claim to fame prior to Ember was "Monster House.") Enjoyable flick. Would love to sit down to type up a mini-review, but am running low on time. Next week?

It's already past noon on Saturday, and I've got over 50 storyboard panels to start and complete... better get chugging.

Drawings to be posted.

Creative Juices

I'm not a pack-rat, but I do keep a scrapbook of magazine clippings for inspiration when blank. Take a peek.

IF: Packed

Fall has arrived, but it still feels like summer.
That said, I feel the need to feed--on some ice-cream.

Anatomy of a well-packed ice-cream cone.

Bring It

To the unprofessional *bleep* who has deliberately made my life more difficult: All *bleeps* eventually run into a sweet load of karma down the line. I look forward to the day you suffer.

It takes more more than a single pretentious, grey-haired chump to bring me down. When life gives me lemons, I make a *bleepin'* awesome lemonade. One should never underestimate the power of a raging Scorpio.
I will succeed--with absolutely no thanks to you.

-- Swearing is naughty. Bleeping is fun.

Spotted...

... an impeccably dressed Reese Witherspoon picking up ready-made meals at Clementine!

Am working on my first storyboard assignment. We were told to provide "an adaptation of published material with verbal content". I think I'm going to board scenes of an excerpt from "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius." It's a magnificent piece of writing and Dave Eggers provides plenty of choice scenes to pick and choose from.