These are for Shadowrun: spy games.
I like the sketches more than the finished works.
A short comic, written by Ian Daffern.
Old works, new post.
It's frustrating when I can't show what I was working on right then and there, by the time I can, I either forget about it already, or really hate how it turned out. Such is life.
These are for Shadowrun: spy games.
A short comic, written by Ian Daffern.
These are for Shadowrun: spy games.
A short comic, written by Ian Daffern.
Google+ is awesome.
I hope I didn't just jinx it by saying that out loud. But I really like google+. I like everything about it. I like how intuitive the interface is. How easy it is to post, be it text or image. I love the image viewers. I love the people there.
I haven't been much active in any social network for quite a while. While I like twitter for what it is. I tend to just sit and listen to what people have to say, rather than having any say myself. I can't express myself accurately with 160 letters. With such limited space, it's easy for me to get snarky, unnecessarily so.
Google+ also had boosted my productivity. I have done quite a few doodle especially for it. Just because black and white doodles look so pretty in the stream. Yeah, my mind works in simple way.
There's still a lot of room for improvement for Google+, but the best thing about it is that, google had shown the willingness to listen and constantly working on improving it. I'm quite eager to see what Google will bring onto the table.
I haven't been much active in any social network for quite a while. While I like twitter for what it is. I tend to just sit and listen to what people have to say, rather than having any say myself. I can't express myself accurately with 160 letters. With such limited space, it's easy for me to get snarky, unnecessarily so.
Google+ also had boosted my productivity. I have done quite a few doodle especially for it. Just because black and white doodles look so pretty in the stream. Yeah, my mind works in simple way.
There's still a lot of room for improvement for Google+, but the best thing about it is that, google had shown the willingness to listen and constantly working on improving it. I'm quite eager to see what Google will bring onto the table.
Art books galore
I thought I’d never buy another book again, because, frankly, I just don’t have space to store them. But ones can never have enough books. Also, never say never.
1. Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter by James Gurney
2. Imaginative Realism: How to Paint What Doesn’t Exist by the same James Gurney.
3. Digital Painting Techniques: Practical Techniques of Digital Art Masters (Masters Collection)
4. Figure Drawing for All It’s Worth By Andrew Loomis
5. Dream Worlds: Production Design for Animation by Hans Bacher
6. Sargent Portrait Drawings: 42 Works by John Singer Sargent (Dover Art Library)
7. Beasts of Burden by Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson.
8. reMIND (Vol. 1) By Jason Brubaker.
9. The Human Machine By George B. Bridgeman
I finished both of Gurney’s books a few times, as well as reading through his whole blog archives. I have to say that he taught me about art more than anyone else had ever done so. And I proclaimed him my mentor. (No, he didn’t know that :D). Digital Painting Technique, this one I got on a whim. I have way way too many digital art how-to for them to really show any anything I didn’t know anymore (knowing does not translate into actual skill, just a note), but it has Kekai Kotaki (of Guildwars fame) in it. And, well, I like Kakai. *Shrugs*
I actually own ‘figure drawing for all its worth’ before… in a form of xeroxes, half the actual size, with illegible texts. Glad to finally own a proper copy.
Beast of Burden – I do own the floppy versions. So this is a pure luxury purchase, I do like to read it again without worrying my sweaty hands would melt the darn book.
ReMIND, since I’m coloring book 2, I thought I should get book one in hand, even though I have read them all on the web already.
1. Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter by James Gurney
2. Imaginative Realism: How to Paint What Doesn’t Exist by the same James Gurney.
3. Digital Painting Techniques: Practical Techniques of Digital Art Masters (Masters Collection)
4. Figure Drawing for All It’s Worth By Andrew Loomis
5. Dream Worlds: Production Design for Animation by Hans Bacher
6. Sargent Portrait Drawings: 42 Works by John Singer Sargent (Dover Art Library)
7. Beasts of Burden by Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson.
8. reMIND (Vol. 1) By Jason Brubaker.
9. The Human Machine By George B. Bridgeman
I finished both of Gurney’s books a few times, as well as reading through his whole blog archives. I have to say that he taught me about art more than anyone else had ever done so. And I proclaimed him my mentor. (No, he didn’t know that :D). Digital Painting Technique, this one I got on a whim. I have way way too many digital art how-to for them to really show any anything I didn’t know anymore (knowing does not translate into actual skill, just a note), but it has Kekai Kotaki (of Guildwars fame) in it. And, well, I like Kakai. *Shrugs*
I actually own ‘figure drawing for all its worth’ before… in a form of xeroxes, half the actual size, with illegible texts. Glad to finally own a proper copy.
Beast of Burden – I do own the floppy versions. So this is a pure luxury purchase, I do like to read it again without worrying my sweaty hands would melt the darn book.
ReMIND, since I’m coloring book 2, I thought I should get book one in hand, even though I have read them all on the web already.
Postcards from Atlanta
I don’t know why I didn’t think of this sooner, now I have to go back to vegas again at some point.
I do find the Forever stamp fascinating. Imagine in a thousand years from now with flying cars and shit like that, and this stamp would still be good. Isn’t that awesome?
I do find the Forever stamp fascinating. Imagine in a thousand years from now with flying cars and shit like that, and this stamp would still be good. Isn’t that awesome?
Concerning Art
If you had known me long enough, you might have heard me talking (or whining, depending on your point of view) about art, my lack of formal art training, and how I regret it.
Why didn’t I go to art school?* Well, to understand how I ended up in the current state of affair, I have to tell you a little about my life story; I grew up in a lower middle class family. My exposure to art was limited. When I heard ‘art’, it conjured up the likes of Picasso, Van Gogh, the modern pop art, expressionism and abstract art, those of which I didn’t find appealing in the slightest.** I read manga growing up, A LOT of manga. Name the popular manga in ’80 and ’90, chances are that I have read them.*** Naturally and typically, that led to me wanting to draw my own, and draw my own I did. By the time I finished Highschool, I was already published in then leading Thai comic magazine. And worked professionally as a comic artist. When someone mentioned art school, all the images I had in my head were of those people sitting around sketching balls and cones, or splashing colors onto canvas randomly, or drawing lifeless fruits on table.**** That wasn’t what I was interested in. I drew because I wanted to tell stories. I didn’t want to draw what I saw in front of me, I wanted to draw what I saw in my head. So, trying to go to art school didn’t even cross my mind, I never even considered it, I hated art, I like manga. Or so I thought.
I know It was naive and stupid. So what changed?
Around 2007, I became disenchanted with Manga. I won’t go into details. It suffices to say that I want to do something more, something else. I became interested in realistic style CG, concept art. I subscribed to ImagineFX magazine and started to hear names like William-Adolphe Bouguereau (never got his name right), Arnold Bocklin, Gustave Dore, J.C Leyendecker, John Singer Sargent, and Ilya Repin. And I realized, shit, this is art and I like it.*****
And this is the skill level I want to attend.
I just wish it didn’t take me this long to find out, and hope it isn’t too late.
[more on this later, I think.]
Why didn’t I go to art school?* Well, to understand how I ended up in the current state of affair, I have to tell you a little about my life story; I grew up in a lower middle class family. My exposure to art was limited. When I heard ‘art’, it conjured up the likes of Picasso, Van Gogh, the modern pop art, expressionism and abstract art, those of which I didn’t find appealing in the slightest.** I read manga growing up, A LOT of manga. Name the popular manga in ’80 and ’90, chances are that I have read them.*** Naturally and typically, that led to me wanting to draw my own, and draw my own I did. By the time I finished Highschool, I was already published in then leading Thai comic magazine. And worked professionally as a comic artist. When someone mentioned art school, all the images I had in my head were of those people sitting around sketching balls and cones, or splashing colors onto canvas randomly, or drawing lifeless fruits on table.**** That wasn’t what I was interested in. I drew because I wanted to tell stories. I didn’t want to draw what I saw in front of me, I wanted to draw what I saw in my head. So, trying to go to art school didn’t even cross my mind, I never even considered it, I hated art, I like manga. Or so I thought.
I know It was naive and stupid. So what changed?
Around 2007, I became disenchanted with Manga. I won’t go into details. It suffices to say that I want to do something more, something else. I became interested in realistic style CG, concept art. I subscribed to ImagineFX magazine and started to hear names like William-Adolphe Bouguereau (never got his name right), Arnold Bocklin, Gustave Dore, J.C Leyendecker, John Singer Sargent, and Ilya Repin. And I realized, shit, this is art and I like it.*****
And this is the skill level I want to attend.
I just wish it didn’t take me this long to find out, and hope it isn’t too late.
 |
| Howard Pyle - Marooned |
[more on this later, I think.]
* I actually forgone university entirely, but that’s another story.
** I still don’t.
*** Please don’t test me, I probably only know Thai title, and only those that popular in Thailand :3
**** I understand that this is not an accurate portrayal of art school, but this was how it was portrayed in Thai movies.
***** This is not, I repeat, NOT, an implication that manga or comic isn’t art. Because I fully realized that it is. But this is not what this post is about.
** I still don’t.
*** Please don’t test me, I probably only know Thai title, and only those that popular in Thailand :3
**** I understand that this is not an accurate portrayal of art school, but this was how it was portrayed in Thai movies.
***** This is not, I repeat, NOT, an implication that manga or comic isn’t art. Because I fully realized that it is. But this is not what this post is about.
Unexpected April Awesomeness.
I like it when unexpected things happened to my favor. They're mostly little things but never failed to brighten my day. Last week I attended Norwescon. It was a smallest con I've ever attended, only 3500 of attendance, set in the hotel. The best thing about the con was that a lot of attendees dressed up in awesome costumes, not necessarily just cosplay but general period and steampunk stuff, a lot of pirates and knights from various era. I spent most of my time walking around with @bicyclefish, attending panels, one of the panel is introduction to Armor, ran by Dameon Willich. I spent the time in the panel sketching him because he was wearing an awesome armor. Afterward, I showed it to him and found out he had worked with DC and Wizard of The Coast. He gave me a signed artist's proof card (the back is blank) and gave me encouragement I much needed.
(on a side note, when you bump into someone in Seattle, good chance that they work or had worked for Microsoft, Boeing, Wizard of the Coast or a few other game studios)
Another awesome unexpected thing was that I got my Guild Wars 2 artbook (which I got for free from PAX '09) signed by A LOT of people from Arenanet, thanks to Horia Dociu.
And thus end the awesome April for me, until next month!
Futurepoly
I'm taking a short course on digital painting at Futurepoly. The course is taught by Horia Dociu. I had to admit I was interested in Futurepoly because of Guildwars. I'm a big fan of Guildwars and a chance to get a hand-on information from people who work on it is too good to pass on. I know of course it's not a magic bullet to help me get any better at digital painting, but a little hand-holding goes a long way.
Surprisingly, the most valuable lesson for me so far wasn't about how to do mad detailed rendering, but how to do fast readable sketch that can get idea across, how to see big picture.
Here's some of in class stuff I did:
Surprisingly, the most valuable lesson for me so far wasn't about how to do mad detailed rendering, but how to do fast readable sketch that can get idea across, how to see big picture.
Here's some of in class stuff I did:
Evil cat of doom.
Same scene from various angles, conveying different feels.
20 mins quick copy, can you tell what are these from?
20 mins tribute to Ashley Wood, who doesn't like robot with chick?
5 mins copy of my least favorite movie, never been easier to look at something with clinical eyes.
Recalling the March Madness.
I've had a crazy month; two cities, two cons, a few too many airports. In all honestly, I don't know where to start, so I'll do this in chronological order.
FEB 27: Getting a new baby *cough cough*
It's a latest macbook pro model, with a useless thunderbolt port and i5 core, a lot of people will argue that the 13" model isn't a real 'macbook pro', but it's good enough for my need (it's already better spec than my late 2008 imac) and 15" is just too damn big for me physically.
Another loot is LG optimus V from virgin mobile, a decent android phone with an unlimited data plan for $25 a month, with no contract, pay as you go, imo the best smartphone deal in the US.
Another goal was to get my portfolio reviewed, which I did. This time, I didn't really prepare the portfolio specifically, I just threw stuff I did through the last year. Surprisingly, it went better than when I was more prepared, weird.
Annnnd, to top off my inefficiency with this con, I forgot to take any photo, all I took is a photo of sandwich:
I talked to Dan Vado (of SLG) about the future of The Sisters' Luck sequel, while the sales of the first book is bad, it's my obligation to finish the story somehow, someway. So it's gonna happen in one form or another. Thankfully, I had enough good feedback in stock to push me through.
PAX EAST AHOY! I love Pax, absolutely my most favorite con, I wish I can attend every one of them. This time I was there as an enforcer, my duty was to guard the door of BYOC (bring your own computer) and pestering people to show their badge XD
I tried a lot of new games, got to try GW2 beta (neener neener), some action game with assassin elf in skimpy bikini which I forgot the name, Marvel VS. Capcom (love it, suck at it), and even Kinect dance central, which was embarrassing but fun.
Why, yes, giant Pikachu:
Screenshot just can't express how awesome GW2 is:
As for Boston herself; she shall be remembered as the coldest place I've ever been to:
I also did a little sight-seeing, got lost and took some photo.
You can't really see it, but this was where I had my first taste of snow:
FEB 27: Getting a new baby *cough cough*
It's a latest macbook pro model, with a useless thunderbolt port and i5 core, a lot of people will argue that the 13" model isn't a real 'macbook pro', but it's good enough for my need (it's already better spec than my late 2008 imac) and 15" is just too damn big for me physically.
Another loot is LG optimus V from virgin mobile, a decent android phone with an unlimited data plan for $25 a month, with no contract, pay as you go, imo the best smartphone deal in the US.
MAR 5-7: #ECCC.
My first Emerald City Comic Con. At first I wasn't sure what to do. My main goal was to meet with people, which I did. My apology to everyone for my awkwardness, that's what happened when you only came out of your cave once every 2 years XDAnother goal was to get my portfolio reviewed, which I did. This time, I didn't really prepare the portfolio specifically, I just threw stuff I did through the last year. Surprisingly, it went better than when I was more prepared, weird.
Annnnd, to top off my inefficiency with this con, I forgot to take any photo, all I took is a photo of sandwich:
I talked to Dan Vado (of SLG) about the future of The Sisters' Luck sequel, while the sales of the first book is bad, it's my obligation to finish the story somehow, someway. So it's gonna happen in one form or another. Thankfully, I had enough good feedback in stock to push me through.
Mar 10-15: Boston, Massachusetts.
PAX EAST AHOY! I love Pax, absolutely my most favorite con, I wish I can attend every one of them. This time I was there as an enforcer, my duty was to guard the door of BYOC (bring your own computer) and pestering people to show their badge XD
I tried a lot of new games, got to try GW2 beta (neener neener), some action game with assassin elf in skimpy bikini which I forgot the name, Marvel VS. Capcom (love it, suck at it), and even Kinect dance central, which was embarrassing but fun.
Why, yes, giant Pikachu:
Screenshot just can't express how awesome GW2 is:
As for Boston herself; she shall be remembered as the coldest place I've ever been to:
I also did a little sight-seeing, got lost and took some photo.
You can't really see it, but this was where I had my first taste of snow:
I don't like long flight, or any flight at all.
Once upon a time, I used to get excited about the idea of flying because I've never flew before. But after just one (looooooong) flight, I decided I don't like it at all, it's really just a long bumpy bus ride—I've been on a better bus actually.
Just a friendly note; there's a lot of typo and atrocious grammar, since I wrote all these without the aid of uncle google. Enjoy!
A bonus: an exercise in masochism.
Just a friendly note; there's a lot of typo and atrocious grammar, since I wrote all these without the aid of uncle google. Enjoy!
A bonus: an exercise in masochism.
#ECCC 2011, This is all I have for you.
Due to an incredibly bad timing, I hardly have anything prepared for ECCC. I'll probably be at SLG booth at some point if there's time/slot available, and that's about it. But at least I'll have Preview version of Pavlov's Dream:
We only printed 20 copies for book 1 and 10 copies for book 2, hoping to give them to people who might be able to help printing more, so to speak.
We only printed 20 copies for book 1 and 10 copies for book 2, hoping to give them to people who might be able to help printing more, so to speak.
Hello seattle
I arrived on sunday, and was pretty much dead for a while. The flights were as tired as ever, but it was the first time none of my baggages were searched, either by TSA or customs, and I didn't get any special screening at any airports too, which was awesome. It made me feel much better.
(last time I was searched multiple times at every goddamn airports)
At BKK airport (with a mouthful name, don't worry about it) I thought it was pretty funny, a bunch of men in black sitting in rows of pink chairs.
First time flying ANA, they seem to be fond of pink.
The food is disappointing, but it's better than usual (economy class) airline fare I supposed.
I asked for Coke and got Pepsi, should I sue? (I'm kidding, please don't initiate any lawsuit on my behave.)
United food was, well, less edible.
They didn't even try. NWA was better. At least I got my Coke.
2011 - Busy start.
I haven't died yet, been busy with paid works that I can't show yet (NDA and stuff like that.) I'm also working on The Sisters' Luck 2 and another story which hopefully I can finish the script soon.
I'll also be attending ECCC, March 4th-6th, which will be the only con I'll be attending in any foreseeable future. More about this later.
And here's some random doodles. I'm always trying new ways to make a mess on papers.
A bonus boss:
I'll also be attending ECCC, March 4th-6th, which will be the only con I'll be attending in any foreseeable future. More about this later.
And here's some random doodles. I'm always trying new ways to make a mess on papers.
A bonus boss:
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