badges + photography

Holga photos taken a long time ago came in handy when making these badges for a youth camp.

Sleeping Through Storms

Sleeping Through Storms

ceriph

So I got a copy of Ceriph. Nice woodfree paper.

 The story behind this: I sent winnie some colored illustrations and she told me it was a black and white issue. Wails. So not knowing what to draw, I told her i'd draw huimin, and I did.

 

As well as other characters in my life, such as k.

And myself.

 

I turned to the back and found that my profile was terribly unserious compared to the others. I'm the ditz of the troupe!

 

Haven't read all the other stories, but I thought this was a good spread, and works in monochrome.

 

But for readings, Jon Gresham's was a winner, and I wanted him to read the whole story out.

Get yours in support of local writers and artists!

sketchbook people

One of the nicest places to draw is in a hammock on a weekend, as the sun is going down and I'm cradled into a slight incline. Then all the sketchbook people come out to play. Hipsters with their waist shorts and pixie crops and dark lipsticks, and museum mavericks with mustaches. It's always fun to see who comes out, and who stays indoors.

Ceriph Issue #1

My illustrations are in there! Not this issue #0, but issue #1, launching 17 September.

It feels a little like when I was in primary school and had my essays published in the yearly school magazines. Not so much like when my fashion illustrations were in Female for a couple of years; I don't think I even told people about those. Or even when a story of mine was published in a CAP book, because it seemed to me to be a super-secret-society the rest of the cooler world knew nothing about.

But this is a collection of writings from people who care about a story being told the right way. By young people who have a ton of things to do but still think this collection is more important. Who take the time to teach others to read and have cake and chai. Who made being literary and homely very socially enviable indeed. So it gives me some lip-biting delight to tell you about this book.

Support your local writers, photographers and illustrators by getting a copy! Or come to Books Actually on 17th september, 7:30-9:30 pm for the launch/reading of Issue #1.

ski birthday card

The brief was: "Birthday card for Mark. Maybe something about skiing or parties."

The response: "Oh. No. Jet-skiing."

A pity, cos I liked my little ski lodge and cable cars. Remember to get the facts straight before you design!

I'm working on a new series.

And more to come.

Rachel's "Countries" wedding : Unpacking the elements

The wedding package: everything you need for one table setting.

Unpack it,

 

and with a little DIY and a good metal ruler and blade,

 

You can make packaging for your wedding favour,

and create a centrepiece on a (relatively) shoestring budget!

The idea was to put together something that Rachel could ship over to the States, unpack without too much caution, and assemble with the help of her ladies. Instead of glass, wood, and metal, there is paper in all its gorgeous different textures and opacities, to be made into anything.

Personal menus

 

The real wedding is in July, so I will have to wait till then to see photos of how it all turned out. Put a few blossoms around the lantern, fill a room with these, add wine glasses and happy people, (don't flash that camera!) and it should be a happy sight.

 

Lugging the elements around might have been a trial, but I do appreciate the DIY nature of this wedding project. Now to finish up another wedding invitation!

another wedding thing

This bride wanted a "Countries" theme for her American wedding, and wanted it in teal, and wanted there to be penguins involved. And so the teal penguins take a trip around the world.

Each table centerpiece is a different country; 20 tables for 20 countries. On the left, a logo that goes onto everything; on the right, the Paris table.

A wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime affair, the biggest birthday bash of sorts, the chance for a girl to wish for anything and wave her hands about to make it happen. There has to be that fairy tale element to it: sparkling lights, a little whimsy, a little glamor.

This bride is not settling for the readymade package, choosing instead to custom-make everything even if it means getting her friends together to cut out stickers. While I feel tired on her behalf, preparing the different elements that she has to put together, I like the belief she upholds that a bride can make anything happen. Even if it's teal penguins traveling to 20 countries.

wedding thing

This lovely couple wanted something vintage, possibly letterpressed. But Singapore doesn't do letterpress printing! Anybody know of a printer who does? In the meantime, I faked the letterpress effect with good ol' Bevel and Emboss. Adobe forever.

simple,

and complicated.

happy valentine's day

 

  

  

Made a graphic novel cover as a card, for the boy who has a filing cabinet drawer full of them in his office.  The text is vague and heroic and doesn't attempt at creating any plot. I tried a generic comic book style illustration for the front cover, but had to do something more painterly for the back. I learnt that graphic novels were not all abt hard black line drawings when I saw the work of James Jean in Fables. And yes, that's me in the last picture, I think I do look like that.

happy 2010

i've been busy...

...making pocket-sized calendars, with their own little calico bag.