Stores with Hyein Stuff ;D

October 2012 Calendar for Kid Icarus

There are some of my stuff on sale at selected stores in Toronto. You can get a hand silk-screened 2012 calendar by Kid Icarus. They invited Toronto illustrators to illustrate each month. I mentioned it back in my November post. Above is the full illustration. I am not suppose to show my image, so I changed the background and colour. You can purchase the calendar at Kid Icarus.

Magic Mug: when you pour hot water, monsters show up! Available at Miracle Thieves

Mr. Furry Pants mouse pad at Miracle Thieves

Wonderful ladies at Miracle Thieves are carrying my stuff in their store. Check out their store, it's filled with handmade goods from local artists. :D

My friends and I at Miracle Thieves winter sales opening

My mugs got featured at Toronto Standard.

Speaking of buying stuff, I bought a couple of silicon squeeze bottles by GoToob today. I wanted to fill it with Aveeno lotion for Lee. They were small enough to carry around in a pocket. I was so excited about them. Made with silicon! But once I got home, I read on their website that Aveeno lotion is not recommended inside of the bottles. I looked up each ingredient and found out that there is a type of silicon in Aveeno lotion. Silicon in the lotion would melt the bottle. Craziness!
I already sanitized, washed and dried the bottles so I cannot refund them. But I'm sure I can find million ways to use them, they are so cool. I love silicon.

Hungry Lies

 Piece I've done for the awesome, fun, cool and nice people at Broken Pencil. Thank you so much for your awesomeness!

Yay!

My illustrator friends Ben Rivers and Matt Daley, we all occupied this issue of Broken Pencil side-by-side :D

It seems like I only post when I'm sick one way or other, but yes, I am sick again. As I lay with a hot water bottle, I thought, 'why don't I post on my blog?' My apologies, I will post once a week like before. Many news to cover.
Anyways, back to being sick, I ate a huge pile of deep fried squash last night, which made me so sick. My body cannot take the beatings as it used to.

My very nice friend Gregory found me tickets to "Kim's Convenience" by Soulpepper Theatre. I went to see it last night after eating a pile of deep fried stuff. Good god, I think my stomach churned watching the show. It was about Korean first generation, sacrificing everything to come to Canada and raising their kids. A story of my parents! My dad used to be a top interior designer in Korea, and my mom was an art teacher who had many friends. They threw away everything to come to Canada for my brother and I. They are nothing now, just working in a engraving/embroidery shop, while strangers treat them rudely. My dad loves Canada, but my mom still has a hard time connecting.
Anyways, the play was suppose to be a tear jerker. But I couldn't cry. I almost threw up and had many impulses to leave the theatre. I felt soooooo guilty. I already feel guilty all the time, I don't know if I needed more. I'm grateful that my parents brought me to Canada. I wish I were making tonnes of money to make their lives comfortable. Hahaha.. but I can barely take care of myself. One day, mom. I'll get you that diamond ring you never got. And give my dad a dirty look. I'm kidding.

In the spirit of this stream of consciousness writing exercise... more on injuries. My body has many patches of bruises from playing extreme ping pong two days ago. Good god, I need new shoes. The sneakers I have are heelys. They are one of those sneakers that have wheels in the sole. If any one of you are thinking of buying those... please don't. I almost killed myself many times, and they are not as cool as you think it'd be if you are over 25. I took out the wheels to wear as a regular sneakers. But the heels are still slippery plastic. I slipped, rolled and fell, attempting to hit the ping pong ball.

Another big bruise came from a pancake accident. Suddenly, piles of my owl bowls, plates, etc. crashed down on my hand in my kitchen. I got big bruises. I don't care for pain, I just hope it doesn't leave scars.

Pancake injuries <( ; ~ ; )>
Okay, doesn't look that bad in photo. And yes, I'm a delicate buttercup.

And that leads to an interesting topic. Pancakes! Bunena chocolate vegan pancakes to be exact! I got very good at making pancakes believe or not. Here is the recipe. Fold in dark chocolate pieces just before pan frying. Or just come over, bring some ripe bunenas. I'll make you pancakes anytime of the day.

AGO Gift Shop

My favourite artist, Sean Martindale is having a show in AGO. The show title is NOW. The opening party is this Friday 7pm. He was very kind to invite me to be a part of his project of taking over AGO souvenir shop. I was super excited to be part of it. I drew on bunch of art-print greeting card boxes and on individual cards. There were 20 cards in each box, and I drew original drawings on them all! I also drew on AGO souvenir pop-up cards. They can be available for purchase in February, but you can see them at AGO gift shop in a meanwhile.

Here is the opening party facebook invite:
NOW Facebook Invite

I love the clever idea (I wish I could take credit, but it was Sean's idea!) of making mass-produced art-print items back into original art. 
Here are some shots of the gift shop items. I'm really sick right now. Head spinning and everything! So please pardon me for the poor writing + photograph qualities.

BOX 1

These octopus-like aliens have collective brain. They transimit outer-space broken heart, but they don't feel no emotion. Maybe they just stream thoughts without feelings. Look at that card bundle. I drew on each one of them! (actually, it was fun to do)


BOX 2

This one features bunny destroyers. It's from my sketch thinking about War of the Worlds. These bunnies are relentless destroyers. Hostile beings in space.


BOX 3

Monsters and boxes-within-boxes drawings.

AGO Souvenir Cards

AGO has these ghetto 3d pop-up cards. I got to draw on them!

Lastly... look at all those cards I drew in. Santa Maria. I was a machine, yo.

I have a lot of other news but just could not find time to post them. Please stay tuned for more news. :D

Sneeze!

Sniffle!

Over and out! xoxo

From London, with Love (Process!)

From London, With Love
48" X 36"
Mixed media on wood
Created for amazing Jason B.
Left building is Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and the building on the right is a building in front of Bank Station in London, UK.

Happy Happy New Year!
My apologies for the lack of blog post in the month of December. I usually disappear, sucked in by the black hole during the holiday seasons. I've been working at my parents' store for the past 13 years of my life during the holiday rush. We have a store in a mall in Brampton. It is a monstrous place. I worked average 13 hours a day, listening to eternal loop of Carol songs and being yelled at by angry mall customers. I don't understand. If Christmas stress them so much, why bother celebrating? Anyways... my parents usually go on annual vacation on the Christmas day and come back at the end of the first week of January. So my brother and I had to take over the store while they were gone. But this year had been different. They could not afford the annual trip. It's very sad... but I got to have my first ever New Year's Eve, ever!
There were parties, countdown and everything. Just like in the movies. Staying warm inside with one of my favourite movies, Strange Days, I had the best New Years ever. 2011 had been kind to me. I hope 2012 is better than ever. I have a good feeling about it.

To start off 2012 blog post, I present you with the first ever process photos! With my bad memory, I always forget to take photos between steps, so I never got the complete process photos until now. This painting, "From London, with Love" is for Jason B., I am very grateful for his commission. It was the first time for me to paint on such a big canvas (48" X 36"). I worked on oversized papers before, but never painted on a giant canvas. It was challenging and fun at the same time. I'm going to paint more giant paintings in the future for sure.

Lining the floor with newspaper, made sturdy with masking tape. I should really buy a sheet of tarp or something.

Masking out a rough building shape.

Paint paint paint with a giant brush!

Draw in building details. Notice a waving bunny in one of the windows! Can you spot him?

Paint in the River Tame and determine the spot for the pink monster.

Determine the spot for the double decker.

Size comparison! (and show off my new tank top) Thank you very much Lee for taking this photo. I also thank him for helping me deliver the giant painting.

Pictoplasma Paris - Post Digital Monsters Exhibition ( O o O )

7 - 31 DECEMBER 2011

conférences, installations, spectacles,
projections, jeux vidéo

LA GAÎTÉ LYRIQUE
3 bis rue Papin

75003 Paris

Wonderful Motomichi's monster! I LOVE his work. 

Central to the Pictoplasma experience at La Gaîté is an exhibition presenting the work of contemporary character artists: en route for a post-digital era!

With the artists: Shoboshobo (FRA), AJ Fosik (USA), Allison Schulnik (USA), Ben & Julia (FRA - SUI), FriendsWithYou (USA), Hyein Lee (KOR), Jeremy Dower (USA), Jordan Metcalf (ZAF), Joshua Ben Longo (USA), Juan Pablo Cambariere (ARG), MyMO (GER), Nick Cave (USA), Nick Sheehy (AUS) , Nina Braun (GER), Overture (USA), Raymond Lemstra (NED), Rina Donnersmarck (GBR), Roman Klonek (POL), Sarah Illenberger (GER), Steve Alexander (GER)


I am invited to participate in Pictoplasma Paris! I have three pieces in the show. They are going to be exhibited in the prestigious LA GAÎTÉ LYRIQUE gallery.
OH MY GOD!!!!
I tried to act cool, but I just can't. I LIVE for Pictoplasma. I feel like I'm just passing days until I can go to the next Pictoplasma. Having a show at Pictoplasma is a dream come true. I almost fainted. I wish I can go to Paris for the show. I've never been to Paris. It sounds lame, but it's one city I don't want to go alone. I heard it's a romantic city. I am contemplating, but I am saving up for Berlin Pictoplasma next April. I still have two more days to decide... Should I just book the ticket to Paris? *biting nails*
Thank you Lars for this wonderful opportunity. I'm so honoured to be a part of it!

My favourite illustrator and an awesome person Aaron Leighton is also part of the show. All you lucky souls in Paris or near Paris, go check Pictoplasma out! Entire month of December. xo.

Me at Pictoplasma Berlin April 2011 with Motomichi card :D

Motomichi moving monsters in Paris Pictoplasma invitation

Blue + Yellow Phase

울지마, 씨바

Definitely going through blue + yellow phase. They are so awesome together. Baby blue and pink go well together too. Yeah, that's going to be my next drawing. :)

Everything had been blur since two weeks ago. I seriously thought today was last week. December is already here... Maybe I should start drinking coffee. Sorry for bombarding with so many posts past few days. One more to go, and will go back to the regular pace. 

The top sketch was done during pen club, drawing in a bar with bunch of friends. The translation of the title is, "Fuck, don't cry." Right side of the picture says, "Don't draw tears." I was attempting to not draw tears. So instead, I opted for bunch of small cubes. It is a bit strange to write about how I felt couple of months ago because things are quite awesome right now. After I finished my Master's in September, I dug a hole and lived in it for few weeks. I had to re-write my thesis like 28 times and when everything was over, things that I didn't have time to deal with all flooded back. All rolled up in bed sheets, I'd just sit and stared at computer screen, clicking random stuff all day for two weeks. Didn't talk to anyone. Hahaha... I will NEVER pursue another education again. This is it. Let the unlearning begin!

Whenever there is sad times, this song always picked me up, let me get back on my feet. Cradle of Filth's No Time to Cry. Because I truly have... no time to fucking cry.

Thesis paper prints

October 2012 Calendar for Kid Icarus

Cropped bottom

Cropped top

Seriously cool store in Kensington Market, Kid Icarus, invited illustrators to illustrate each month of 2012. I got OCTOBER! Halloween is my favourite holiday, so I was so excited about this. Here are some cropped images of the Calendar.
My stomach hurts a little looking at it because I really want to put wood texture at the background. I will try it once the calendars sell out. There is a limited edition of only 100, so order yours now! A lot of my talented friends are also participating. Here is more info about the 2012 calendar project:

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On Sunday December 4th 2011, our highly anticipated 2012 Handprinted Calendar will be available for sale at our storefront in Kensington Market. You can also pick up an early copy at Handmade Holiday, Saturday December 3rd, St. Stephen-in-the-Fields. The calendar is a limited edition of 125 copies, with only 100 available for sale at $80 each.

If you are unfamiliar with the project, the concept is to take 12 artists and produce a calendar with each artist choosing one month to illustrate and only two colours to pull it off. There are no guidelines on layout or how the information is presented, the artist has full control. The entire calendar is screen printed by hand from the cover, right through to the backing.
Calendars will be available for sale at Kid Icarus, and other locations (TBA).
Introducing the 2012 Calendar roster:

January February March April May June July August September October November December

Jeannie Phan Selena Wong Melinda Josie Claire Louise Milne Mike Ellis Reverend Aitor Katherine Verhoeven Halley Rigbey Caitlin Taguibao Hyein Lee Nolan Pelletier Anjo Chiang

RGD Ontario Award for Design Thinkers 2011

I won RGD Ontario scholarship for Design Thinkers 2011. Thank you RGD!

This year's Design Thinkers was amazing. RGD arranged me to meet Eric Ryan and Jessica Hische, both of whom I was dying to meet! Yeah and of course I was very scared. I acted very strangely, but let's not talk about that. Their talks were amazingly inspirational.