Late Night with Noam Chomsky

Today, I worked listening to an interview with Noam Chomsky. I was always aware of his work, and heard things about him, but I've never read anything by him. Very embarrassing fact, I know. I knew he is smart and everything, but boy, he's SO smart and righteous. Something shook inside me listening to him. What a great, inspiring person! I'm glad that we are living in a world where great thinkers like him exist.
"Professor Chomsky, so how should we live our lives?"
"We should live free"

With a completely different note, my illustration has nothing to do with the interview with Noam Chomsky, other than the fact that I was listening to him while working on it.
This is an illustration of my 'process'. I procrastinate a lot. I make cute things, draw things that have nothing to do with homework, etc. (I don't have a heart to confess my secret dark guilty pleasure.... er.. watching Korean expose shows. There. I said it.)
Here I am, playing chess with a giant - but cute - owl monster. It's also my subconscious. I usually play alone, as I am a total loser without much friends. And to add to the madness, I play alone very well. While procrastinating, my subconscious tells me I should be working. Me, being myself, leave it to the very last minute. 'It's okay, I still have three hours to deadline!'

YES! I bought a Moleskine. Holy moly, it was expensive. Holy moly. However, I was sold even before stepping into the art supply store. I've never paid much attention to these sketchbooks before. Then I noticed some of my favourite illustrators using them. By then, I was 30% sold. The tipping point came last week. There were rumors, yes, there were. 'Joe Morse has one', 'yes, I saw him carrying one' 'psst psst'.
Joe Morse is my awesome teacher, also a great artist. I was talking to him about my art toys, then *drum roll* he pulled out a moleskine! The rumors were true! He took notes, considering to use my toys as trial for a 3D prototyping machine. (I'd love to see my toys being prototyped with that machine) But more importantly... THE RUMORS WERE TRUE!

So I went all the way to Toronto to get myself a moleskine. What a big loser I am. 'My teacher has one, so I'm getting one', 'I suck, but I'll get better with better materials'
I like the feel of the paper, but it takes watercolour very strangely. It makes interesting dotted things as the water doesn't seep into the paper very well. Good enough for me nonetheless.

I did this sketch to get over the fear of blank white page.

Yo, Banana Boy

Yo...
This is an illustration of a palindrome, 'Yo, Banana Boy'.
My teacher hated it, and didn't received well by friends. However, I love it. I mean, look at that bunena. How can you hate the bunena like that! I am very bias - not only this is my work, but I am a crazy bunena affectionado. I think I eat 2~3 a day.
Yes, I know I spelled the bunena wrong. But I like saying bunena. Long time ago, my friend, who is a Korean South American, taught me that 'bunena' is Spanish for 'banana'. So I've been showing off my Spanish skills whenever fits, ever since. Few years ago, I dated this guy who spoke fluent Spanish. Needless to say, I showed off my awesome bunena Spanish. Only then I found out that my friend pulled a prank on me. Spanish for 'banana' isn't 'bunena' at all. What the f**k. I sincerely apologize for everyone who's mind has been polluted by my bunena shouting, all these years. I still like saying bunena, however. I cannot apologize for that!

This sketchbook drawing is named 'Jackie Chan Family'. Four of my school chumps went to Cuba few weeks ago. They were all Asian girls. Apparently, the hotel employees called them 'Jackie Chan Family'. I drew this as one of them was telling me stories of Cuban resort.

Jackie Chan? Interesting.
At my parents' store, every once in a while, little kids (sometimes grown ups) excitedly come to my dad. They are all shy and bring out a small piece of paper for my dad to give them autographs. What on earth!?! My dad doesn't look anything like Jackie Chan. What do I get? I often get Lucy Liu. Oh, I got Yoko Ono few times. No, I don't look anything like either of them. It's one of those 'All the Asians look the same' thing. But I do wish I look like Lucy Liu. Thank you.

This drawing and angry writing was done few days ago when we had guests. Some local Korean couple I've never met before. My parents met them at YMCA. *sigh* Most old Korean men are strangely uniformly rude and creepy. This man wasn't an exception. I've been getting these sort of thing since I was seven, due to my premature growth, but I still get angry. Whenever old (er... married and age 40-60) Korean men are invited to a certain house, they quickly notice the grown up daughter of their host. Korean word for unmarried girl is a 'virgin'. They are very excited to see a 'virgin' and can't seem to hide it. Here is how to act like them in stages:

1. Come into the house, when the host's daughter comes downstairs to greet, look at her creepily top to bottom. Don't forget the greasy-looking eyes.
2. Say, "You've grown a lot", even if you've never met her before.
3. As soon as sit down, ask when the virgin (host's daughter) is going to get married.
4. Comment on her losing virginity by saying, 'shy cats cross the line first' - a Korean saying, meaning that even if the girl acts all coy, she is a whore.
5. Ask the girl to sit RIGHT BESIDE you. And caress the chair beside you as if you are touching her bum.
6. Tell her to eat things on the table. If she says no thank you, comment on her dietary choices.

Yes, most old Korean men act exactly like the script. This guy, when my dad told him I'm not interested in 'weddings' and 'marriages', he said, "that's what they all say. But they are the first to get married". Um, by Korean standard, I am way past expiration date. Obviously I am not the 'first to get married'. Also... um, dude, do I know you? We just met. Can we discuss my 'virginity' later?

He had fits when my parents told him I'm a vegan. "What's there to eat!? Nothing to eat!"
Again, none of his business...
I have remind my parents not to invite any random people they met at YMCA just because they are Koreans. I know they miss speaking Korean and stuff, but for Christ sake.

Oh, that's a long entry about something that doesn't deserve that much attention.
However, since I'm on the roll here, another image!

This is a dress that I made two days ago. My friend Vicki had this really cute dress on one day. I asked her if she minds me getting the same one. I bought the dress and made the same one with this cherry fabric. But it doesn't look as good as I hoped. It looks rather like a sleeping gown. I know what I did wrong, so for the next time, I'll do better. Look it's finished with cherry buttons to go with the cherry print!

Another wasted weekend

Look what I did instead of doing homework this weekend!
Good lord. This is a bear purse. I have a cute bunny purse that I made, but it's too small to fit all my things. So I made him. Made with felted recycled wool sweaters and fully lined with my old skirt. I also made bunch of cake pins to sell at sales table this Friday. AND a babydoll dress for myself! All attempt to avoid work. I should eh... do homework.
Why is it so hard for me to sit down and do work? Somebody please help me.

That bear purses, I am going to make more next week and sell them at my etsy store with a grand opening.

I am a bad writer and dislike writing things, but this is one of few poems I wrote.
I am quite proud of myself. I wonder if it could be turned into a song. What a masterpiece. It has everything. My longing, and desire and even ambition! (which anyone can identify with, I guess) So here is the poem until I post an actual art next week. If grammar is wrong, please do ignore. Me no Engrish, and it's suppose to be a poem!

Ode to Vegan Donut

I like to eat vegan donut
Blueberry flavoured and carob flaked!
Chocolate swirl on a pumpkin flavour
Have one with hot coconut green tea

Universe Favours Chaos

This is for a comic book project themed 'Chaos'. I used the line 'Universe Favours Chaos' in my comic. I love saying that, and it was going to be the name of my toy company. But everyone told me it's mouthful. 'Universe Favours Chaos' is a simple, loose description of entropy. Thermodynamics always has been one of my favourite subject. What kind of super geeky loser nerd says that... yes, I am that nerd (and I did have trouble getting dates). But that doesn't mean I did well on that course. My professor was awesome, however. He told us that if the professor knows you, he/she doesn't have a heart to fail you. And the best seat to capture his/her eyes is the second row of right (students' right) side. I never got to seat there for the reasons I cannot recall. But professor Folks knew me because I'd yawn in his class without covering my mouth. Lucky for me, he thought it was funny. So I barely passed (I know that I did terribly on all my tests and exams). But I really loved that class, I swear.

Aaaaaanyways... so Murphy's law is sort of jokingly linked to thermodynamics. You know, heat escaping? Energy turning into waste energy? Universe expanding? Things going wrong instead of right?? My comic came about inspired by that.
Here is one page of it! Once it's published, I'll announce it on the blog.

Good night to all.

Oh, almost forgot to mention...
The artists who'll be in this book are: Shawn, Jill, Vicki, Jho, Heather, Peter, Elise, Britt, Roben, Tyrell, Alejandra, .... if I forgot anyone else, please do remind me.

Noodles!

Top View


Side ViewEven finished with Nutritional Info!
I am joking about MSG. This noodle is actually MSG free. Isn't that crazy?

Noodle cup illustration is here! As I promised. I thought I couldn't make it as it's not 100% done. My teacher, Harvey Chan told me that the blue is not the best idea for the sting ray. YESH, believe or not, that blue thing on the far right is a string ray, people. It's sad, really. I have to finish that to a shrimp. It's easier said than done as I have to do block prints of the shrimp... which means carving, inking, photoshoping... this noodle project never ends!
But I am quite happy with the rest. I've never tried this crazy colour scheme before. Orange! That's just nuts!!!
It slightly looks like those pictures on Greek vases...

I hope you all enjoy.

Dear God! Finally, a new post!

Vegan Donuts are here!


What's a better way to start a blog entry than a pile of vegan donuts!
They were present to me. I was waiting impatiently for them to arrive. Yum.
All the artificial vitamins and 15 grams of fat later...., I'm happy. It's funny, I never liked donuts before. However, whatever is 'vegan', I instantly have to have it.
I want to visit Seattle just to have their vegan 'Mighty-o-donuts'. http://www.mightyo.com/
Oh god, vegan donuts... they melt in your mouth, I tell you.

It's been a while since the last entry. I've been so busy with school, or just being overwhelmed by the amount of work to be done. I will try to post on my blog every week.
Cup noodle illustration coming up soon, I still need to make some adjustments to the design.