Outside the Planter Boxes: Public Intervention Project

Magical Tongue
Public Intervention Project
Wood, paper and fabric

Before

I once again got to participate in a Toronto artist, Sean Martindale's public intervention project. I had so much fun! I love Sean's work, and I have a total respect for him; so I was honoured take part in it. Sean's very sincere in his approach to art and making our city a better place. I often find idealistic people creepy, but not him. He does it with non-creepiness whatsoever. For those who haven't seen it before, I have participated in his Toronto advertisement take-over project last fall. Outside the Planter Boxes intend to direct public attention to Toronto's neglected tree planter boxes. Some of them are in a pretty bad shape. I picked the ones with dead tree and a damaged planter. I want to thank my intern, Nayoun Kim. Without her, I would've been up all night.

I tried not to do a permanent damage to the planters because it would defy the purpose. But it was very hard not to leave any footprint at all. I should've used more natural materials, I was hesitant using polyester fabric, treated paper, markers etc. etc. There were so many things to worry! In the end, I just went for it. If I worry for everything, I'd get nothing done.

The first image is "Magical Tongue." You can see this guy on University, North West of Dundas and University intersection. One block South of Mount Sinai hospital. I went to check the next day, and somebody already ripped out his tongue. \( ; o ; )/ Oh why! He was my favourite one, it kind of hurts. Thing about street art project is... it can be damaged pretty rapidly. So you have to plan for the graceful degradation (which I didn't... I was so inexperienced. I will plan those the next time).

Snake Snail
Public Intervention Project
Wood and paper

An incriminating photo. I deny everything.

Before

"Snake Snail" can be found on University, North of Dundas, East side of the street. In front of Sick Kids hopital. The little dude on the front is a speech bubble. My intern told me it looks like a blow-fish. I kind of regret putting that strange speech bubble there. Now that I see it, it doesn't go well with the composition.

Tear Me
Public Intervention Project
Wood and paper

"Tear Me" is on the West side of University street, just North of Queen Street West. I forgot to put up its arms and remembered it just before I went home that evening. The sun was setting, so I didn't get a very good photo of it. It was cute with two arms!

Here is a peak of one of Sean's planters. He put grass on top of planters and made it look like spilling out between the gap (the tree roots are pushing the concrete). Isn't it AWESOME?! He worked on many planters around the city. Here is Outside the Planter Boxes site. You can read up about the project on:
Good
Treehugger
Torontoist
Blog TO

The project is also covered on Global TV News, May 24th 2011 6PM and 11PM.

Sean Martindale

45th Anniversary Cover for This Magazine

What an honour to work with This magazine for their 45th anniversary cover. It was SO MUCH FUN! Dave, the awesome art director, actually let me draw a typewriter with a strange face! And I didn't know they would let us use my hand-written 'This' logo instead of their real logo. I am so excited about this. Thank you so much. Please subscribe to their amazing magazine!
Oh, while you are at it, please check out This magazine's cover gallery! 45 years of This Magazine Covers.
Big congrats to This magazine for its 45th year! Keeping us politically progressive <3

This is a original colour scheme, I like both versions. :D
We went for the top one because it stands out in the newsstands.

Snakes in the Forest

Snakes in the Forest
20X16"
Mixed Media on Wood

Having a really really busy Spring. I've attended FITC conference last week. I volunteered as a cotton candy maker at the event. My hands cramped by the end of the night, but it was a lot of fun to give away cotton candies. People smiled at me as they got cotton candies, and that made me feel like a rock star. Oh the things I'd do for some smiles! There were some amazing talks and technical workshops. But the best was at the very last; Kyle Cooper talk. He is the man who did opening credit for Seven, Gattaca, Superman, Spider-man and pretty much everything else. Oh man, I remember the first time I saw Seven. I was mesmerized by the opening credit. My heart sank when I first saw Gattaca opening sequence too. His talk was amazing. He also seemed to be a decent human being. There were so many memorable quotes, but what stood out the most was; "The only thing what you have in life is what you give away." He talked about giving to other people and involving others. I was deeply moved. I want to be a better person and become as nice as he is! It's just so awesome when a successful genius also turned out to be a nice person.

I also went to almost all the after parties. I think I am getting better at this "art of mingling at parties" without being overly creepy/nervous. I remember me being too nervous to go to my own art opening parties. I am actually having fun these days and meeting a lot of people. I've been having a difficult time lately and I thank everyone who spent time with me, taking me to places & keeping me company.

Above image is what I've done for my wonderful friend Erika's Canvas Collective website. You can download desktop wallpapers of mine and other illustrators' work. The original work has beige & blue colour theme, but I like the blue & pink theme better.

And... here I give you... Hyein as a cotton candy maker!

My Berlin + Amsterdam Travel Log

I am writing Berlin + Amsterdam personal travel log. My writing is... not good but if you are curious about what I've been doing in Berlin, please do check it out :)

My memory is rapidly fading. I have a very bad memory, which I should really see a doctor about. Hopefully, I can jot them all down before they all fly away.

Click here or above image to read my travel log.

Sketches from Far Far Away Part II (a.k.a Sketchbook la pathetique)

Dear Friends...
I miss you and I love you.
Only that I'm away (and not even that long), far far away, I truly realized how much I love you all. Two more days to Toronto.

I owly do miss you.

This guy's face was inspired by the windows in Amsterdam.

There is no London Fog in Europe. When I get back, I plan on drinking many gallons of London Fog. I guess it's "London" in Ontario.

My life doesn't mean anything without you and London Fog. To me, the colour of London Fog is purple.

Missing Berlin and Bruge (Caution: PATHETIC posting ahead)

Pictoplasma was a lot of fun. And the city of Berlin was everything I expected it to be and more. I am still in Europe, in Amsterdam. Got here today. It is raining outside and I'm shivering in a hostel basement, unable to sleep. This city is not made for a solo traveler, lemme assure you. What was I thinking when I booked this 5 months ago? Definitely not thinking straight.

Anyways... more postings once I get home, but here is my mental state right now (I spent the cold rainy evening here, drawing):

Finally Started Society 6

You can get my prints, iPod cases, laptop covers, etc. at Society 6!
Click the image below to access my Society 6 studio:

Meet the Cosmic Bear

Meet my cosmic bear (the very top image). It's saying,

"Remember the time we stared into the Alpha Centauri. Vertical icicles twinkling in million directions... and I miss you." 

It's only partially depicted here. I fucking LOVE Alpha Centauri. The name itself is badass. And such a bright star. I want to die in Alpha Centauri, death wouldn't be so bad in its glory. I wish I could name my Master's thesis, Alpha Centauri, but alas, it's already taken as a game name (and a very good game at that).

My apologies to myself and whoever is reading this blog for thin content these days. I don't remember posting this many sketchbook stuff consecutively, ever. These are the darkest hours. I'm kidding, actually, my life is pretty rad. I think meditating definitely changed me. I'm much less stressed. In the end, I live in an awesome city, where vegan donuts are finally readily available. God bless vegan donuts.

Sorry for rambling, so the point is, I am very busy with my Master's. It's draining my social life, soul and work. Here is another glimpse of what I'm working on for my Master's.

Text animated and added.

Lastly, if any extra-terrestrials listening to me right now... please do take me with you. But please do not probe my kidneys.