Totoro, Totoro

I absolutely love Studio Ghibli films.  I remember watching Totoro as a kid and having absolutely no idea what was going on, but I remember wanting to ride in the Catbus because it looked so darn comfy.  I recently received The Art of Totoro as a birthday gift a few months ago, and it's such a beautiful book.  I love all the concept work done in watercolor, and it's really cool that the storyboards were done in watercolor too!  And of course, Oga Kazuo's background paintings are breathtaking.

Also, yes, I did draw that picture.  Totoro's quite happy with his umbrella, since it keeps his head dry (and the little soot sprite is happy too).

Goldfish!

Ugh, it's been a long time since I've blogged anything.  My apologies for that.

Anyways, a quick update on my life before I have to leave again.  Since my last post in February, I have left my workplace, and I just finished tutoring the other day, so...I'm currently unemployed.  I do keep myself busy, but I'm also looking at job postings online now.  I'm always open for commissions (especially since I have time for them now), so feel free to contact me! :)  In other news, I submitted my application to Animation Mentor!  I should hear back in 3 weeks or so, and I'm really praying for my acceptance.

 If you're wondering about the title of this post, well, it's my aunts' birthday party today, so I painted some quick goldfish for their birthday cards.  I'm so glad I practiced painting goldfish for my grandma's 91st birthday last year (because I just recently found out about this party, and it's kind of last minute)!  I'm still really new to Chinese painting, but it's something I plan to continue practicing because it's really fun :)  However, I really wish I had a paper cutter right now so I could trim some of the paper off (so it'd fit on the card).  I guess I'll do my best with scissors :D

Well, I have to go help prepare food for the party, so until next time! :)

Something I noticed...

Seems like 2 blogs in one month seems to be my record so far (how sad).  As promised to Miranda, here is an update =D

Work/tutoring is the usual, and there doesn't seem to be anything big happening...really.  However, I am excited for the next few months because I'll be preparing for my brother's wedding (we're making these tissue paper pom pom/flower decorations), and I'm considering making their cake topper as a gift (they said I shouldn't waste my time on it when I offered, but I think it'd be something they like).  What is a cake topper usually made of, anyway?  Hopefully it can be made out of polymer clay, since that's what I have/know how to use.  ^^;;

In other news, I plan to be going back to school soon!  I've been looking around at different programs, and have decided to apply for Animation Mentor's character animation program.  It starts a month after the wedding, so I'm really excited about that too =D

Anyway, here's a part of a picture I'm working on:

I had so much fun with the little clouds near the top xD  

Oh, and Happy Valentine's Day!  (I got no flowers, but I did treat myself to some cake, so that was definitely worth it.  mmm...)

My ears are ringing

Just got home from lion dancing all day.  Lots of drumming, firecrackers, what have you.  I don't understand why people light those long firecrackers inside the store (besides being illegal and ear-splitting, the smoke gets into your lungs and eyes).  Outside, understandable.  Inside a crowded Chinatown plaza shop thing...not so much.

Anyways, just a quick (and short update) as to what I've been up to.  Working, working, and lion dancing, with some drawing thrown in there somewhere.

...And here's Batman.  ...He's always watching you.

Happy New Year everyone!

I'm such an inconsistent blogger.  I'll make an attempt to blog more often.  To update on my last post a month ago, my house just had no power for about 2 days.  Other than that, it's completely fine.

I had a very relaxing and food-filled Christmas and New Year's, and I even made some New Year's resolutions!    It's tucked away nicely into my planner (which I look at very often) so hopefully I'll be able to go through it all (one of which is to blog more often)!

I recently got another part-time job tutoring middle school kids, which actually takes up a lot more time than I initially thought.  It's takes a lot of time to come up with lessons plans and worksheets and activities for each kid!  Each kid is struggling with different aspects of language arts, so it's a bit like making 6 different lessons plans (I have 6 kids).  It's pretty fun though, and they're all sweet kids (thankfully).  

These next few months will be very busy for me, so I hope I can get through everything in one piece.  Finishing everything I set out to do would be a very very nice bonus though.  

I haven't sketched anything in my sketchbook this month yet, so here's something from December:

In which I reminisce about the past

Attending my grandmother's banquet this weekend made me reminisce about my maternal grandmother, who passed away 10 years ago.  She helped raise me, so even after all these years I still tear when I think about her too much.  If she were still here, she'd be almost 100!

When I was really little, I shared a room with my grandmother, and every morning, she would wake up around 4 or 5 am to go for a walk (a feat I don't think I could ever accomplish).  Once in a while, I would manage to wake up at the same time as she did (quite miraculous, now that I think about it), and she would allow me to go on a walk with her.  I really enjoyed those walks, despite how sleepy or cold I was.

In which I share my adoration

I normally don't carry a camera around with me (mainly because I like to leave my hands free) but I really regret not taking a photo of my granduncle leaving with his wife.  They are one of the cutest couples I know, and I love them dearly.  My grandaunt is practically blind and has a lot of difficulty walking (my granduncle has difficulty walking as well, but that's due to old age), but every time I see them leave, he's always there to hold her hand and help her walk.

In which I return to a semi-normal schedule

It has been a really busy 2 weeks!  I just came back from my grandma's birthday banquet last night.  She is now 91!  Now that it's over (and I have a somewhat more normal schedule again), here are some sketches from the past couple days.  I had done a Chinese painting of lotus and goldfish for my grandmother, but I unfortunately forgot to take a picture. =___=  I'll definitely be painting goldfish again though, since they're incredibly fun to do! =)

In which I start a blog

that can't be very comfortable

Sketches of a mushroom girl!  I'm not sure what her name is, but I'll come up with one eventually :)