A nice cuppa char!

Ok so I know I did a post 15 minutes ago but after boiling the kettle, sorry no, saucepan (my mum has this theory that gas is cheaper than electricity and seeing as we're in a recession, every little helps) to make a cup of tea, I was tempted again to get out the indian ink and go crazy!

This literally took 5 minutes. This obviously isn't me because I use massive mugs with tanin stains on as opposed to teacups and I don't live in rooms with chandeliers. I decided to leave the next page empty as it gives the image more of a sense of space.

So there you have it. Another 5 minute illustration :D

Just for interest, how do you like your char? I let the teabag brew for 3 minutes, then take it out and add just a tiiiiny splash of milk. No sugar por favour, don't want to spoil the flavour! At the moment chai tea is my favourite and good out Twinings has send me a 50p voucher so will definitely invest in a box next time I go shopping.

再見!

Messing about.

So after doing 1 hours of my hermeneutics module, which was a relief seeing as I had a dry spell of about 2 weeks and my assignment is due early october, I called it a day. Not only have I turned a new leaf when it came to studying but I've also been getting quite creative recently. Below are some quick illustrations. Whadya think?

A famous Bible verse which I love and have said over myself over and over again this year. The typography needs some work though. Think next time I should use less colours and be more strategic when it comes to which words are in capitals and which in smalls. Christ should have played a bigger role in this illustration I think, with the other words fading more into the background. Perhaps layering with colour next time?

I'm not entirely sure what I wanted from this picture, just wanted to make bored eyes, as recent illustrators of late seem to do this a lot. Maybe she's in a dance studio attempting a plie?

Some characterisation. Wish I knew someone who looked like the boy second left.

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My Bubz-inspired fabric frenzy!

After watching a video posted by Bubz, a youtube vlogger

http://www.youtube.com/user/bubzbeauty?feature=chclk#p/u/10/RQGFmvunk_Q

I felt inspired to do some DIY and create my own cute bow top :)

Bought a £1 navy blue t-shirt from Primark and got snipping.

Using fabric scissors snip the neckline so it can be worn off the shoulder.

Using an old silk scarf, I made 2 bows. Took a bit of patience as they had to be adjusted.

Once I got the right size I sealed off the ends using my beautiful sewing (given to me with love by my gorgeous friend Sarah Williams from Deal :))

Then I cut some white cloth into long strips about 5.5" wide and turned them into bows.

I then placed them into position and sewed them onto the top.

Trim off any stray threads.

There you go!

What do you think? I was quite pleased with the end result. Quite proud because it's the first top I've ever made too. My bows are a little larger than that in the video and I used different bows because I wanted to use scrap material around the house rather than buy from a fabric shop. The total cost of this project was £1. Being Chinese and a student, this is a plus for me!!

That's it for now really. Erm....going back to Bible college in 6 days time to do Creative Arts Academy, a live-in course designed to build your Godly character and teach you what it means to live a lifestyle of worship. I'll be joined by 2 of my friends from the Year of Training course as well as some new people so am super excited!

Stay tuned.

再見!

Geisha at your service!

A few years ago I bought some Kosheshi dolls from Chinadoll. They are wooden dolls that originated from Japan and it is characteristic for them to not have any arms or legs.. I thought they were pretty cute and decided to draw one of them during my artsy down-times. The one below is a combination of watercolour and black Indian ink.

After I decided to see how it would differ if I used a sewing machine to "draw" it.

I think the end result of the embroidered one looks less refined and has a certain naive quality to it. I think to improve I could have made the smile more of a curved shape because here she just looks like she's staring pointblank. Still, I'm pretty pleased with it and gave it to my youth pastor's wife from my London church.

Doodles whilst watching Twilight *hangs head in shame

So there wasn't really any good things to watch on TV last night (why on earth is this text blue and underlined?? There isn't even an underline button here!!)

Then on, it's either E4 or C4 I don't quite remember but it was showing Twilight. I know, the book's not exactly brilliant literature and the film is even worse. You just get shots of Robert Pattison looking all forlorn because he's an 80 year old vampire trapped in a teenage boy's body and his skin get's all diamond-y in the sun. Now I know vampires don't exist but last time I checked they definitely didn't have skin worth ££££. Then there is the tortured soul that is Kirsten Stewart because she likes Pattison but she shouldn't because he's another species. It's all very tiring but I watch it in any case because there are only so many re-runs of QI you can watch. To cut Pattison some slack, he's actually not too bad in this romantic comedy that he starred in. I really can't remember the name of it. Hm. That's not a good sign.

For those of you who haven't watched Twilight, the script is very predictable and doesn't require much concentration, which is why I did this.

Not brilliant in my opinion but can certainly pull it off as abstract perhaps? The girl was inspired by this girl that Moira (check out her stuff at moiralam.blogspot.com) and I met today in Southbank. She's doing a marketing MA and working on a final project about art and ethnic minorities so I drew her.

Surely it's ethinic majorities now seeing as over half of the UK's population is foreign? Anyway, I digress. Stay tuned for more of my doodles and ramblings.

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Cards for leaders at SLAC Youth Summer Camp 2011

So I was co-leading at this Christian youth summer camp organised by the Chinese Alliance Church network in late July and there's the reunion BBQ this sunday in Wimbledon. I had a lot of fun with the kids and loved serving with the leaders. So I want to make a gesture of thanks and thought of card-making.

For each leader I brainstormed of things that come to mind when I think of them. So here's some quick sketchy cards!!! I hope they'd like it :)

(disclaimer: the scientist, doctor, pastor & air pilot were inspired by google images, everything else came from me!)

This was inspired because Cherry pretended to be a dog for one of the dramas.

Pete told me he was at med school. This is him in 40 years time.

Matt doing his molecular biology aged 50.

Nico: China's most accurate answer to Borat.

Theresa in a soap-making, sand bottle-making frenzy.

Sam's distinct style: Cardi over his back, high trousers & a football.

Faster your seat belts it's Marco the pilot!

Eyan on the mic.

Ether told me he studied the structure of rocks so i teased him about having no friends. Cruel, I know.

Inspired by the 1st day during camp when Brad had to re-write all his sermons after seeing us...

The Making of Frank

Well it's been a while since I've posted anything on blogspot. Apologies, been a bit preoccupied with bible school (well...it's a character-building leadership-training course but bible school for short).

So I've graduated, 1st year theology degree in the bag and I'm back in London Town. Goodbye Kent and hello 8 hours sleep!

After about 2 weeks of constant job hunting, catching up with friends, I thought it was about time I got the creative juices flowing again in case I lose my arty mojo for all eternity. What better to do than to trawl through my art school reserves?

I grabbed some yummy watercolour paper and got out the indian ink (Cass Art sale woop!) and started painting. Introducing a kawaii style Geisha girl pouring tea :)

Next up, I find another Cass Art bargain in the art box. It's not so much an art box as an old River Island corrugated cardboard

box, which I was meant to unpack a year ago when I prematurely ended my illustration degree (a story much too long to be told here, another post maybe). I find

a watercolour paper book £1.95. Ooooooohhh I just love touching it, it's great when the paper's off-white and textured.

I get painting straight away. The watercolour took a bit of getting used to, think I'm getting a bit rusty. All I've done this year is do a bit of logo design for my course's fashion show and the occasional birthday card-making but besides that, my creative output has been below average. Anyway, rambling aside, here are the two images I've done (albeit copied from a French child

ren's book).

Now is the exciting part. Back when I did my art diploma in Canterbury I did an icon project with my Grandpa as my inspiration. Sadly, he's passed away the January just gone but I'm happy that it was relatively pain-free. Also, I guess the project was a way of honouring him. So in the project I made some 3D felt toys: a zimmer frame, cigarrette, cigar, Grandpa obviously and a sheep (random I know, it was something I made one friday night whilst watching my housemate's boyfriend's Rome box set). I bought way too much felt from C&H Fabrics, having the license to abuse my student discount and all and now 2 years down the line, I've made Frank the Deer.

Yes ladies and gentlemen, Frank is pink because he's THAT hardcore.

Stay tuned for more summer holiday painty finger shenanigans.

再見!

Chingaling xxx