Felt (Mobile greeting cards and more)

Felt. was officially started last year November. But before that, I never trusted myself I could do this. 'What? Have my own business? Selling my own designs?' Although I loved creating things with my hand and people kept saying 'you should sell these!', I wouldn't dare to go forward. But after consistent encouragement from my friends, I participated in Patchwork craft show last year and ever since then, felt. has been a big part of my life. I love coming up with the original ideas and bring life with my own hands. And they are cute too!

To be honest, it's been such a struggle and a challenge to do a business on my own. Most of time, I'm so tempted to quit but more I think about it, I can't quit because this is what I love to do. Hopefully felt. will see more light in the future but until then, I will continue to create.

http://madebyfelt.com

Kumi & George

It's always a blessing to be part of your close friends' wedding whether it's being in the bridal party or organizing the event. And the opportunities come more often to me because I am an artist. ^_^ My friend Kumi and George asked me to caricature themselves and create a guest sign-in canvas. All the guests' thumb prints would create a hot air balloon and carry Kumi & George. I guess it also symbolized their wish to be supported by their community as they started a new life together.

Heartspeak

My dear friend Caroline has passion for writing.  She was launching her blog and asked me to design the header. She wanted to include specific things in the art:

Hippo & dragonfly: her favorite animals
Cityscape
A girl holding a heart

Here is her blog. http://carolinejasmine.com

She also has heart for sharing life stories with other women. She held a event called Heartspeak for women to come and share their stories. Her vision was to support and love each other because we all are broken people.

Project Agitate was the name of an online newsletter that was created to arouse people's curiosity and help them to think about different issues of the world. My friend Nancy who was the part of the project at that time asked me to design the header of the newsletter. She wanted me to come up with different ideas that can portrait 'agitating a brain' with the similar style of Ray Lamontagne posters. Although the project never bloomed to the public, I still enjoyed the process of trying new look from my usual style. 

Starfish Project

In July, 2011, I went to Beijing, China for a two weeks missions trip. On the second week of the trip, my team went to Starfish, a socially conscious organization that supports exploited women through the sale of jewelries  .  They were preparing for a new catalogue for the next season and they needed somebody to edit their photos. At first, all of us went there not knowing what to expect, and by the end of the week, I was grateful to use my time and talents for the greater purpose.

My job was to make the models in the picture look prettier and to make jewelries stand out more. I gave more clean looks by erasing moles and wrinkles, adjusting light on the surroundings and the jewelries. Visit Starfish and support their cause by purchasing their jewelries.

Cleaned hair, erased moles and nail polish on the hand. 

Cleaned hair, removed nail polish and bra lines showing through the shirt, filling in the background, brightness and contrast. 

Cleaned hair, removing a glare on the pendant, removed nail polish

Removed the line crossing on the dress, brightness and contrast on the necklace

Cleaned hair, removed the glare on the pendant

Cleaned hair, erased some moles and wrinkles

Hope

This painting was for an art auction that was held on 6/17/2011 against Human Trafficking especially for the sexually exploited victims. My school friends were holding the event, so I got to put my hands on in details during the preparation time and share my inputs. Many of my CalArts friends came to support. The goal was to raise $5,000 and we raised $4,600. They were given to two organizations: She Dances and Zoe. About two days after the event, the director of She Dances personally expressed his gratitude and said the money we raised will be specifically used to help a girl from Honduras. I was thankful that our time, work, and talents helped a person's life to be changed. It was special event for myself as well because I have heart for human trafficking and it gave me an opportunity to use my talent for others.

This piece is almost my self-portrait. I like to put meanings and stories into my work. It took me awhile to bring out the images out from my head to an actual drawing. It went through several revisions.

At the time I painted this, I was struggling with the emotion I had. I felt like I was stranded in the life situation. In fact, I've always felt like that from young age. I pictured myself as a bird captured in a shell, wanting to break out, or a person wrapped around sticky heavy web, and can't get out of it. I wanted to be free. I'm sure everyone felt the same at some point in their lives. So I painted this image as a symbolism of my hope. One day, I'll be free, lifted up from the deep swamp. Not only after life but even in this life. My wish was that whoever buys my painting (my friend bought it) will look at my painting and get hope so that they can pick themselves up.

CupcakeCamp OC T-shirts

These are the t-shirt designs I did for Cupcake Camp OC.  Four of my friends and I organized this event to raise awareness and funds for human trafficking.  It was held on August 1, 2010 at Atrium Hotel in Irvine. More than 1,000 people came, over 5000 cupcakes were donated, and we raised $9,100!!!! Definitely it was memorable moments.  Here is the link to the website. http://cupcakecampoc.wordpress.com/

This one made to the final!! Do you get the joke? A cake in a cup, trying to be a cupcake!!

The bottom two designs are edited version of my friend, Hannah's design.

Noah's Ark

This was the sample for a possible illustration freelance job.  The client wanted to put biblical scenes on a deck of playing cards.  Each number from one through thirteen represented something in the bible.  For this one, the client wanted the story of Noah's ark because the number of people who went into the ark which was Noah's family was 8.  Although i didn't get the job, it was fun to draw.

The Company

They are from one of my favorite dance movies called, 'The Company.' It has some beautiful choreograph. I was amazed how beautiful human bodies are.

Javelin

What are you up to?!!

It took me a while to figure out the right texture and color of the paint. I wanted to keep the flashy feeling of the skin and keep the wings to be transparent. Thinking of this character, I wanted the texture to look more organic, aged, and wild. Instead of acrylic, I used more gouach and watercolor.

Coming home...

CG Protege

CG Protege was one of the school we taught in Singapore.

Subway

One of the best thing in Singapore. I mean it.

Movie Theatre

Flow~

Libby

Sometimes when you are really really tired and don't want to draw, and you go 'Ah!!! whatever!!' the best drawings come out? I mean this is not the best-drawing-ever but this one came out better than what I expected. Whenever that happens, it makes me think 'should i make myself always tired?' (stupid me....)

Libby