It's a bat! It's a horse! It's a Thestral! 

I fancy odd creatures. The more skeletal and spectral the better. 

Between drawing floral lace and colorful cotton candy (two different projects), I was going to take a break and do drawings of Rick Genest and Clement Chabernaud. But, that eventually became drawing the Faun from Pan's Labyrinth. 

Above is my contribution to a collaborative zine organized by my friend and fellow illustrator, Cassia Lupo. I'm excited to be a part of this project alongside my talented Art Center peers. I'll give you all an update a few months from now, when the project is completed and printed. 

My spread features a crane being chased by an eclipse of angry moths, after having eaten one of their dusty-winged fellows. 

Below is the digital sketch I did for this one:

This is a piece I did for the upcoming "Hard Love" show at the Hive Gallery in LA. It's opening this Saturday, February 4th. If you'll be in the area, I hope you can stop by!

This drawing is based on the Chinese myth of "The Princess and the Cowherd". I chose this story for the "Hard Love" theme because I believe that the moment someone is reunited with someone they love after being tested by time and distance is incredibly beautiful and profound.

Sometimes think about Ryan Gosling, and the jacket he wore in Drive.
I mostly think about the jacket.
Sorry Ryan Gosling.

Below is a sketch I did while on the phone. Because sometimes I doodle happy kittens, sometimes I doodle swirly vines, and other times I doodle bird shaman things. Duh.

Last weekend, I watched David Fincher's version of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. I really liked the styling of Rooney Mara's Lisbeth Salander. To me, the textures and silhouettes of her outfits struck a balance between vulnerability and savagery that felt true to her character -- a feeling of danger and chaos thinly veiled -- like ice over a river, or a dam held back by thread. 

I based these drawings on some of the details I remember. 

Sketches done as part of a current collaboration with Henry Hudson.
More details on this to come at a later date!

In the meantime, have some corgi love...

Happy New Year everyone!
Best wishes in traversing the new frontier that is 2012. ♠

JUNYI

I will now attempt to offset my saccharine-cup-of-cocoa of a previous post with an image of some work in progress featuring

(dramatically)

Cerberus, demon dog of Hades.

Short of hellfire and brimstone, this was the best I could do. Yes, blobby dog heads are the best I can do.

(pause)

And what?

Oh. And this...

Just an excuse for more brush diddling, and part of a larger piece in progress that I'm setting aside for now, but will inevitably mess with anyways. 

I've been creating a lot of festive imagery over the past few weeks for work. It's been fun! Here's a small sampling of what I've made -- sans copy and branding elements.

Err. I think that's enough. This post is getting a little overwhelmingly Christmas-y I'm sure. I've been getting back to digging around in my box of pencils, so you'll have some crosshatching to look forward to soon.

Have a wonderful holiday weekend! xo

I've got an Ace up my sleeve. 

Here's a little turn of the wrist for you. 

That said -- distraction comes in Spades. In the middle of my big project, I made a new Photoshop brush and decided to play around with it a bit. Batman and my conscience are not amused.
A little sketching helps to clear the mind though.

Anyways, while we're on the topic of topics that don't relate to any other topics, can I just mention how enamored I am with this BHLDN dress? *sigh* I want it. I guess drawing it is the next best thing...? Shush. It makes sense.

The bottom one marks digital painting number two...
Is there a book that tells you how to do this stuff or what?
Am I allowed to ask impossibly dumb questions on my own blog or what?
Anyways, I will keep at it. Painting, that is. Not asking dumb questions. Though, I sense I'll end up doing both.

I started out wanting to draw a pretty, festive snow queen. But, my neurons apparently misfired, leading me to create..........an elegant plague doctor...thing. *sigh* I do have a recurring fascination with plague doctors. I've also been looking at a lot of bird skull jewelry lately. So, I guess it's just in me.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend!

Wishing you all smooth sailing after a rainy weekend!

v v v

V V V V

Err.....in other news, I tinkered with my first digital painting. Can I call it that? Eh...anyways. Here it is. I guess I like it enough as a drawing, but, as a painting, I feel it lacks refinement. I definitely have a thing or two (or three) to learn in the technique department. Time to mustard my best efforts and ketchup! ..................................why yes...I do amuse myself.

Me on overcast days......mew. :(