Four Days in One and Still Behind

Dimanche, 8th Janvier, 2012; 23:29

Location: Ubud, Bali Indonesia

Why: Orange you glad I'm doodling a new friend amidst bamboo plants? I'm so clever. And sick.

I am behind on my 30 Day Drawing Challenge. Three reasons. 1) Cecilia and Roman were in Bali! 2) I'm bloody sick. 3) Epic downpours.

Okay, the last reason is a cop out but the rain is keeping me from getting better! Je suis tres malade ):

Spent some QT with two peeps that I adore, we made some epic drives to and from Kuta. Which consequently, got us all under the weather. Due to epic downpours. No kiddin'!

My two babes in town for a visit. Very late lunch (early dinner?) at Sari Organiks:

No matter how furiously I sketched today, I am still days behind. But here is the effort:

Day 17: Draw My Favourite Plant:
Well, I don't know if you'd consider bamboo a plant or a tree. I think they're both. Regardless, it is friggin' awesome and I had a blast drawing it in black ink.

Pilot G-Tec-C4 in 0.4, Black - you complete me:

Day 18: Draw Just a Doodle:
Literally....

...just a doodle:

Moving on...

Day 19: Draw Something New:
Mark Zipf. He's new. As in my newest and 350th friend on Facebook. That counts right? Mark is also the only Gerppino I know. Hey, that's new.

Concentrating while plugged into Deadmau5:

Creeped his profile pic and chose this one to draw:

If I like you, I may creep you too. Then draw you. Creepy? Only when I've been drinking.

Day 20: Draw Something Orange:
Solseng! How did you know orange is my favourite colour? I love Orange so much it was the theme for my 32nd birthday party. Creep my Orange Party photo album. Go on, you know you wanna.

I should put this on my Christmas list for this year:

Just make sure it's Pantone 021 C!

Well, that's all I got for you fine folks. After tonight, I'll only be three days behind. But that's tomorrow's concern. Right now, I'm concerned about the growing pile of snot rags next to my bed.

Finding Family and Inspiration on Facebook?

Lundi 2nd Janvier, 2012; 16:56

Location: Ubud, Bali Indonesia

Why: So that Facebook is not a TOTAL waste of time...

Man, I'm really loving Deadmau5 these days. The only thing missing when rocking out to these beats is some good ol' BC bud. Instead, I'm being productive and pumping out words here.

So new years came and went. Jasmine and I had our lovely Japanese neighbours over for dinner along with an old friend of Jasmine's, Julio; accompanied by his girlfriend Antonia.

Amazing Indian food was prepared by Jasmine. We broke out the wine and were all in good spirits. Later, Jasmine and I walked down our street to the soccer field where Michael Franti and guests were playing a benefit concert for the Bumi Sehat Birthing Clinic - two doors down from our house. Amazing stuff. Simply amazing. A great start to 2012.

Day 15: Draw a Family Picture:
Unfortunately, I don't have a complete photo of my immediate family with me (don't judge). So I had to get creative. Facebook. Love it and hate it. My sister Diane had tagged me in a very old picture; our first Christmas in Canada. This was before Diane and Day's time.

As much as I adore the photo, I admit to having a hard time drawing this family portrait. For one thing, it is very old and details are lost. Another thing, it's just hard to draw myself and, it seems family members.

And so, I have a family picture that is perfectly incomplete. I kinda like that it is not finished:

Close up of Dad, me, Cam and Mum. Not much of a resemblance but...:

Not every day is a stellar drawing day. I am okay with that.

Day 16: Draw an Inspiration:
Wow, where do I even start. Everyday is an inspiration for me. Waking up knowing all the possibilities out there is so exciting. And yet I was at a loss for what to draw. Then, I remembered a picture someone posted on Facebook. So I went back to that picture, downloaded it (again, don't judge) for reference.

It's actually not really a picture but a sort of manifesto. Similar to lululemon's. I love manifestos. I even have my own; before working for lulu. I think talking about my manifesto in my interview had something to do with getting the job. Is that true KC?

I picked out the mantra's (if you will) that resonated with me and recreated it here:

My personal favourite:

The Inspiration for the Inspiration:

I just bought another fun piece of fabric. I have no idea what I'm going to make but it's got giraffes printed on it. Giraffes!! And it's pink!

Tales of Red Capes et a Bientot 2011

Samedi 31st Decembre, 2011; 17:58

Location: Ubud, Bali Indonesia

Why: What would happen if Superman and Little Red Riding Hood hooked up? Hmmmm, creepy.

Hmmm this is my last post for the year.

Today, in Flying Yoga class, the instructor asked each of us to talk about one thing we are proud of in 2011. This is how it went for me:
"Hello, my name is Davie. I am working with a wrist injury from RSI. I am proud that I just spent the past five hours finishing up the two drawings needed for today's post and to stay on top of this 30 Day Drawing Challenge" Some quizzical looks but I was beaming with pride. Achieving small goals daily will do that for me.

Day 13: Draw a Comic:
I thought long and hard on this one. I have always been a comic book fan and loved admiring the greatness of Stan Lee. As a tomboy, I wasn't into barbies or such similar foolishness. Instead, I wanted to be a super hero. I wanted to wear the tights. I wanted the lasso dangling off my hips. I wanted the cleavage that came with wearing a skimpy unitard. Most of all, I wanted the red cape. You know the one. I even wanted the curl in my hair but no such luck; I am Chinese after all.

I'm no Stan Lee or Alex Ross for that matter. But here's the effort. Work in progress:

Getting the foreshortening to look decent was killer:

My all-time comic book hero, hands down:

Close up. Because I spent hours drawing this babe:

Day 14: Draw a Fairytale:
After drawing the red caped crusader, I was onto another red cape. But of a totally different kind. The reason I picked this fairytale is because I love the darkness of this tale. I mean a wolf dressed as a granny, waiting in bed for the granddaughter? Freaky shit yo!

Visualizing how this style of drawing will play out:

Adding some shades for texture and dimension:

 

Finishing off with a touch of red:

My last post for 2011. Short and sweet. And red.

Michael Franti and guests are playing in the soccer field on my street. Say that again? And where am I ? Oh yeah, still in P.A.R.A.D.I.S.E. This shtuff never gets old.

Just a West Coast Hippie

Jeudi 29th Decembre, 2011; 13:19

Location: Ubud, Bali Indonesia

Why: Hippie chick loves Stanley avec un touche francaise.

J'aime apprendre le Francais! Moin les accents. Il fait tres chaud aujourd'hui. Et juste fini manger du pain frais. Magnifique!

Kay, that's enough French for now. More on this latest endeavour in another post. Or when I get a little better. How did I do Dylan?? Un petit peu mieux?

Yesterday I finished that tye dye dress so, no, I did not do my draw-ring. But I did today!!

8:34pm - Two ninety minute yoga classes and a hearty dinner later....

Day 11: Draw a Turning Point in My Life:
Back in 2005, I went to BC to run the Vancouver Scotiabank Half Marathon. Little did I know it would change my life. I remember hanging out at Kits Beach on Canada Day and having an epiphany. This was where I needed to be. To live. I needed the ocean. I needed the mountains. The fresh air. The beach.

It hit me like a ton of bricks. But just to make sure I wasn't a total nut-job, I came back that October - Vancouver's rainy season. I walked the entire perimeter of Stanley Park in the pouring rain and LOVED every minute of it. Three hours and 10k later, I was literally soaked to my knickers. And thinking how much a one way ticket will cost me. Since then, I have ran around Stanley Park truckloads and know every curve, turn and bump. I yearn for it sometimes when I am homesick.

Work in progress. Visualizing my beloved Stanley:

Easily one of my favourite places on earth. That's West Van in the background:

If I squeeze my eyes really tight, I am bombing past Siwash Rock on my bicycle, half baked with Monte and a bag of gummie bears:

I could cry sometimes at how much I miss British Columbia and my greatest love, Vancity. After 5+ years, I'm still pinching myself she is my home.

Day 12: Draw My Most Recent Accomplishment:
While I didn't draw the previous challenge on that actual day, I was strategically planning for today's challenge. You see, I had to finish that tie dye dress.

Did I mention, it was all hand sewn? With french seams and in the loosest rayon fabric ever woven? For you fashion savvy readers, you know what I'm talking about. By the time I sewed my last stitch, I had full blown sewer's rigamortis in my fingers. But it was worth it. The tie dye reflects what I really am most of the time - just a west coast hippie.

Close up of my sewing job. Hand sewing straight stitches on this fabric was brutal:

My hippie dress:

Rendered using Faber Castell coloured pencils and pen:

Apologies for the dark photos here. It's night time and my house only has mood lighting. It's all very romantic; just missing a certain young lad *wink*

Let's see what tomorrow's challenge is...Draw a Comic? That could be interpreted in many ways. Tomorrow is also 6pm free yoga at the Yoga Barn. Did I also mention I love the word Free? Check out the 'Joe Cool and the F Word' post if you haven't already.

Tres bon et bonne nuit! A bientot!

Gummies Dancing to Departures

Tuesday December 27th, 2011; 21:31

Location: Ubud, Bali Indonesia

Why: Getting the munchies while watching Departures.

I have a confession.

Yesterday, I didn't draw my favourite TV show. Instead, I was busy sewing a tie dye dress. By hand. With french seams. It took me hours literally. By the time I'd stopped for the evening my fingers were spent.

So I gave them their beauty sleep and today, they blessed me with a wonderful 1st sketch and a 'meh' 2nd one.

Day 9: Draw My Favourite TV Show:
This was a toss up between the only two shows that ever mattered. After much deliberation, I decided since I am not a serial killer working for Miami Metro as a Blood Splatter Analyst, I couldn't exactly identify with this show as I do the other one. My awesome lil brother introduced me to this show that nailed what I've been contemplating for years. After one episode, I was hooked and inspired to achieve my goal: Travel for one whole year.

If you've been humming and hawwing the very same thing, please, please, please buy, borrow or download (kay maybe don't DL) this show. But at least borrow it.

Once you have watched it, do yourself a favour and buy a one-way ticket to somewhere far!

And if you're still contemplating, take a closer look within yourself. You know you want to do it. So, do it meow:

I am also so bloody proud departures is a Canadian show! Justin, Scott and Andre are amazingly humble which give an authenticity that is often lacking on other travel shows. Seriously, watch this show. And I will shamelessly plug their new series Descending. Going live sometime in January.

Hey Skinner and Bray (Brinner?!), if you guys are reading this, do I get any kick backs for plugging these two shows?

Moving on.....

Day 10: Draw My Favourite Candy:
This one was actually really tough. 1) I am a stoner. Yeah, that's right mum and all my past bosses who may be reading this. 2) I live in BC, where the world's best weed is grown. 3) I lived around the corner from the 7-11 in the West End. Do you know how many times I've walked in baked at midnight with the munchies? I'd always make a beeline for the 5cent candy section. Oh yeah, take me to the candy shop Fiddy.

Along with big foots, coca cola bottles, hot lips and ju jubes, this is also what I get:

Oh and Gummie Worms always make it into the party bag mix with my Dancing Gummie Bears:

Tomorrow's challenge is on a more serious note for me: Draw a Turning Point In My Life. But before I think about how I'm going to draw this, I must get back to my online french lessons.

I didn't tell you? J'apprends le Francais en ligne! Now if I can only figure out how to use the accent keys on this Thai keyboard.....

Joe Cool and the F Word

Sunday December 25th, 2011; 18:48

Location: Ubud, Bali Indonesia

Why: A dog and a word. Word.

It's Christmas?! I almost forgot. It's actually quite refreshing. Bali is the only Hindu State in Indonesia so today is just a regular day. And I wouldn't want it any other way. Besides, everyday has been Christmas since I left Vancouver to traverse this side of the world.

So as just another day, I went about my daily routine of doing my draw-rings, cracking coconuts and scooting around on my Scoopy. Today, I went to Sayan with my Japanese neighbour Osamu to hear him play the piano at the posh Bali Wood Resort. This tucked away hideout was quirky and stunning.

The lounge area was a gigantic open space of opulence. Osamu is behind the piano on the left side:

After a rainy drive back to my village, I cracked open another coconut, threw in a mango and papaya. Et voila! Another Drink of the Gods.

Day 7: Draw My Favourite Word:

This one was kinda tough. I have so many favourites. While running them through my head, I was amused at the realization that I love four lettered words. Love. Dude. Yoga. Mont (my best mate's nickname). Sexy. Food. Ubud.

My friend Blair recently wrote on my FB wall: I love your life. It made think I love my life too. Why? 

Then, I finally settled on one that best described how I feel about my current life:

I love this word so much I went crazy!

While downing glass after glass of that nectar juice, I set to work on my next drawing. **Notices some ants in the drink. Drinks it anyway**   Hmmm, you can clean the backpacker but she's still a dirtbag....Ants have protein don't they?

Day 8: Draw My Favourite Animated Character:

Oh this one was fun! I have been enamoured by this dog for as long as I can remember. When I first got my Scoopy, I immediately thought of replacing the 'c' with 'n'. But the rental dude would not be amused so I settled for thinking 'Hey it's like if Snoopy and Scooby were gay for each other, they'd be Scoopy!' Ah-hahaha

Sketching the outline:

Putting some coloured pencils into action. Faber Castell, I heart thee:

Seriously, this beagle is thee Joe Cool:

Tomorrow's challenge is an easy one! But the day after is a bit harder. Wow, I'm on track! Funny how I thought I needed this mind mapping thingy to sort out my thoughts. My pencils and fingers have been sorting themselves out for me. I hope I haven't spoke too soon.

Straight to the Drawing Board!

Friday December 23rd, 2011; 14:32

Location: Ubud, Bali Indonesia

Why: Best mates and princesses. All in a day's drawing.

I love how my hand and pencil are treating me today. Kay, so you know how yesterday I was going on about digressing and getting easily distracted?

Not today my friends. This gal is a drawing fiend right now. That's right, I am caught up on this 30 Day Drawing Challenge. I woke up this morning, had a lovely breakfast and conversation with Jasmine and went straight to the drawing board. Pun, definitely intended.

After a few hours, here is what I've churned out. **pats herself on the back for being focused**

Day 5: Draw My Best Mate:
This is my best mate, Monte. We have known each other for 13 years. Words cannot describe how much I love him. I've never known anyone who has understood me better than him. I've also never known anyone to get under my skin too!

Work in Progress. Please excuse the bad lighting, it is pouring rain today:

A bit of shading here, darkening some lines there. Et voila! Un dessin complet:

Boyaa!! Day 5 is done! I just realized I wrote Day 4 in the sketchbook...bah!

Day 6: Draw My Favourite Book Character; cannot be a movie:

This was so fun to draw! My favourite character is Elizabeth from the Paper Bag Princess. Written by my favourite children's book author, Robert Munsch. 

Love her so much I was Her for Halloween last year:

And here is the spunky Elizabeth:

Close up. Oops, Day 6, not 5:

So there you have it. Sometimes, I just don't understand the workings of my brain. But when it's working, it makes me happy.

The challenge tomorrow: Draw my favourite word. Gonna go for a walk for this one. In the rain.