Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Last bunch of sillies ... ?!

Top are the last IKEA sketch of the year, and my door ... Bottom most likely is the last set of Minty comic of the year ... and the very bottom is myself as a unicorn ... Err ... a funky unicorn. It's a drawing game we play amount a group of artists pal ... we are supposed to draw ourselves as a unicorn ... Never imagine how I would look as an unicorn ... doodle this one here. Not too happy with my unicorn look ... may cook up somethings more "appealing" later ... Hummm ...

Monday, December 22, 2008

Happy Holidays Everyone!!

Thank you everyone for your visit and constant encouragement. Wish you a wonderful winter holidays!

Happy Hanukkah,
Merry Christmas,
Joyful Kwanzaa,
and a Great New Year!!

Stay warm and toasty,

Cheers,

Alina ^_^

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Brainstorming sketches ...

Have been brainstorming next painting ideas ... here are couple of the sketches inspired by music and nature.

TAG Post for 7 things about myself:
- I can't snowboard to save my life ... actually I roll down the mountain like a giant snow ball in the cartoon ...
- I never make snow angel before, promise myself to try that this winter to get it out of my system LOL
- I never see big giant snow falling from sky before ... hoping I will see some "serious" snow fall this Christmas
- I never EAT snow before ... not sure I want to try that ... Hummmmm
- I never make a decent size snowman before ... the only one I make is only 10 inch in heigh ... may want to try something bigger this winter ... if I ever get the chance
- I never sled before ... want to try that sometimes ... but may be I am too old for that?!
- I never drive in snow before ... going to take a road trip up north this Christmas. Hopefully I will get to some fun SNOWY adventure!!

Now 7 TAGs ... let's see ...
Chris Battle
Monkey King
Martin Wittig
Dave Pryor
Samanta Erdini
Crylic
Linton Joseph

Have a wonderful day!

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Warm and Toasty!!

Top is the final version of the Peppermint Mocha painting ... below are all the sketches. One thing I learn from this painting after I finish it ... I realize I never understand snow very well ... beside very limited traveling experience in winter, I never experience REAL snow situation.

I have been staring at the painting for days when it's almost done ... wondering what's missing, and why doesn't feel cold ... Then it clicks me!! Wait a second, I never experience a snowy white winter before. I want to paint a freezing cold snowy winter, but ... sub-consciously I painted a light snowy weather ... from my limited snow experience.

I never did realize my ignorant in all these sketches ... the color are too bright and too warm in all the drawings. Many people always wonder why my color from the world I grow up and live in ... tropic warm weather in Hong Kong and sunny California.

I kind of know these fact in the back of my head ... but never did THINK about it seriously.

BTW, Lorraine tag me to do the 7 items TAG post. I would post my TAG in my next post, since this post is getting a bit too long.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden & IKEA

Plants and woodland are few of the things that could be rambunctious, and yet give people the feel of tranquil at the same time.

WOO HOOO!! It's snowing at the mountain today, can't wait for the weekends.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Zooo outing!!

This top illo is a drawing game I am playing with Pascal. I try to continue the story moment in his illo. HE! HE!!

Monday, December 08, 2008

Silly joke!

This is inspired by a silly joke among my pals. We called ourselve - "Ice-Cream Angels." We kick butt and fight crime ... LOL
I may need to do some explaining here. We are very good pals at work, but we like to play prank to each other. We all have different mischief style ... The girl with a gun is very good at shooting nerf darts and throwing paper balls at people! The girl with a cyber glasses, she is the smart bunny. She can make everyone jump by saying somethings clever and wicked ... as for me ... I'm the one with an ice-cream.

I get good at "ransoming" people with ice-cream or forzen yogurt. People buy me ice-cream just to stay in peace!! WA! HA! HA! HA !! And the guy in the chair, he likes to throw paper balls, tell scary stories to freak other people out. He is good, but every now and then he may get into trouble, and we have to save his butt. Anyhow ... among ourselves, we like to out wit and play prank on each other. But if any one of us is in trouble, we will gang up and fight for justice ... and of course, we always recuse other helpless people from danger too!!

Sunday, December 07, 2008

"Similiar" ?!

The zoo keeper told us that female rein deers look exactly the same as the male, except they are 2 times smaller. These are female deers, and yes, they have antlers just like the male.

Since these female deers at the zoo don't live with any male deer, they kind of develop a strange social structure. The females will fight between each other and establish an alpha role ... which isn't a normal behavior in nature. Interesting story!!


These are from the LA zoo drawing outing. I just update the drawing section in my web-site, please come and visit.

Have a great week everyone!!

Thursday, December 04, 2008

Road Trip, Costco and Zoo ...

Top two pages are from the Julian trip. Below are Costco and zoo luncheon sketch.

December is an exciting month, first there is Christmas - my favorite holiday, and this month there are 3 shows in LA and Japan, which I am part of. I just up-date the main page and gallery section in my web-site with the shows info. If you are in the area, please come to visit the galleries. Have a great Friday and Happy weekends!!

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Rim of the World & "Balloon 2"

Top is inspired by the drive at the beautiful Rim of the World Scenic Byway. Below are on location sketches during the trip and a memory sketch of the sunset at the San Bernardino Mountains on the way home.

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

"Balloon"

When I travel to Julian, I drove pass many lovely areas, one of the places is Temecula. Top is inspired by the scenery along the way. Below are on-location travel sketches of Julian.

I just up-date the artworks and gallery section in my web-site, please come and check it out!!

Monday, December 01, 2008

White Christmas Wish!

Monday ... work day ... Brrr ... LOL

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving weekends. Aww ... after the nice long weekends, it's hard to wake up in the morning and get to work!! LOL I have too much fun partying with friends and visiting few different places. Top two sketches are the Arrowhead Lake. It was very cold ... kind of tricky to draw, when you can't feel your hands. LOL Not the best drawings, but I have lots of fun soaking up the beautiful scenery and enjoying the Christmasy atmosphere there!!

BTW, I am part of the up-coming "Price ... Less 2" gallery group show at the Hive Gallery. All the paintings in the show are less then 200 bucks!! Great time to do some Christmas shopping for cool arts. Top is one of my paintings. This up-coming Saturday is the opening reception party. I would love to invite you all to join the fun!!

Date: Dec 06, 2008
Location: The Hive Gallery
729 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90014
Time: 8 pm - 12:30 am