Kawaiillustration 3

Maybe in the desk, maybe in my pocket, maybe in my bag

I’m always forgetting all the time, I ponder my selections

Just a little, just a little, for real – just a little, happiness is coming alive

A sweet smell lingers in this fluffy atmosphere

Following up on my Kawaiillustration series, where I utilize a style of combined vector and traditional drawing, here is a piece inspired again by Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, who is probably the most popular model and personality in Japan nowadays. She's the personification of kawaii, and the pervasiveness of her influence to present and future Japanese popular culture is intense. The art is derived from her latest music video entitled "Candy Candy":

The video features Kyary running late for her taping (hence the toast in her mouth... "eat and run") but arrives just in time. While resting, an impostor replaces her which enrages her. Not sure, why the Onion gets mad, but since this is a tie-in with the marketing of Breo, a mint candy, perhaps the Onion is actually the God of Bad Breath. Nothing much can be said about the video, but one can't deny how her music sticks to mind. It's worth watching her other videos (Tsukema Tsukeru is interesting) and listening to her music, if it suits your taste and you dig these kind of stuff.

I started with a sketch (on the first paper I could grab to), then proceeded to inking, scanning, vectorizing, and eventually coloring.

Here's another version of the illustration:

Ah, but, this or that, everyone

Wants to be amazing

I heard your request, but I had no time to tend to it

Because, because, I’m a girl after-all, so I treasure “now”

A sweet smell lingers in this fluffy atmosphere

Candy candy candy candy candy

Sweetie sweetie girls love

Chewing chewing chewing chewing chewing

Cutie cutie ch-ch-ch-chewing love

Baghajit: The Tiger Warrior

"In peace there's nothing so becomes a man As modest stillness and humility; But when the blast of war blows in our ears, Then imitate the action of the tiger: Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood." (William Shakespeare, King Henry V)

As usual, it started with a simple doodle, and it grew into a story of what ifs. The Baghajit, or the tiger warrior is renowned for their ferocity in battle. Among warriors, the practice of consuming the enemy's heart is thought to endow him with the victim's strength. The Baghajits are not only given strength, but the lethal limbs of their conquests as well, all of which can be summoned at will.

Marriage Made In Heaven

When can the sun and moon really be together? They may share the same sky, but can only gaze at each other from afar across each end of the horizon. For only but a moment before they resume their eternal chase.

AngI.n.K. Corner: Vernal Equinox

Living in a temperate country makes one quite ignorant of words such as equinox and solstices Even if you don't know what they mean, one has to agree, they do sound nice and cool! And that's one of the reasons I chose this topic for this round of AngI.n.K Corner features. Learn and create at the same time.
"When the center of the Sun directly aligns to the celestial equator of the Earth.... And when the length of the day is almost as long as night... marks the start of Spring, a time of celebration of life and rebirth, the dawn of a new cycle of seasons."
The equinox happens twice a year, and on March 20, 2012, the vernal equinox occurs and it marks the start of Spring at least for those living in the northern hemisphere. This is significant for most cultures around the world because it marks the start of the year and a new cycle of seasons, and holds spiritual meaning as well for some religions (It's not coincidence that Easter happens near the equinox).
Here are the characters:

My rendition of the Earth… a component graphic for an upcoming piece about the vernal equinox. Funny, how I channeled a Humpty Dumpty look into the character. I love his Equator belt!

My rendition of the Sun… a component graphic for an upcoming piece about the vernal equinox. Just looking at her makes me feel all warm inside

My rendition of Day and Night having a conversation… a component graphic for an upcoming piece about the vernal equinox. Mr. Night here remarks how he’s as tall as Ms. Day already is, and the lady just shyly agrees.

My rendition of the Eostre, the dawn goddess… a component graphic for an upcoming piece about the vernal equinox. Bunnies and cranes always makes me giddy.

Kawaiillustration 1 & 2

Tsukema Tsukeru

Pockyland

Just my attempts at vector illustration using this style. In case you're wondering, these are inspired by this rising Japanese celebrity, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, who is the personification of Harajuku kawaiiness. This fascination ignited by Katy Perry's tweet (Yes I follow her!) about how she fell in love and got high with this video:

Moleskine Art: Kawaii

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu

Logo Design: CAMP@50

This year will be the University of the Philippines Manila College of Allied Medical Profession’s (UPM-CAMP) 50th Anniversary. CAMP has undergone dramatic changes from the time of its establishment in 1962 to what it is today. After 50 years since its founding, its pursuit of academic excellence and its dedication to serve the Filipino people have been the guiding pillars of the School. These goals shaped the School as one of the premier institutions in the country that offers degree programs in the professions of Occupational Therapy (OT), Physical Therapy (PT), and Speech Pathology (SP) and post-graduate programs like MRS, MRS-SP, MClinAud and MPT. And just recently, the college has finally found a new home in its own building.

As a graduate and having been a faculty member for 10 years, CAMP has been a very important part of my life. I am so indebted for the all the wonderful memories, uplifting knowledge, skills and experiences. One cannot deny that the most amazing people of the country belong and were produced by this college. Sure it is something to be called a graduate of CAMP (considering how tough it is to graduate) but where else can find a college that respects each of its constituent for everything you are, molding you not only to become the best OT, PT or SP, but allowing you to grow with your other talents as well (singer, writer or artist, or whatever unconventional skill you might have). So it was with great pleasure for me to create the seal of CAMP, and this time, to design the commemorative logo of CAMP’s golden anniversary.

Dean Cabatan sent me all the necessary information I need to work with. The theme is: “CAMP @50: Aiming Higher -- toward greater relevance and stronger leadership”. The seal and the whole text should be included in the whole logo set. One of the informal guidelines I have when creating a commemorative logo is that it should look good enough for you to wear it. And of course, when you wear a logo, it should be flashy enough for people to notice you and easy enough to identify with the message.

I wanted “50” to be the main highlight of the whole design, incorporating the graphical elements within its outline. Celebration was what I have in mind, and though the drawing looks random, each swirl and swoosh represents an aspect of the chosen theme. I had to keep it simple as well to facilitate printing in all forms.

The CAMP seal will be conveniently placed inside the “0” and the text are placed around in simple but elegant NeueHelvetica font.

Of course, gold is the theme color, so I used different shades of yellow and orange in the logo. Good enough to wear?

Here is how the logo might look like in shirt form (I soooo hope CAMP has the budget to make these shirts):

Happy 50 years CAMP!