July 28, 2006

  • //POGs Returns

    The samples have arrived at my door.

     

    These cool collectables may be found in a store near you this September. You can tell your little cousins, nephews and nieces that you know the guy who created the anime caps set. I'll sign them for ya if you'd like me to.

     


     

July 27, 2006

  • //San Diego Comic Con

    ...An amazing and overwhelming experience.

     

    Big "thank you"s to: Jose De La Torre, Charles Yang, Michael Pascual, Andrew Liu, Armand Parcero, Gigi (for lunch, even though I didn't eat it till dinner), Clydene Nee of SDCC Artist Alley, and surprisingly, fans of my work from other convetions.

     

    Nickelodeon NY, one of the few big names that were interested in my work,  DHL'd me a style guide packet today to draw some samples for a big name property. Wish me luck!

     


    I am here!!! San Diego Comic Con!!! Hard to get table!!!!!!

     


    Felicia of Darkstalkers.

     


    Supergirl is as popular as ever.

     


    Starfire of Teen Titans Cartoon.

     


    Kitty Pryde of X-Men.

     


    Vash The Stampede of Trigun. Or if you got the bootleg DVDs, Dash the Stamped.

     


    A returning customer, all the way from Texas, showing off 2 of the 3 commissions she got from me.

     


    Customer from United Kingdom wanted something hot...

     


    Oh yeah...

     


    Drawing on her butt. That's hot!

     


    Of course, casual fans just want caricatures...

     


    What it looks like from your point of view had you visited me over the weekend.

     


    Jojo's evil twin, Gigi, snatched the drawing away...

     


    ...And $2k+ weekend.

July 18, 2006

  • //Jack-Ass Encounters

    Believe me. These are actual quotes.

    "I'm not afraid to admit it when I am wrong. But I am never wrong."
    **He also forgot to mention that he really had no balls in taking responsibility, either**

    "You're the creative one. Do it your way. I'll tell you what needs to be changed after."
    **Really?! So what about this "do it my way" bullshit you're babbling about?**

    "I can't draw but I'm really good at knowing how an artwork should be drawn."
    **So... you know how to draw... but you can't draw?! Which is it?!**

    "I'm JUST the writer. You're the artist. It's your responsibility to create unique personalities for these characters."
    **So?what do I need you for, if I am essentially writing the characters for you?**

    "What you did here is wrong. Redo."
    "Well, can you tell me what's wrong with it, so I can make the proper changes??"
    "Hey, you're the artist. You're supposed to be creative."
    **So in other words, you don't know what you're talking about, but you want to say something unconstructive to act like you're doing something?!**

    "We appreciate that you worked more than 15 hours of OT last week. But you were 15 minutes late to work on Thursday..."
    **So my OT doesn't make up for 15 minutes delay in traffic?**

    "The script is finished but I can't show it to you."
    **Right. You're full of shit and I ain't covering your ass for you**

    "Why is your opinion so biased??."
    **An opinion, by definition, is biased. You moron**

    "You should consider a different career since your work just isn't that good. But we're willing to work with you if you'll do everything you're told to do."
    **Oh, how kind of you to offer me a chance to be your slave. Fuck you!**

    "Redo. This needs to be drawn better."
    **Oh, and you are obviously SO not vague. Mr. Great Writer**

    "These characters are too alike. You need to give each of them more individual characteristics. You're being lazy. Do more research."
    **How about you STFU and actually do some writing?!**

July 17, 2006

  • //For Comic Con. I Will...


     

    ...Do a prototype black & white print of Naruto fan art.

     

    I've also been requested to donate pieces and draw live at the art auction during the convention. A lot of artists can't do it / won't do it / get cold feet. But I will, because it's my opportunity to introduce myself as a rookie to the show.

July 12, 2006

  • //Did I Like Superman Returns?

    Yes. I did.

     

    Nicely written story. Clean cinematography with smooth transition between scenes and sequences. It's the perfect example to remind the execs at Fox that they should've waited for Brian Singer to do X3, which was a total let down when it had all that open ends from its two spectacular prequels to work with.

     

    One of the biggest and most common mistake people are doing is comparing lead actor Brandon Routh to Christopher Reeves. The objective for Routh, as an actor, was NOT to be faithful to Reeve's performance, but to be faithful to Superman and Clark Kent. He was... albeit that it wasn't a challenging acting role to play someone without a whole lot of emotions faking to be a clumsy dork. Then again, who cares? We are dealing with simple minded, naive audience that would not see another Tom Cruise movie because he got "un-singled" again, as if they would ever have a chance with him single.

     

    Bottom line: Brandon Routh, not a great actor. But combined with a really good director, writers and a whole lot of budget, he was sufficient.

     

    Oh, and X3 sucked. I am not being overly critical. It took a big tumbling down the hill and then jump the shark, when it can't make itself go above mediocrity and continue from the great height the first two movie built up.

July 6, 2006

  • //Anime Expo 2006

    Anime Expo 2006, biggest anime and manga convention outside of Japan, ran from 7/1 - 7/4. For the most part, I was glued to my chair. Nevertheless, it was nice to know that the small fanbase my artwork has garnered over the years have continued to offer their support. Showing up for them is a good enough reason to be there every year.

    Special thanks to: Charles Yang, for his superior management of the sales at my table. Michael Pascual, for scaring my fans. Thomas Wu, for saving me a space in line. Cedric Nocon, for finally sketching a kick-ass Supergirl sketch for me. Winston Suk, for his fantastic color work on our illustration piece. Anime Select On Demand of Comcast, for their massive promo of me at their booth and on their upcoming tv episode. Kimmie Wang, for flying in from NY to see me. Jeannie Kim, for the AX Volunteer T-Shirt opportunity. Then there's Jose De La Torre, Armand Parcero (well, no. I reimbursed him), Andrew Liu, Jessica Liu (no relation), and Cindy + Luis + Joanne of Ten Ren (X Store).

    Full body commission: $50.00

    Additional character: $15.00 each

    Half body commission (Large): $25.00

    Up to half body commission (Small): $15.00

    Happy fan.

    Happy fan = Happy artist = T-Mac shoes + T-Mac jersey + Jumpman logo

    With fellow artist, Amy.

    With fellow artist, Bing.

    Jessica came visit in her adorable outfit.

    And... more supportive fans that visited me every year.

    She likes cars. Wanted her rally car drawn. Someone pointed her my way. Lucky me.

    Kimmie and Amy.

    Angela Tsai is the gorgeous host of Anime Select On Demand. She interviewed me at the Anime Select booth in front of a live audience. Yes, I had to draw in front of them and three cameras on me. And yes, Angela and I had to do a lot of im-prov according to the situation.

    The Bum and The Bouncer.

    Figuring out what to do with my money...

    Three days. $1,300.00+. I didn't even bother with commissions on the 4th day.

June 24, 2006

June 13, 2006

June 11, 2006

  • //SDCC

    San Diego Comic Con, the biggest comic book / entertainment convention in the world, taking place this year from (Wednesday) 7/19, to (Sunday) 7/23, has just granted me an Artist Alley table space this year! Ask anyone who knows about comic books in the United States, and you'll find that it is extremely difficult for any artist to get a table at SDCC, as they hand-pick the artists to give their artist alley a variety of artists with different styles. Not to mention just about every story I've heard from artists have been that they were booted from their spaces because they were just "not famous enough."

     

    Apparently, a handful of projects with Disney, Warner Bros. and even TokyoPop gave me enough credentials to be among a group of the most talented illustrators in the world. I am extremely grateful and excited for this opportunity to lose my drawing arm from exhaustion!

     

    Guess the tendonitis in my (basketball) shooting arm is not going away anytime soon.

     

    Woo hoo hoo!!!

  • //Anime Expo 2006 Volunteer T-Shirt Design

    The T-Shirt Design assignment came back into my hands this year, as rightfully it should be.

     

    4-Color T-Shirt Design:


     

    Full Color Poster Design:


     

    You must be wondering why the assignment had to "come back" to me, or why was it ever taken away?

     

    Well, my contact at the AX Volunteer Department was under the impression that I would be the one drawing last year's design when she was approached by the party seeking the opportunity. She even asked me afterwards if the time given was too much of a rush, because the artwork didn't seem to be up to my usual standards. Obviously, neither she or I knew that I wasn't working on the design, and it almost ruined our relationship on future opportuntiy.

     

    Don't ask me for free t-shirts or posters. I am not the one paying for the printing on these.