Random Tracks of Mindness

New Year...New Sketches

2012-01-13T23:10:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone is having a great 2012 so far!

I've been joining a group of friends for weekly sketching sessions...so here are some sketches from the last couple outings:

Thanks for stopping by & best wishes for a happy new year! :)

"Little Do They Know" (12/2011)...Happy Holidays!

2011-12-24T08:43:00.000-08:00

Please click below to view a special Little Do They Know holiday strip, which is also featured on this year's holiday card. (You may have to enlarge the window to view the whole strip.)

Thank you for all the support & inspiration this year. Cheers & happy holidays to my family & friends!

"Little Do They Know" (12/11/11)

2011-12-11T16:31:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd try a new technical approach to my Little Do They Know comic for the holidays...this one was digitally painted (very loosely and quickly) in Photoshop. I figure it might be a quicker way to produce these strips...but it is a slight departure from the previous look. Hmm....well, I'm just experimenting, so I'm open to any feedback :)

You may have to click on the original image to zoom in further...

Hope the holidays are happy so far :) Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Thanksgiving :)

2011-11-24T22:56:00.000-08:00

Food-induced-nap-doodles aside, I'm feeling very thankful for so much in my life. Speaking of...thanks for visiting my blog & for the continued support! Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving & a nice start to a happy holiday season :)

The Drawing Club Sketches (11/10/11)

2011-11-16T23:41:00.000-08:00

Below are my sketches from last week's The Drawing Club session. Steve Jacobsen posed as the Circus Ringmaster.

Thanks for visiting! :)

For more information on The Drawing Club and to see results by other artists, please visit: www.thedrawingclub.com

New Sketches

2011-11-12T14:36:00.000-08:00

As I get back into the swing of things, I've been trying out a couple new sketchbooks lately. I'm actually growing fond of a particular one with toned paper...it has a sorta brown-baggy kind of texture, which makes it fun to experiment a bit with watercolors. Anyway, here are some recent sketches:

Thanks for the support! I shall leave you with this final thought :)

Sketches I meant to post a while ago...

2011-11-04T02:23:00.000-07:00

I've been really bad at staying on top of this blog, so I'm trying to catch up with this larger post. Below are compilations of sketches from the past few months and SketchCrawls:

Random people sketches...

The sketches below are from a pocket sketchbook...it suffered from a mishap involving water and cough drops, but I thought I'd still post these...so please pardon the red splotches and water stains :P...

These couple sketches (respectively done in pencil/watercolor and water-based oils) took place on a recent trip to Eaton Canyon...

SketchCrawl #31 (April 16, 2011)...at the Los Angeles Zoo...

SketchCrawl #32 (July 23, 2011)...in San Diego during Comic-Con weekend...(same stained pocket sketchbook as above)

SketchCrawl #33 (October 15, 2011)...at Descanso Gardens...

I admit I haven't been sketching as often as I should (booooo)...so definitely trying to change that. That said...I do plan on attending Designer Con this Saturday (11/5) in Pasadena, CA to support my amazingly talented friends Squid Kids, Hyperactive Monkey, Kwestone & Edgar Antonio, and Paul Wilson. There will also be live figure drawing sessions hosted by Dr. Sketchy's LA, so I look forward to posting some sketches from this event soon. Please join if you can!

Thanks for the support!

"Monstoberfest" Art Show at Rothick Art Haus (10/8/11)

2011-10-06T20:59:00.000-07:00

Hello! Yes, I'm still alive :P Just trying to get back on track after a super busy summer! To start...

Now that October is already here, so is the 2nd annual "Monstoberfest" art show at Rothick Art Haus in Anaheim, CA - which starts this Saturday (10/8) at 7pm. I'll have a piece in there, alongside other amazing friends & artists.

Below is my little drawing for the show...this is what I imagine a "Gargyle" might look like...at least of the pink & purple variety (you can click to enlarge):

"Pink & Purple Gargyle" (watercolor, gouache, pencil)

Framed original: $150

And here is some more info about the show:

This should be a fun night packed with lots of cool & creepy artwork. Hope to see you there! Thanks to Irene Mendonis and the folks at Rothick – and to my talented friend & artist Kwestone for the connection.

PS. I'll be doing a catch-up post soon, so thanks a ton for sticking around :)

Catching up: Gesture Drawing Class (Weeks 9, 10, 11, and 12)

2011-07-20T23:56:00.000-07:00

I meant to post these a while back! A few months ago, I took Mark McDonnell's gesture drawing class at the Animation Guild in Burbank. This is one of the best classes I've ever taken...highly recommended.

I finally got around to snapping photos of my results from the last few classes (Weeks 9-12). Please click below to view...you may have to click further to zoom in.

Results from the entire semester can now be viewed here (also labeled "Gesture Drawing Class - Spring 2011" in the sidebar).

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On a separate note, if you're planning on heading down to the San Diego Comic-Con this week, please check out Squid Kids and Hyperactive Monkey at Booth #5137. My friends are exhibiting & selling their wares :)

I'll also be attending and will be sketching characters from Neopets, along with my fellow coworkers at the Nickelodeon Booth (#4113) on Sunday (7/24) from 2-3:30pm. So feel free to stop by & say hello if you're there!

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That's about it for now...I'll try to catch up & post more stuff soon. Thanks for visiting!

Ice Cream Break

2011-07-16T18:22:00.000-07:00

Sorry I've taken an extended ice cream break this summer – and have been bad at posting! All is good...just been busy with work, play, and new chapters.

I'm aiming to post some old sketches before this blog collects more dust...so I'll be back soon. Thanks for the support!

Piece for "Ladies Night" Art Show (6/18/11)

2011-06-16T23:05:00.000-07:00

Hello! Sorry it's been a while! Before I let more time slip away between posts, here is a piece I did for the "Ladies Night" group art show (opening this Saturday 6/18) held at Arts for Action in Oxnard, CA.

"Lady's Night" (original framed 5" x 7" watercolor, gouache, pencil)
Price: $125

Here is another image of the piece in its wood frame (sorry for the bad lighting / photo quality):

And below is some basic info for the show:

"Ladies Night" art show
June 18 - July 8 (opening 6pm - 10pm this Saturday 6/18)
535 C. Street
Oxnard, CA 93030

In addition to plenty of works by other artists, there will be also be live painting, vendors, and refreshments...so stop by if you can :) Thanks to Gloria Centurion for inviting me to participate!

"Little Do They Know" (5/13/11)

2011-05-13T22:53:00.000-07:00

It's been a while...but here's the latest Little Do They Know strip!
(You may have to click further on the image to enlarge.)

Let's just say this little girl has learned a thing or two over the years :)

By the way, this is the first LDTK strip drawn entirely digitally...I'm trying to apply some new techniques, all the while keeping the overall aesthetic of the previous strips. I guess evolution is a good thing :)

To view past strips, you can check out the Little Do They Know archive section located in the sidebar. Thanks for the continued support!

Happy Mother's Day :)

2011-05-08T21:16:00.000-07:00

So happy I got to see my folks this weekend & spend Mother's Day with my mom. Here's a little doodle I did for her. According to the Chinese zodiac...she's a Boar, and I'm a Monkey...which might help to explain the seemingly odd pairing :P (No scanner was around, so sorry for the bad photo quality!)

I try not to forget how much my mom has helped carry me through some thick & thin over the years. Anyhoo...hope all moms out there had a lovely Mother's Day! Special thanks & love to my mom, of course :)

Painting for "For Our Children" Charity Event

2011-05-02T23:23:00.000-07:00

"Always in Season" (11" x 14" acrylic on wood panel)

This past weekend, I had the privilege of attending the "For Our Children" Food & Wine Festival – a really wonderful charity event benefiting children through TrinityKids Care. I joined a few of my good friends from Spin Master in donating artwork to the silent auction portion of the event. Above is my piece titled "Always in Season" – which is basically about abundant love and compassion, and is also a continuation of my piece from 2009's "A Night of Art and Hope" event, also organized by TrinityKids Care.

TrinityKids Care (a program of Providence TrinityCare Hospice and Sandpipers philanthropic programs) provides dedicated hospice care for children and their families. This event was just one of many held by this organization, as they continue to raise funding and awareness for their program & services.

Many thanks & best wishes to the kind folks at TrinityKids Care for letting us be a part of this wonderful cause. For more info on their programs and services, please visit www.trinitycarehospice.org.

Artwork for "Art for Japan" Project at Gallery Nucleus

2011-04-21T21:01:00.000-07:00

Gallery Nucleus is currently holding a charity project called "Art for Japan" - in which proceeds go to Give2Asia and Artists Help Japan, benefitting survivors & communities affected by the Japan earthquake and tsunami. The project includes an online auction (4/20 - 4/24), fundraiser event at the gallery (this Saturday 4/23 from 6pm - 10pm), and buttons for sale (you can even create your own buttons at the fundraiser event). Please click here for more information.

Below are my pieces that were donated for the online auction portion of the project. The top piece was drawn specially for this event. The bottom two pieces were originally exhibited in the "Power in Numbers 4" show at Nucleus, and are available again to support this cause. All are framed & signed originals done in watercolor and pencil.

You can bid on the above pieces – as well as pieces by other fellow artists – here on Gallery Nucleus's website. This online auction ends this Sunday (4/24) at 7pm. Happy bidding & thanks for your interest and support! And thanks to Gallery Nucleus & everyone involved for putting this project together in an effort to make a difference.

Piece for "Women on Top" Art Show (4/9/11)

2011-04-08T10:04:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the last minute post...but I'll be showing a piece alongside other female artists in the "Women on Top" art show, opening tomorrow (Saturday 4/9) at Cafe on A in Oxnard, CA. Below is my piece and some basic info:

"Break Time" (original framed 5" x 7" watercolor & pencil)
Price: $125

"Women on Top" art show

Opening Saturday, April 9 (5pm - 10pm)

Cafe on A

438 South A Street

Oxnard, CA 93030

There will also be live body painting, vendors, refreshments, and more. Should be a fun night! Thanks to Patty Arellano / Sicks Three for curating & inviting me to participate. Cheers :)

More Gesture Drawings! (Weeks 6, 7, and 8)

2011-04-07T09:29:00.000-07:00

Been a while since my last post...time flies so fast! Below are my results from Weeks 6, 7, and 8 of Mark McDonnell's gesture drawing class at the Animation Guild in Burbank. Mark is encouraging us to push some storytelling in these little gestural vignettes.

Please click below to view...you may have to click further to zoom in.
I'll be posting some info on an upcoming show soon. Thanks for visiting!

Gesture Drawing Class (Weeks 4 and 5)

2011-03-20T23:21:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone is doing well out there! Below are my results from Weeks 4 and 5 of Mark McDonnell's gesture drawing class at the Animation Guild in Burbank. Mark has been encouraging us to push our drawings more (using basic principles of design, shape, value, composition, silhouettes, etc.)...and to have more fun overall.

Please click below to view...you may have to click further to zoom in. Thanks for visiting!

One small way to help...

2011-03-13T22:04:00.000-07:00

**UPDATE (3/14/11): I'm very happy to share that both pieces have been sold as of today – and as mentioned below, all proceeds ($150) are being donated to the American Red Cross - Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami disaster relief funds. Many thanks for everyone's support and inquiries – and of course, thank you to the individuals who bought these pieces in an effort to make a difference. Cheers :)
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The two pieces below (recently done for the "Characters!" show) have been repriced at $75 each – and 100% of the sales will be donated to the American Red Cross and those affected by the Japan earthquake and Pacific tsunami:

Price includes shipping where applicable. These are framed 5"x7" originals done in pencil & watercolor.

If interested, please email me at the address below, and I'll respond in the order received.

vivian@viviandesigns.com

Thanks for considering...this is just one small way to help out.

You can also donate to the relief efforts here:

American Red Cross - Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami

Hearts and warm thoughts to everyone affected by this tragic event.

Gesture Drawing Class (Weeks 1/2/3)

2011-03-07T23:59:00.000-08:00

My friend & fellow artist Kendra Melton highly recommended a gesture drawing class taught by Mark McDonnell at the Animation Guild in Burbank...so that's what I'm taking now :)

Below are my class results from the past 3 weeks. Sorry for the poor quality on some of the images...I'm drawing on a large pad that won't fit on my scanner, so I'm resorting to taking quick camera shots.

Please click below to view each week...you may have to click further to zoom in.

Loving this class so far & learning a ton :) I'll try to post results from each week. Thanks for visiting!

Paintings for "Characters!" Art Show (2/26/11)

2011-02-25T23:22:00.000-08:00

I know it's a super last minute post...but if you're in the Los Angeles area this weekend, perhaps you might want to check out the "Characters!" Art Show, opening tomorrow (Saturday 2/26) at Studio 5216. I'll be showing some work, alongside other artists & friends. Below is basic info:

"Characters!" Art Show
Opening Saturday, February 26 (6pm - 11pm)
Studio 5216
5216 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90027

This themed group show is basically inspired by favorite childhood characters. Below are my pieces for the show. Each piece is an original framed 5"x7" drawing done in pencil & watercolor.

"Drawing Inspiration" (Price: $125)

"Bad Outta Bed" (Price: $125)

"Practice Makes Perfect" (Price: $125)

Special thanks to curators Diana Levin and Evan Ames for inviting me to participate. And to all readers and friends: thanks so much for your support!

The Drawing Club sketches (2/17/11)

2011-02-23T08:59:00.000-08:00

Sorry I've been lagging on posting the past couple weeks...things continue to be busy, and time is flying by so quickly!

Below are my sketches from the last Drawing Club session...Heather Capps posed for the "Cosplay" theme.

I'll be posting again real soon. Thanks for visiting!
For more information on The Drawing Club and to see results by other artists, please visit: www.thedrawingclub.com

San Francisco sketches (1/29 - 1/30/11)

2011-02-08T23:59:00.000-08:00

New year, new beginnings, new chapters...I've been enjoying the practice of creating new memories, all the while cherishing old ones.

San Francisco has always been a favorite spot...yet I had never really taken my own solo trip up there, in which I could take the time to pause, soak in the surroundings, and experience this wonderful city at my own leisure. So...recently, I decided to do just that :) The weekend flew by so quickly – but I was able to enjoy quality time with some close friends in the area, cruise around old haunts, see new sights, treat myself to some local delicacies, and find a renewed perspective of this place – and of myself (I actually survived the perils of parallel parking in the city).

I also managed to squeeze in a few quick sketches too...here they are below. Some color was added at home:

Till next time, San Fran! :)

The Drawing Club sketches (1/27/11)

2011-02-02T00:30:00.000-08:00

I meant to post these latest Drawing Club sketches sooner, but time has been slipping away. Thankfully, it's been busy. Andy Flaster posed as "The Hunchback" for last week's theme. You can click further to enlarge even more:

For more information on The Drawing Club and to see results by other artists, please visit: www.thedrawingclub.com

Thanks for visiting! I'll be back soon :)

30th World Wide SketchCrawl

2011-01-27T01:21:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday was the 30th World Wide SketchCrawl...and there was an amazing turnout for the Los Angeles group at the LA Natural History Museum! It was great to visit with returning crawlers, as well as new ones. Below are some of my results...some color was added later...you can click further to enlarge even more...

Please visit www.sketchcrawl.com to view results by other artists and to learn more about this world-wide drawing marathon!

Thanks for visiting!

Even more sketches from The Drawing Club! (1/20/11)

2011-01-22T08:54:00.000-08:00

Oh là là! Last Thursday's Drawing Club theme proved to be fun & challenging at the same time. Stacey Jack posed as the "French Can Can Girl"...and below are my sketches from the evening:

For more information on The Drawing Club and to see results by other artists, please visit: www.thedrawingclub.com

Okay...I'm off for a fun SketchCrawl day...will be back posting soon!

More sketches from The Drawing Club (1/13/11)

2011-01-15T14:29:00.000-08:00

I recently caught the latest film adaptation of True Grit (highly recommended) – which was timely, because the theme for last week's Drawing Club session was none other than the story's iconic anti-hero "Rooster Cogburn", brilliantly portrayed by model John Tucker. Below are my sketches from the night:

For more information on The Drawing Club and to see results by other artists, please visit: www.thedrawingclub.com

Thanks for stopping by!

The Drawing Club sketches (1/6/11) - Happy New Year!

2011-01-07T09:08:00.000-08:00

It's 2011, and this year is going to be Maleficent! Er...I mean, magnificent! Well...at least the theme for last night's Drawing Club session was Maleficent :) Here are my sketches from the evening:

For more information on The Drawing Club and to see results by other artists, please visit: www.thedrawingclub.com

I'm aiming to post as often as I can this year...Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays! "Little Do They Know" (December 2010)

2010-12-24T09:53:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season so far!

For some of you who may be wondering, I decided to put my Little Do They Know comic strips on hiatus to focus on some other career & personal objectives this year...and to be honest, I wasn't too sure how I wanted this project to evolve quite yet. Knowing me, it could take a while before I figure this out...and you might see bits and pieces every now and then (like this post, for instance)...but at least that little girl is sticking around ;)

That said, thank you for the support, inspiration, and encouragement out there – especially from family and friends, to whom I am very grateful.

Please click below to view a special Little Do They Know holiday strip, which is also featured on this year's holiday card. Happiest of Holidays! :)

Sketchbook catchup...

2010-12-11T12:32:00.000-08:00

I'm trying really hard not to slack on my sketchbook outside of work...so here are a few pages from the last few weeks. Sketches were done on location, with touchups at home.

Thanks for visiting!

Painting for "Inside is Delightful" Art Show

2010-12-02T23:35:00.000-08:00

I'm happy to be participating alongside other artists & friends in the "Inside is Delightful" Art Show, which takes place this Saturday, December 4. Below is my piece:

"Trade" (acrylic on 8" x 8" wooden panel)
Price: $125

It should be a nice event filled with cool art, live music, and refreshments. Here's some more info:

"Inside is Delightful" Art Show
Saturday, December 4 (6pm - 11pm)
Space 2710
2710 W. Avenue 34
Los Angeles, CA 90065
Thanks to Diana Levin, David Landguth, and Evan Ames for curating this show & for inviting me to participate. Happy Holidays!

Painting for "$99 Only Show"

2010-12-01T09:21:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the last minute post...I submitted a painting (at the last minute) for the "$99 Only Show" which takes place this Friday, December 3 (6pm-10pm). Below is my piece:

"Shopping at Sunset" (acrylic on 6" x 6" wooden panel)
Price: $99

I saw this little old lady delicately making her way across the street the other day. She appeared to be looking forward to something after a long day...and it basically inspired me to paint this. I guess it's just nice to always have something to look forward to...wherever and whenever.

The "$99 Only Show" is curated by No Artificial Flavors and will take place for one-night only at:
Stoneworks Studio & Gallery:
300 N. Ventura Ave.
Ventura, CA 93001

**All artwork will be $99 or less, and 5% of each sale goes to help local food banks & charities.

I'll be posting info on another upcoming group show soon. Thanks for your support!

"So AnaBob" (Custom for "So Analog 10-Doh! Custom Show")

2010-11-19T08:23:00.000-08:00

If you're in Pasadena this weekend, you might want to check out Designer Con this Saturday (11/20/10). My friends The Squid Kids and Hyperactive Monkey will be exhibiting there and selling their awesome wares.

The Squid Kids are also putting on the "So Analog 10-Doh! Custom Show", which features their new "So Analog 10-Doh!" figure. I'll have a custom piece in the show, alongside other friends & artists. Below is more information and an image of my piece "So AnaBob"...which is basically SpongeBob SquarePants looking so analog...

Thank you, Squid Kids, for inviting me to be in the show! Good luck! :)

Fun with Flash

2010-11-06T09:03:00.000-07:00

I consider myself lucky to have been given the opportunity to learn Adobe Flash at my current job. I still have a ton to learn (especially from my amazingly talented coworkers) – so I thought I'd practice drawing in Flash a bit at home. It's fun and daunting at the same time. Here's a new self portrait for now...

Hoping to practice & post more soon :) Can't believe it's already almost the end of the year. Happy November!

Happy Halloween! The Drawing Club sketches (10/28/10)

2010-10-31T16:20:00.000-07:00

Hope folks out there are having a safe & happy Halloween! Here are my sketches from last week's 10/28 Drawing Club session. Jonnathon Cripple posed as "The Mutant Zombie"...

For more information on The Drawing Club, please visit: www.thedrawingclub.com

Thanks for visiting!

SILA "Art in the Park" (10/23/10)

2010-10-28T23:06:00.000-07:00

Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles (SILA) held another "Art in the Park" mixer at Griffith Park this past Saturday. I showed up for the later half of the event, but managed to do some sketching & mingling with other artists. Below are a couple of pages:

To learn more about SILA and/or to become a member, please visit their website: www.si-la.org
Thanks for visiting!

Painting for the United States Air Force Art Program

2010-10-22T00:06:00.000-07:00

As a Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles (SILA) member, I had the privilege of taking a trip to North Carolina last year to participate in the United States Air Force "Brush of Blue" Art Program. In this program, the Air Force gives participants the opportunity to travel to various locations – after which the artists donate illustrations/artwork (reflecting experiences and observations from these trips) to the permanent Air Force Art Collection.

Below is my painting, which is based off of a photo I took at the Luzon Drop Zone in NC. Students were training for combat control, and this particular soldier was incredibly focused and alert.

This piece – along with many other works from artists around the country – is currently on exhibit at the National Museum of the Air Force in Dayton, Ohio from October 18 through the second week of January 2011.

Many thanks to the kind folks at Pope Air Force Base in NC and the Air Force Art Program Office – and of course, to the brave men and women serving our country. For more information regarding this art program and SILA, please visit: http://si-la.org/airforce.html

29th World Wide SketchCrawl

2010-10-19T00:29:00.000-07:00

Sorry it's been a while since my last post! Thankfully, work has been keeping me busy...and life is good :)

This past Saturday was the 29th World Wide SketchCrawl. The Los Angeles group met at Venice Beach – and it was a fun and interesting day, in spite of the gloomy weather. Below are my results:

Please visit www.sketchcrawl.com to view works by other artists and to learn more about this world-wide drawing marathon!

I'm going to try to be better at posting in the coming weeks. Thanks for stopping by :)

Here Be Pirates...

2010-09-18T16:01:00.000-07:00

Just finished scanning in some figure drawings from David Colman's character design class. We were fortunate to have an awesome model pose as a pirate, so we could practice overall expression. Below are my drawings (some darkening was done at home) – please click to enlarge.

Here's another little pirate-themed character exercise from the class:

Thanks for stopping by!

"Camille Lyon" - Form Exploration (final class project)

2010-09-08T00:04:00.000-07:00

Here are some latest "Camille Lyon" drawings, which were shown in my final presentation for David Colman's character design class.

"Camille Lyon" is a basic story concept upon which I've been working this summer...you can read more about it – and view original designs (based more on graphic shapes) – in my 7/10 post. Recently, we were asked to explore a different design interpretation based more on form (some alternate designs can be seen in my 8/14 post).

David gave some great feedback in the last class, so these designs are still work-in-progress. I'll most likely revert back to the original graphic direction, and see how I can incorporate feedback from this latest form exploration too. Not sure what I'm doing with the story yet...but it's been fun designing the characters so far :)

By the way, David's class is wonderful...I would highly recommend it. Please check out the Concept Design Academy for more course info. Thanks for visiting!

Latest Sketchbook Pages

2010-09-05T19:48:00.000-07:00

Below are some sketchbook pages of peeps from the past several weeks...rounding out the summer with a few different approaches.

Thanks for visiting my blog!

Toys for OLIVIA™ and Pop On Pals™

2010-08-30T23:30:00.000-07:00

If you're shopping for any little folks (or little folks at heart), perhaps you might want to check out the new toys that recently hit shelves for OLIVIA™ and Pop On Pals™! I had the privilege of being part of the design team for these brands, while working at Spin Master in Los Angeles.

Spin Master's toys for OLIVIA™ are based off of the TV show airing on Nick Jr. – which, of course, is based off of Ian Falconer's award-winning children's books. You can find these OLIVIA™ plush dolls, figurines, and playsets in the small-doll aisle for girls, at a local Target or Toys "R" Us.

From Spin Master's Magic Ladder™ comes Pop On Pals™ – a new original preschool line that makes mixing & matching accessories fun and easy for a preschooler. Simply "pop" a Pal into an accessory ring – and the ring slides onto the body! Wacky combinations abound. My good friend Linda Hong designed the overall look of the characters and the line. I was fortunate to be involved in later design & development. You can find Pop On Pals™ in the preschool aisle at a nearby Target or Toys "R" Us – among other major retailers. Visit www.poponpals.com for more info!

Please also take a moment to view the wide array of other cool toys at Spin Master's official website: www.spinmaster.com

Thanks & best wishes to my friends at Spin Master for a great working experience & continuing collaborations.

"Camille Lyon" - Form Explorations (in progress)

2010-08-14T13:08:00.000-07:00

Hello! I thought I'd share an update on my project for David Colman's character design class. I've been working on some designs for my story concept "Camille Lyon" this summer.

For the first half of the class assignment, we had to focus mainly on graphic, stylized shapes for the characters. These explorations, along with character descriptions, can be viewed in a previous post.

For the second half, the challenge is to offer new and different design interpretations based more on form – while maintaining the basic integrity & essence of the character. Below are some of my form explorations...I chose the ones I thought may work best for the bottom lineup. These are still in progress and pending instructor/class feedback, so the designs will most likely change again :)

Thanks for visiting!

Interview on "Karin Won't Stop Talking" Blog

2010-08-08T07:59:00.000-07:00

One of the great things about Facebook is being able to network & meet some genuinely nice and talented people. On that note, I've had the pleasure of recently connecting with writer Karin Cameron, who was so kind to invite me for an interview on her blog "Karin Won't Stop Talking". You can read the full interview here.

Additionally, this interview has motivated me to create an archived section for my Little Do They Know comic strip – which you can find on the right sidebar of my blog, or by clicking here.

I've also updated my regular website a bit more, by adding some recent work and letting go of some of the old (still need to be better at this): www.viviandesigns.com

Please be sure to check out the rest of Karin's blog as well (which includes beautiful short stories, relatable musings on daily life, and other interviews). Not only does she have a fun, witty, and approachable writing style – she's a wonderful person as well.

http://karinwontstoptalking.wordpress.com/

Thank you, Karin, for this sweet opportunity & for your support! Cheers :)

28th World Wide SketchCrawl

2010-08-04T14:25:00.000-07:00

Here are my sketches for the 28th World Wide SketchCrawl. The Los Angeles group met at Hollywood & Highland...so good to draw & hang out with everyone!

I stuck mostly with quick people sketches to coincide with some class homework. I'm trying to get more used to sketching with pen (I usually sketch in pencil), so that I can improve my confidence & commitment to laying these marks down. My friend & fellow artist Kendra Melton has been encouraging me in this area :)

Unfortunately, I had some trouble with color washes...I didn't realize that the ink in a Tombo brush pen is NOT waterproof :( So the colors came out really muddy, and I stopped after a few tries. Boo...ah well...I'll remember this for next time.

Please visit www.sketchcrawl.com to view works by other artists and to learn more about this world-wide drawing marathon! Thanks so much for visiting.

"Little Do They Know" (7/21/10)

2010-07-21T06:03:00.000-07:00

It's been a while...but now that I've had a chance to gather some thoughts, here is a new Little Do They Know strip. (The image is wide, so you may need to click further to enlarge.) Thanks for stopping by!

Meet Camille Lyon...

2010-07-10T23:58:00.000-07:00

This is still in its early stages – but I thought I'd share a small project I've been working on for David Colman's character design class. Below are some rough explorations of three main characters for a story I've been thinking about, tentatively titled Camille Lyon. Here goes:

It's basically about a little French chameleon named Camille, who wants to be just like everyone else & blend in with her peers. In having this mentality, she usually makes a habit out of trying to please others and conforming to popular standards. Camille is sweet, eager, and earnest – but she is also deeply insecure, shy, and unsure of herself. She'll even do things that she honestly doesn't like to do, just for the sake of fitting in & feeling accepted. Since Camille is so preoccupied with mimicking others, she forgets all too often to reach deep within and discover her unique, special self. As she learns to focus more on herself, she'll eventually come to realize that it's okay to be a bit different, break out of her comfort zone, and stand out from the crowd.

Camille's best friend is a little old lady named Nette, who owns a neighborhood cafe. Having seen and gone through her share of life experiences, Nette is a constant source of guidance, support, and wisdom for Camille. She embraces her individuality & relishes every moment of life, while encouraging Camille to do the same. Nette can be known to be very blunt & honest as she "tells it like it is"...but she does this with Camille's best interest in mind, of course...

Art is a cuckoo bird who wants to become a renowned artist. Always to be found with a brush or pencil nearby, Art is passionate about art. Sometimes in more ways than one. You see, Art really does love Art...almost too much. As talented as he is, Art can be rather conceited and overly into himself – often believing that he is more special and unique than everyone else. He purposely rejects the idea of conforming, and prides himself in being different and doing things his way. This makes Art an unlikely love interest for Camille, who is dazzled and awakened by Art's one-of-a-kind, capricious nature. But Art does have the capacity and the conscience to better himself – especially when he eventually learns that it's okay to follow some rules, value others, and be responsible...all the while being yourself.
(For early explorations of Art, I wasn't sure if he should be a cat or a bird...needless to say, I went with the latter.)

Wow, long post! :P Still working out the kinks...but I suppose it's a start. Okay, back to some other work tonight...thanks for visiting.

More Peeps

2010-07-06T21:17:00.000-07:00

I've been sketching more people lately, thanks to David Colman's class at the Concept Design Academy. Here are a few recent pages...I tried using a grey marker for some of these...having fun & trying to improve. Most were done at The Grove in LA. Thanks for visiting...cheers :)

And now for something a little different...

2010-07-04T20:23:00.000-07:00

Happy Independence Day!
In addition to taking a character design class this summer, I'm also trying things out in a storyboarding class taught by Rad Sechrist at the Concept Design Academy. I still have a long way to go, but I thought I'd post the following images, which were done for last week's exercise. I was trying to come up with a germaphobic, obsessive-compulsive type character (anyone who knows me knows that I'm pretty familiar with this subject matter). I started off with some character design explorations, then picked one design to try some expressions/poses, and finally applied the character to 3 quick story beats. So...here is Jeremy the Germaphobe:

Trying to keep up more with the blog...thanks for visiting!

Some more people sketches...

2010-06-26T12:44:00.000-07:00

Here are a few more sketchbook pages done for David Colman's character design class at the Concept Design Academy...fun practice. Thanks for visiting :)

SILA "Art in the Park" Event (6/19/10)

2010-06-23T14:05:00.000-07:00

Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles (SILA) held an art mixer called "Art in the Park" at Griffith Park last Saturday. There was a nice gathering of artists, and the weather was just perfect. Alyce, the organization's beloved Association Manager, even showed up with her horse – which, of course, made the event even more special! Below are some of my sketches:

To learn more about SILA and/or to become a member, please visit their website: www.si-la.org

Latest Sketches

2010-06-17T00:23:00.000-07:00

Sorry it has been a long while since my last post...I've decided to try a few new things this summer, and it has been super duper busy...which I suppose is a good thing! :)

Hoping to be better at posting more stuff soon (especially my Little Do They Know strips). In the meantime, I thought I'd post the following sketchbook pages, which were recently done for David Colman's character design class at the Concept Design Academy.

Part of the first week's assignment was to go out there and sketch a bunch of people & animals, while trying to emphasize personality & design as much as possible. I still need to push these ideas much further and have a long way to go, but I'm learning a ton nonetheless! It's good & fun practice...and it gave me a wonderful excuse to visit the Los Angeles Zoo...animals are so cool, but so challenging to draw :) Please click the following to enlarge. Thanks for visiting!

PS. Happy Birthday, Mom! Love & miss you!

27th World Wide SketchCrawl (5/15/10)

2010-05-18T01:08:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday was the 27th World Wide SketchCrawl! I've had the privilege & pleasure of participating with the Los Angeles group for over a year now. These events are fun and worthwhile – a nice mix of drawing and mingling – and this outing at Redondo Beach was no exception. Below are a few of my results (bottom sketch was done outside of Priscilla's in Burbank):

Please visit www.sketchcrawl.com to see works by other artists and to learn more about this world wide drawing marathon. Thanks for stopping by!

"Little Do They Know" (5/7/10)

2010-05-07T01:40:00.000-07:00

Hello! Please click below to view a new Little Do They Know strip! Thanks for visiting.

PS. I love you, Mom & Dad :)

"Little Do They Know" (4/27/10)

2010-04-27T23:13:00.000-07:00

Please click below to view a new Little Do They Know strip! It's been a while, so thanks to everyone who has inspired & encouraged me to keep moving along with this personal project.

(Note: You may need to click twice on the image to enlarge further.)

It's been a bit busy, but I'm trying to get back on track with posting. Thanks for visiting & for your support in the meantime! Cheers :)

WonderCon in San Francisco (4/2 - 4/4)

2010-04-07T01:20:00.000-07:00

My friends Squid Kids and Hyperactive Monkey exhibited their wares at WonderCon in San Francisco this past weekend – and they were kind enough to let me tag along for the ride. The turnout at their booth was terrific. Congrats, you guys!

In spite of the rainy weather and some residual jet lag from my China trip, I was also fortunate to catch up with a dear old friend & walked the show for quite a bit. Below are just a few sketches from the weekend...never enough drawing, but I'm trying!

Thanks for visiting...aiming to post a few more things soon :)

Hong Kong / China Sketches (March 2010)

2010-03-29T01:38:00.000-07:00

Sorry it's been a while since my last post! It's been a busy year so far, and I'm trying to get my feet back on the ground :)

Recently, I had the privilege of taking a business trip to Hong Kong & China for the past couple of weeks – and while I took my sketchbook with me, I didn't have too much time to draw...but nevertheless, here are a few pages below. Quick sketches & watercolors took place on Cheung Chau Island, Lantau Island (where the Tian Tan Buddha – aka "The Big Buddha" – resides), Dongguan Railway Station, and the Hong Kong International Airport. Some touch-ups were added later.

Thanks for visiting & for your support!

This post is dedicated to Norm.

Brownstones to Red Dirt Postcard Art Benefit (3/6/10 - 3/13/10)

2010-03-05T00:23:00.000-08:00

The above Little Do They Know strip was specially done for the upcoming Brownstones to Red Dirt Postcard Art Benefit – an online art auction which will take place March 6 - March 13.

A couple of colleagues from Blue Sky Studios (the animation studio behind such popular films as Ice Age and Horton Hears a Who!) have created a film titled Brownstones to Red Dirt, a documentary about a pen pal program – and its lasting effect of hope and inspiration – between a group of children living in the housing projects of Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn and war orphans living in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

The Brownstones to Red Dirt Postcard Art Benefit is an extension of the film – and all proceeds of sales will go towards helping to build a school for the kids in Sierra Leone, and to help create a school library for the kids in Bed-Stuy.

Artists from around the world have been invited to contribute original artwork done on birch wooden postcards (courtesy of Night Owl Paper Goods) – many of which are based upon the central "Pen Pals" theme of the film project. Please take a moment to visit the art benefit's blog to read more about this wonderful cause, and to see works by dozens of incredible artists!

You can also click here to sign up for notifications when the auction goes live this Saturday. Happy bidding & thank you for your support!!!

26th World Wide SketchCrawl and The Drawing Club (2/25/10)

2010-03-02T01:39:00.000-08:00

Times have been a bit busy lately, but it was nice to do even a little bit of sketching in the last few days.

This past Saturday was the 26th World Wide SketchCrawl. Since it was a rainy day, our Los Angeles group met at the Central Library in Downtown LA. I actually spent more time visiting with other artists than drawing...but here are a couple pages of people sketches (I wish I could say I did any justice to the amazing architecture of the library itself, but that didn't quite pan out):

I also attended The Drawing Club last Thursday. Mark Wenzel posed as "The Magician". Below are a few watercolor sketches from that evening:

Please visit www.sketchcrawl.com to see works by other artists and to learn more about this world wide drawing marathon.

For more information on The Drawing Club, please visit: www.thedrawingclub.com

Thanks for visiting!

Happy Lunar New Year!

2010-02-16T01:36:00.000-08:00

This past weekend was well spent with friends & loved ones :)

First off, thanks to everyone who attended The Land of Odd Gallery's "$100 & Under Art Show" on Saturday...there was quite a turnout & lots of great artwork. I really appreciate the support!

I was also able to spend a bit of quality time with my family for the Lunar New Year. In the Vietnamese culture, we call it "Tết", and the common greeting goes like this: "Chúc mừng năm mới!" (which is basically "Happy New Year!" in Vietnamese).

So...in observance of Tết and The Year of the Tiger, here's a little painting I did for my parents to help usher in some good luck & happiness for 2010:

The Tiger is wearing glasses, as a nod to my Dad. My Dad is the most wonderful Tiger I know! :)

Chúc mừng năm mới to my family & friends!

The Land of Odd Gallery: "$100 & Under Art Show" (2/13 - 3/27)

2010-02-12T01:51:00.000-08:00

Hello! As part of an effort to do more personal work this year, I'll be showing a couple of paintings in the "$100 & Under Art Show" starting this weekend at The Land of Odd Gallery in Los Angeles. Below are my pieces – you can click to enlarge:

"Still Standing" (8" x 8" Acrylic on Wood Panel)

"Bull Shiitake" (8" x 8" Acrylic on Wood Panel)

--------------------------------------------
Below is some more information for the event:

"$100 & Under Art Show" (February 13, 2010 - March 27, 2010)
The Land of Odd Gallery
4690 Eagle Rock Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90041
** Opening reception is this Saturday (February 13) from 6pm to 11pm.

There will be pieces from over 40 participating artists with many different styles...so hope you'll check out everyone's artwork & get some great deals! Thank you for your support!

"Little Do They Know" (2/2/10)

2010-02-02T02:15:00.000-08:00

We've got a fun group at the office called "Sketchup & Mustard" – which was formed by my friend Jin Han, in an effort to bring colleagues together & to help each other keep up with creative side projects. Last week's theme was "Kids and Their Imagination".

I decided to apply this theme to my latest Little Do They Know comic strip. Please click the image below to enlarge:

I'll be posting a few more updates soon. Thanks for visiting :)

Superhero Linda Panda

2010-01-26T01:36:00.000-08:00

The above painting was a gift for my good friend Linda Hong – aka "Linda Panda" – who celebrated her birthday this past weekend. She's depicted as a superhero panda, because that's what she is – strong, supportive, compassionate, and heroic. Oh yeah...and she likes pandas too.

Be sure to check out Linda's blog, as she's poised to share her amazing artwork this year. Linda also collaborates with her boyfriend Nate Mitchell, and Chito Arellano...together, they are the creative masterminds behind Squid Kids Ink.

As a quick sidenote – and speaking of heroes – I am very grateful to my family & friends. Thank you for showing me what love & support are truly all about.

First Post of the Year: "Little Do They Know" (1/8/10)

2010-01-09T16:44:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!
Please click below for a new Little Do They Know comic strip:

This 1/8/10 strip was intended to be posted yesterday, but a few things came up :P
Regardless, here's to having hope for the future. Cheers :)

Happy Holidays! "Little Do They Know" (December 2009)

2009-12-20T15:31:00.000-08:00

Please click below to view a special Little Do They Know holiday strip, which is also featured on this year's holiday card:

Thanks for all the support this year. Happy Holidays! :)

Piece for "Gifted Artist" Charity Art Event

2009-12-18T22:44:00.000-08:00

Below is my piece for the "Gifted Artist" event – a charity auction & show benefiting the Loma Linda University Children's Hospital – which takes place this Saturday (December 19), at the CCAA Museum of Art in Rancho Cucamonga, CA.

"Gone Bananas" (11x14" watercolor & acrylic)

There will be dozens of amazing works by a fantastic lineup of artists for this event. Pieces will be auctioned for this one-night-only event, with 100% of proceeds going to the hospital. Remaining works after the event are also donated to the hospital, so it's a great cause all-around.

Below is some more information. Please also click here for more details. Hope to see you there!

"Gifted Artist"

CCAA Museum of Art
12467 Baseline Road
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91729
------------

One night only: December 19 (5pm - 10pm)

The Drawing Club (12/10/09) - Santa Claus sketches

2009-12-13T21:01:00.000-08:00

In the spirit of the holiday season, John Tucker posed as Santa Claus for The Drawing Club this past week! Below are my sketches (you can click to enlarge):

For more information on The Drawing Club, please visit: www.thedrawingclub.com

Thanks for visiting.

Pieces for "Power in Numbers 4" at Gallery Nucleus

2009-12-12T13:41:00.000-08:00

As mentioned in my previous post, Gallery Nucleus is holding a charitable art event called "Power in Numbers 4" – in which all pieces are sized at 5" x 7" and priced at $100 each. A portion of sales will benefit the American Red Cross. Please click below to enlarge my submitted pieces for the show:

"What's On Your Mind?"

"Let's Take a Chance"

"Here I Go!"

As you may see, the boy and girl from my Little Do They Know comic strip will be making their gallery debut. These are framed originals done in watercolor & pencil. Together, the pieces are meant to tell a small story...but my hope is that each image can stand on its own as well.

I'm fortunate (and humbled) to be a part of such an amazing exhibit benefiting a great cause.

Show opens tonight (December 12) from 7pm - 10pm. The exhibit will run through December 28. You can click here for more information & to see the list of participating artists. Thank you for your interest & support!

"Power in Numbers 4" and "Gifted Artist"

2009-12-10T00:37:00.000-08:00

This holiday season, I'm happy and honored to be exhibiting in two charity art shows: "Power in Numbers 4" at Gallery Nucleus, and "Gifted Artist" at the Chaffey Community Art Association Museum of Art. Please see details below & please click on the links to visit their respective websites:

"Power in Numbers 4"
Nucleus
210 East Main Street
Alhambra, CA 91801
------------
December 12 - 28
Opening night: Dec. 12 (7pm - 10pm)
** Each artwork piece will be 5" x 7" and priced at $100 each. Portion of sales will benefit the American Red Cross.

"Gifted Artist"
CCAA Museum of Art
12467 Baseline Road
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91729
------------
One night only: December 19 (5pm - 10pm)
** Charity art show & auction benefiting the Loma Linda University Children's Hospital.

I'll be showing three pieces in "Power in Numbers 4" and one piece in "Gifted Artist" (I'll be sure to post my pieces soon). If you're in the Los Angeles area on these dates, hope you can check out the shows & support these wonderful causes. Thanks!

(Promotional images above courtesy of Nucleus and Thomas Brillante)

Happy Thanksgiving! "Little Do They Know" (11/25/09)

2009-11-25T22:03:00.000-08:00

Please click below for a new Little Do They Know strip!

Also...I received some good news...the "VivDesigns" iPhone app featuring my Little Do They Know strip was recently awarded with a "Best" award from iPhoneAppsPlus.com!

If you're interested in downloading the app for your iPhone or iPod Touch, please click here. Thanks to my friend Chrissey and her team at FurrySoft.com for developing this app & for all their support. And of course, thanks to everyone who've supported us.

Also...special thanks & love to my family. Haha...Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! :D

25th World Wide SketchCrawl (11/21/09)

2009-11-24T01:50:00.000-08:00

The 25th World Wide SketchCrawl took place this past Saturday – which was also the same day for DesignerCon in Pasadena, as well as the CTN Animation Expo in Burbank. I tried my best to squeeze in all three events...didn't get a chance to sketch as much as I would've liked...but nevertheless, below are my results:

Please visit www.sketchcrawl.com to see works by other artists and to learn more about this world wide drawing marathon.

Thanks for visiting...a new Little Do They Know strip is in the works, so please stay tuned!

The Drawing Club sketches (11/19/09)

2009-11-21T09:21:00.000-08:00

In an effort to keep up with sketchbook practice, I attended The Drawing Club this past week. Marissa Gomez posed for the "Annie Oakley" theme. Below are a few of my sketches (you can click to enlarge):

For more information on The Drawing Club, please visit: www.thedrawingclub.com

Thanks for the support!

Dr. Sketchy's Roadshow at Nucleus (11/14/09)

2009-11-18T00:38:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday, Dr. Sketchy's Roadshow stopped at Nucleus Gallery in Alhambra, CA. It's been a while since I've attended a figure drawing session, so it was good practice. Here are some of my watercolor sketches from the event:

To learn more about Dr. Sketchy's Roadshow, please visit www.drsketchyroadshow.com.

Thanks for visiting!

At last..."Little Do They Know" (10/25/09)

2009-10-25T12:43:00.000-07:00

After a few stressful months at the office, I am finally on vacation...and when you're on vacation, you normally spend time doing things you love to do. On that note, here is a new Little Do They Know strip!

Even vampires don't always have their day :)

Now for some R&R back home in Arizona with Mom & Dad!

Thanks for visiting my blog & for the support. Happy Halloween!

24th World Wide SketchCrawl (9/19/09)

2009-09-20T19:12:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the 24th World Wide SketchCrawl!

It was nice hanging out with other artists, both familiar and new to the event. Our Los Angeles group sketched at the Grand Central Market and Bradbury Building...here are my results...you can click to enlarge.

Please visit www.sketchcrawl.com to see works by other artists and to learn more about this world wide drawing marathon.

Thanks for stopping by!

"A Night of Art and Hope"

2009-08-23T22:18:00.000-07:00

Last week, I joined a few friends from work in donating paintings to "A Night of Art and Hope" – a charity auction benefiting TrinityKids Care. Above is my piece titled Time to Play.

TrinityKids Care (part of Providence TrinityCare Hospice) provides dedicated hospice care for children and their families. This auction was just one of many events held by this organization, as they continue to raise funding and awareness for their program & services.

Many thanks & best wishes to the kind folks at TrinityKids Care for letting us be a part of this wonderful cause. For more info on their program, please visit www.trinitycarehospice.org.

Little Do They Know (8/10/09)

2009-08-10T00:53:00.001-07:00

Please click above to enlarge a new Little Do They Know strip.

I'm trying to keep my head above water these days...hoping to push more LDTK strips out soon.

Thanks for visiting!

Random Stuff!

2009-07-12T23:49:00.000-07:00

Hello! A new Little Do They Know comic strip is currently in the works, so I thought I'd share a few random pieces in the meantime...

Above is a watercolor sketch from this past weekend's 23rd World Wide SketchCrawl. You can click to enlarge. I had a fun time sketching with other people in Echo Park, near the Angelus Temple. Please visit www.sketchcrawl.com to see works by other artists and to learn more about this event.

To the left is a piece that was exhibited a couple months ago in the "Custom Mini Skully Show" at Chuckwa Gallery in Fullerton, California. I call it Sad Fancy, inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven". It was a privilege participating in the show with over 90 artists...check out more amazing pieces from other artists here.
Media: existing Mini Skully DIY vinyl, acrylic, clay, and found objects.

(Photo credit: Julie Bossinger)
Sold :)

Here is another watercolor sketch. This was done last month at "Art in the Park" – a fun event held by The Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles.

Recognize this little guy? This is a customized mini Munny vinyl figure...Little Do They Know style. Thin acrylic glazes and pencil were used to reflect the comic strip's simple look. The box came with a cute "HELLO MY NAME IS" tag and a spiffy pair of specs. He's trying to be incognito in the last photo.

Last but not least, I've been meaning to post this entry for quite some time. My friend Pat Egan contacted me a couple summers ago to work on a cover for The Travels of Annie T. Hastings, a beautiful novel edited by Michael Hastings. It's a wonderful story. Please visit www.anniehastings.com for more details on this book. You can also purchase it at Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

That's about it for now...thanks for visiting & please check back again soon!

Little Do They Know (6/14/09)

2009-06-14T22:04:00.001-07:00

Please click above to enlarge a new Little Do They Know strip.

Thanks for your continued support!

"Little Do They Know" featured on new iPhone app :)

2009-05-22T17:41:00.001-07:00

Last week, Little Do They Know entered the booming iPhone age – thanks to my friend Chrissey Thompson and her awesome team at FurrySoft!

A recent collection of the comic strip can now be accessed through a new iPhone app titled "VivDesigns", which allows you to read each strip panel-by-panel with a simple swipe of a finger. You can download it for free here.

On a fun personal note, Chrissey and I have known each other since grade school! We recently got back in touch, and she kindly shared the idea of creating an app to feature the strip. I'm very grateful for this opportunity...the best part of which is simply reconnecting & collaborating with an old friend :)

Many thanks to to all who have already downloaded this app! The support, encouragement, and feedback are all very much appreciated.

Please be sure to check out more FurrySoft apps at FurrySoft.com, and follow them on their Twitter page as well!

Little Do They Know (5/7/09)

2009-05-07T02:07:00.001-07:00

Please click above to enlarge a new Little Do They Know strip.

Thanks for stopping by! :)

Little Do They Know (4/26/09)

2009-04-26T19:23:00.001-07:00

Hello! Sorry it's been a while since the last Little Do They Know strip...it's been a bit busy, but thanks to those who've inquired and for your continued support.

Please click above to enlarge a brand spankin' new one.

Cheers!

World Wide SketchCrawl (4/11/09)

2009-04-14T00:09:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of participating in the 22nd World Wide SketchCrawl this past weekend. It was my first time crawling with the Los Angeles group...nice meeting everyone! Below are some select snippets (click to enlarge):

Please visit www.sketchcrawl.com to see works by other artists and to learn more about this event.

A new Little Do They Know comic strip is in the works, so please stay tuned. Thanks for stopping by!

Little Do They Know (2/15/09)

2009-02-15T23:46:00.001-08:00

Please click above to enlarge a new Little Do They Know strip. Hope everyone had a nice Valentine's Day...and emerged relatively unscathed :)

Thanks for stopping by.

--
Song of the Day: "Everything's Everything" – HorrorPops

Little Do They Know (1/27/09)

2009-01-29T02:13:00.000-08:00

Please click above to enlarge this week's Little Do They Know strip.

Thanks for stopping by!

--
Song of the Day: "My Poor Generation" – Moxy Früvous

World Wide SketchCrawl (1/10/09)

2009-01-11T18:07:00.000-08:00

It's been so long since I've gone out there and sketched...so yesterday, I decided to participate in my first World Wide SketchCrawl, along with many other folks from...well, around the world! In short, this event was started by artist Enrico Casarosa in 2004 as a means of getting people to draw, record, and share their worlds around them on the same day. What a great experience (even though I was feeling really rusty!)...

Below are a few from the day (the first couple are from the Chinese Gardens at the Huntington in Pasadena):

This was the 21st World Wide SketchCrawl. See other artists' works & find out more about this global drawing marathon at www.sketchcrawl.com. Thanks for stopping by!

Little Do They Know (1/8/09)

2009-01-08T22:28:00.000-08:00

Please click above to enlarge the first Little Do They Know strip of the year.

Hope 2009 is going well for everyone so far!

--
Song of the Day: "This is the Day" – The The

Happy Holidays! Little Do They Know (December 2008)

2008-12-24T11:14:00.001-08:00

Hello-ho-ho!

Please click on the image below to view a special Little Do They Know holiday strip, which is also featured on this year's holiday card:

Thanks for the support & happy holidays!

--
Song of the Day: "Bizarre Christmas Incident" – Ben Folds

Little Do They Know (12/11/08)

2008-12-11T22:20:00.000-08:00

Please click above to enlarge today's Little Do They Know strip.

Feel better, Mom! :)

--
Song of the Day: "Reckoner" – Radiohead

Happy Thanksgiving! Little Do They Know (11/26/08)

2008-11-26T08:06:00.000-08:00

Please click above to enlarge today's Little Do They Know strip. Let the holiday wishing begin :)

Thank you to my family & friends...and thanks for the support on the strip!

Happy Thanksgiving!

--
Song of the Day: "Glass, Concrete & Stone" – David Byrne

Little Do They Know (11/23/08)

2008-11-23T19:21:00.000-08:00

Please click above to enlarge today's Little Do They Know strip.

Thanks for stopping by!

--
Song of the Day: "I Play Music" – Rosie Thomas

Little Do They Know (11/9/08)

2008-11-09T15:29:00.000-08:00

Please click above to enlarge today's Little Do They Know strip...ninja style!

--
Song of the Day: "Signs" – Bloc Party

Little Do They Know (11/4/08)

2008-11-04T23:58:00.000-08:00

Please click above to enlarge today's Little Do They Know strip.

--
Song of the Day: "Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then)" – The Decemberists

Boo! (Little Do They Know 10/31/08)

2008-10-31T22:40:00.000-07:00

I've been a bit of a ghost this year...but recovering from "stuff" and trying to get back on track.

Please click above to enlarge a new Little Do They Know Halloween strip! Finally!

Aiming to be back soon (really)...thanks for the support!

--
Track of the Day: "Eliza's Song" – from the film score to Monster House by Douglas Pipes

Happy Holidays!

2007-12-23T18:58:00.000-08:00

In case you're wondering, Little Do They Know went on a hiatus due to a nasty winter bug & some relentless catch-up time at the day job...

Unfortunately, my mere scribbles for this month's strips won't see the light for the remainder of 2007 – but here instead is this year's holiday greeting card (sorry to whom I missed in my last-minute mailing):

Click the images below to see the front & inside of the card:

I plan to kick off 2008 with a few new strips to make up for lost time...so please stay tuned. In the meantime, thanks for the support & Happy Holidays to all!

--
Song of the Day: "River" – Sarah McLachlan

Little Do They Know (11/18/07)

2007-11-18T15:20:00.001-08:00

Please click above to enlarge this coming week's Little Do They Know strip!

Some new strips are posted in yesterday's post too. Vacation has done wonders already.

Happy Thanksgiving!

--
Song of the Day: "Two Way Monologue" – Sondre Lerche

Little Do They Know: 3 for 3 weeks!

2007-11-17T14:51:00.000-08:00

Why, hello! In the order they were conceived, here are 3 Little Do They Know strips to make up for the last 3 weeks:

For the week of 10/29/07:

For the week of 11/5/07:

And for this past week of 11/12/07:

Busy times! Hope everyone out there is having a nice holiday season so far.

--
Track of the Day: "What Must Be Done" by Nick Cave & Warren Ellis (from the original film score to The Assassination of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford)

Little Do They Know (10/30/07)

2007-10-30T00:59:00.001-07:00

The above strip is supposed to make up for last week. I'm aiming to get this week's strip out soon...Happy Halloween in the meantime!

--
Song of the Day: "The Trapeze Swinger" – Iron & Wine

Little Do They Know (10/17/07)

2007-10-20T18:58:00.000-07:00

Posted above is this week's Little Do They Know. Please click to enlarge – thanks for stopping by.

PS. Happy Anniversary to my parents. Love you :)

--
Song of the Day: "Distractions" – Zero 7

Little Do They Know: 6 for 6 weeks!

2007-10-15T23:54:00.001-07:00

Hello out there! Yes, it's been a month and a half since the last Little Do They Know strip. No, that wasn't exactly the game plan :P

Lest I bore anyone with minute details, suffice it to say that it's been an intense several weeks between the day job, some freelance work, and life in general. The strips you see below have been lingering in limbo, mostly waiting for color...until now.

6 missed weeks = 6 strips to make up for loss time! So here goes (in the order they were conceived)...

For the week of 9/3/07:

For the week of 9/10/07:

For the week of 9/17/07:

For the week of 9/24/07:

For the week of 10/1/07:

And for the week of 10/8/07:

This week's strip is currently in the works...so stay tuned. Thanks for the support.

--
Track of the Day: "Summer 78" by Yann Tiersen (from the original film score to Goodbye Lenin!)