Thanksdoodle #5

Thankful to have a super best friend with whom we can get through the good & not-so-good times...this one is dedicated to my bestie Kendra :)

Thanksdoodle #4

I have my moments where I may complain about work...but when it comes down to it, I'm very thankful to have a job in which I can wake up & draw for a living.

I've enjoyed drawing ever since I was a toddler...so to be fortunate enough to have this kind of career (and to have the support of family & friends throughout the years) is a pretty wonderful thing.

Thanksdoodles #1, #2, and #3

I've done my share of taking things for granted over the years...so now that the month of Thanksgiving is upon us, I figure I should take some time to list some things I'm thankful for.  I'm going to try and do a quick little "Thanksdoodle" each day for the rest of the month.  Since I missed the first few days of November...here are three to catch up:

#1.  I'll start with something obvious...thanks to my parents!  I can't even begin to describe how much they've done for me...even in my brattiest moments.  They were actually in town recently & I had the pleasure of celebrating their 45th wedding anniversary with them.  Congratulations, Mom & Dad!

#2.  Thanks for health!  I got hit with a nasty cold early last week...each time that happens, I realize the value & importance of good health.

#3.  Here's another obvious one...but always thankful for a roof over my head.  Sometimes it's the little things that are the big things in life, right?  In fact, I feel like raising the roof...for roofs!



Okay...that's it for now...thanks for visiting!

Catching up with The Drawing Club (9/19/13 Charlie Chaplin theme), a sketch dump, and a children's book project...

I've been terrible at updating this blog...but yes, I'm alive :P   Rather than let another seven months (!) go by, here is a catchup post to get it rolling again...

Most of the sketches below have already been posted on social media sites like Instagram & Facebook, but I thought they could have a permanent spot here too.

Here are some ink sketches from the 9/19/13 session of The Drawing Club, which featured John Mackey as Charlie Chaplin.

And here is a dump of sketches from the last few months – from the most recent SketchCrawl, a trip to the Pacific Northwest, pub outings, and just random doodles...

Last but not least, I've been helping to illustrate a children's book titled "A Little Goes a Long Way" by author Ashley Mills Monaghan.  More info & updates can be found at: www.alittlegoesalongwaybook.com
We're nearing the final stages, but below is a peek of the characters.

Thanks for visiting!

Some recent sketches...

Hello!  Just rounding up some recent people sketches...

(taken with Instagram)

Happy Chinese New Year!

Happy Chinese New Year!  Or "chúc mừng năm mới" as I would say to my family :)  Hope the Year of the Snake is a joyous & prosperous one, and full of new beginnings.

Some sketches from this month...

Hello!  Just thought I'd round up some sketches from this month...

(taken with Instagram)

Thanks for visiting :)

Happy New Year! Just a brief catch-up post...

Happy New Year, everyone!  I certainly plan on posting more this year, but thought I'd share a few things from the end of 2012 in the meantime.  Here are some holidoodles (holiday doodles), which were given to some of my friends:

(taken with Instagram)

And here are a few sketches done at a recent visit to Congregation Ale House in Pasadena:

(taken with Instagram)

Looking forward to a great year.  Thanks for visiting!

"Little Do They Know" (December 2012) - Happy Holidays!

Happy holidays, everyone!  Below is this year's "Little Do They Know" holiday card.  Here's the outside of the card...

And here's the inside...

Wishing my family & friends a wonderful holiday season...I've learned so much over the recent years, met so many great people & I feel very thankful for all of the ongoing support, encouragement, and inspiration.

PS.  Love you, Mom & Dad :) So happy to spend Christmas with you, Ong Ba, and the rest of our family this year.

Piece for "Retroholic Art Show" (12/7/12)

If you're out & about in the LA area tonight, perhaps you might want to check out the Retroholic Art Show taking place in Westchester, CA from 4pm - 10pm.  I'm happy to be participating alongside many friends & artists...below is my piece:

"Hot Cocoa Party" (original framed 9" x 12" watercolor, pencil, gouache)
Price:  $125

Here is some additional info:

Retroholic Art Show
Friday, December 7th from 4pm - 10pm
6249 87th St.
Westchester, CA 90045

Thanks to my friends Elena & Sarah at Honey Tree / Honey Haus for inviting & curating.  This is just a one-night cash & carry show...so hope to see you there & thanks for the support!

Just a few sketches & updates...

Squeezing in a post at the end of the month...here are a few recent sketches & updates...

It's been a while since I've gone sketching, so I recently joined my friend Erik Caines to check out the Congregation Ale House in Pasadena earlier this week...below are some sketches from the night:

(Taken with Instagram - Early Bird and Hefe filters)

I'm also happy to be a part of a couple of upcoming events...

First off, my friends at Honey Tree / Honey Haus are presenting their next pop-up "Retroholic" art show, which takes place next Friday, December 7th from 4pm-10pm in Westchester, CA.  I'm excited to be participating alongside many friends & artists.  I'll be posting my piece soon...but in the meantime, below is the flyer for the event:

Thanks, Elena & Sarah at Honey Tree for inviting & curating!

Last but not least, Capcom's Street Fighter 25th Anniversary Global Tournament Series - Grand Finals will be taking place on Saturday, December 8th in San Francisco.  I'll be exhibiting & selling limited framed, signed prints of my previous series (pictured below) originally done for the Street Fighter X Tekken launch party.

Many more talented artists will be exhibiting their work at this event!  Click here for more event details & a list of participating artists.  Big thanks to Eric Phan at Tsunami Syndicate for inviting & curating this art exhibit.

Thanks for visiting!

"Monstoberfest" Art Show (10/13/12)

Hello! I'm happy to participate again – alongside other friends & artists – in this year's 3rd annual "Monstoberfest" art show at Rothick Art Haus in Anaheim, CA – which opens this Saturday (10/13) at 7pm.  Below is my piece for the show:

"Amateur Night" (12" x 16" framed original watercolor & pencil)
Price:  $125

And here is some more info for the show...should be fun!

Thanks to Irene Mendonis and the folks at Rothick for inviting / curating.  Hope to see you there!

The Drawing Club - "Red Sonja" theme (9/6/12)

Ahh I've been so bad at posting :P  Before more time passes, here are some sketches from the 9/6/12 session of The Drawing Club.  Stacy Walker posed for the "Red Sonja" theme:

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

"Wild Things"

Below is a gift for my friends Tracy and Teresa, who recently gave birth to triplets!  Their nursery is themed after "The Cat in the Hat"...so needless to say, this piece features a couple of Dr. Seuss's iconic mischievous characters (plus one)...

"Wild Things" (9" x 12" pencil & watercolor)
Taken with Instagram / Kelvin filter

Congratulations & best wishes, Tracy and Teresa! :D

Artwork for "J-Pop Explosion" Art Show (7/13/12)

If you happen to be in the San Francisco area tomorrow night (July 13), perhaps you might want to check out the "J-Pop Explosion" art show at Big Umbrella Studios from 7pm-11pm.  This show features art inspired by Japanese pop culture, and I'll have a couple pieces in there alongside many other cool artists.

Below is a new piece drawn specifically for this show (inspired, needless to say, by Hayao Miyazaki's "My Neighbor Totoro"):

"Keeper of the Living Room Floor" (framed original 9" x 12" watercolor & pencil)
Price:  $100

Also available at this show is a signed limited print of a piece originally done for the Street Fighter X Tekken release party earlier this year:

"Spinning Plush Kick!" (framed 9" x 12" limited signed print)
Price:  $40

Last but not least, below is the flier for the show, with the complete address for Big Umbrella Studios:

For more information on this event & to see a complete list of artists, please click here.  Special thanks to friends & artists Rick Kitagawa and Eve Skylar for inviting me to participate and for curating this show. Thanks for the support!