This is the type of art...

...that brightens up my day.
I thought I should share. ...After so long of inactivity around here!
You can find out more about Conrad Roset and his amazing work on his website!

A project to resume.

It's been over two years since I started a really exciting project involving line art. I hadn't had the opportunity to mention it in any of my posts before, so I decided that today was the day.

I've been working with Dr. Alan Sandstrom and his wife, Pamela Sandstrom in the production of line drawings of their sacred cut-paper figure collection from an Aztec Indian Village in México [created for curing and crop-fertility rituals by indigenous ritual specialists in the Huasteca region of eastern Mexico]. These adorable and intricate paper cut figures will become part of an extended collection in a nationally recognized library. This is definitely a meaningful project which I am really excited to be part of.

I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Alan Sandstrom back in 2009, after his book Corn is Our Blood had been accepted for translation by Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios Superiores en Antropologia Social in Mexico. I helped with the generation of line drawings of pre-existing pieces for the book through University Relations and Communications at IPFW. The experience was exciting and challenging -- it was the first time I had to work with line art of such nature!
I never imagined that such experience would transcend and impact my career in such great way.
Although, I had to put this project on hold due to the hectic semester I had with my senior project, I'm glad that it will soon resume and will give me a bit more variety during my creative day.
And while I cannot post any of the actual work in this blog without asking Dr. Sandstrom first, I can share the translated book I received in the mail last year, El maíz es nuestra sangre. It was such a surprise and honor to find my name within the credits in the book!

I don't know what life has in store for me, but I believe that if I embrace every single opportunity I come across with passion, dedication, and optimism, whatever that is, will make me really satisfied.

falling in love with watercolor

A little bit of inspiration on this beautiful Saturday afternoon...

Conrad Roset is undoubtedly a very talented artist whose work I absolutely adore.
Click here to watch him at work.

watercolor affair

For the last few months I've been going ga-ga for watercolors. It all started in my illustration class when I gave a try to watercolor techniques in Photoshop. The more I saw during my research, the more I liked. I think watercolors and I have finally reconciled and I'm so tempted to get those tubes out of the drawer and paint again... Acrylic paint, don't you feel bad. You are still my number one!

So for the last project in my Graphic Design class, I used a watercolor technique to illustrate a clothing line for girls. I chose to design dresses inspired by my favorite fruits and their blossoms. Now, if I could only know how to sew...

fruttibloom. where flavor meets fashion. tag.

fruttibloom. strawberry.

fruttibloom. plum.

fruttibloom. kiwi.

fruttibloom. blueberry.

   

back to the basics...

Illustration can be quite frustrating for me. It's been twelve weeks since the semester started and sometimes I wish Photoshop was as 'easy' as it appears...

Theater Department Poster

Excited about this project... An illustration for the University's theater department.
I couldn't wait to post a snippet!

More to come...

As it is the case with the blog design. I felt like doing some 'cleaning' around!

Indie one-o-seven Vehicle

Promotional vehicle for the fictional Indie radio station I've been working on in my GD III... Happy that this  radio station project/business is over!!
I can't help, but going back in time every time I look at this 'combi', and I have to admit; this illustration not  only gave me sleepless nights... but a lot of nostalgia.

Happy with the overall design. I went for a retro almost rusty look and I think I was pretty successful. The bright yellow color, definitely gives it an Indie feeling -- happy with life, content with the surroundings and the hopeful feelings about the days to come!  Well, that is, I should say, my very personal view and take on the Indie culture.

...get well soon!

After two weeks in the hospital and a procedure where doctors removed the stones in her gallbladder, my sister is back home... Being so far away made the "welcome home" hard, but I managed to have some flowers delivered to her along with this little note. Hoping these few words can say how much I wish I was there...

lazy summer (cont.)

...and the final contact-card that accompanied my flan:

FPU classmates seamed to like the chocolate flan. Most of them took cards and thought the idea was clever. I can't wait to take the first order!!

A comic strip. Anime style!

Does this look funny to you?
I hope so, because this is DONE! No more adding/editing/changing or correcting. DONE!

[... who am I kidding?]

Caricature Assignment

Caricatures can be quite interesting.
It is hard enough to draw realistically, and to exaggerate somebody's features in a way that it still looks like the person and depicts who she/he is... Well, that's some challenge. I've never drawn a caricature. I only remember tracing Mickey Mouse tons of times when I was a kid. To the point where I could draw him from my head (wow-- in a sarcastic tone), but that's about it.
As I endeavor in the completion of this assignment, I will leave you with small bits of these very first caricatures.

UPDATE -- It's getting better and scarier... 

I never mentioned his name -- Juan Son (aka Mussgo -- former member of Porter), whose music plays in my iPod and in my heart as well... OK that was a little over the board. His music is quite interesting, but his voice is just wow. 

And the final piece...

I am pretty sure Juan Son would love this version of him... 

Did I mention?... I even had nightmares with this piece!