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By: Jannie Ho,
on 6/13/2008
Its been getting hot here, yet I'm working on a Christmas book at the moment. Thats why I have an elf, just some character design for the book.
Theres been lots of things I want to post about, but I just haven't gotten a chance to. More soon!
By: Jannie Ho,
on 6/4/2008
Honestly, a little time away from the challenge worked out for me for the better. I've got two more to go- but the ultimate question is: how many more days will it take me? hahaha!
By: Jannie Ho,
on 5/23/2008
A friend tells me I'm slacking, so I better get back to the challenge. I think I am slacking because its getting difficult for me to draw something "fun" that involves drawing people. (If you missed it, my challenge was to draw people for 21 days.)
Anyways, some experimenting with line and texture. This doesn't look like my usual work. I'm not yet sure if I like it or not.
By: Jannie Ho,
on 5/20/2008
Hey everyone! I've really fallen off the wagon with this challenge, haven't I? With low energy these days and too much work on my plate, its just been a bad combination. But I am determined to finish 21 pieces of art, even if its not in 21 days.
By: Jannie Ho,
on 5/15/2008
Nerds + Chickens = My Favorite things
I've been sketching my creatures (I promise!) but I am too busy to scan them right now... I'm in the process of getting ready for my second show of the year and one of the best ones to be involved in if you live and craft in Edmonton... The Stop & Shop Show (Scroll down for more info)!
I have a bunch of new prints & cards as well as some original designs that have remained top sellers for me... Stop by the show early and be one of the first 25 in the door each day and you'll receive a goodie bag that includes a coupon for my booth (there's always a line out the door for this show so be early).
Print off this coupon to get $2 off admission to the show!
By: Jannie Ho,
on 5/13/2008
A super duper quick one today. Things are getting busy around here, hope I can keep this up!
Today is Mothers day on every planet, including todays creature's one. This sweet boy has searched for hours for the perfect gift for his mother: A copy of the latest Dione Cenila romance novel. His favorite food is gummy worms and his biggest pet peeve is when people throw take out wrappers into the streets (he's a big environmentalist).
Same Rules for this one: First to name gets the honors!
21
By: Jannie Ho,
on 5/11/2008
My least favorite piece so far. So I decided to keep working at it, ended up with these floating heads, which I liked:
Happy Mother's day to all the moms out there!
By: Jannie Ho,
on 5/9/2008
I was hoping I could at least try to make it 5 days in a row with this challenge! Oh well. My excuse: I had a deadline yesterday. I must admit though, its getting tough for me.
This past weekend I saw a documentary called "Hollywood Chinese," about Chinese and Chinese Americans portrayed in hollywood movies. So here is a little illo inspired by "The World of Suzie Wong" movies.
Another interesting thing related to this: I was told by a fellow (non-Asian) artist that my art didn't look "Asian." Hmmm? What is that suppose to mean? I was thrown a bit off guard, I didn't know how to answer. Was there an "Asian style" I was suppose to have? Perhaps I haven't done enough Asian-related subjects? Was I suppose to be inspired to write a children's book on the Asian American experience? It really opened a can of worms for me personally.
In the meanwhile, I'll draw some chickens. BTW, the chickens will be Asian.
I'm back from my trip to Grande Prairie and Whitecourt in Northern Alberta, Canada. It was truly exhausting and I'm so glad to be back home that I nearly pounced on my lawn and hugged it when I got out of the car (I'm not a fan of driving long distances by myself as it turns out).
He's a relative of sponge bob - square pants (at least that's where he got his eyes), except that he never wears pants (he doesn't have a body). He can tuck his legs up under him and fly away and has been mistaken as a UFO by many unsuspecting humans.
By: Jannie Ho,
on 5/6/2008
How is everyone's challenge going? So I finally got around to drawing some kids! I'm starting to break the rules more in terms of what I usually do. I also find myself staring at people in public, trying to come up with a good character for this challenge. Luckily, there is a never ending supply of interesting people around here, especially in the subways.
Have any of you switched to the Lepoard operating system for Mac? Well... we did (at my part time job) and it's been really frustrating. Today I did a "clean" install (threw everything on my hard drive away then reinstalled lepoard to try and get rid of the program errors and crashes I've been having). So... while I was doing this (it took hours)... I did my next character in pen (until it died) then pencil.
Creature of the day: She's rather human in appearance, but is not a human at all. Not nymph or fairy or anything of this sort, she's rather to her own class. While she enjoys the finer aspects of being "humaniod" such as listening to her record player (built in 1968) at a soft volume, most of her free time is spent near a bubbly brook talking to flowers and coaxing insects to nest in her hair.
Once again: Be the first to name this creature... (I may make prints of this one so it will have more impact than the others!)
If I'm truly going to challenge myself I have to go out of my comfort zone. Usually, this involves creating things on the computer. For today's challenge I used illustrator (and only illustrator) to create my newest creature. Thank you again so much for the comments as they have kept me going these last six days!
Once again: Viewer challenge is to be the first to name my creature (thanks for the great and wonderfully appropriate names thus far!)
Today's creature: He's elusive and careful but a tad on the nutty side: while he will eat peanut butter he will only eat it on potato chips with a side of guacamole! His biggest fear is alien invasion and yes, his fur is naturally orange.
It's been great getting back into my moleskin. I did this creature yesterday while at the Royal Bison Art & Craft Fair (which was very enjoyable: I connected with come people who had bought from me at a previous fair and traded my goodies for some very lovely products!).
Here's two quick facts about yesterday's creture: 1) She loves wearing layers (so she can enjoy her two favorite shirts at the same time) and 2) She often wakes up near midnight to jot down her dreams in vivid details.
I also had time to do a self portrait (crystal style): I find it fascinating that the one face you look at every day is the hardest to get "right"... then again, it might have helped to have a mirror.
By: Jannie Ho,
on 5/5/2008
I didn't post yesterday but I did do a sketch for this piece. (I try to stay away from the computer and not work on the weekends now!) Hope you guys don't think I am crazy with the violent butcher guy! Just more stuff I don't get to do in children's books. :-P
By: Jannie Ho,
on 5/3/2008
Robbers deserve to step on poop before they escape.
Today's "creative creature" was captured during a moment of shame. As it turns out, his father caught him moments earlier pulling his sisters tail. However, on moments that aren't filled with shame, this little one spends many giddy moments jumping in puddles with his bare feet and often tries to bring humans home as pets (his mother doesn't allow such ridiculous creatures in her home as they are far too loud). His favorite meal consists of baked polenta with tomatoes and cheese (grated extra fine and melted until brown).
By: Jannie Ho,
on 5/2/2008
I'll be out of town today but will catch up with the challenge tomorrow! Have a good weekend, everyone!
I had so much fun reading the comments about my last creature (thank you everyone!) that I wanted to see what you would make of the next one.
Here's his stats:
This guy is friends with Stan (believe it or not). In fact, they've worked in the same building for four years this upcoming tuesday. He enjoys eatting pickled corn and root of huginoba (a dark red fruit found in his land) while listening to his favorite radio show (which features local blues bands and interviews with select groups of human rights activists). He's had a bad day, which explains the rather sad illustration of him right now (he was forced to do the CEO's laundry and it was extra gross this time around)
By: Jannie Ho,
on 5/1/2008
I don't get to draw too many bikini-clad women in children's books.
By: Stephanie,
on 10/24/2007
Although we have long since become unisex in everything we do, most witches are still women. It is therefore a great comfort to know that the earliest recorded form of witch is Old Engl. wicca (masculine) “man practicing witchcraft”; it first occurred in the Laws of Alfric (890). The feminine wicce surfaced in the year 1000. This chronology does not mean that witches arose after wizards. Words, especially such words, may exist long before they find their way into a manuscript or onto a printed page, but, as far as Anglo-Saxon England is concerned, men have some precedence when it comes to pursuing magic, at least in terms of their names’ attestation. All of it is interesting and even intriguing, but, like so many other interesting things, quite irrelevant, because in Middle English, endings were leveled and the difference between wicca and wicce disappeared—antiquity or our time, nature always triumphs over nurture and unisex will have its way. (more…)
Very cute elf! Hooray to you for being too busy to blog. Stay cool!!!
Cute!
I am so excited to see another one. I've been stalking your blog to see a new one! I love the elf, he looks like he could create a lot of mischief.