Turtle Sculpture

It's been 2 weeks since my last post, and I finally have something new to show you!

I've been working on the sculpture for my next animal, which is a turtle. It's a sea turtle, to be more specific. As you can see, I've done something a little different this time, which is why it took a lot longer than the other sculptures. It's been a fun challange!



I suspended a series of five sea turtles, making a mobile which displays the movement of the animal. It didn't turn out to be quite as dynamic as I'd hoped, but I'm still pleased. I especially like how the reflections on the wall look when you hang it up. I think it's definitely the most decorative sculpture I've done so far, and I'm planning to replicate and sell the mobiles in the future.

So, the next step is the drawing, then the vector graphic, and lastly, the collage. I hope to get all this done by the end of next week, so check back soon!

Thanks for your support and have a great weekend =)

Jamal the Jaguar

Well, the collage ended up looking much more male than female in my opinion, so I decided to choose a masculine name. Jamal means "beauty" and according to wikipedia, it could also mean "inner beauty, from the heart." I like that. =)

(To view the study, sculpture, drawing, and vector graphic for this portrait, please view a previous post.)

Here are some pictures of the finished collage.




The people of the Maya revered the jaguar as a magnificent beast, and they incorporated the animal into their mythology. I placed Mayan ruins in the backdrop of this portrait to tell that history. I wanted to also depict nature itself as a powerful force, as the buildings are overgrown and the stones are eventually taken back to the earth.

Lesson - remember to talk about the work in order to sort out ideas and problems
Discovery - folklore and myth is a good place to start when researching an animal
Challenge - vary the composition, more active posture, push the expression (thanks to my dad for these suggestions!)

It seems like some of the previous challenges are resurfacing, the main one being the animal's pose. I think this is such a struggle because it's hard for me to make the sculpture in an active stance while still being stable. But, I have an idea!

I'm going to try and create a sculpture which will be suspended by a string or wire. That way, it won't have to balance on a flat surface. So, for example, a bird could be flying in the air, a frog could be in mid-leap, and sea creatures could glide through the water. This will open up a lot more oportunities for dynamic poses, and it will be a solution for animals that swim and fly.

I'd also eventually like to make a series of sculptures that depicts a movement (like the flapping of a birds wings) and string them all up as one artwork. It would be kind of like a mobile that one could hang as decoration.

Please keep suggestions and opinions coming! Your feedback is so helpful. =)

J is for Jaguar

I keep going back and forth with the gender of this one, but I think I'm going to take my friend Marisa's advice and go with a unisex name. I like the name Jaden, but am open to changing it if anyone has any suggestions. =)

the study

the sculpture

the drawing

the vector graphic

jaguar maquette

I'll be doing a jaguar next, and here's the maquette. I think she's a lady, so let me know if you think of any good female "J" names. Thanks!

Byron the Bullfrog

I finished the collage for Byron today...

(To view the study, sculpture, drawing, and vector graphic for this portrait, please view a previous post.)




The challage from last time was to make the animal's environment engaging so that it tells or begs a story. In this story, Byron is the hunter, and the moth is his prey. I think this is a good start, but it's still too commonplace. I need to think of the animal as a character in a fun and quirky story...

At 10 weeks in, I'm also finding that the novelty of this project has worn off. I might not feel very excited or confident about what I'm doing every day. I guess that's natural though.

Recap from this portrait:

Lesson - Inspiration is around the corner, so just keep working and stay positive
Discovery - Patterned fabrics can really affect the mood of the portrait
Challenge - Write a story for the animal before starting the sculpture

Thank you for all your suggestions so far. Please keep em' coming! They really do help me. =)

B is for Bullfrog

What with getting all the designs and files ready for card printing, I've fallen a little behind with Byron, but I'm sure I'll catch up soon! Here's what I have so far:

the study

the sculpture

the drawing

the vector graphic

I'm not sure when I'll be finished with the collage, but I hope to make some good progress today. Hopefully I'll catch up on Monday, cuz I'm ready to relax this weekend! =)

Card Printing Time

Here are a few of the new card designs I've done in the last couple months. I'll have a new catalog to share with you all soon, now with a grand total of 30 designs!

Happy Friday!

I am ohhhn track. Yesterday, I finished the sculpture of Byron the Bullfrog, and I'm doing the drawing today.

I even had time to write 2 letters and design a new card (will be going to print in a couple of weeks!)



Thanks for tuning in. =)

fun with organic material

I picked some leaves and petals a few months ago and pressed them between the pages of a heavy book. When I retreived them yesterday, I was happy to see that the colors were still pretty vibrant. With more time, they might fade away, but that would only be natural.


It's fun to look at the shapes of the leaves and imagine something new from them. It makes sense that plants and animals would share similar forms. It touches on the idea that everything is connected, and that ultimately, we're all made from the same stuff.


Organic material is just so beautiful, and I would love to become more familiar with this medium. It's not as pliable as paint, or even fabric, so I don't think it's possible to ever fully harness it. Instead of designing something and using the material to execute, you have to let the material lend itself to a design. But, in that way, I think you end up having more of a partnership with the material. It's more limiting, but also more satisfying.

Lauren the Loris

Here she is!

(To view the study, sculpture, drawing, and vector graphic for this portrait, please view a previous post.)




Recap from this portrait:

Lesson - just as in any portrait, facial expression can be very powerful
Discovery - new perspectives lead to greater transformations in each step of the process
Challenge - make the animal's environment engaging so that it tells or begs a story

Thanks for reading, and as always, suggestions for the next animal are much appreciated!

L is for Loris

Ok, I think I've finally got the hang of this process. I now know how long each step takes, and I know that 2 weeks for each animal won't be a problem. I wasn't sure for a while there, but I've gained confidence this time around!

Here's the documentation of steps for Lauren the Loris:

the study

the sculpture

the drawing

the vector graphic

The whole point of the process is to transform and abstract the subject with each new medium. One key lesson I'm learning is the importance of new perspective.

Instead of sculpting the loris looking straight ahead, she's looking up. Instead of drawing the sculpture from the side, I looked down at it. And, this wasn't planned, but in the vector graphic, I think Lauren now looks as if she's hanging from the branches of a tree!

I'm excited, because I'm learning how to push the envelope a little more each time. This growth is partly dependent on planning, but it's also dependent on my willingness to let go and take chances. The latter is definitely a challenge for me.

Well, it's time to make this into a collage now. I'll post it up in a few days. =)

Ben Sollee and Joel P West (solo set)

Here are some images of a poster I did for an upcoming music event with Ben Sollee and Joel P West. The event is hosted by Sezio, a non-profit artist organization here in San Diego.





Ben Sollee and Joel P West (solo set)
Wednesday, August 18th
Sushi Art - 390 11th Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Doors @ 7:30pm - Music @ 8:00pm
Presale Tickets $8 - $10 @ Door

thanks, jimmy!

Thank you Jimmy, for calling my attention to this awesome animal, the loris.

Here's the maquette. I usually don't show these rough drafts but I'm just so excited about it. I even know her name already (thanks to Andy.)

Meet Lauren the Loris!

Ira the Ibex

Here are some pictures of the collage for Ira the Ibex—just finished yesterday!

(To view the study, sculpture, drawing, and vector graphic for this portrait, please view a previous post.)



Call me crazy, but I keep thinking that Ira totally looks like Andy. I see similarities in the curves of his brow, the long bridge of his nose, the shy and kind eyes, and even the facial hair!


At least Andy doesn't seem to take too much offense to my idea. He's even learned the sounds that ibexes make. I'm sure he won't be embarrassed if you ask him to show you!

Ok. Now, things I have learned...

- each problem is an opportunity to learn more about the materials I'm using, so have patience
- felted material is so cool!
- don't be afraid to zoom in for a close up next time

Thanks so much for checking out this post, and a special thanks to you followers! Your feedback so far has been immensely encouraging. By the way, feel free to send me suggestions for other animals if you'd like. =)

Now on to the next animal!

I is for Ibex

Introducing... Ira the Ibex. Here are some snapshots of the creative process:

the study

the sculpture

the drawing

the vector graphic

I had my doubts as to whether ole Ira would make it, especially through the sculpture stage. But, after a few breakdowns (literally on Ira's part, and emotionally on mine) I think he's going to be just fine. A dynamic pose is a challenge indeed!

I'll be working on the fabric collage, so look for it in my next post. =)

some new cards

I just finished these designs...

This one for my friend Sarah who is getting married this Sunday. The Chinese symbol means "double happiness" and is a traditional wish for newly weds.


This one is a baby shower card that I did just for fun. =)