my inspiration board

I never had this kind of inspiration board before. I usually kept cards, stickers, pretty brochures, etc. in boxes. It's fun to pin up some cute things to see and think further. I especially like the flowers, which even when they are dry, they still maintain their beauty.

The center piece, some of you may be able to tell, is my floral design. I printed it out, pinned it up to see how it would look like when up on the wall. Looking at the design from this angle, I saw right away which part I would have to adjust to make it better. This suddenly reminds me that when you have problems you can't figure out, it helps to step back and see things in different angles, you will find the solutions more quickly.

Now, my problem is the board itself. There are too many things on it and I feel dizzy looking at it :p. Need to take some things off and rearrange the whole thing.

It's a good start though :)

Inspire me Sunday

Good morning Sunday. I guess I will just make Sunday a relaxing and inspiring day of the week by posting love links I found during each week.

Enjoy beautiful things and have a merry Sunday!

Laura Carlin  : love her design on ceramics.

World's first 3D printing photo booth : this is very cool!

diy project : tiny doors : this super cute project reminds me of two things. One is The Borrowers and the other is an article I just read in Frankie magazine which talks about how important of stuffs we collect. No matter how non-functional they are (like these tiny doors), as long as they keep you happy just looking at them, it's worth the keeping (or making). I just love this imaginative idea :)

flying houses photos made me think of The Wizard of Oz.

up up & away illustration print : another flying art, always love her works.

PS. No new ideas for PiBoIdMo yet. Hope I could have one or two during laundry :P

merry girls sketches

I have been away from my computer most of the time this couple of days. There are a lot of things in my head that I wish I could dissect and lay them out in a neat pattern and just act on each of them one by one. I think the main problem (beside encountering creative blocks) for us, the creative minds, is how to balance things in our lives (work, family, our goals, etc.) properly.

It's very hard but sometimes it can be challenging too. The key is not to give up and keep on going.

My work is in a slow pace right now but I try to always have a sketchbook in hand and draw ideas whenever I can. The characters you see in these sketches are, I think, some kind of my brand representatives, I call them Merry Girls :) It's not my intention though. I draw this kind of girl a lot during work to get myself relaxed. I post them on my facebook page and it becomes a character that people recognize me from. Some of my followers kindly told me that they got happy feeling when they saw my girls. It's the best compliment I ever had. I name my brand MerryDay just to say how happy I am when creating art but it's even better if my art can make someone feel happy too :D

I mostly post my merry girls doodles on my facebook page. If you are on facebook and would like to check it out, you can go browsing my album here >> http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150257328584435.339945.259090264434&type=3

A half day of frustration and a half day of inspiration :)

The good thing about doing freelance is that your time is flexible. This really helps when I get into creative blocks or encounter frustrating problems that prevents me from creating good design. In the case of today, I have a problem with my inkjet printer. It's the third working equipment gone bad in the period of 6 weeks. So, I guess it's quite acceptable to be very upset.

But I didn't let myself be mad too long. It's not good. I could just make use of my schedule flexibility by turning my computer off and switching to do something more relaxing. The printer could wait. I'm sure I can figure it out later ( or I hope).

So, with a box of color markers and a sketchbook by my side, I sat on the cool floor and started reading the current issue of Frankie Magazine, one of my wonderful inspiration sources. Its pretty pages with insightful content really helped lifting my spirit. I ended my afternoon with some pages of color sketches and a few worthy quotes...

I guess my today is not too bad at all :)

PiboidMo day 13 : what if Giraffes could fly?

explore, play and make mistakes

There are times that I get frustrated with my art. It seems that ideas in my head and sketches in books always look better than actual works. The idea of showing my art in public sometimes scares me too. I guess that is one of the reasons that I get too tense and could not be satisfied with my art easily. My perfectionist side is taking over me and it's not good. Art needs relaxation. Explore, play and make mistakes, I need to say that out loud...

After several hot days in Bangkok, we finally get cool weather today. I went out browsing some books and did some sketches in a coffee shop. It's nice to go outside from time to time :)

PiBoIdMo day 12 : still thinking about rainbow.

Inspire me Sunday

Nothing much to say today. Just finished my floral design. Need to print it out and take photos and move on to new drawings :)

Inspire me today links :

darling magazine : I love this magazine. Wish I had more time to read all through every article.
book cub : little blog of doodles and ideas.
Johnny Kotze : beautiful illustration, love his color palette.
Amy Husband : found her via Twitter (the world of illustrators), Really like her colorful whimsical illustration and hand-lettering too!
Carson Ellis : my favorite. I wish I could draw like her.

Have a merry day everyone :)

Oh! Almost forget PiBoIdMo.

day 10 : A gray city and only one girl who could see colors.
day 11 : Little Peach and little Pear making friends ♪

80% art, 20% business / learn to stop, learn to start

My two online classes have finally ended and I still keep thinking about them.

I took some other online classes before. They were good classes to some level but as I didn't manage my time for the classes well enough, I didn't benefit from them as I should have. But for these 2 courses, Creative Courage and Blogging Your Way, I devoted my time to really read, collect materials and participate as much as possible. I think I gain a lot from these classes, both in knowledge and spiritual support :)

Now I am kind of addicted to starting each day reading the classes' posts. Stephanie, from Creative Courage, incorporated artist's interviews into her class so well. Each one was very informative and inspiring and I felt like I needed more. I searched and read. But suddenly, it struck me that I was beginning to get lost again, in the sea of information.  I still need more info in marketing and Etsy tips. But that information will be only information if I don't create my art enough.

Lisa Sonora Beam from Creative Entrepreneur, one of the artists in the class interviews, says that if you want to be in creative career, you have to do your best in handling two jobs at the same time. One is to create, the other is to sell. The best blend should be 80% art and 20% business.

I think I'm doing on the art part only 10% right now. It's time to switch my focus...

Just like doing digital illustration, with easy clicks, we tend to keep on changing colors, adjusting things with no end. I guess learning to stop and learning to start are very important in designing (and also in life).

Let's see what I will show you next post :)

****
I forgot that I'm supposed to have one idea each day for the PiBoIdMo. So, here we go :

day 5 : A village where each villager has flower or plant on his or her head.

day 6 :  Little Leaf (from day 3 post) makes friend with other kinds of leaf in the woods.

day 7 : Something about cloud?

day 8 : A girl who is never sad.

day 9 : A pessimistic girl vs. an optimistic boy

Know more about me (and other bloggers)

Today's post is going to be a bit long if you don't mind. This is because lovely Karina from A Kreative Life has just nominated me for a Liebster Award, a tag that let readers know more about the blogger they are following (or just begin to know).

I did this kind of tag last year. I'm thinking how I have changed from that time. Not much. Maybe a bit grown-up?

Anyway, here's the rule : to be eligible, I must post 11 random facts about myself // Answer 11 questions Karina asked of me // Nominate 11 more up and coming bloggers, notify them and link them  to my post // Create 11 new questions for these bloggers to answer / no tag backs.

Quite a mission but here are my 11 random facts :

1. I love drawing on kraft paper with Faber-Castell ink pen number 4 and 8, this may sound ridiculous but number 4 is different from 5 (at least to my hand :P) and coloring with Steadtler fibre-tip pen, their pink is really bright on kraft :)
2. I love raspberry latte, both in taste and color. It gives a feeling of warm but refreshingly romantic somehow.
3. I used to be afraid of dogs, scared to death even when they were miles away from me :P
4. I don't drink alchohol.
5. I was pessimistic until MerryDay becomes my brand, more about this later :)
6. I'm an introvert, quiet person and sometimes annoyed when asked why I don't talk (why must I?)
7. I cannot live without my glasses.
8. I love watching documentary shows.
9. I'm addicted to facebook, only when at home though. I don't use internet on the move.
10. Europe is always my dream destination.
11. I cannot sing or even hum :P

That's it! This is getting too long already. I haven't answered Karina's questions yet. Here they are :

1. What is your greatest strength?
I'm not sure. I'd like to say my optimism but I know I'm not that optimistic.

2. What was a moment/event that changed the course of your life?
When I decided to spend another 4 years for graphic design degree.

3. If someone was to give you one gift, money is no object, what would you want to receive?
My best friend once gave me a bookshop gift voucher and I was so happy :D

4. What dish are you renowned for cooking?
Can cooking rice be called a dish? :P

5. What was your favourite subject at school?
English :)

6. Your ultimate career would be?
I want to make my MerryDay shop as my main income.

7. Do your personality traits and interests make you feel as though you should have been in another era, and why?
No, I think I'm in the right era now :)

8. Your favourite colour?
Yellow and pink :)

9. What is the most courageous thing you have ever done?
Getting on a tourist plane for Seattle's bird's-eye view tour with an old pilot who looked like he could have a heart attack at any time :P

10. Your perfect holiday : relax or explore?
Relax. Go to beautiful, quiet place and think of nothing.

11. What makes you laugh?
Something happy :)



Next are my nominees. These bloggers are all art focused which is my main interest. Visit their blogs and read their insight, you might find some new friends :)

Sandra / the Art of Greatness
Andrea / DreAm*heART*sMart*ArT
Tricia / Daring Hue
Suzi / Vignttes de la vie
Notabilia  / Notabilia
gabriella / ink.paint.paper
Little Miss Tweedie Bird
Kaho / Chuzai Living
Elizabeth / On the Surface
Judy / Sketching with Stitches
Anna / Mischief, Flapjacks, Pantone & Me

And here are my questions for the bloggers above:

1. What activity do you think you cannot live without?
2. How do you deal with creative blocks?
3. Do you like reading? What is your most favorite book?
4. Who is the artist that has great influence on your art or life? How?
5. What is your motto in life?
6. What do you do first thing in the morning?
7. What is the last thing you do before going to bed?
8. Where do you find your inspiration?
9. If you could fly high in the sky, which bird's-eye view scene you want to see the most?
10. Which magazines/blogs do you read regularly?
11. Your favorite flower?

Done! I hope this long post doesn't bore you. Before you go read my nominees' blogs,  you may want to stop at Karina's place first. She has a neat and clean blog, full of insight and inspiration. I enjoy her writing very much :)

*****

My PiBoIdMo Day 4 : A cat who is scared of mice?

Flower sketches and a little leaf

I have been out most of the time this weekend, didn't do much except some sketches...

I left this brown sketchbook on a bed near open window. My place is on the 11th floor. I guess this little leaf must have been blown from higher floor or some apartment nearby. It's kind of cute and really goes with my drawing, doesn't it? :)

Hope you are having a good weekend.

Oh! Almost forget the PiBoIdMo day 3 : how about a little leaf who gets lost in the wind?

Revamping MerryDay : work in progress

I think I need to share more of my work progress for my shop now. I thought I would keep everything to myself until I could have something complete to show in public. But on second thought, posting something unfinished might be a good way to push myself to work harder. :)

Here is a flower design I'm working on. I generally sketch ideas with ink or pencil on paper first. Then scan in and trace in Illustrator program. This one is a bit different though. I drew right onto the program based on initial pencil sketches in my book. The idea is to have something sweet, swirly and fresh. The challenging part is color selection. I always struggle when it comes to coloring part. I prefer using 2-3 colors in my work if I could. Too many different colors confuse me and it would take me a long time to finish it.

I'm pleased with this drawing's color scheme so far but can't help wondering how I could make it more unique. I just have to keep trying and learning. :)

Talk about color learning. I have found some blogs that could be helpful in term of color study.

Orange you lucky is my most favorite illustration and pattern blog. The artist, Helen Dardik, is a genius in choosing colors. You have to look at her gorgeous pattern designs. They are all amazing :D

Emma Lamb's blog is also one of my favorites. She has a good sense in color coordination and I really love her crochet handmade.

I found a creative mint through Blogging Your Way e-course. This blog is very beautiful and you can read posts by color. Interesting.

That's it for today. We will see what I come up with tomorrow :)

Now for the PiBoIdMo day 2 : The Demon Grim captures Rainbow princess and put her in a high tower, how can Brave Prince rescue her?

Flaming Gerbera and an idea for Picture Book Idea Month

It's day 1 of Art Every Day Month ! and photo shooting is what I focus on today :)

Taking bright and beautiful pictures of my shop items is one of the challenges I encounter. I'm always learning and trying to work on it. At first, I wanted to try shooting my design but decided against it. They are not ready to be shown yet :) Luckily, I could find these gorgeous Gerbera, the flaming orange color is so striking and they seem to glow even in the dark. My place is a bit gloomy and it's quite hard to have bright sunlight these days with all the bad weather. So, I used the help of 2 desk lamps with Daylight light bulbs and a sheet of white paper on the background and just played.







I really love this last one. It looks like the flowers are floating in the air!

That's my day 1 of AEDM. I don't have any plan of what I will do each day for this challenge. I will just let it be spontaneous and exciting each morning that I wake up. :D

Now, there's another challenge I'd like to talk about. It's Picture Book Idea Month. I actually intended to just read and follow their posts. But the group is so inspiring that I can't help myself.
So, here is my first day and first idea :

PiBoIdMo Day 1 : A merry girl with wishing bubblegum.

I should have some sketches to go along with the idea but don't want to stress myself too much :)

PS. If you don't know about Picture Book Idea Month or PIBoIdMo, you might want to read what it is all about here.