Björniks Pen & Ink

Kwadro King

noreply@blogger.com (otto björnik) — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 19:15:00 +0000

After a long and arduous journey, the four sisters were united with the kings whose hearts they captured.

KAI of the north kingdom was a ruthless and iron-fisted ruler. Only two things could crack his callous exterior: his beloved canary whose warbling could instantly turn him into a big, doting marshmallow, and Qortni's temper which made him tremble worse than jelly in a railroad car. He enjoyed both. Together, Kai and Qortni made a formidable royal couple.

KAVAN of the east kingdom was a debonair gentleman, full of charm and grace. He made all the ladies in the kingdom swoon and bat their eyes. Unfortunately for them, he only had eyes for Quilla whom he showered with gifts and affection. One look from him, and she could feel her heart flutter like a thousand butterflies. Kavan and Quilla were completely and utterly in love.

KENDL of the south kingdom was a benevolent and generous king. Most of the time he was very jolly and cheerful -- except when Quiana beat him at games, which happened to be all the time. Everyone in the kingdom regarded Kendl and Quiana as the lucky couple.

KINAH of the west kingdom was enormously wealthy, with rooms filled with gold and gems and all sort of trophies. Whatever King Kinah desired, he got. So it frustrated him to no end that the only thing he could not get was Quarta's satisfaction and approval. She was always highly suspicious that whatever she did not have was actually better. Kinah and Quarta were constantly craving for more.

New Print: Mother & Child

noreply@blogger.com (otto björnik) — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 07:48:00 +0000

For those who missed my signed Mother and Child print sale, you now have the chance to get one! Just go to Society 6 via this link to take advantage of FREE shipping worldwide. This offer applies only to prints and is valid until January 13, 2013 at Midnight Pacific Time.

Kwadro Alas

noreply@blogger.com (otto björnik) — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 15:39:00 +0000

Arjun, Aden, Ashur & Aubin

The four sisters became more and more beautiful with each passing day. As word of their beauty spread, kings from neighboring lands came to court the fair young maidens. And so it happened that each sister became betrothed to a king before her eighteenth birthday. When they became of age, the nobleman sent his daughters to the four corners of the land to live in their new kingdoms. He selected four of his bravest horsemen to accompany and protect them on their long journeys.

Kwadro Kwin

noreply@blogger.com (otto björnik) — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 05:36:00 +0000

It has been written that ‘War is the trade of kings.’ But we all know that behind every great king, there lies an even more powerful queen. This is the story of four sisters who were each destined for royalty. They were the beautiful daughters of a wealthy nobleman who lived in the Center Valley. They spent their days playing spirited rounds of mahjong and betting against each other in lively, trash-talk-laden games of marbles.

QORTNI had a temper that was quick to flare and difficult to extinguish. Had there been anger management courses in her village, she would have flunked every one. She had a glare that could stop a snarling hyena and send it whimpering away.

QUILLA was an incurable romantic and masterful daydreamer. She could often be found chasing frightened woodland creatures in the hopes of singing with them. To this day, that has not happened.

QIANA smiled and skipped wherever she went. Luck, it seemed, always seemed to follow her around like puppies eager to be noticed. This annoyed her sisters greatly.

QUARTA wanted to have it all. She liked to fill her pockets with baubles and gems, some of which were hers and some of which were not. She also had the habit of licking every bonbon in the box so no one else would eat them.

Sneaky Snow Ball

noreply@blogger.com (otto björnik) — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 16:25:00 +0000

Together with UK-based artists whose works I admire, I will be showing two custom toys at Kidrobot London on November 30, 2012. Do check it out if you are in the area. This is guaranteed to be an awesome show!

Cross My Heart and Hope to Die

noreply@blogger.com (otto björnik) — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 16:56:00 +0000

Happy Halloween!

Lobita

noreply@blogger.com (otto björnik) — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 18:08:00 +0000

My fellow artist Arturo C.E. asked me if I could do a portrait of his girlfriend. I wanted to take a break from drawing other people's faces but he told me that he's commissioning 25 artists to create 25 unique portraits for her 25th birthday. I don't know how anybody can turn this guy down since it's a great honor to take part in creating such a sweet gift for a lovely young lady who definitely means the world to him.

ink and acrylic on paper

I also found this as an opportunity for another color painting exercise since he hinted that his girlfriend Ana loves the colors pink, purple, violet and my favorite black & white. When doing whimsical portraits, I always try to get to know the person I'm drawing. I ask for pictures that best show their personalities or significant details such as birth dates that I can include in the portrait.

They are both artists from Mexico and my main subject Ana is a web designer who goes by the handles Pipoca and Lobita. I will let the portrait tell you more about her but a little anime knowledge is necessary for you to really appreciate the details.:)

with digital color

If you're curious about the other portraits, Arturo uploaded this cool video documenting the creation of his gift. The music says it all. I also think this is the sweetest gift ever!;)

Best Munny

noreply@blogger.com (otto björnik) — Sat, 16 Jun 2012 12:05:00 +0000

"PISCES"

Acrylic/Resin on 7" Munny

Best Munny was the award given by Kidrobot to my entry Pisces in the recently concluded Kidrobot Munnyworld Contest. As a huge fan of the munny, it feels great to have it chosen by the makers themselves. What's even more rewarding is to have it among amazing customs done by my fellow artists and friends! You can check out their awesomeness at the Kidrobot blog.:D

Must Love Manila

noreply@blogger.com (otto björnik) — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 10:26:00 +0000

I've had the great privilege of representing my country for the Tiger Translate Global Showcase. Along with 20 other artists mostly from the Asian region, we were asked to draw what the word "streets" meant to us in the context of our cities. And here's how I envisioned the pulse and energy of the streets of Manila, the capital of the Philippines.

"As always the Manila cityscape comes alive with its charming vibrance and delightful chaos. Never can you find streets overcrowded with an eclectic mix of culture and revelry like Manila. So when the sun sets beautifully by the bay, it means the party's just getting started."

"Must Love Manila"

50cm x 35cm, pen and ink

If you've ever been to Manila, then you might be able to identify with some of the elements and scenes in the drawing. I tried to put in as much as I could but even if I drew it on the streets, it still wouldn't be enough to capture its essence. I hope the following close ups give you a better feel of the city and somehow convince you to visit the Philippines.

click above images for larger view

With this drawing, Tiger Translate has chosen me as an artist in the running for Tiger Translate Fan Favourite. And with your help, I could be going to Mongolia to showcase my work and represent Manila. For the next two weeks I'll be actively promoting my work in my Facebook page where an online voting is being held. But as early as now, you can express your support by voting for my piece at www.tigertranslate.com/fanfavourite. I'm hoping to get your support. Thank you!:D

Revenge of the Wolves

noreply@blogger.com (otto björnik) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 12:43:00 +0000

The rumbling in her babies' tummies is too much for Lyca to bear. It has been days since they've last eaten, not since her husband was viciously killed while foraging for food. Every night, Lyca and her little ones visit the bluffs where she and her husband first fell in love. There, she wails for their loss and longingly calls out for him in the vast emptiness. But the only sound that answers is the echo of her cubs' whimpers and the growling of their tummies.

She must snap out of her grief and feed her starving babies. With a mother's instincts and a widow's vindictiveness, Lyca vows to avenge her husband's murder. She already got rid of the lumberjack. All she has to do now is devise a plan to get that rabbit Lago once and for all.

This series is a collaboration between me and my little sister. I did the design and customizing while she did the great task of sewing the clothes and making them fit. Full reveals of the toys, including an 8" Lago, will be posted at www.bjornik.bigcartel.com starting Friday. And they'll be available for purchase on the 24th at around 9pm EST. If you have any questions or if you are interested in future releases, feel free to email me.

WIP: Red

noreply@blogger.com (otto björnik) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 17:31:00 +0000

I'm slowly regaining my confidence with the brush. Thanks to my fellow toy lovers, I've been painting incessantly with custom toys for the past month. And here's a sneak peek of my latest project that I posted in my facebook page last week. There will be no definite release date yet but this is something you should watch out for.

By the way, the Herzensbrecher show is probably kicking off right this very moment. I'm very thrilled to be in the same show with the people I look up to for inspiration. If you're interested in my pieces or just curious to see how other artists' pieces look like, you can check them out at Strychnin Gallery.:)

Herzensbrecher

noreply@blogger.com (otto björnik) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 06:29:00 +0000

I was invited to take part in an exciting project that will be happening in Berlin two weeks from now. Herzensbrecher, the charity show organized by Strychnin Gallery in collaboration with porcelain company The New English, features a group of contemporary artists and designers. The main goal is to raise money for the hugely important organization ‘Ein Herz Für Kinder’.

Each artist were given one handmade heart for them to customize. But in a big event like this, confusion may arise. Like my case where I received these two hearts.

"Malaya"

approximately 10" tall

acrylic on bone china

These might have been the most challenging for me to customize. When I received their invitation, I prepared myself for the great task of designing a simple heart. You know, the shape we always draw.haha Yes, I am really that shallow.:P So you can just imagine my shock when I saw anatomical hearts. But like every other project, no matter how simple or difficult, I put my heart into this.

"Maligalig"

approximately 10" tall

acrylic on bone china

I initially planned to add clay for the flowers but decided to paint them instead. I didn't want to take the risk of drilling and breaking these handmade hearts. But I still "broke" them and exposed these beautiful ladies inside.;) Here are more pictures to show how challenging these hearts are to paint on. If you're going to be in Berlin on the 16th, please drop by the show and see how big the participating artists' hearts are. Enjoy!

WIP: Manila

noreply@blogger.com (otto björnik) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:10:00 +0000

Happy Hearts Day!

noreply@blogger.com (otto björnik) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:30:00 +0000

Just updating with a new poster.

The Battle of Napaeae Forest

noreply@blogger.com (otto björnik) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:49:00 +0000

I have a question for you to ponder on. If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?;) But I don't want to engage you in philosophical banter because the truth is, I really don't know. Assuming it does, it would be the sound of clashing axes, grating chainsaws and crackling ember followed by long screams and a loud thud.

I'm actually talking about the ongoing war between the two tribes of wood elves: Wildfire and Kaingin. It all started when one elf from the latter named Cannabis forgot to prepare for fall and was stripped naked in front of the neighboring Wildfire. To save face, Cannabis made up stories that started the rift between the tribes. And now both camps are ready for the face-off. Pick your bets and see who ends up as firewood at www.bjornik.bigcartel.com.

A New Direction

noreply@blogger.com (otto björnik) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:13:00 +0000

I've neglected this blog for too long. I didn't notice that it's almost three months since the last time I posted. But I had been so busy to blog about my art. I even missed my yearly art summary. So for those who don't follow me in facebook, here's the long overdue summary of the illustrations and toys I created last year.

Looking at this, I realized that I spent the most part of 2011 customizing toys. The year went by unnoticed and I painted a total of 45 toys. That's almost a toy per week. Not bad for my painting practice but I still have a lot to learn.

I really love toys and enjoy creating my own designs on this platform. It serves a breather for my illustration projects and my stepping stone to becoming a painter. Hopefully this year, I can apply everything I learned in painting to all my projects. Wait, that didn't sound right. I will still be customizing toys! If you like my designs, you can email me to get updated with the next toy release later this week.

But if you're here for some pen and ink goodness, don't worry, I am still drawing. In fact, I'm currently working on the largest illustration of my life. Just don't forget to check out my facebook in case I don't post it here.:D

Taking a Back Seat

noreply@blogger.com (otto björnik) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 09:12:00 +0000

Hooray! I'm finally done with our home renovation and was just right in time for my nephew's 1st birthday. All the designing and supervision, party preparation, and creation of the Shah Mat II series have been strenuous for me that I need to take a break from everything. So you won't be hearing from me for a while (that's been always the case in this blog) until I have something new and exciting to share.:D So just follow me in my twitter and facebook for WIP's and other news if you wanna get updated with what I do.

The above photo is not of our home but the penthouse unit housing the set of my artworks embroidered on backrests of these chairs. Just click any of the two chairs below to get a closer look at the detail.

To all those who emailed me asking about Shah Mat II and other commissions, thank you! I'll reply to you as soon as I get home. To everyone else who are interested in acquiring the whole Shah Matt set, just email me for the next email update. Cheers!

Shah Mat II: The Great Sartorial Conundrum

noreply@blogger.com (otto björnik) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 09:06:00 +0000

In the vast checkered fields of Sirib springs an ongoing war between two great kingdoms: the scarf-wearing Whites and the belt-strapping Blacks.

the scarf-wearing Whites

the belt-strapping Blacks

As adorable little pawns inch their way forward, fierce knights leap out of nowhere and shrewd bishops wait to ambush their enemy. Powerful rooks block and hurl damage while the all-seeing queen crushes whomever she sees as a threat to her king.

They each engage in battle to prove their king's claim as the Supreme Wearer of the Checkered Cloth. In the end, only one kingdom will reign and only one sartorial style will prevail.

the aspirants

NOTE: Click on some of the images to enlarge.

Mother and Child

noreply@blogger.com (otto björnik) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 04:59:00 +0000

"Mother and Child"

9 x 12", pen and ink

This is the most recent pen and ink drawing I did for my friends' mom. She might just have the largest Mother and Child collection here in the Philippines. It was featured in a TV program (our version of Ripley's) and shown to occupy three floors: paintings, sculptures, cards, figurines and to everything mother and child. Unfortunately, I forgot to ask for a picture while my friends were here to celebrate her birthday.:( Anyway, here are some details.

My mom keeps telling me that I was born at 11:11am. Today, 11-11-11, marks the 11th day past my 11,011th day in this world. Thanks mom! This one's for you too!;)

Aquamarine

noreply@blogger.com (otto björnik) — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 13:27:00 +0000

I've been fortunate enough to help a friend develop her brand. Earlier this year, she asked me to create a logo for her accessories that was later on replaced by a new one that would represent their family's jewelry business. It wasn't that difficult to create both logos but it's when she asked me to illustrate the 12 birthstones that I had to really think hard.

It took me an entire month to come up with a concept and like all the projects I did for her in 10 years, it was worth it. It really feels great to be working with a friend who shares the same interests and passion in the arts and at the same time who writes very well. It was her interest in haiku and my love for realism that brought about this wabi-sabi-inspired drawing.

This is just one of the 12 drawings I made that will be used for their calendar. And I can't wait to read what my friend has to write for my illustrations. I'll also make sure to put one on my desk so I don't lose track of the dates when I should be updating this blog.hehe

PS: As a kid when asked for my favorite color, I'd proudly say aquamarine just to sound cool when I actually meant "cerulean blue". Kidding!:P

Talcum

noreply@blogger.com (otto björnik) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 13:04:00 +0000

Hello. It's been a while since my last post and I don't know where and how to start. If you've been following my blog, then you probably noticed that I've been posting more and more toys. The truth is, I've been doing a lot of commercial work lately and customizing toys serves as my breather. Fortunately, some toy collectors like and support my style and commissioned me to add some to their collections. The one you see below is Talcum, my most recent custom dunny.

Apart from these projects, I'm also coordinating with a company that will release a new line of Otto Björnik merchandise. For now, I can't disclose the details but it has something to do with the Phosphenes and Speak No Evil. I will just update this blog with more details next time but for now, here's Talcum to entertain you.

Btw, if you like the Phosphenes, Society6 is now offering FREE shipping for all prints bought in my shop. This is valid thru Sunday (Sept. 25) and will be applicable worldwide. And that's like getting three mini prints for the price of one plus shipping.:D

Arnkatla

noreply@blogger.com (otto björnik) — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 17:31:00 +0000

Meet Arnkatla, a fierce little warrior that will fight for you 'til the very end. Give her and these two adorable banshees a home when I post them up for sale at my store on Wednesday, August 17 at 9am EST.:)

There's also a short interview and artist feature on me posted on Gup Gup's blog. Check it out for other artist features and get updated with their special promos. By the way, I won the above Gup Gup in one of their random giveaways. When I told them I'd be customizing my prize, they sent me an extra blank to apply my art on. It was very thoughtful, thanks Nick!:)

WIP: Mother and Child

noreply@blogger.com (otto björnik) — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 15:33:00 +0000

Shiro and Kuro

noreply@blogger.com (otto björnik) — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 08:37:00 +0000

Last week, I received three boxes of toys and I felt like a child again. I picked some of the amazing designs I liked and played with them. But like any other kid with low eq, it didn't take long before I stripped all of the designs and repainted them with my own.:D

Above is a photo of Shiro and Kuro, two of the adorable banshees that I'll be sending out to warn people of an impending war. If you wanna know more about it, email me and I'll include you in my mailing list for my next toy series release.:D

Class, Style and Taste are on the Menu

noreply@blogger.com (otto björnik) — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 09:48:00 +0000

A few weeks back, I posted the pen and ink drawings of the restaurant menu I did for my boss's cousin. Finally, I got the images of the actual menu below.

Class is on the Menu

Style is on the Menu

Taste is on the Menu

The original drawings are about 30 x 40" big and are reduced to fit in a 12 x 18" menu. Art direction by Carl Urgino and Biboy Royong.:)

For a closer look at the details, you can check my behance account.