There is actually a poem thing in the center, but no, I will not subject you to reading my bad poetry.

Sophia Lauren, watercolor, acrylic ink, color pencil.

Mostly traditional… I ended up having to fix a lean in Photoshop and touched up some details.

So, it’s 2012 and I’ve been feeling like something has been missing from my art life. Things are going well in illustration, but perhaps there has been too much in the way of work and not enough left for me.

Sitting at the computer working, day after day, is bad not only for the body but for the soul. While I do still draw in sketchbooks for myself, it is sometimes soradic – sometimes I will do several sketches a night, other times I may not pick up a pencil for a week or longer.

I feel like I have to at least try to get back to doing something with traditional materials, on a semi-regular basis. So I’m thinking of trying to do something called Traditional Thursday. I will try to put up a new piece on Thursdays that is not done digitally.

So here’s my first (ok, I’m cheating a bit, I have a head start since I have maybe 3 others done too).  Enjoy.

Yes, well that’s as good an excuse as any right?

cintiq 24 vs cintiq 21 box size (with cat for scale comparison)

cintiq 24hd box vs me

I do like my older 21in model, really I do. Every Wacom product I have ever owned has been a great piece of kit, and the 21 was worth every cent.

The new 24HD is an upgrade, not as huge as going from an Intuous to a Cintiq, but still an interesting one nontheless. It is massive and heavy, and looks a bit like a panel that should be on a spaceship rather than an illustrator’s desk.

cintiq 24 on desk with 23in LED monitor behind, propped up so I can see it

It seems quite comfortable so far. I managed to set it up to hang off the table but I had to prop some stuff on the base to keep the height up a little (the arms only seem to lock up when adjusted to their maximum height, presumably for transport purposes or if you want to use the Cintiq as a stand-up monitor). Wacom should consider adding a functionality to allow people to lock the arms into place at the angle they desire.

propped up screen with books on base

It’s that time of the year again! Happy holidays, season’s greetings and here’s hoping for a 2012 that doesn’t suck!

Many thanks to Paul Pert Smith for including me in this new book. It’s an honor to be included in a collection of art that includes some really artists, most of all Chris Achilleos. While he is not one of my artistic influences, his beautiful fantasy illustrations adorned many of the books I liked to read as a kid, and at one point led me to draw dragons and other neat monsters. (I also realized quite quick I would never be a good fantasy illustrator since I simply hated doing the rocks or trees or ice that dominate fantasy backgrounds).

The book is now available through Amazon and (probably) can be ordered at your favourite bookstore.

Halloween 11' / Charlene Chua illustration

Happy Halloween everyone! To avoid the above scenario, do not use paper bags for trick-or-treatin’….

Super thanks again to Jason at CRP for letting me do this one! Frogger is one of the most iconic video games out there, and to do the cover art for it is just pretty sweet awesome. Yes I said sweet awesome. It just is.

This is the cover for the North American version; Japan and Europe have different covers. This cover is aimed more at kids, and we tried to convey different things in the game, like the classic trucks and cars, as well as the new additions. Apparently this poor frog also has to hop over tanks, evade mean snakes and rats and dodge Apache helicopters. I don’t know why, perhaps he escaped from Raccoon City or something.

My original art featured a night scene as I thought the lights would show up better. But I guess since the other covers featured day scenes we hanged it to a day scene as well. Below is the original color scheme and art. Frog had a longer tongue as well.

Late night sketching, couple of pieces from the Gucci S/S collection. Not a real fan of it, but couldn’t find the Fendi collection I actually wanted to draw. I guess high waisted pants are back in for Spring.

Been a very busy couple of weeks. Here are some sketches I managed to do at night before bed.