"Don't let go of the mockingbird"

         Inspired from the classic To kill the mockingbird by Harper Lee, in which this lovely songbird symbolizes virtue and innocence. Since I was a child, Atticus's warning “it's a sin to kill a mockingbird” has been cherished in my heart. This piece is created as an alert for adolescent girls who have been forcing themselves to be adults in inconsiderable ways (like wearing too much make up, revealing clothes or proving to be adult-like by turning themselves into cheap items).

"Don't let go of the mockingbird"
(October 2012)
Acrylic base and coloured pencils

"Roald Dahl and the unspoken puppet theatre"

I just did a simple editorial illustration of Roald Dahl- the creator of childrens' alternative worlds. I simply love his stories, especially Matilda, James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate factory (I go crazy over Willy Wonka!) for their sweetness and the bizarre yet irresistably charming story plots.

       Here are some photos of the illustration in creation: 

Outline sketch

Colour development

Basic colouring and shading added

Refined and finished work
"Roald Dahl and the unspoken puppet theatre"
October 2012
Acrylic and graphite pencils

A treat for Halloween

Halloween is soon knocking on our doors, how exciting! This little piece of illustration is dedicated to all the audiences who have supported me for the last two months. I wish you guys a fantastic Halloween day, full of laughters and "trick-or-treat" candies. 

"Gawking at the unwrapped danse de Macabré"
(October, 2012)
Acrylic base and coloured pencils on paper.

A bleeding, deteriorated house

La danse of the skulls

For a cosy yet scary night on Halloween, Let the right one in (2008) and Pan's Labyrinth (2006) are on my first-list recommendations. Not too bloody, not too horrid, the two movie is filled with heart-wrecking moments and sparkles of sweetness amisdt the dark fantasy world full of terrifying events and creatures.

If you have young children, I truly recommend Labyrinth, a 1986 movie with David Bowie and the gorgeous, youthfull Jennifer Connelly. A trememdous cult montage about an alternative world of the Goblins (which was created by the amazing Brian Froud) will bring yours kids from surprise to surprise, as well as enough laughters and creeps for an unforgettable Halloween night.

Enjoy! And don't forget to tell me how your Halloween goes. I shall be craving for every bizarre detail.

The journey carrier

"As he walks, with the journeys weigh in his 
threadbare backpack"
Acrylic base and coloured pencils on paper, 
October 2012

Close-up

        PS. My facebook page now officially opens for recommendations of my favourite artworks (in any form such as film and photography,etc). Keep on track and share with me your feelings or recommendations  about interesting cult cultured and vintage art. 

Pick of the week: Learn from quotes

In lieu of my recent absence, I shall dedicate some favourable quotes from three significant illustrators who will give all of us better ideas about editorial illustration field. 

1. 
   “Freedom to express a visual opinion on a wide range of subjects is for me the reason to become an illustrator. Illustration has the power, potentially, to move people emotionally and challenge them intellectually. By its very nature, illustration can question conventions and generate reactions. In a society such as ours, where art is frequently undervalued, this carries an unparalleled power, given the exposure to a wide audience." Anita Kunz commented on idealism and social responsibility from the viewpoint of an editorial artist. 
   
   
   
   

2. Brad Holland commented on image 
   establishment within the illustration field: 
   “It wasn’t easy. Society’s paved with stepping stones. Follow them and things come to you as they’re supposed to. Skip a few stones and it’s an unpaved road." 

3. “One of the most productive conversations you can have in this world is between yourself and your subconscious—except you can’t converse with your subconscious in words, because it doesn’t use words. You have to find out what vocabulary it uses and converse with it that way.” (Brad Holland)
   
   

4. 
   
   
   
   
   "I never draw from life. You can either 
   draw someone carrying a suitcase from
   life or from sketchbooks, or, like me, you 
   can imagine what it feels like...It's like 
   acting and I get to play all the parts." 
   (Quentin Blake)
   
   
   
   
   
   
                 Have a great start for a fantastic week everyone! 
   
   
   PS. For those who concern, I am working on 2 commissioned works. Details will be updated soon.

The showgirl

"The showgirl"
Acrylic base and colour pencils on paper

Pick of the week: rendered in an artistic mind

      Rather busy this week so apologies if I haven't got enough annotations. University works are stressful, but I am having a real good time. I get to read and watch a lot this year as reference works, which is amazing! Anyway, here are some inspirational notes I have come across:

1. Quote: “Nothing exists until or unless it is observed. An artist is making something exists by observing it. And his hope for other people is that we will also make it exist by observing it. I call it “creative observation”. Creative viewing.” (William S. Burroughs)
   
   
2. Short film: “Le Ballon Rouge” (“The red balloon", 1956 French short film by Albert Lamorisse)
   
   
   If you're a fan of Up, the 2009 Pixar animation, here is the short movie where the inspiration for Up was taken from. A charmingly magic realist story of a little boy who befriends with a massive red balloon, as he grows attached to it and discovers that the balloon itself also has emotions.

A lovely, captivating short film of innocence, friendship and the love towards things around you. Pascall, the little boy, treats the balloon as it is a real person, with care and respect, untils the ballooon actually chooses him to be its only friend, and follows Pascall around after school.

Beautifully filmed with subtle colour sets and lovely music, Le ballon rouge made me giggle for hours. I love the contrast of the tiny, litttle kid with the massive red balloon - so powerful and dynamic. Albert Lamorisse just blows a fantastically fresh atmosphere into this Oscar-winning short movie.

An exellent watch! It was, is and always will be a great gift for children generations, and for me exclusively, who is absolutely hypnotized by the inspiring art direction and the poignant symbolization appearing in this movie. 

3. Photography: Just discovered Erwin Olaf, a terrific photographer who captures emotions through surreal interpretations. His photos harbour so much hidden melancholy, while still maintain the monotonous tone on the surface. Isn't that what we are like? Tons of ripples or storms screaming in peoples' souls, contrasting to the calm and peaceful masks we try to put on. 





"Grief" series






"Marie Antoinette"






Enjoy your Sunday, everyone! Take a walk and wander around in charity shops 
always make me feel relaxed and inspired, hope that will help you as well :)