Sketchbook

For the past three months, I've been commuting to Toronto for work which takes bleeding 4 hrs of my day!  Since I hate the idea of wasting time, I started sketchbooking again when I'm on the train. Although I've never been the type of artist to keep a sketchbook, I know a lot of artists have recommended it. It's an artist playground where you can vent out your creativity and just feel free to draw absolutely anything. But I always find the first page of the sketchbook to be intimidating, I have no idea what I want to draw, and what happens if I mess something up and people are going to see it.

Have you ever felt that way towards a sketchbook before? Well, what helped me get over that obstacle is to write down what I want to achieve in the sketchbook and what kind of things I'd like to practice drawing on the first page. It gives me a direction to work on and removes that fear of not drawing. If one of the drawings I made was not good enough, I don't rip it out of my sketchbook. It's just a reminder that I should do better next time. 

Studio

 For a long time, I knew that the first thing I'd save up for after I graduate was a Cintiq. I wasn't sure how long it would take me to save up for one but it was definitely the most important thing I wanted to obtain as soon as possible. Luckily enough my awesome parents bought me one for a graduation/ early birthday gift a week ago and I haven't stopped drawing on it ever since.

Here's a sneak peek to what my studio looks like now. It actually barely looks THIS clean but for picture's sake, I tidied up a bit! Haha, I just noticed that the weight of my Cintiq is bending the poor desk. That doesn't look good at all!

Anime North Cafe Delish

This timeline features the limited edition pins I've designed each year.

For those who may not know, I have been volunteering at a maid cafe called "Cafe Delish" at Anime North for 4 years in a row.  If you ever attended this event between 2010 - 2013, then perhaps we've met or I have probably served you before! My maid name is Nyamo! Nice to meet cha!
So what's Cafe Delish? Well, it's a Saturday event where customers can come, relax and enjoy an afternoon tea service after an exhausting day at the con.
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 Each seating includes:

• A collectable memento for Cafe Delish 2013
• Beverage of your choice (tea, juice, pop)
• Assortment of decadent desserts (afternoon tea style)
• Unique Maid service / experience
• Interactive games (Jankenpyon)
• Complimentary photo set (with a maid) at the puriMeido booth in the TCC

Each ticket costs $20 and all the proceeds are donated to charities like the Sick Kids Hospital, the Japan Relief efforts and the World Wildlife Fund.
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Every year has been an amazing experience and I've always enjoyed being part of the maid cafe. I worked with a great maid team, met lots of awesome geeky people at the con and learned new dances to perform. However, all good things must come to an end and this will be my last year at Cafe Delish. I'm a graduated artist now and I'll be going to conventions as an artist than a con goer. Hence, I would like to thank Cafe Delish and all the masters and madams I've served these past 4 years. It's been a blast and hopefully I'll see you next time as Heather and not as Nyamo.

xoxo

Toronto Comics Arts Festival 2013

TCAF Sunday May 12, 2013

Wow, I was completely blown away by the artists I met at the Toronto Comics Arts Festival (TCAF) this year. It was a very fulfilling experience and for those who never went to TCAF before, I highly recommend you try going next year and be seriously prepared with lots of cash. You’ll be amazed on how much stuff you just want to buy there.

Oni Press featuring Bryan Lee O'Malley's " Scott Pilgrim"coloured series

Hilarious X-ray portraits by Jason Laudadio

TCAF is one of the best conventions you can ever go to. It’s a week-long convention that has a great focus on comics, graphic novels and their creators. You get to meet several popular artists and publishers in the industry, attend very informative and helpful lectures, gallery shows and panel discussions and participate in all kinds of neat events. It’s just absolutely amazing. I wish I could clone myself so that I could attend everything that this unique comic convention has to offer. Oh and if all of this doesn’t incite you to come well guess what, it’s free.

Yes. I’m not kidding.

Unfortunately this year, I was only able to attend TCAF on Sunday. Despite of that, I was very pleased with how I used up my time there. I managed to attend three inspirational lectures about making comics. Plus with no regrets, I impulsively purchased four awesome graphic novels. 

Here are my beloved purchases which I still have to read! If you are interested to learn more about them, I've included links to their website for you to check them out.

"Sunny" 

by Taiyo Matsumoto + free print.

 

"Once Upon A Time Machine" 

by Andrew Carl and Chris Stevens + free print.

 

"Skull Kickers" by Jim Zub, Edwin Huang and Misty Coats

"Spera" by Josh Tierney, Miloogiannis, Vanderklugt, Chan and Weaver

"The Clamhead Kid in Pit of Death"

by Jason Laudadio

Most of them were actually signed by the creators themselves, which I’m super stoked about! It was such a great opportunity and experience to meet the artists and have them sign my graphic novels. It made my books even that more special, meaningful and completely worth it.

I surely can't wait to go to TCAF next year. Can you?

Need a New Car

Honestly, I never liked the idea of driving to Toronto. The crazy traffic, ridiculous amount of changing road signs, the parking and worrying about pedestrians/bikers. Sounds familiar? Yeah, it's just something I don't want to deal with. However two weeks ago, I decided that it's time to face it and just drive there because Janice and I had an interview to go to!

Sigh... but what were the chances that my car decided to die on me while I was driving down the highway that day?! It was seriously dangerous. My acceleration pedal wasn't working! You see, my car no longer works normally like most cars. It's like a toy. It needs to be switched on with a button in order to work. Funny thing is, the switch was breaking and I felt the car shutting down on me.

I was surprised that Janice was really calm about it. She was very supportive by giving me tape to keep the switch stuck on. It was pretty funny. Anyway, this story is a happy one. With my car's dying breath, I managed to park at a parking lot. Janice and I made it to the interview on time and it turned out pretty well.

Regardless, it's about time I get a new car. Something that's not made out of plastic and won't get me killed in the near future.