Ryu Sketch

Ryu has been one of the most iconic character in video game industry. He is one of the favorites in Street Fighter series and has appeared in every Street Fighter game released since 1987. I am a big fan of video games(not addicted), and have always loved playing Street Fighter. Recently in a Video Gaming conventions, there have been promotional trailers of possible future releases of Marvel vs Capcom 3, and Street Fighter X Tekken, and Ryu of course would be part of these new games as well.
I drew this last night with a whole bunch of markers including highlighters, and I believe Ryu deserves a solid place in the podium together with the all-time video game icons such as Mario, Sonic, Donkey Kong, Link etc. =)

 Just another sketch of a girl lying on the hallway I did on my new ring-bounded Strathmore 5.5" x 8.5" 60lb sketch pad. I was trying out strokes on the paper to experiment with the texture, and to do some rough sketches for my ermm... "projects" ;)

Thank you all for your comments. I haven not been in touch with Aunt Charlene yet, so I am not sure if she has framed the portrait of the late Jonathan, of has she already given to Jonathan's mom. I'll keep you guys updated.

A short journey

I received this task from Aunt Charlene, as she explained in a solemn tone. Jonathan was one of her friend's son. He got into a car accident and taken away at a tender age of 21. It was of course very hard on the mother, and I strongly believe that no parents should bury their own child. From what I heard, he's a good kid, therefore I am sure he's in a better place and in good hands now, watching over his family. With Aunt Charlene's kind heart and initiative, and my pencil work, we are hoping that this will help to bring his smile to brighten the lives of his loved ones.

Pencil on 8" x 10" Strathmore Bristol vellum  100lb (260g/m²)

Initial Sketch

Estela & Reese

Yet another portrait to be given away to one of the grandmothers of these two beautiful girls. I have not drawn kids for a while now, and I really like drawing kids so I was really happy when I received the project. Things have been going really slow with the publisher, but it's okay because it gives me more time to work on personal favors like this one. Next up is another portrait. Thank you all for stopping by and your kind comments and encouragements =) I am adding the steps again on this one for those who are interested in doing portraits.
(Update! They loved it! And she's making prints to those who are related^^, I am so pleased!)

Pencil on Strathmore Bristol vellum 9" x 12" 100lb(260g/m²)Detailing the hair for the face on the leftShading the face on the rightShading the face on the left and minor hair detailing Initial sketch

Young Jesus (Published)

A few weeks ago I kept mentioning about "projects" and finally one of them that was done is published. It's a fictional tale of Young Jesus for Catechism. It was initially planned to be a 7 black and white illustrations, quick and clean. And that the publisher wanted to have someone who knows nothing about Catechism to do the illustration. So I took the job, and I made 9 draft illustrations and brought them in the following day, the publisher liked it and asked for another page with full colors. I redrew the entire illustrations in ink, and colored the one for the cover page and brought them all back 3 days later and waiting for instructions for any editing or modification(eventhough in my version, Jesus is clearly drawn in Manga style). Later I found that all 10 illustrations required no further work and ready to print. I was so excited and wanted to share this way earlier, but I am only doing this today because I just got paid for the job today. ^^ This is the first time I ever get paid for doing art, and I LOVE IT!

This is the printed cover-page.

This is a photo taken of my work before it's being submitted. You could see a wee bit of the black and white illustrations there.

This is one of the black and white illustrations inside the book. =)

Ship in Fog

Moleskine 5"x8" Large Sketchbook with 2B, HB, 2H, 4H Pencils

Just a quick sketch and playing with tones on my Moleskine. I have not use some of the pencils I bought and thought that I should let them spend some of their purpose-built led of different grades. It's the scene I saw of the movie "Shutter Island" which is right in the beginning before they show Leonardo DiCaprio puking ^^
Thanks again everyone for your comments and feedback! I greatly appreciate them all, and I am not sure what was the reaction of Uncle Lee, I need to visit them soon to find out. Other projects are still put on hold, I've got so much more to post but I just can't do that yet... =) Does anyone know how that feels like?

For Aunt Charlene

(Click to Enlarge)
Strathmore Bristol Vellum 9"x12" 100lb, 260g/m²

Shading the face on the right and detailing the hair on the left

Shading the face on the left

Initial sketch and outlines

Finally I've finished one of the "projects" and had it submitted to the publisher a couple of days ago, I just got a text today saying that it's a "GO" but still requires some minor and final touch-ups, I can't wait to have that chapter closed.
Right after submitting that "project", I started sketching one of the lovely pairs of my wife's aunts and uncles. I call them Uncle Lee and Aunt Charlene, and they've been nothing but kind and warm to me as the new family member. Aunt Charlene saw some of my sketches 2 years ago, and wanted to asked me to draw something for her and she had forgotten about it ever since. So finally I asked her to pick something, and she picked the picture of her and Uncle Lee taken during my wedding reception. She's so excited when I told her that I was going to commission the drawing on Tuesday after Tanna's grandpa's funeral. I finished it today, and gave it to her today, and I believe that made her day because I lost count of the times she said "I love it!" and "Perfect!" =) And I kept telling her, I was just playing with my sketchbook and pencils. She will try to have it framed and give it to Uncle Lee as Father's Day present from their little Yorkie dog, Bandit ^^ See why I couldn't resist it when she asked me to draw her something?

Thank you all for your comments, encouragements and support on the last drawing. Printing shop is still slow on my prints, but I'll keep pushing. I hope you enjoy the steps above too.

Spirit of the Gulf

Moleskine 5"x8" Large SketchBook (Click to enlarge)

This is my contribution to the Spirit of the Gulf Challenge, a little hermit crab. I haven't lived here long enough to appreciate The Gulf, but I know what kind of impact the recent crisis is causing to the marine life there. My wife had a hermit crab once named Coconut she bought from Gulf Shores. Eventhough small, but he has helped me to relate and appreciate what's wonderful and beautiful there.
Suzanne McDermott challenged "every artist who receives this invitation to make one drawing, painting, collage — or to use whatever medium you work in — to create a piece of beauty with love and gratitude to honor some scene or living being in the Gulf. Thank you to Dan Kent for inviting me to participate in this challenge, and thank you all for your kind comments in my previous post.
Just an update from my side, I went to Atlanta for a 4-day vacation with my wife and her friend Lindsay last week. I was fortunate to be able to visit the Georgia Aquarium, the Coca-Cola Factory, the CNN Studio, and the Museum of Natural History. That's why I couldn't find the time to day because I was overly distracted and was having too much fun ^^
I know it's been long due, the Printing shop in Breaux Bridge is still "working" on getting the postcard printed. At the same time they're probably printing something else that I've been working on too. I shall reveal them soon enough when the time is right. Remember that I haven't been posting not because I haven't been drawing ;)