IF: Bicycle

This piece and me, we did not click.  At first I was excited to do it, to explore a new style but then I immediately got tired of it, maybe I didn't like the palette (?), I don't know.  OR most probably because it is scorching here in the Philippines, so so so hot.  But I stayed with it like a patient mom, and here it is.  Not as bad as I thought it would be.   I just might do more pieces along this style.


EDIT:  I was inspired with the comments so I'll be making this into a series.  I'm not good with words though so I'll leave it up to you to interpret the pictures. :)  To make it more interesting (for me, I guess) I'll be using the weekly IF topics to build the story.

IF: Toy

It's been a while since I've done a piece for IF, so here's my comeback piece :D This week's word is toy!  Fun memories of childhood come to mind :D  We had lots of toys when I was a kid and most (or all) were gifts.  I knew I had this one barbie, just one and I would sew clothes for her (out of socks and stockings!) and our toys all had birthdays and we'd celebrate them with cupcakes.  We even took pictures of it. So fun :) I'd love to be a kid again!

Fun Fact: This mother and daughter tandem is also the same one from this illustration. :)

Freelance

Last year I quit my job and around February I started freelancing.  I got the sense of accomplishment that I never felt doing programming.  Not so much satisfaction financially and although it is unstable and nerve-wracking I still feel it is the best decision I've made.  Gone are the days when I hated waking up to go to work.  The only trouble is, I have to actively look for projects and balance my time wisely.  To other freelancers out there, how do you keep the projects coming? Any tips for a newbie like me?

Okay enough rambling, here are some of the projects I've been up to since Feb :)

This is a set of  around 50 images commissioned by Edventure Books (Singapore).

 This is also commissioned by Edventure Books.  It's a 7-page book for early readers, written in Mandarin.

Sneak peak of an ongoing project.  This one is the hardest yet just because I'm not used to Illustrator and because the files are huge! Backdrops, banners and flags for a project launch event.

That's it :) Here's to more projects to come! :D

Le Petit Chaperon Rouge

A personal piece done for childrensillustrator.deviantart.com, a group at deviantart.  This month's topic was Little Red Riding Hood.  Good thing I had some free time to finish this piece.  I learn a lot from doing personal pieces because I get to experiment and explore without limits and fear.

It's still missing something though..

Done with Photoshop + Wacom

IF: Layer

Having fun under layers and layers of bubbles

I think this is the first time I've re-used something for IF.  This one's for a book I'm currently doing.  I'm loving the palette I chose :) Thanks to design-seeds, that very cute site with color palette suggestions.

IF: Reverse

woah..  You must feel super awesome when you know how to do a flip.

Speed paint done in photoshop, ref pic was used for the flipping dude (@ flickr).

First Pattern Ever

I spend a huge amount of my day browsing other artist's sites and works.  Last week I came across the wonderful art of Meg Hunt (via twitter).  She had the cutest twitter background.  So naturally I was envious and that made me do my first pattern ever! Woot! It was loads of fun and I'm thinking of doing another one, with easier subjects.. This did damage to my already damaged thumb.  Making it seamless was hard, because I probably did it wrong. hehe That's what you get when you don't read tutorials first.  Well, here's to my first pattern ever!

See it in action: twitter

IF: Surrender

Dancer's Pose

When things get hard, breathe, let go and surrender. At least in yoga.

Moving Out - Finished

Here's the finished version of Moving Out cover (back cover coming soon..and maybe the story will follow :D )

IF: Dusty

"They started putting things in boxes and tying them up.  Kind of like what they do in christmas, only it's not. . Because they're not wrapping presents, they're wrapping all our stuff.  Soon, everything will be in boxes, everything but the dusts on the floor. "

Drama..  Nope I'm not about to write a book :D  I just thought of doing some layout.  

This one was done in an hour. Photoshop+Wacom+Coffee. But I can't leave it at that, I'll probably polish it (lines, color, lighting..everything) someday.. Meanwhile, I've got another project. Yay! :D


EDIT:
Thank you for all the wonderful comments :D