Monday, March 30, 2009

ROLLERSKATING ACEO


I've finally gotten my fingers together to do more art! The above ACEO (2.5 x 3.5") is entitled 'Rollerskating'. The original pic was ruined while inking so I redrew another girl and it looks much better this time. Hope you like!

Available in my etsy shop here: 


Saturday, March 28, 2009

FUNNY DOG VIDEO - SLEEPWALKING FAIL



Hahahaha, this is hilarious! I never knew dogs dream too! Please wait for the video to load =)

Thursday, March 26, 2009

ARTICHOKE GIRL ACEO


My latest ACEO in a while! I don't know how artichokes taste like.

This is made with pen and markers and available in my Etsy shop here:  

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

DEATHNOTE FANLISTING & MY FANART

Just a heads-up to say that my old fanart for the manga 'Deathnote' is used with permission on a fanlisting site by Rinoa! If you love Deathnote & are looking to get listed in a Remu & Amane pairing fanlisting, check out the link below!


Back in early 2005 I decided to do a fanart of a brainy, favourite manga artist, thriller-sci fi manga called 'Deathnote'. It is about a boy Yagami Raito (Yagami Light) who possesses the note book of a grim reaper and outwitting another genius to hide his identity as the idealist saviour who uses the noteboook to kill off criminals for a better world. In the police's eyes this 'saviour' is no better than a murderer. Oh and to make things juicier, his dad is the head of the police department.

Deathnote is also made into a 2- part live-action movie, a spin-off movie and an anime series.

After the first fanart of the scary looking boy-grim reaper pair I followed up with the fanart below. The goth girl is called Amane Misa and her shinigami (grim reaper) is called Remu. Of course I thought Remu was UBER cool. Like I had to draw all the little itsy bits of bones sticking out just to do her justice (And yes Remu is apparently female). It was made in pen and black markers but I ran out of ink so used Photoshop to colour in the rest of the blacks and grey... I lost interest halfway, so the picture was incomplete. Glad people still likes it though!



I have a taste for horror, but seldom do horror artworks.. you know why!

Saturday, March 21, 2009

PAPER PUNCHERS & GIFT TAGS


Paper punchers were my Christmas gifts! Late post... I know ;) I had searched high and low for these in Singapore but failed so I bought the ones above with the 40% discount coupon while in the states last December. Haven't gotten around to fully using them yet, but so far so good. It's on my to-do list to make paper tags, but like most *coff* busy people I'm such a procrastinator! =)

The orange one and boxed one are Paper Shapers by EK Success. The green one is from Martha Stewart. Paper Shapers are from Joann's and Martha's from Walmart. They are between 1" and 1.5" diameter. I initially purchased one by this brand called Harvey Uchida but the cutters were defective so I refunded it and got the black Paper Shapers one.

Gift tags and scrapbooking are the most common uses for these punchers, just check out these cute paper tag finds on Etsy!

Saturday, March 14, 2009

FREELANCING TIPS


Funny picture time! 'The Shinning' lol. If you own this pic please let me know, it's hilarious!

Here are some articles on freelancing and marketing tips, all from Freelanceswitch.com. They make for concise reads and may provide useful information for new freelancers who need to know more about handling the business.





Invoicing is an integral part of a professional business, this article may help you get started if you've never used an invoice before:



This one is interesting, because I've thought of creating stock to sell but that is in my neverending to-do list:

- 9 tips for creating and maximizing a steady income stream by selling stock


Remember freelancing IS a proper job if you work hard at it. Isn't it still income? Doesn't it pay the bills and for meals? It is not lazing around and having money drop on your lap. It's usually a full-day work, sometimes 9-12 hours, besides the 'flexible' hours. Personally I will hate it if people think I can run errands at any time convenient to them because I seem to be have 'flexible' time. That just interrupts my work... especially annoying when there are deadlines to meet. Mostly personal deadlines yes, but I rather keep to it than end up not accomplishing anything and wasting the day.

Many people do not understand why freelancers stay at home all day instead of a 'proper' 9 - 5 job at the office, thus concluding they aren't working at all. If you have this problem, I say ignore them. You'll get used to it. They'll wonder how you ever got money to purchase that new computer or pay your rent on time, then you can explain it nicely to them lol.

Monday, March 9, 2009

CUTE LIP BALM DOESN'T WORK


Ok this is like the cutest lip balm packaging, but the lip balm itself was sorely disappointing. I bought a bunch of different flavoured ones from the US as souvenirs to friends and sorry if you're reading this I hope your balms applies smoother than mine lol.

It feels like candle wax on my lips - dry and paraffin-ish. The scent is Dr Pepper alright but more of a lingering taste on an empty cup that used to contain Dr Pepper... and it's got too much sweetener. Oh and the ingredients - nothing much  natural! I think I'm used to the handmade yummy balms from Etsy... so get this only if you're a sucker of nice packaging (like me) haha!

Thursday, March 5, 2009

NOUVEAU MELT ART & BLOGGER ISSUES

Blogger did something that my redirecting page is now wonky! It says my blog doesn't exist when using Safari and prompts me to redirect when using Firefox. It used to be auto. Does this explain why some of the blogs I read are mysteriously gone? Recently I've had problems uploading photos on Safari as well.

Please bookmark http://blog.lemonshortbread.com/ instead of http://lemonshortbread.blogspot.com/
Thank you!

And this is what I finished last night - entitled 'Nouveau Melt'. The backgrounds didn't come out as I had wanted it to, markers are a little hard to use for large areas of blank space... I'll post it on Etsy in a bit. 4 x 6" in pen and markers.


Lineart.

Finished piece.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

HUNTINGTON GARDENS PHOTOS

Here are some photos I took at the Huntington Library Gardens in Pasadena, California in early January; meant to post it much earlier on my blog. Hope you enjoy them!

Stream overlooking the Chinese gardens.


Pavilion in the Chinese gardens


Japanese gardens with a replica bridge and lake - nope you aren't allowed on it!



Japanese house replica


Zen gardens


Decorative elements in the courtyard



'Pinkie' by Thomas Lawrence


'Blue Boy' by Thomas Gainsborough


Stained glass wall


Cactus conservatory


Flowering succulents


Various roses in the rose gardens!





I'm always in for floral shots lol.