Chika Ando Illustrations

No infinity

2012-01-17T21:18:00.007-07:00

Hmm.. I don't know what to label this piece. I don't even know which background I prefer.

I was soaking into some random thoughts like usual. I came up with a quote.

We, all the creatures, share the 2 things in common. That is an end and a beginning. None of us lasts forever. There is no infinity. That is life.

Warm-up sketchbook times

2012-01-11T16:31:00.002-07:00

I had wonderful holidays. I hope everyone enjoyed some family times as well!

I'm still having the hardest time to get back into the routine. Everything I draw seems so WEAK. To warm up my line works and stimulation, I gave myself some serious doodling times. I think I'm getting ready to work on a few solid piece now.

I somehow manage to come right back.

2011-12-08T00:27:00.002-07:00

It's amazing how strong we are. (or we are incredibly stupid)

No matter how hard you fall, you find your strength or let it grow and come right back to stand up.

Fall HARD as many as possible. You gain the muscle of confidence.

I never know how to give up.

2011-12-08T00:16:00.002-07:00

When I look back my decisions I've made in the past, I found my pattern. I always have the intention to choose something easier and simpler lifestyle in my mind. However, I tend to choose the paths that are completely NOT easy or simple at all. (Well, I don't really believe such a thing, an easy life, would exist.)

The proof shows where I am at right now. I am in a foreign country with an illustration degree, trying to pursue the career.. Seriously, where are you going, Chika?

Although I have doubts, get discouraged and lost where I am going pretty frequently, I somehow know what I want/like to do and go for it. It is an annoying skill but I can't hate it.

How can you not be cynical...

2011-12-07T17:36:00.003-07:00

I came up with this image long time ago. I adjusted it to make magnets of it. Can't expect people would buy them, can I? I imagine people wanna put some positive message up rather than something... like this.. oh well! We'll see!

Dear Mother.. Bless you for your pain

2011-12-06T20:48:00.005-07:00

I got to stay at a mother of 2 boys house in this fall, and I got inspired to make this.

It is painful to watch mothers raising children. Yet, they somehow find pleasure of it.

I should not compare to my selfish easy life, but I do see the similarity. I always say my art is my babies. It is one big frustrating lonely journey to complete one image.

Isn't this what we are living for?

Passion... You cannot stop caring or working for.

We burn ourselves for what we love. In other words, we are all masochists. What a bunch of freaks.

Christmas shopping at Market Collective!

2011-12-06T18:52:00.004-07:00

I am selling my stuff at Market Collective this weekend, Dec 10th and 11th!

Don't bite the hand that feed you

2011-12-05T17:18:00.003-07:00

I need to slap my face with the saying from time to time.

so... here you go. I made an image of it.

Our Happiness Freaks Me Out

2011-12-02T15:53:00.004-07:00

This is for all the unrealistically loving newly couples.

Thanks to my favourite man who inspired me to come up with this image.

I refuse to be an adult.

2011-12-02T01:03:00.004-07:00

I cannot count how many times I've wished I could fly away to Never Land..

To my dearest sister..

2011-12-01T13:54:00.002-07:00

OH MY GAAAAAAAawD!!!!!!!!!!!

My scanner is back on business! Sorry scanner, I took you for granted. I appreciate much more how you work for me...

Because I have no idea why the previous one stopped working from all of the sudden, I am scared this one is going to bully me like that again..

Anyways, my sister is coming to visit Calgary in a few weeks. Exciting!!

I haven't seen her about 2 years?!

To express wee love for her, I made this image.

It's amazing how we don't change our foundations. No matter what happens, no matter how long time has gone by, the core of you never changes.

Although we are both getting old mature human beings (the age wise), I can still see the 10-year-old version of her. It's such a good feeling..

To dear anonymous..

2011-11-19T00:44:00.002-07:00

I have absolutely NO clue who, but sometimes people leave some extremely warm messages about my blog. They are not even openly posted on my blog either. The messages go to my Gmail "secretly". Hmm.. does this mean some kind of spam? Nooo, can't be! it's not spam like contents.
I wish there were any ways to reply you back to say thank you...

well, THANK YOU!
hope you hear me screaming.

Okay! I'm off to bed now. Good night :)

P.S. Don't be shy and put a whatever name instead of "anonymous". All the anonymous comments come into me as spam.

A Bottomless Pig

2011-11-17T00:38:00.001-07:00

To people who provide me so much that they make me feel like this. This is my way of saying thank you.

Thank you for making me feel like a pig. No no no no. I am kidding. Those people are the reason why I can keep pushing myself to be a better person..
To pay them back something beautiful.
To show how much I appreciate to have you in my life.

Am I getting worse or just discovering how bad I am?

2011-11-17T00:13:00.001-07:00

I wanna use all sorts of the worst of the worst of cursing words (like how Deb swears in Dexter) to describe how much I've been frustrated with my scanner. I have a market to attend this Saturday and had a goal to have at least 5 new magnets/greeting cards for the event. My scanner decided to be unreasonably mean to me. The battle the scanner vs Chika is happening in my head right now just like the Terminator. dah dan dan dah dan.

Ugh.. calm down Chika. Don't stress yourself out for such a thing.

To give my middle finger to my lovely scanner, I achieved to complete this image. Ta-dahh! Oh, so horrible... I can't believe I used to like the Photoshop finish. It's just so... flat... cold... boring... gah.......

The Next Market

2011-11-14T13:24:00.002-07:00

I am attending this local market this coming Saturday, Nov 19th. (I didn't do this poster. Just wanted to make sure..)

https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=115746251869064

Procrastination - a Lazy Fat Chicken

2011-11-11T10:14:00.001-07:00

A new magnet!
I hate being lazy, and yet I still keep being lazy.I couldn't help asking myself why I do this to myself. Why do I waste of my time and makes myself feel like SHIT, and here it is, I found my answer. Actually, I've read an article about procrastination a long time ago. If I remember it correctly, it was talking about failure. Though there must be more reasons to it, I hate to admit this but the article is right. One of the reasons is "scared to fail".

Holy shit, what happened... I checked my google analytics today. A HUGE number of people in the US saw my blog according to the stat. Have no clue what is going on.

Happy Anniversary to Sarah & Jackson!

2011-11-09T17:54:00.000-07:00

I made a greeting card for my favourite friends, Sarah & Jackson.

Holy shit.. blogspot has been improved. Totally better looking! I'm happy but I'm totally lost now. uhhh.... where is the post button? oh, here it is, ok. How exciting!!!

Business Card for My Friend

2011-11-08T19:32:00.002-07:00

I did this business card for my friend, Anna.
It's not modest of me to say this, but it's looking very pretty! I'm pretty happy how it turned out.
If you are in Calgary and need a good masseuse, let me know :)

Magnets, Greeting Cards & Prints Available on Etsy

2011-11-02T23:50:00.002-06:00

I updated my items on Etsy! yey!

Click on one of the pictures listed on the right side of this blog.
or
www.etsy.com/shop/ChikaAndo

Market Collective this Saturday and Sunday

2011-10-21T11:40:00.002-06:00

I will be attending Market Collective in Kensington, Calgary this Saturday and Sunday!
I've got a few new greeting cards prepared!

http://marketcollective.ca/

I just want you to love me.

2011-10-20T13:28:00.006-06:00

Everybody bluffs. I mean EVERYBODY.
Kids, adults, murders, nerds, social butterflies, parents, teachers, loners, pervs, bitches....
Might act strong.
Might behave differently from others.
Might be angry, frustrated, insecure or hold grudge towards someone.

I believe that the deep down core is the same - "Love me."

I don't wanna sound like a hippie or anything, but I have to agree with the Beatles.
"All you need is love."

Humans are needy lonely animals, wanting someone's approvals.

gah!!! I need to stop working on the layout now.

Let random stuff happen in my sketchbook

2011-10-06T16:53:00.000-06:00

My recent sketches

2011-09-23T08:54:00.002-06:00

I need some colours.. I need some completed work.. I've been doing too much doodling. Well! Better than not doing anything!
Wow.. this sketches show how much depressing I am. Winter blue already? eeesh.. cheer up, drama queen.

My friend Anna is getting married!

2011-09-22T19:35:00.002-06:00

I am a big cynical hater.. but wanted to give Anna something personal. Just a little personal card to say I am happy that she is happy.
The wedding is this Saturday, and there's no way I could come up with something sweet things about a marriage. I remembered I came up with this image years ago, when I was much less cynical and a stupidly pure naive believer. Thanks to you, Chika in the past! You were blind but a saver.

Arts vs Business

2011-09-22T13:28:00.003-06:00

Soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo frustrating..

Mural on my neighbour's garage door

2011-09-21T12:04:00.003-06:00

Another collaboration with my good friend, Heather Reindhardt!
This is my very first time painting such a big scale! Super thanks to my experienced friend, Heather. She is the coolest! and the warmest!! It was a lot of fun working with her :)

Collaboration with Heather for Ampersand

2011-08-31T14:05:00.004-06:00

Heather Reinhardt and I are participating in the collaborative group show, Ampersand 3 again this year!
https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=194973797235743
Our theme is simply "Monsters"!

They are all 10 by 10. The details were intense! but fun losing myself to paint for hours!

My next and last outdoor art sell!

2011-08-31T13:53:00.002-06:00

Heather (http://heatherreinhardt.blogspot.com/) and I are going for our last vendor for this summer.
We will be on Stephen avenue for Artwalk tomorrow, September 1.
http://www.artistsforthepoor.ca/calgaryartwalk.html

ops.. I forgot to post for the last vendor. We also participated in Marda Grasi. It was fun!!

Original Art Pieces for Sushi Club - #2

2011-08-20T11:45:00.004-06:00

I reproduced the images for the sushi restaurant called Sushi Club located in Kensington.
The address: 1240 Kensington Rd NW, Calgary, Alberta

Original Art Pieces for Sale

2011-08-20T11:43:00.005-06:00

I reproduced the images for the sushi restaurant called Sushi Club located in Kensington.
The address: 1240 Kensington Rd NW, Calgary, Alberta

Original Art Pieces for Sushi Club - #1

2011-08-20T11:37:00.005-06:00

I reproduced the images for the sushi restaurant called Sushi Club located in Kensington.
The address: 1240 Kensington Rd NW, Calgary, Alberta

This independent cynical woman turns into a sissy fragile princess in your arms.

2011-08-03T14:54:00.003-06:00

Another attempt. Another fail.
No! I haven't given up yet! I'll accomplish a pure romantic greeting card someday!
Lovey-dovey-dah in your face!!

You are my magical mirror.

2011-08-03T14:48:00.002-06:00

I've been trying to make some romantic greeting cards, and absolutely failing it. It's been an interesting experiment.
I feel like I'm finding myself and my art more. I just can't straightly romantic. I have to throw some humour and twisted darkness in my work. I like the fact that no matter I try, Chika-ness cannot be hidden.

Mine is Yours

2011-07-29T16:28:00.002-06:00

This is the result of me trying to come up with a romantic greeting card..

Not to mention, I didn't notice this wasn't really romantic not till later.

Inglewood SunFest!

2011-07-26T11:05:00.002-06:00

Heather Reindhard (Mumble Tease) and I will be attending Inglewood SunFest this coming Saturday, July 30th!
I have a few new magnets available! and "Happy non-special day" greeting cards!
It is going to be another warm beautiful day! Come say hello and enjoy the sun together!

http://www.inglewoodsunfest.com/

A Conversation to Question

2011-07-21T11:11:00.004-06:00

This quote might be too "Chika".

Happy Non-Special Day!

2011-07-20T01:27:00.004-06:00

I am anti special occasions. Yep, clearly!
Someone who have bought my stuff years ago at the last Market Collective asked me the piece I used to have, "Happy Non Special Day". I totally forgot that I used to sell those, so I remade it!

This is a magnet size. I will tweak it a bit for greeting cards :)

I love me the most! I do!

2011-07-20T01:25:00.003-06:00

I decided to make a few more new designs for magnets by this weekend. Here is one of them.

Attending Salsa Fest

2011-07-18T21:28:00.003-06:00

Heather Reinhardt (Mumble Tease T-shirts) and I will be selling our magical stuff at Salsa Festival in Kensington this coming Sunday, July 24th :)

http://www.visitkensington.com/sun-and-salsa/

Scribble at the last Market Collective

2011-06-30T15:11:00.002-06:00

These happened while I was sitting and waiting for people to buy my stuff at Market Collective last weekend.

The next appearance

2011-06-29T23:50:00.002-06:00

http://www.artistsforthepoor.ca/calgaryartwalk.html

I will be selling my works right in downtown Calgary on July 7th, 10am to 3pm.

It will be the whole different crowd from the usual in Market Collective. It was very fun and great seeing people enjoying my art last weekend by the way!

Etsy!

2011-06-29T22:23:00.003-06:00

I signed up for Etsy in 2009. Wow...
and I finally!! officially!!! put my stuff for sale on Etsy!
Yea, there've been many people ask me to sell my stuff online, so... here I am.. Hope this worths it.
I don't fully understand how it works.. freaking! freaking! freaking out! Just hope I'll make money rather than just losing it..

http://www.etsy.com/people/ChikaAndo

tadaaa!

Greeting cards!

2011-06-24T11:04:00.003-06:00

4" x 6"

Blank inside
They come with boring blank white envelopes!

Doodle Doodle Doodle Noodles? No, Doodles

2011-06-20T01:53:00.001-06:00

laaadee laaa de laaaahh. Here you go my bare naked mind revealed.

Leave me alone but don't make me feel lonely..

2011-06-16T21:08:00.004-06:00

I can't expect lots of people to understand this message.. I get the sense that this is very classic me.
Who knows. There might be a lot of people who understand exactly what I am trying to say like other odd bare naked quotes of mine.

I love you mama!

2011-06-16T21:04:00.006-06:00

To dear sweet super mamas in the world.
Actually I'm cheating.. This is an old piece of mine. I just redid it. It's not new but looks better! That's for sure.

People Come and Go (Rough before execution)

2011-06-16T20:49:00.003-06:00

People do come and go, don't they.. Just like passing by lots of cars on a highway. It's such a normal thing. There's nothing extreme about it.. yet.... I get very odd feelings. Never quite sure how to express the feelings, so decided to depict the indescribable feelings. Hope it successfully communicate with you.

This is just a rough stage. I'm still completely not sure how I want to get this done..

Fridge magnets

2011-06-06T14:35:00.002-06:00

Magnets always sell lots.... I mean LOTS.
I guess people love magnets.
I enjoy watching people's reactions. Magnets entertain them and their reactions entertain me. What a beautiful give and take!

Tote bags

2011-06-06T14:28:00.003-06:00

Was it ever hard to find a printing service who does digital print on tote bags.. Was it ever....
So lucky me! My friend Sean just started off a printing business and helped me with these. Very happy with the quality! yey yea!

Living in Calgary - Pencil Crayon Version!

2011-06-02T20:50:00.005-06:00

It's not consistent only this one was coloured digitally, so I coloured it up with magical pencil crayons! Booya!

Goofy doodle

2011-06-02T15:24:00.004-06:00

Heather and I had a vendor at Lilac Festival last Sunday. It was fun!!
Lots of people usually come out to the festival with their dogs. I found a bulldog and told Heather it's my favourite dog. Several minutes later, there was a beeeeeautiful slender tall dog. I told her the dog looks like her, then she said "you know what, a bulldog looks kinda like you." I should be hurt and crawl into my bed, but I find it so hilarious and kinda true. I must truly love bulldogs.

Media

2011-05-17T23:32:00.003-06:00

It's scary how much we are controlled by media. Our identities are established by the genes, experiences and environments. The environments have A LOT to do with the media. It's almost impossible to live without it.
I sometimes find what I thought I wanted was not actually what I wanted. It's a set-up ideas that have been input in my brain. It's very frustrating sometimes.. yet I'm still easily attached to the media. evil evil evil.
It's become a part of you.. It also sucks your creativity. It sucks your precious time. damn it.. my head is boiling up.

No one is your enemy. Not everyone can be your friend.

2011-05-16T21:56:00.001-06:00

So true, isn't it

A tricky hint to have a good conversation

2011-05-16T21:52:00.003-06:00

Hmm... Not sure if I really like how the colours turned out..
This is one of doodles I found from my old sketchbook.
"You need to remember listening is a huge part of a conversation." Do I need to put the quote in the picture? Hmm... I can't be perfectly sure about this picture. What is it... What is it....

There are more plenty of fish in the sea, but..

2011-05-14T15:13:00.004-06:00

Heather and Chika's weekly assignment hasn't been weekly... Oh well! FISH is our theme.
I can't decide if I like the portrait or landscape.

When we decided fish as our theme, I didn't know what to do. We couldn't come up with any other creative themes either. Lame-ohs.
Then, my friend coincidently let his frustration out to me the other day.
"Why the ones that I want to be with don't come to me and I get hit on from girls who I am not interested in."
I had to agree with him all over my life. (yea I know, the sentence doesn't really make sense.)
It seems like we all have in the chasing cycle.
I even seriously started to believe that I might not be able to like someone who is after me. I must be subconsciously unwilling to settle down with someone.
So.. that's how this image came up.
There's tons of fish in a pond, but the one you wanna catch slips away.

Sympathy for boys

2011-05-09T21:50:00.002-06:00

I'm supposed to be finishing a couple of images that I've been struggling with. I should be also fixing my website.. Oh website... the plans... the codes....... It's gonna be a nightmare.
To escape from what I should be doing, I doodled this up.

When someone asks me which gender I would prefer to be born, I always answer "BOY" with no chance.
It seems easier to live as a guy. I've been feeling sorry for dudes though. Maybe I'm surrounded by happy girls and frustrated boys. When it comes to the relationships between men and women, I can't write too much about why but let's just say I feel sorry for men.

I am hooked.

2011-05-04T13:55:00.004-06:00

Self explanatory

Doodle

2011-04-28T18:41:00.003-06:00

I haven't filled a page with random doodles lately, so here you go! fun fun fun!

I was looking at my old sketchbook today. Oh man! There're so many cool ideas can (have to) be executed! Go me! Thanks for inspiration, old me! well... I am older now.. I meant me in the past. You know what I meant.

Friends warm me up

2011-04-21T08:59:00.000-06:00

Here is another friend series I found in my sketchbook.

Power

2011-04-21T08:57:00.001-06:00

You could come up with any quotes/concepts for this. I'll let you decide.

Beautiful Souls for beautiful souls

2011-04-21T00:10:00.005-06:00

I always had hard times defining what good friends were when I was younger. I did have good friends but I remember I've described friends were just useful acquaintances. I think the people who I met in the art college changed that. Every time I think of my friends, I can't be luckier to have them in my life. That is very clearly shown if you see my sketchbooks. I talk about how much I appreciate who I've got in my life a lot. I will keep pulling those stuff from my sketchooks to here.
This is one of them. (The skinny format one is for a fridge magnet.)
The incredible people in my life are the reflection of my personality.. and soul. They make me love to be me :)

Odd Numbers

2011-04-20T18:11:00.003-06:00

Shortly after I did the picture called 13, here is another one talking about numbers. Total coincidence. It's not like I've been obsessed with numbers. Well, this one is not really about numbers. It's about "odd". It's not just about being odd. When people talk down about others, they are usually the same with those people. They are just blind. We are all blind. We are the only ones who cannot see our own selves.

Refined the old works

2011-04-20T18:09:00.003-06:00

Dooooodle - "beat it! a soul-sucking full-time job!"

2011-04-17T19:31:00.002-06:00

A doodle I did this weekend. I must've beaten up really bad from working for the corporates.
Don't let them kill your soul! creativity!! and passion!!! YOURSELF!

A couple of old works

2011-04-17T10:50:00.003-06:00

Here is a couple of old works to upload!
The abstract portrait of my childhood was done years ago actually. It's pretty big and I remember I spent a few nights colouring it.

Those magnets were a commission from my friend. They are Christmas presents for my friend's little baby friends.

Spring

2011-04-15T23:06:00.004-06:00

My friend, Heather (heatherreinhardt.blogspot.com) and I decided to do a weekly assignment. Each topic is related to something that happened to either of us last week. This week's topic is Spring!
It seems like winter never wants to leave this year. We had very lovely Spring-like days last week... FINALLY. To celebrate it, we picked Spring to draw. Then, we had another HUGE snowfall this week. What the heck?! I've been in Calgary for 9 years and never said this before - I am tired and sick of this bitchy weather. I feel like I'm a finally officially Calgarian.
I can't wait for the patio season! I get the feeling that it's gonna be a wonderful summer this year :)

Poor 13..

2011-04-15T18:15:00.003-06:00

When I came to the North America, it was one of culture shocks to find some buildings skip 13.
4 is not an unfortunate number since it sounds the same as the word, death in Japanese, but we never remove the number in buildings in Japan.
Don't discriminate 13.. It's just a number. It doesn't hurt you. It just want your love.

Redesigned my business card

2011-04-14T17:38:00.004-06:00

Since I lost my previous business card files, I did a new one. I really liked the old one :(
Hope this one turns out well.

The Evil Routine

2011-04-10T14:40:00.004-06:00

"The carriage driver guides you to live in a routine life which loses your own beautiful visions. You have no idea what tiny incredible things you are missing every day."

I got to walk around in the middle of weekday afternoon one day. When you work for a 9 to 5 job Monday to Friday, you easily lose yourself into the routine. Walking on the same streets at the same time. It is a scary and sad thing... I found little things here and there that I normally don't find. I realized how much I was sucked into the system. Controlled by some kind of power... the people with power... They create a box, and we are stuck in it.

Peek my sketchbook

2011-04-05T11:56:00.002-06:00

Recent stuff I've drawn the last several months

How many nights?

2011-02-18T21:23:00.002-07:00

I went out with my little less sober head for one cigaret disregard to this Canadian cold night.
wondering... how many nights do I have left to feel this Canadian cold?

When you know this wouldn't last forever, you can appreciate the every ordinary moment.

I got rid of the unnecessary corporate career and now ready to focus on my real career.
I hope all the doodlings that I am making will be executed as real and posted here.. not just here but exposed to the wider world.

Just keep doing what I gotta do I guess.

Doodling with Heather

2011-01-10T18:24:00.003-07:00

Heather and I draw at bars.
Such amazing dorks :)

I've got some very depressing doodles to upload, but my laptop finally gave up on me and stopped working. It was quite experience not to have a laptop for weeks.
I'm so happy I got a new Mac laptop last week! yey!!! Thank god I didn't choose a PC..
I still haven't installed the creative suite. I need to get a scanner as well... yikes..$$$$
Once I get back on laptop-ful life, I will update my blog more often!

All you need for Christmas is just an ugly sweater

2010-12-08T18:13:00.004-07:00

Happy!
I participated in the Arts & Crafts Market at Mount Royal University today.
I re-realized how happy I can be when I am not in the office.
Because it was their first attempt, there weren't many people came. I didn't really expect to sell much either since it was in the school, but I had tons of fun!

I am not a big fun of this Christmas card I made a month ago or so, but I enjoyed people's reactions to that card, so here you go! Posting it!

I was working on greeting cards at work, and found that we have to use "Happy Holidays" or "Seasons Greeting" rather than "Merry Christmas".
We have to avoid using Santa Claus to consider people who don't believe in Santa Claus.
Really? Really????
Yea, we gotta consider others. Respect others' beliefs.
But if we do that, doesn't it mean we can't even say "happy holiday" or "seasons greeting" either? to consider who don't have holidays while most people do?
All I wanna say is "relax, people."
As long as you care about people and respect different points of view, it's all good, wouldn't it?

Papa Giraffe

2010-08-23T23:05:00.005-06:00

FINALLY!!!!
phewwww!
I know this is a dead simple image.. but to reach this point, there was a looooooooooong path to go through.

I personally do not like gifts for occasions such as Christmas, birthdays, Father's/Mother's day etc..
Plus, I live far far far away from my family. I barely talk with them too.. bad.. Chika.
For those reasons, I'm getting worse and worse at giving gifts to my family.
I feel horrible about it, so I decided to make something meaningful to my family! Starting with my dad's!
yes, gifts should be meaningful things. They shouldn't be obligation. They shouldn't be just a thing. They shouldn't be "just because it was on sale." It should be "because I thought of you."

Since I started working and being a part of the society [yuck], I re-realized how hard and long my dad's worked for the family. Working for a company for a long time is not just a job. There're more and more obligation, nasty politics and annoying people to deal with. The worst is you have to suppress yourself, passion and life to survive. Life is cruel. Responsibility sucks.
I never knew how suffocating to grow an adult. Never knew how hard to work and maintain your life going.
Just taking care of my own butt is so hard. I can't imagine what my dad's gone through.
so, here it is. The image was born.

You look familiar

2010-08-17T20:22:00.002-06:00

I apparently enjoy drawing people. oh yes.
This is actually a quite old piece. I suddenly remembered I drew this and it disappeared for a while.
I found it in a good condition and scanned it in. Voila!

Ampersand Show

2010-08-09T20:48:00.005-06:00

http://heatherreinhardt.blogspot.com/2010/08/alphabet-at-ampersand-collaboration.html

Heather and I have participated another group collaborative show, Ampersand!
We are actually happy how they turned out this year.

I took a few pictures of the show, but they are not great enough to post here... (My endeavor was mainly for you, Chris.)
I will post better ones as soon as Heather send them to me.

Heather! Super thanks for so awesome. I had such fun!

You appear. My pain disappears.

2010-07-12T21:02:00.004-06:00

This image came to my mind quite a while ago actually. Having a hard time coming up with a right saying, right composition, right colors and especially right expression. This is the closest expression I've got so far. Not completely happy with it yet... I've drawn tons and tons of faces just to get one right face. It's amazing how one line changes its emotions. Just tiny tiny weeny smidge off, and he/she looks like having toootally different types of feelings.

This was inspired by my friends and family, especially Annie for this image. You know it, Annie! Because I know you are always there for me, I'm not afraid to get hurt. Even when I get hurt, you manage to relieve my pain so easily. I think the destination/reason of making pictures for me is to tell my friends and family how thankful I am.
Warmhearted people around me are the best magical pain killer.

hmm... I really need to name my creatures. I don't like call them she or he. Dude, guy, baby... none of them sound right. fairy? elf? spirit? hmmm.....

Ready to go!

2010-06-28T20:50:00.003-06:00

Done with stickers and postcards!

I'm not perfectly happy with them, but TAKE ACTION! is my main focus now. Avoid thinking as much as possible and do it do it and do it and do it. Let the world know I exist as an illustrator! boo yea!!

- The next step -
I can finally get to create new images!!
and keep listing up the places to send my promotional materials. (and send them out, of course)

Harrow! I am from Japan!

2010-06-22T21:53:00.003-06:00

Another old one to upload. I feel like I'm cheating... I should be posting new and fresh ones. oh well!

There are reasons why I keep finding my old illustrations.
One! I was looking through my blog and categorized them all. Organizing my website would be more ideal, but if I keep listening to my perfection, I'd never ever be able to start anything.
Two! I'm picking a couple of pieces for my promotional materials. Again, I'd LOVE to make something new and send it out, but no more thinker! be a doer theory!
Just focus on the nearest goals for the further goals!

Warm-up!

2010-06-20T10:25:00.004-06:00

So, it's been a while since the last time I created a completed image. I got totally lost! Where to begin?! What am I aiming for?!? What am I doing?!?! Why is the couch so comfortable?!?!?! I ran up and down stairs a few times, did some dishes and laundry, and calmed down myself. I decided to make a map for my goal. Every time I get panicked and lost, I'll look at it and do what I gotta do for now!
Creation wise too... I didn't know where to start, so I decided to take it easy. This is piece is to warm-up.

Now, I'm up to make an image for my promotional material!
I should keep up updating with my website too... ugh... Those crazy codes scare me....... Hey! No!! Chika! No coward's allowed!

Hola! My old magazine job for Little Burgundy!

2010-06-10T21:26:00.003-06:00

http://www.littleburgundyshoes.com/ca-fre/pages/lounge/chikaando

Oh man, it took a year to upload this? Ridiculous..
I did a magazine cover for Little Burgundy last summer.
There's embossed effect on the cover. It looks pretty cool but totally failed to scan it in.
It was so very cool to meet up with the girls from LB when I visited Montreal... mmm! good memories of Montreal...

I can finally go back to the artsy routine!!!!! Is it hard to go back or what!
I always had pressure/stress to dedicate ALL my time to study for the English exam. I now have all my free time! a bit panicking to be honest.
Very EXCITING! That is fo sho!!!!

There's nothing better than living with a passionate goal/dream. Otherwise, my full-time job just keeps eating me alive.
ON MY WAY TO BE AN AWESOME ILLUSTRATOR! booya!!!

no pics to upload yet.

2010-02-21T22:37:00.002-07:00

watching some kind of wild animals' documentary with my aunt in the peaceful Sunday afternoon.
She goes "I wonder if carnivores get constipated from eating too much meat."

Some comments she throws out makes me realize we sure share the same blood.
(and I'm proud of it, believe or not.)

yes. I know! I know! no pictures to show yet! I'm such a pooper.

:, (

2010-02-10T23:28:00.003-07:00

I hate living like an adult....
I miss creating pictures............
I hate this and that and them and him and her and. and... and..... shit......................

*howl*

fuck it. fuck it all and I'm gonna go draw!

Collaboration with Heather Part 2!

2010-01-24T18:46:00.004-07:00

Here we go again! Drink and Draw! and laugh!
I don't understand why I agreed on doing this on MONDAY NIGHT. Oh well, it was still fun!
I gotta say we did a pretty good job regardless of the amount of beer & wine we had.
We!! love!! pencil crayons!! yeey! wohoo!

I have a sad news...
I applied for my permanent resident card last year. I've received a letter saying that my application got declined... I'm pretty impatient for dealing such things. I honestly thought of moving back to Japan when my work visa expires.
I calm down myself and decided to challenge for another category.
I gotta study for the English exam which costs $250/each... and pay for another application fee which is around $500 (not refundable, of course) and collecting documents and shits.... Ugh... I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. Let me just live here damn it!!!! I am a harmless citizenship! so stressful!!! uuuhhhh!!!!!

I
MISS
DRAWING
AND
PAINTING!!!!!
SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD :,-O

I'm not slacking

2010-01-20T21:32:00.003-07:00

I'm currently working on my website. The last time I touched the files was in school.... which is 2 years ago.
!!!!!!
Already?!? 2 years?!? Time sure goes fast.
I'm too intimidated to fix ALL up, so I'll tweak it little by little.

Also working on my list!!
I'm mainly collecting magazines' addresses to send off my promotional post cards.

Yes... I'm tired and sick of me saying "I wanna do this. I wanna do that. It is my goal."
I decided to think/worry less and just go for it.
Just
Do
It
mm hmm!

uuuggghhh! I do miss creating pictures!

hello my cynical side

2009-12-30T21:52:00.003-07:00

This is still my first attempt. I'll come back with a better image of this. I just wanted to upload something I'm working on.

Benicio Del Toro

2009-12-30T18:05:00.002-07:00

I watched Snatch over this weekend. I am totally in love with Benicio!! soooo sexy! (I'm not usually groupie like this.)
I also loved the movie!
As I was stalking him on Youtube, I've got great inspiration. This is almost the first time to get artistic inspiration from an actor/actress.

This is a quick easy sketch gift for my room :)
*kisses kisses kisses kisses*

Little of this and that

2009-12-14T22:16:00.001-07:00

I haven't updated my blog so long. My guilt drove me to put whatever I've got :P
I made the couple of tiger pictures a year ago. I noticed I didn't upload them.
The size of the images is showing my shame. Yes,,, I'm not very proud of these pieces. I'm just publishing this as a record... a proof that I've been still working.... on something..... really little..........
hmm.. I do need to have some serious arting time - Total focus on what I really wanna create! I miss those times. I'm getting tired of half-way done works and little favors making some illustrations for some people.

Kizuku's first tablet attempt

2009-12-14T21:37:00.000-07:00

A 6-year-old boy was staying at my place this summer. I loved him! He's the cutest boy I've ever met! He loved me too! In fact, he told me he wanted to get married to me. That was soooo cute!
He got inspired trying my tablet by watching me photoshopping with it.
Here is the first attempt of his :) so adorable!

Collaboration with Heather!

2009-10-25T00:53:00.002-06:00

I forgot to update about this.
Heather and I contributed a work for a group show at the ArtLife Gallery in September.
It took longer than we expected. We stayed up late many nights. I remember I fell asleep a lot at work. I really had great times though!

Heather has better pictures on her blog
http://heatherreinhardt.blogspot.com/2009/10/collaboration-with-chika.html

Love you, Montreal

2009-10-24T17:09:00.003-06:00

Custom order

2009-09-02T16:07:00.001-06:00

A very good friend of mine asked me to make a magnet for her sister's birthday.
so, there you go.

Drawing on a backpack - Little Burgundy/LOVE

2009-08-18T20:04:00.000-06:00

Contributed some doodle work to the Little Burgundy's charity, LOVE -Leave Out Violence (http://www.littleburgundyshoes.com/ca-eng/social)

Little Burgundy

2009-08-18T19:53:00.000-06:00

A shoe store called Little Burgundy (http://www.littleburgundyshoes.com/) magically found me to do their magazine cover, 'Secret' Issue fall 2009. I can't be luckier! happier and busier.
The project was very wide open and fun to work!
They picked the one that looking back with the little door attaching the body.

Bags too!

2009-07-07T19:25:00.001-06:00

They look pretty washed out :(
Watercolor seems harder to be printed on merchandise.

I just wanted to see real products for motivation. I need to get into business now. I've been searching about how/where/what to start. I've been pretty frustrated. I'll learn, eventually. Feels like I'm going no where for now. I guess I need patience.

Shoes Printed!! from Zazzle.com

2009-07-07T19:23:00.001-06:00

Fun!! Pretty happy how they turned out.

Winter Hug

2009-06-07T20:16:00.002-06:00

My friend, Thalia generously gave me an amazing idea to make a picture.
I personally like hugging over winter jackets. It's like hugging teddy bears.
To Thalia, it's very sad and cold like winter because we can't feel skins because there're way too many layers. Interesting one thing can be interpreted by many ways. Each person has different views. That's why it is amazing to share ideas and open up each other's perspectives.

creative mind wasted for making money

2009-06-07T16:56:00.000-06:00

Lots of my creative and passionate classmates who work for corporate jobs suffer from their full time jobs. I feel the exactly same way. I die every 8am to 4pm monday to friday...

It's all in your head

2009-05-20T20:06:00.001-06:00

I used to be very conscious about my appearance. Well,,, it's like that especially during teen-hood, i guess.
By hearing other's lack of confidence, I've got crave throwing this statement into their faces. Take this! ugly thought-ers!

Bitter past doesn't leave you alone

2009-05-20T20:01:00.001-06:00

God damn nasty stalker, Past...
I can't decide which eyes I like better