Ponyo Banner!

Hi! So, I just got done with my entry for Monster Valentines contest, I get to scan it tomorrow and upload it! =D

Perhaps, someday, I get to digitize my drawings and put some color into it! - LOL! for now, they are done in pen and paper ... don't forget "eraser" too! - LOL!

I have also completed a banner entry for the Ponyo banner contest -  although, I am contemplating if I should create another banner? since there are at least 5 categories for the Ponyo banner contest, oh well, lets see if I still have time! Seemingly enough the design community called Design Contest - that I have joined, seems to have lots of logo projects lately with really close deadlines, this will certainly keep me on my toes! yeah! rock on! So, here it is, my entry to Ponyo banner contest - and I enjoyed the creative process it undertook and the learning that I had to go through as well!

I did enjoy the movie Ponyo! Although I understood the gist of the story, which is falling in-love and pursuing the one you love, I did not really know what Ponyo was? I did not know what kind of creature or being was Ponyo, so I had to google it, actually Ponyo is a Gold Fishy! - lol! - a daughter of a great magician, she disobeyed her father because of her curiosity to check out the world outside of the great mighty ocean! - and whilst investigating the "land" world, she got herself into trouble, she got trapped in a bottle, a little boy found her, and rescued her, in doing so, he cut his finger and Ponyo licked the blood off his finger, he finally named her Ponyo! And he took care of this little gold fishy! brought her to almost wherever he went! Along this togetherness, Ponyo fell in love wiht the boy - Souske! - time came, Ponyo was returned back to her father, she insisted that she be called Ponyo from that time forwards! and that she wanted to go back and be with Souske! - and so, the climax of the story begins, Ponyo breaks into the magic room of her father and becomes human - a little girl, and finds her way back to Souske, who, somehow, recognizes her, and welcomes her with great enthusiasm! Because of Ponyo's breaking-in into the magic room of her father, a great storm arises and ruins the balance of nature, thus, Ponyo and Souske embark on a magical journey together! Souske still takes good care of Ponyo, despite the fact that he notices that Ponyo has some outstanding skills! At the end, Souske fell in love with Ponyo as well, and had to go through a series of "tests", the mother of Ponyo asked Souske, if he can love Ponyo even though as a gold fish, Souske confidently replied, that he loves Ponyo as girl and as a gold fish, and he loves all the Ponyo's in the world! And so, a kiss breaks the spell, and Ponyo and Souske, gets to spend a lifetime together!

Okay, that is as far as I will tell you guys, more magical and energetic details can be felt and seen when you actually watch it! Trust me, Ponyo is one of those animated films wherein "emotion" is so magnificently captured, and there is an energy to the story! a kind of RUSH!  =D   that is based on my point of view! you have to watch it though!

Well, now, I think, I can start working on logos again! since I am done with my sketch, and with this banner! and if I have extra time, I would prolly work on another Ponyo banner? (if i still have time before deadline!)  =D

Aslo, tomorrow is February, and ... I have not sketched my January theme - my mind is blank - I should dig-in deeper eh? I need to find that "water" - LOL!

The world is beautiful and magical, a tapestry of great great art! This tapestry is a mix of bright and dark colors! This world, is a mix of life and death of joy and sorrow which makes up the natural cycle of nature ... of life -   =D

Tonight - thank you ...

- for bright lively stars!
- for those who care!
- for seasons!
- for magic!
- for lessons!

Logo Chosen?

Awww, I have been slacking on this blog, partly because I am getting myself gradually involved with sketching, drawing, graphic design, making up stories in my head and trying to piece out a dress to design! My thoughts are jumping! too much jumping I think! =D

So, recently, I joined an open-non-guaranteed logo making contest just for fun and practice, just to see how I would create under client specifications! For my first paid contest, the CH (contest holder) wanted a logo for "Save On Soap" (SOS). Well, here is the final logo that somehow got chosen! Of course, I was sooooooooooooooooooooooooo surprised and definitely sooooo haffy that someone chose my design!  =D although the CH has not contacted me yet about payment! - hahaha! and CH has not touched-based about the source files that I have submitted?

I guess its a really good start! Now, I find myself imagining, creating, designing, making-up stories ... relentlessly! It is a bit "annoying" since, when I am at the office, these thoughts bug me to death!  =D though, I enjoy these ... day dreaming thingy! - hahaha!

I have been creating logos after that unexpected "win", wanna see? - hahaha! - you have no choice but to see! here they are!

That is the final version that I chose to submit  =)  Still more to come, such as --
- i have to create my so called "January Theme"
- i get to design a banner for a group! =)
- i am excited to sketchOut about how Monsters celebrate Valentines Day! - hahaha!
- another logo design, which is due in six days!

I have been slacking on EveningThanks as well - tsk! tsk! tsk!

Today - thank you ...

- for enthusiasm
- for green trees
- for the helping efforts of many people!
- for the "genuine" that are seen and felt through the hearts of children!
- for support, they are really needed!

Well, I am still reading Finding Water ... here are some quotes that caught my eye!

"You cant sit around thinking. You have to sit around writing." -- David Long

LOL! - basically, thoughts without actions, yeah ... pointless?  =D

"Take care of each moment and you will take care of all time" -- Buddha

oooooo, magnificent isnt it! "each moment" imagine that ... "all time" consist of "each moment"! and each moment is the "here and now" consisting of living beings! animals! nature! people! interactions with people! emotions! ...  lets take care of it ... this precise right moment! right here ... simply right now! -- and these moments ... will never be exactly the same twice!

" Life is just soooo HUGE! and yet, scaled down to the most minute detail! - you! me! Life! " ... that one is from one of my previous blog entries!  =D

And right now -- I am hungry! -- so I have to take care of that!   =D

First Vector!

I am contemplating on taking on a challenge! -- The Challenge to design something everyday! -- so, be ready for some really aimless stuff soon!  =D

Last Wednesday, I started to try and design logos once more, like how I used to when I was in high school, I took out a piece of used paper, and drew out my thoughts - the theme was peace - that was the bottom line, and so, my mind was blank, I googled (searched) the meaning of peace, I browsed images that symbolizes peace, and the dove caught my eye - and so, I drew my heart and soul, and my mind interpreted it - and my hands tried its best to realize it into that piece of paper, and for my very first logo creation for this year, i am quite more than satisfied on how it turned out!

After I drew or sketched the dove image into a piece of paper, I scanned it, and began to teach myself how to transform it into a vector through online tutorials! - and above is the result! the concept took me three days, drawing the dove took me around four hours max - and transforming it into a vector whilst reading the tutorials took me a max of three hours.

I realized, it is important that your base image is flexible, that once you digitize your drawing, you can easily add "more" into your base image or remove "some" from your base image, and yet, still keep the essence of what your base image is trying to project! -- Originally my dove carried a two-leaf twig, and i decided it was just too much or too crowded having two leaves, and so, I removed one of the leaves, and I still am satisfied with how it turned out to be. The text is a tag-line provided by the contest holder, and the challenge was, to design a logo for the tag-line.

January 10, 2010 - thank you ...

- for creativity!
- for laughter, for it is very good to laugh!
- for dreams!
- for the still and strong mountains!
- for guidance!

January 12, 2010 - thank you ...

- for memories! (all of them!)
- for love!
- for the grace to experience!
- for the ability to share!
- for truth!

January 13, 2010 - thank you ...

- for art!
- for family!
- for appreciation!
- for encouragement!
- for food ... and food is good!  =)

January 14, 2010 - thank you ...

- for togetherness
- for the ability to improve!
- for keeping me safe!
- for friends!
- for calmness!

January 15, 2010 - thank you ...

- for thoughts ~
- for the patience of others ~
- for tears!
- for the ability to feel ~
- for cooperation!

There is so much running through my mind - and most very often, I find myself very much overwhelmed!

Good evening ~

I recently started to sketch again, and I have loaded up some of my old sketches as well as my new ones! It is very good to hold a pencil and trace out thoughts into that blank sheet of paper! This is a space, where I would like to share not only my thoughts, but also, my creations! I also started to read the book Finding Water by Julia Cameron, a book that i find myself reading so very slowly! -- very, very slowly, that I am still at the last page of the prologue. We can read any material, even those which do not interest us - however - this book, I want to understand! I want to relate with the thoughts and the lessons and to learn, and so, I find it important to read it slowly, to let my soul read .... here is an entry from that book ...

Speaking of God, we often use the terms "Maker" or "Creator" without recognizing that those are the terms for "artist" God is the Great Artist. We are creations, and we are intended, in turn, to be creative ourselves. 

Thank you God ... Thank You ...

For this new year, I'd like to share a sketch I made a long long long time ago! I know it is a new year, and I should probably share one of my new sketches, but, I believe, starting this blog with one of my first original character sketches is something new! here it is -

I drew this way back sometime during 1997, it was one of the 5 main characters of my story! Which I also planned to create into a game as well. I will have to update these main character sketches, each with their own weapons and powers, each in different action poses too! -- Soon I hope   =)

This morning, I was at the auto-shop, I had with me the book - and so, I read it and ... I am very much thankful ....

January 09, 2010 - thank you ...

- for blessed inspiration!
- for warm hearts of others!
- for kind smiles that I believe everyone has -- the visible and those that are not!
- for realization!
- for the ability to learn!

January 08, 2010 - thank you ...

- for warm water!
- for the many wonderful people that put up with me!
- for magnificent opportunities!
- for clarity, even the briefest moments of it!
- for hope ...  =)

I also came across some beautiful quotes that emphasized the most simple attitudes - but they are the most essential, and seemingly, they are the most difficult to learn! some of which are courage, perseverance, hope, love, faith and there are more ... here is another quote from the book ...

"we never know the worth of water, till the well is dry"

What is water for us? each of us ... we have our own view of what water is to us, perhaps some would take it literally, and others don't, maybe to some, water is inspiration, to some water is love, to some water is hope, to some water could be someone dear, to some water could be health .... but really, I personally would say, water in the context of that quote, is something essential, something important, something valuable - but often times neglected, ignored ... and its importance or its value is realized only during its absence.

I recently watched a movie - "The Cristmas Cottage" - I personally think, it was the ending part of the movie that was so very powerful! the movie ended with a quote ...

"I still try to learn what Glen has taught me, about - art, life, and about light - in the end - love, is the greatest light of all"

ps: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, and He will make your paths - straight"

ps: (again!) - I know, the time stamp says its morning, but ... somewhere, it is still evening!  =D

=)