sketchbook diary entry # 5

inspired by my love of tattoos, everything nautical, and rockabilly...

my attempt on modern vintage!  i hope you like it...

happy friday!
xoxo, carla

what i do from 9 to 5

i`ve been asked about what type of work i do... 

i am a dental lab technician, i make teeth all day long and i looove my job.  i get to design and create - which is exactly where i like to be...

i start off with a metal framework, then it gets coated with opaque pastes then fired in the kiln or furnace.

 a view showing the metal framework

then the fun starts, i get to layer porcelain with various shades and translucencies, while firing the layers in between.

the case that i worked on for the past two days involved a patient who were missing four teeth.  so, i got to make a 6-unit bridge with tissue reconstruction.

high-strength model replicating the patient`s teeth, preparation, and gum tissue

the bridge with a coat of glaze prior to firing

the glazed bridge going into the furnace

the finished bridge...

well, i hope this answers your questions regarding what i do when i`m not blogging, drawing, etc...   i hope the patient loves it. 

happy tuesday everyone!
xo, carla

alphabet walk blog hop

i was checking my tweets and found out about this amazing alphabet walk by piper from one sydney road.  thanks to sandy from sandy a la mode for letting me know all about it!!! 

i joined in on the fun and picked the letter "D".  now, i am not a professional photographer by any means, but it sounded like too much fun to pass it up.  so, now i am off to find inspiration for my alphabet walk assignment.  i will be publishing the photos here on monday, july 12, 2010! 

(source - one sydney road)

so, hop on over to one sydney road to sign up, and you can be part of the alphabet walk...

happy monday!
xo, carla

happy father's day!

just wanted to wish every single dad out there, a very happy father's day!

to my dad, thank you for always being there for me and my family...  you will forever be my rock!  basically, you are the best dad a girl can ever have.

to my brother, i'm so proud of you, because not only are you a great father to your sons but you are also a great friend to me... thanks for always being present.

and most importantly, to my hubby, thank you for being my best friend and the greatest supporter of my loves, including the lil man...  you mean the world to me!

happy sunday!
xoxo, carla

mandy tsung - artist feature interview

mandy tsung in a vancouver-based artist extraordinaire.  if you love portraiture as much as i do, you will definitely fall in love with mandy's work.

i came across these fabulous works of art through one of my friends.  she sent me a link to mandy tsung's facebook page, and my love affair with mandy's work began...

 "i love you"

if you've been following me on twitter or tumbler, i've re-tweeted and re-blogged most of her work because it is too selfish to keep it for myself.  i literally can stare at one of her drawings or paintings for quite a long time.  the eyes of her subjects contain so much emotion, that if i look at the same painting on a different day, it seems like it's emoting something entirely new...   

i went to see her work at the ayden gallery for the animalopolis show.

 

"anima"

her work is even more striking in person!   for those who are lucky enough to live in the lower mainland, her work at the ayden gallery will be up until july 11th.  so, go see it when you get a chance!

get to know the artist behind the masterpieces...

"asmodeus"

CD (me):  where are you from and how did you get started in this field?

MT (mandy tsung):  i was born in banff, alberta, and grew up in calgary, alberta.  my dad is from hong kong and my mother was born here.  i've been drawing since i was very young, but what actually got me to go to art college, was the decision that i never wanted to take a math or chemistry class ever again.


CD:  can you recall a memory in your childhood that really drew you into the world of art?

MT:  having comic books given to me as a young girl solidified my passion for drawing strong female characters.  all of my friends like to draw as well so it was just a natural thing to do.

"succubus"

CD:  did you take courses or classes to enhance your work?  if so, how did your studies influence you and your work?

MT:  i never actually took drawing classes growing up.  i simply learned through practice.  in art college (the alberta college of art and design), i took figure drawing and painting classes which gave me a broader vocabulary with which to express my vision.  although, i didn't start on the path that i am on now, until a few years after art school.  it took a long time for me to find myself after all of the different messages that i received at school.


CD:  what is your approach to design...  in creating your artwork?


MT:  i almost always start directly on a piece, without any initial drawings, which keeps the inspirations fresh and allows things to evolve organically.  i find that a copy of something will rarely have the same life as the original image. so, i prefer that the original be the finished artwork, and not a page in a sketchbook.

"from the heart"

CD:  what is your favorite medium to work with?

MT:  graphite is my favorite medium.  all of my pieces containa a high finish drawing, and then build up from there.


CD:  can you describe your process in creating a single painting?

MT:  i typically start by looking at a wood panel, its grain, and how a composition would flow through it.  then, i go to my image library and pull out a photo that strikes me.  i translate that onto the raw wood, seal it with clear gesso, then begin layering acrylic washes of paint to bring out the patterns of the wood or add bright splashes of color.  finally, i paint the portrait in oils using transparent glazing techniques that preserve the shading of the graphite and wood grain underneath.

 "reside"

"with hope"

CD:  when did you sell your first painting?

MT:  when i was in high school, one of my teachers bought a piece from me.


CD:  are there any artists that inspire you?  if so, who are they and why?

MT:  i am inspired by a lot of different artists, mostly illustrators, like james jean, joao ruas, gabriel moreno, and laura laine because their drawings are very special, full of life, and nuance.  lori earley, and audrey kawasaki are also artist that i like to watch.  lori is an amazing painter, and audrey has a knack for simple yet effective composition and line.  i know that my work get compared to theirs a lot, which i don't mind because i am doing what i love and being as true to myself as possible.

 "wave II" - james jean

"haunted 11" - joao ruas

"guardian" - gabriel moreno

"escada" - laura laine

"leila" - lori earley

"my dishonest heart" - audrey kawasaki

CD:  could give us five words to describe yourself?

MT:  driven, ambitious, spiritual, joyful, empathic


CD:  what is your favorite or most inspirational place?

MT:  i love going to coffee shops.  i like the long walks in the sun to get to them, drinking a cup of really nice hot dart roast, then opening my sketchbook, and focusing intently on my lines while listening to other people's conversations, and murmuring epiphanies to my partner while we lay plans for future work together.

"huli jing"

CD:  what keep you motivated and what inspires you to keep going?

MT:  i am inspired by great photos, which there is never a lack of in magazines.  i usually just have to look at a wood grain to see what needs to go where.  as for motivation, it's usually 30% necessity of having to pay my bills, and 70% desire to express the energy that is bubbling around in me.


CD:  could you share some of your goals with us?  future projects?

MT:  my goal is to keep improving and creating powerful artwork, to build a reputation.  i'd like to show in galleries internationally, to get to travel because of my art.  i plan to do more collaborations with other artists, getting to learn from and interact with them is priceless.  i want to do more projects the benefit people somehow, like site-specific public art.

"chahna"

a collaboration with kristian adam

CD:  if you had a full day to spend at your leisure, what would you do?

MT:  i would probably go for breakfast with friends, take a stroll along the beach, and do some sightseeing. visit an art gallery or watch a movie, have dinner somewhere nice, then settle in to a night of painting.  as much as i enjoy sleeping, i wish it wasn't necessary!


CD:  do you have any advice for aspiring artists?

MT:  know what you want to get out of your art, have a goal in mind with each piece.  there's no wrong reason to make art, but it's helpful to have an idea of what you need from it.  that way, you will always be successful in learning, regardless of the physical outcome.  being in the mindset of learning is meditation.

 "mea"

website:  
http://www.mandytsung.com/

facebook: 
http://www.facebook.com/mandy.tsung.art

twitter:
http://twitter.com/mandytsung

tumblr: 
http://mandytsung.tumblr.com/

i hope you enjoyed viewing mandy tsung's work and the interview.  happy friday!
xoxo, carla

please contact mandy tsung, if you wish to re-post any images on your blog or any photo sharing websites.  

sketchbook diary entry # 4

this is a special sketchbook entry, dedicated to one of the most amazing women i've ever known in my life...  my ninang (Godmother) linda.  three years ago, she lost the battle against cancer - just ten days after my son was born.

although her life was cut short by this horrible disease, i'm so glad that she was able to meet dom, and i was able to spend as much time with her.  she definitely was the life of the party, sassy, elegant, and caring.  she would put velcro rollers in her hair every morning, she loved gardening, collected the most beautiful grosgrain ribbon, loved almond nougat, enjoyed crossword puzzles, slept half-way through movies, had a contagious laugh, played the piano beautifully, had similar mannerisms as barbara streisand - with the demeanor of shirley maclaine, loved coco chanel no. 5,  loved to listen to classical music, left lavender packets in her car, pillows, cabinets, absolutely adored by so many...

my favorite memory of my ninang linda was when i was 5 years old, we went to our grandparents' farm.  we trekked through muddy farm land.  my brother got stuck in quicksand.  one of my cousins climbed the mango tree, and picked the ripest ones, and the rest of us ate a tonne of them - lol.  i also remember looking down on my feet and remember wearing her blue gelly sandals.

throughout the toughest moments of her journey, she was courageous and strong.  not once did she complain about her suffering (i think we felt it more than she did).  through it all, she kept smiling, forgetting she was sick at all...

she had so much beauty emanating from within, that i didn't even miss her hair...

have a great weekend, happy saturday!
xoxo, carla

genius of love

...by the tom tom club.  i forgot how much i love this song!

plus, the video features the art of james rizzi - one of the first artists who made me fall in love with pop art.

(source)

this song makes me want to dance everytime i hear it, and its sampled versions... i wanted to post it for your viewing and listening pleasure, all because i was watching VH1's top 100 one hit wonders of the 80's - LOL!

"the best art is a good heart" - by james rizzi
(source)

james brown, james brownnn...  happy thursday!
xo, carla

circus love

i have this attraction toward oddities, medical wonders, and everything carnival related. 

you are probably wondering, why?  i think it all started when my cousin brought me to the carnival when i was a child in the philippines - also, realizing earlier on that some of the performers (like the man called, "the penguin man") developed a type of physical deformation or a genetic trait that has been passed on...  this started my fascination in the human body, genetics, super-human abilities, etc...

i enjoyed all the rides, the food, the performances, but i don't think that it was entirely a delight to see the sideshow performers (because some of their situations were desolate, sometimes desperate - because they couldn't find jobs elsewhere, and also, the jeering and ridicule...).  despite of the "ugly" side of the travelling circus life, they kept going, returning year after year to put on an amazing show.  that, is what i love the most!

so, here are some beautiful things i'd like to share with you:

"the bearded lady" and "portrait with prize toys" - emily martin

miss spink and miss forcible's trapeze act, from coraline

the knife juggler by roadside

"death by cotton candy", drop dead gorgeous series by daniela edburg
(i could only wish...)

"ripley's believe it or not" museum - saw it at the fisherman's wharf in san francisco, california

via daydaynite on tumblr

"circus orange pin up girls with diamond eyes" - pinkytoast

"dumbo" - disney (dom hugs me when the song, baby mine, starts playing)

"miniature through the viewfinder" photos by james spicer

the twins from big fish, a movie, by tim burton
(i love this movie sooo much!)

"the circus 1870-1950" - book by taschen  (it's on my wish list)

vintage clown cupcake toppers by moonfaires

"forest ferris wheel" by thepoppytree

"siamese twins" by jody pham

photos by sara norris

"circus" by pale preoccupation

cirque du soleil - if you haven't gone, go see a show!  it's amazing (worth every penny)!!!

hope you enjoyed it! 

happy sunday!
xo, carla

a doll for maya...

just wanted to share a doll i made from the black apple doll tutorial.  she went to the cutest little girl with the most adorable dimples, maya!

a closer view of the dimples, painted face and her little pink bow...

a painted heart framing her embroidered name...

felt mary janes, pattern from chez beeper bebe's tutorial ...

happy birthday maya!  i hope you love your doll!!!

happy friday!
xo, carla