I rather miss the old place, but one of the three of us has disappeared off the face of the earth, and my take-home work makes it difficult for me to produce new art on a regular basis. But here, I offer a hair-clamp.
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Ridiculous hairstyles
I was browsing through my old art when I found this. In 2008 I made friends with two other comic artists and we set up a short-lived forum, where we'd draw to each other's prompts. The theme for this picture was 'ridiculous hairstyles'.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
pensketch
I haven't completely kicked the habit of doodling. In order to remind myself not to forget about the photogenic fantasy people, I did a brief pensketch on my notes that actually looks nice enough to post.
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Kimono loot
OK, as everyone knows, I went to Japan and bought way too much stuff. Most of it was kimono, and most of the weight came from the autumn/winter stuff that I wasn't supposed to buy (because I live in SINGAPORE for heaven's sake, but I haven't given up on taking these things back to Japan to wear because I'm sure one day I'll visit it in December). Here they are.
yukata and hanhaba obi from Gion, Kyoto
I wanted a yukata that I could wear well into middle age, since I won't have all that many opportunities to wear this kind of stuff. This particular set looked like it fit the bill.
The first three are hanhaba obi, and the mint wug one is for yukata.
I thought I'd stock up on hanhaba obi because they're super versatile and not so much bound by tradition that you can't make your own creative knots and be called out on it. The yukata obi at the bottom was actually quite expensive and a complete accident; I was walking about in Asakusa and when I saw it lying there in a shop I HAD to have it.
The retro obi right at the top was secondhand and turned out to be the cheapest at 860 yen.
Obtained at the temple flea market at Toji. The Nagoya obi was even more expensive than the wug yukata obi, but I liked it so much I went back for it in the end.
I like owls and stripes. I think you can sort of tell.
Bought at a hole-in-the-wall secondhand kimono shop and at an open booth in Toji flea market.
This particular kimono was the main culprit for making my luggage go over the weight limit.
Together they must weigh over 3 kg.
I actually don't think I'll take away the lining of the winter kimono -- it's just nice as it is, and it feels fantastic when I pull it on. I'll keep it for when I go back to Japan in winter, and then wear a turtleneck underneath (with thick heat-tech tights and fancy boots)!
Summer kimono and obi. It's hard to gauge sizes when you're outdoors and there's no changing room.
This is my favourite obi of the lot. It's made of a thick, stiff shantung with the flowers painted on. I'm only allowed to wear it with unlined kimono for late spring till early autumn, which is absolutely no problem for me.
Vintage yukata and Nagoya obi.
On top of being obligingly breathable, summer kimono is supposed to make onlookers feel refreshed just by looking at the wearer. That's why water motifs and cool colours are so appropriate. I like water motifs, myself. Just look at the details of this wonderful obi.
Altogether, they cost rather a lot of money. ;_; I don't begrudge the cost because most of these garments were painstakingly handmade by craftsmen and artists who also have to eat. If only the black gauze kimono hadn't been too small -- it had been my favourite, too.
Singaporean though I might be, I'll find a way to wear them somehow. Maybe one day I'll organise a Taisho tea party!
yukata and hanhaba obi from Gion, Kyoto
I wanted a yukata that I could wear well into middle age, since I won't have all that many opportunities to wear this kind of stuff. This particular set looked like it fit the bill.
The first three are hanhaba obi, and the mint wug one is for yukata.
I thought I'd stock up on hanhaba obi because they're super versatile and not so much bound by tradition that you can't make your own creative knots and be called out on it. The yukata obi at the bottom was actually quite expensive and a complete accident; I was walking about in Asakusa and when I saw it lying there in a shop I HAD to have it.
The retro obi right at the top was secondhand and turned out to be the cheapest at 860 yen.
Obtained at the temple flea market at Toji. The Nagoya obi was even more expensive than the wug yukata obi, but I liked it so much I went back for it in the end.
I like owls and stripes. I think you can sort of tell.
Bought at a hole-in-the-wall secondhand kimono shop and at an open booth in Toji flea market.
This particular kimono was the main culprit for making my luggage go over the weight limit.
Together they must weigh over 3 kg.
I actually don't think I'll take away the lining of the winter kimono -- it's just nice as it is, and it feels fantastic when I pull it on. I'll keep it for when I go back to Japan in winter, and then wear a turtleneck underneath (with thick heat-tech tights and fancy boots)!
Summer kimono and obi. It's hard to gauge sizes when you're outdoors and there's no changing room.
This is my favourite obi of the lot. It's made of a thick, stiff shantung with the flowers painted on. I'm only allowed to wear it with unlined kimono for late spring till early autumn, which is absolutely no problem for me.
Vintage yukata and Nagoya obi.
On top of being obligingly breathable, summer kimono is supposed to make onlookers feel refreshed just by looking at the wearer. That's why water motifs and cool colours are so appropriate. I like water motifs, myself. Just look at the details of this wonderful obi.
Altogether, they cost rather a lot of money. ;_; I don't begrudge the cost because most of these garments were painstakingly handmade by craftsmen and artists who also have to eat. If only the black gauze kimono hadn't been too small -- it had been my favourite, too.
Singaporean though I might be, I'll find a way to wear them somehow. Maybe one day I'll organise a Taisho tea party!
En garde!
My former partner in crime has asked me for permission to use an old sketch for her new platform, and I said yes. The text has been updated by her and can be found here at http://sagittarius.sky-song.org/.
I spent most of my free time this week making an epic lolita sales post, but there'll be more coming soon! Just wait.
I spent most of my free time this week making an epic lolita sales post, but there'll be more coming soon! Just wait.
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Imai Kira imitations
For those not in the know, Imai Kira is a popular illustrator of girls in frilly dresses, and I really like her art. Her website is at http://kira.main.jp/ and examples of her work can be found anywhere on the Internet.
I do show my appreciation through patronage. When I was in MaruiOne two weeks ago I bought Imai Kira trappings and nothing else. Having crowed over them on the trip home I thought it might be a good idea to channel her style into my lolita drawings.
Fabergé
I like books, frills, cats, AND jewels. While mulling over the kind of seat I should ensconce this little girl in, I let my irrational brain out through my fingers and was tremendously pleased with the result. The piece is named for the jewelled eggs commissioned yearly by the Russian royal family until the Bolsheviks chopped their heads off.
<untitled>
The outfit worn by the queenly figure on the left of the second picture is inspired by a girl I saw walking to the JR ticket barrier in Shinjuku station, who wore Juliette et Justine's Coppélia OP in grey beneath a brocade Excentrique corset with enormous bronzy flowers in her hair. I only had a moment's eyeful of her gorgeousness but it was enough. .__.
I rarely do such detailed pencils because figuring everything out takes so much time. Each of these sketches took an average of four hours to complete because I was multitasking throughout. I might do more tweaking with the second one because I'm not pleased with the feet of the girl on the left -- they should be pointing up. I'll be preparing to ink the first one maybe tomorrow.
I have to say, this kind of stuff is really addictive. I might stay with it for a while. Don't accuse me of being boring now that I have a new toy. I haven't gotten around to experimenting with textures for the photogenic fantasy family yet.
I do show my appreciation through patronage. When I was in MaruiOne two weeks ago I bought Imai Kira trappings and nothing else. Having crowed over them on the trip home I thought it might be a good idea to channel her style into my lolita drawings.
Fabergé
I like books, frills, cats, AND jewels. While mulling over the kind of seat I should ensconce this little girl in, I let my irrational brain out through my fingers and was tremendously pleased with the result. The piece is named for the jewelled eggs commissioned yearly by the Russian royal family until the Bolsheviks chopped their heads off.
<untitled>
The outfit worn by the queenly figure on the left of the second picture is inspired by a girl I saw walking to the JR ticket barrier in Shinjuku station, who wore Juliette et Justine's Coppélia OP in grey beneath a brocade Excentrique corset with enormous bronzy flowers in her hair. I only had a moment's eyeful of her gorgeousness but it was enough. .__.
I rarely do such detailed pencils because figuring everything out takes so much time. Each of these sketches took an average of four hours to complete because I was multitasking throughout. I might do more tweaking with the second one because I'm not pleased with the feet of the girl on the left -- they should be pointing up. I'll be preparing to ink the first one maybe tomorrow.
I have to say, this kind of stuff is really addictive. I might stay with it for a while. Don't accuse me of being boring now that I have a new toy. I haven't gotten around to experimenting with textures for the photogenic fantasy family yet.
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