The struggle of drawing

Self potrait, back in my weaboo-er days

Last weekeend I was at Comic Fiesta, one where I was more into one of the two things which attract me to the event (ie comics/doujin arts, and cosplay), and you could see my thoughts in previous entry.

After having some discussion and chat with doujin artist through the event, I took a quick look at some of my old drawings, in an attempt to really get down to what is it that really pull me into drawing? What is it that makes me tick?

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Comic Fiesta 2014

Post-CF post, summed up in comic form to stay true to the 'comic' part of the event hehe.

If I were to sum up Comic Fiesta in one word, reconciliation would be the word. Because I really love both aspect of cosplaying and doujin art, even if I might be making a bit of noise on the former haha. I honestly want to approach cosplaying like a 'proper' art, and would like for doujin comics to have wider appeal.

Probably this CF is the most personal for me, almost similar to 2010 (first trip) one, and I did spend more on the 'comic' part for this time. Feel a bit bad for neglecting the usual cosplay dudes and dudettes, but I'll let you know that I'm still very much into cosplaying as I am into drawing. Thank you to both the doujin artist, cosplayers, and everyone else who made the event worth it for my side. Cheers.

I manage to have some good discussion on one of the person that influenced me in drawing again, it feels great to show my stuff and get a bit of feedback and encouragement. 

Thanks Max, it's been great to be able to meet you again!

[Weekly drawing assignment] Week 10 & Week 11

Right, I'm a bit behind schedule for last week... but yes, I plan to make this a mainstay at the blog now. Do stick around as I scribble my way through my journey to improve my chops at drawing! (or well, it makes a good habit in getting me to draw more, yeah?)

Week 10: Lady (K)Gaga. This was when one of my friend pointed out the katakana for 'ka' and 'ga' are almost similar (か and が) in Kaga's kanji, so...

Week 11: I was going to draw Fusou and Yamashiro, but somewhat gotten around to draw Maruyu being fattened up for eidiladha... err, I mean, modernization! 'cos you know, it's better to get that 1.6 luck stat increase as opposed to just 1.2!

Weekly drawing assignment

Not long ago, a couple of people and I decided that we should get a drawing group to boost our motivation to keep drawing (and improving at our art), and we have decided that we should assign ourselves to put out at least one drawing per week for others to see.

What they said.

As I have not been on social media (read: FB) much, I still very much keep the... assignment going, and I guess it's about time I put up what I have produced so far:

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Remembering MH17

As the nation mourns over the victims of the downed MH17 flight today, I ponder upon the fact that we have been going through some rough times lately. It truly is challenging time for us.

My thoughts goes out to them. Welcome home. 

Animangaki 2014: Scroll of Phantasm, and some other rambling

A long overdue post, but I feel like just giving some thoughts over the event and a little bit on the Touhou Project fanbase:

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Thoughts on MH17

It was when I was on pretty much a no-internet day that I received a message late at night from my dad, which reads:

MAS crashed near Ukrain believed shot at.

And the rest, shall we say, has come as a black history for the nation, following the yet unknown fate of flight MH370.

The Guardian 

There are a few things that I've come to realize or observe out of the whole incident, and I'll try to keep them short and concise:

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Kelantan trip, and the road to drawing

Five month later for another post on the Kelantan trip? The reason for the long gap is because I have only thought of some unexpected thing which the trip had given to me.

Now's a good time to talk about it, or it'll probably be forgotten altogether.

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Ramadhan

I love Ramadhan, despite how nonchalant I might appear to be regarding it.

I believe the spirit of Ramadhan isn't confined in mere abstaining from food and drink throughout the day, nor it is about the feast during the break of fast. To me, it's all about minimalism and purification; it's something which I would say rather spiritual. 'course, everyone else have their own way of celebrating it, but I feel it's really good to get back to basic and not fall to excess.

Have a good Ramadhan to those who're observing it.

To Laura

I had casually mentioned on the rather clear influence of Evanescence's Going Under on one metal arrangement of Plain Asia:

And feeling just like going on a trip through time, I went back and listened to the piece by Evanescence

when suddenly, bam, just like that. A trip down memory's lane.

I thought of a girl I had a crush on way back. And this was after, 4-6 years since I last saw her? (online, since it's really through a particular Pokemon message board (Pokemasters, not sure if they're still alive and kicking)) that we met. And if you ask me to this day, I can't say exactly what it was that made me just feel interested in her.

It seemed like a lifetime ago.

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Perth Trip 2014: Drawing side

A long overdue post, but way back in early May, our whole family went for a trip to the Land Down Under for one week. I had a little side project that I managed to work on: namely, to fill in a sketchbook on the trip.

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4 years of eating danmaku

Wow, it has been a while since we started with the whole series eh? Admittedly others were way into it much longer... but hey.

As has been with previous entries to commemorate the event, I owe it to CROW'SCLAW and a rather long dormant blog on instilling the interest for the series.

It began with these two

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[Drawing] 2hu Labor's Day

I drew these for Labor's Day: Servants and subordinates of Touhou, just taking it easy on their day off.

Perhaps Koakuma and Iku should be in there as well, but didn't really occur for me to put them there. The first piece was done on literally the 11th hour of 1st of May, with the second one drawn about... an hour after the first one is done?

I had fun drawing the part for Yoshika and Nazrin-Shou. Also, a bit of KanColle reference if you noticed haha (hint: Komachi)

From Touhou Project to Kantai Collection

There has been a lot of talk of Kantai Collection, with noticeable jump to the series from hardcore and true blue Touhou fans (present company included), that I feel the time is ripe to talk about this phenomena, in the midst of all the bad ship puns being cranked out now and then (by yours truly, who else?!).

Like so

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The Wind Rises

I have just watched The Wind Rises - a work that is tauted to be Miyazaki's last movie - and I've only realized that there are a few of his past movies which I didn't get to watch (Ponyo being the newer ones post-Princess Mononoke, with a bunch of older works, Graveyard Of The Fireflies being his notable work that I haven't watched yet)

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[Drawing] Don't need them seaplanes!

KanColle Spring Event 2014 started today, and seaplanes, recon planes and high LOS ships are what we seem to need. Amidst slow internet connection - and a bit of excitement over some of the new ships released - I had the idea to draw this.

Kiso must be biting back her words, what’s with the requirement for the event, heh.

And yeah, that’s a Type 0 Observation Seaplane if you were guessing what it was. Even managed to draw the fairy too haha. 

[Drawing] Shakinbanki

This is actually my first attempt at colouring digitally after a ... long, long time (not to say I've been extensively colouring digitally then: so this is something like trying out a new stuff for me). I’ve noticed these two can be represented well with the three basic colours, so I went with that.

The moment I saw Haruna I could immediately imagine her sitting side by side with Sekibanki (and maybe Vincent (Valentine) thrown in the mix somewhere - shoulda done that, heh); Kagerou and Youtaro/Kirishima are there just because.

I should try drawing a Kagerou/Kagerou one next... 

Seriously, why don't we see more pairing of these two? (something like this: the only other instance I could find them both...)

Show your work!

I'm reading  Austin Kleon's Show Your Work! (after I've just finished its companion, Steal Like An Artist): two books that I'm sure most people who're interested in creative works would appreciate.

Even before reading the books, I've come to realize that to show your works - despite it's crappiness, despite how you find it terrible to the work of others, despite not receiving much attention (we're talking about social media here) as you would expect - really take guts. It's gotten me to think, what have I been working on if I were to judge what they do?

(but of course, critiques and talk of improvement is another thing: at least they're doing something with their work).

This is something of a reminder for myself - I've pledged that I should put up my works, if I were really serious about the whole art stuff. It'd be good to view them over times too, instead of just sitting hidden elsewhere gathering dusts...

Day of birth: sketches

Albeit about a week ago. I was out in the field, with no internet access (plus the fact that my laptop had pretty much died...)

Well, better late than never they say. In place of social media (and internet), I've spend much of my time recently filling up my sketchbook with a lot of (nonsensical) sketches. Here's two of them off about my birthday:

Will be spamming more nonsense sketches in the future, heh.

MH370: Search And Rescue

As of the time of writing, it would be more than four days since the mysterious disappearance of the Malaysian airline flight MH370, with no news of the finding of the craft as of now.

'Mystery' seem the most fitting word to describe this sudden turn of event.

I was actually out on my field work when the news came, and as such have been away from internet (and in effect, social media) for some time. It is something of a good break for me, seeing as there's all those speculations, conjunctures, rumours, and just plain nonsense that some never fail to produce.

As I'm on a brief stay at home for the time being, I can see anxiousness and anticipation of others in keeping up with the news. God knows how the family of the flight passenger are going through. I am rather amazed at the amount of participation from other countries in the search and rescue for the aircraft. One would really hope that whatever the outcome is, that the extensive search for craft would result in its discovery very soon.

I got down and did a quick sketch on the participating search and rescue team. And yes, that small excerpt down there is from Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio's Savior of Song - I couldn't help but have the song play in my head whenever I see footage of search and rescue for the flight is carried out. It does seem fitting to put in that particular part in the sketch, mmhm.

Rather than speculations and  wild theories, I'm more interested in the large scale search and rescue between all the countries. My thoughts go to the SAR team, the flight passenger and crew, and all those affected by this turn of event.

Gundam Build Fighters

I'm glad I picked up the series: it's certainly enjoyable, despite me having no background in Gundam series (I suspect fans of the series will find this a real treat). Highly recommended to anyone looking for some shonen action.

I can relate the theme of creativity and interest in gunpla (generally speaking of picking up hobbies), something other people who dabble in art would be sure to acknowledge.


*Screenshots off episode 17, which I have just finished watching. Episode 6 also have a short scene similar to this, which really made me to hook on the series

...Ah what the heck, have this too

Don't blame, don't complain?

I know the more hardened cynic out there might take the message behind the short video, which is basically to count your blesssings and not forget that it's all part of God's plan, with a lot of, ahem, salt.

Without going too much into the religion or moral aspect of the video, I'd like to critique the video on how the 'complaints' are more towards the things which the more privileged people would have access to. 'Most of us live in life of incredible abundant' might hold true to those people, but for those with terrible socieoeconomic status, turbulent family, monstrous work place, unstable mental condition, different set of views which lead to their alienation from society... the message of the video might backfire for them.

Don't get me wrong, I think the video is pretty alright for certain people. But those who are in much less fortunate condition, it might even make them more cynical on life. In a bigger picture, the message is pretty unrealistic I think - although I will admit the part where we should be happy with our portion holds true. I can't help but feel the total message to be rather shallow? Especially with the band thing near the end - though some might find that refreshing?

Through time, I have learned that there's a lot of different people out there, and their condition are totally different - better or worse - than you are, that not everyone is going to respond to a message the same. I would thus consider myself a cynic after watching this. I don't know, how about you?


*This is rather strange for me to ramble all of a sudden, considering I had a relatively fine day after a fruitful discussion with my supervisor. I suppose it's my realistic and cynic side deciding to pop in for a short ride... 

Fossil of dinosaur found in Malaysia!

One of our old lecturer have talked of the search of dinosaur fossils here in Malaysia. I bet this news is something of a joy for him as well as all the other paleontologists here. Kinda dismayed at the lack of attention being given at this piece of news, but geology is a pretty dry and overlooked subject after all...

I'm glad the state government have the hindsight to protect the excavation site and not announced it immediately to the public: given our easily hyped public, imagine the rush created (and the destruction!) in search of more dinosaurs parts.


Anyway it's our department's lecturer right there! And I'm quite surprised to see one of my old coursemate name as part of the searching committee as well.

Now I'm curious what other dinosaur fossils that would be uncovered in the future.

Kelantan trip 2014

I've decided to take a bit of break from my thesis writing and head east to Kelantan. It was as much as just refreshing my system as it is to travel around for a bit. Thanks Ariff, family and co for having me.

Some pictures off the trip, with random notes and musing here and there. I'm not really cut out for traveloguing, but I try hehe.

There's always time for KanColle! 

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Getting back on doodling

I have brought two sketchbook lately to get myself to draw again, after my last active period during... 2010, would you look at that...

The reason I came up with this Pache doodle was because I stumbled upon my old drawings, and I noticed a lack of her (with more sketches on Yuuka and Mokou) - and I thought, well let's make up for that now.

No Shinki so far, that's something to add to the list later...

Structural Geology Mapping 2013-14

Last week I followed the second year students as they head down south to Pahang and Johor to carry out their Structural Geology Mapping, a subset of their second year Geological Fieldworks. Normally helming the group of lecturers would be my supervisor - who is currently on sabbatical - and so I was invited by one of the lecturer, seeing as I'm currently researching onto structural geology on a fault zone up north in Kedah...

Some more pictures off the trip below:

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How to play Kantai Collection

So are you raring to pick up the much-talked about browser game Kantai Collection - or maybe just curious - but have no clue how to do so? Or you've tried it, only to find it utterly confusing that you gave up?

Worry not, because this post will guide you through the steps - as well as the essential of playing the game!

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Foreground Eclipse: a look through their releases

I'm sure those who have been closely following this circle for a while have heard of their announcement to disband way back in August last year (!). With their last album released last Comiket, we haven't heard any final farewell announcement from their website - but through their subsequent announcements it seems the decision was final.

ADDENDUM: It is final.

Farewell.

With their latest album released, let's take a brief walk through their previous releases shall we?

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