it's part of the growth.

 

WIP: "The Nice List"

 

Am I the only one saying, "NOW it's time to listen to Christmas music"? 😛

I think these lyrics are so cute and I’ve been trying to make an animatic of it ever since I have heard this song! Maybe one day I'll make a full vid with the whole song 😊

I wanted to title this as something funny, but it now has a deeper meaning than I expected

 

I made this doodle yesterday, and then tonight I came from bible study that reminded me of this doodle ... but not really in a good way.

At tonight's study, we went through Luke 17:11-19 about the ten lepers Jesus healed—however, only one out of the ten lepers came back to give thanks to Him. As we observed the text, we see how the other nine lepers, though they claimed to want to follow Jesus, really wanted the gift more. Being healed and accepted back into society was what they truly wanted, as good as that as, but they wanted it more than the actual Giver Himself.

Someone also mentioned as they look back on their prayer life and how God blesses them by giving them what they want, and how easy it is for them to indulge in the gift rather than giving praise to the One who gave the gift.

And I felt that.

latepost, Inktober 2021

 

Inktober 2021

It's been a while since I last posted, but I'm happy to say that I've completed my first Inktober!!! :)

Day 3: Vessel

The past couple of months have been crazy: having back to back vacations, adjusting to serving on Friday's, preparing my sister's baby shower, and trying to remember what it feels like working full-time hours again (yeup, got a new job two weeks ago!).

Day 21: Fuzzy

Aside from all the busyness, I was really trying to push through doing Inktober. I've always wanted to do it, but was never able to stay committed. I didn't really follow the prompt list, but I enjoyed doing a doodle almost every day—helps me stay motivated/inspired to make doodles again, and also reminded me of the homework I used to get.

Day 24: Extinct

Check out the rest of my Inktober doodles on my Tumblr!

(but be warned, I have gotten rusty lol)

more BB23 ... surprisingly

 

If you've read my previous post, I've been keeping up to date with Big Brother—especially this season. During this week, one of my favorites was nominated to be evicted out of the BB house. Earlier tonight, they just showed that another favorite of mines (that I mentioned in my previous post) was put up as a replacement nominee. It makes me so sad to see them sit side-by-side as I know that one of them will not make it to at least final five. :(

Derek Xiao and Claire Rehfuss clothing reference

I had so much fun with the first Craig Bartlett mock-up that I wanted to do it again this pair! Although Claire is nothing like Helga in the cartoon series, I wanted her features to be like Helga since her best friend is Phoebe with the fact that Derek X. and Claire have been spending so much time together in the house. I can't remember if Claire is taller than DX, but I wanted to also emphasize how tall she is. Not gonna lie, I kinda rushed on this one so it may not look as clean.

But if DX leaves tomorrow, Idk if I can continue with the series lol

"Piggyback" comic

inspo

and Happy Friday the 13th! lol

BB23

I must admit: I watch Big Brother.

I don't watch it all the time, but I have seen about thirteen seasons—and for a while, this season is going well for me so far.

There's actually a lot of players I like (surprisingly), but I really enjoy seeing Derek X. and Hannah on screen hehe. They're not officially a showmance or anything like that (at least to this day), but—coming from someone who's watched this show for over a decade—I have never seen or shipped so hard a cuter pair. <33333

Hannah Chaddha and Derek Xiao photo reference

I don't know why, but seeing them together gave me some Gerald and Phoebe vibes from Hey Arnold!, which inspired me to make a Craig Bartlett mock-up. Hopefully they would even know what that show is lol, but I wish the best for them and hope they go far!

random "Fake Happy" doodle

 

OH PLEASE~

"i wasn't enough for you"

It's been a hard week.

still jammin to this

Over those hills

I bet you're somewhere dreaming

walls

 

“Building up walls” is a metaphor for emotionally putting up barriers to keep oneself from getting hurt and to keep others at arms length. In this case, she compares her estranged lovers supposed “walls” to the entire “house” she has metaphorically built up in order to say her defenses stand stronger. Perhaps through the trials in this relationship she feels as if she’s been forced to build up an impenetrable “house” to protect her emotions. (via source)

my favorite place is open again!

 

On March 14, 2020, Disneyland closed due to the coronavirus outbreak and ever since then I've been waiting to go back!!! My family and I were planning to go in September for my birthday last year—so that was kinda a sad birthday lol.

My inspo for this doodle was pushing my 1-year-old niece in her Little Tikes car some time last year in June. As I pushed her, I was singing "It's a Small World After All" and she loved it (despite the fact she hasn't even seen the real thing yet). I got tired of singing so I started playing the music for a good 15 minutes, and she was pretty upset after I stopped. I also thought of Mary Blair and wanted to try something similar to her style.

"Actress"

 

Jean Seberg, November 13, 1938–August 30, 1979

Laurie Bird, September 26, 1952–June 15, 1979

Marilyn Monroe, June 1, 1926–August 4, 1962

Hide my pain, I can never admit

That I'm sick of all this

It's easier to be an actress

It's been a while since I picked up my sketchbook!! I started a new job at the beginning of this month and it's been super chill (right now). I've been wanting to sketch some portraits, so I figured I should make use of the free time that I have :)

I've never listened to Tori Kelly, but I heard a song play in Old Navy during the holidays back in 2019 and I was really digging it! Looked up the lyrics on Google and it was "Actress" by Tori Kelly. Since then, I've been listening to it as well as the whole Inspired by True Events album.

One day as I was listening to the track, I had this urge of creating portraits of actresses who were suicidal (yeah, I know that's pretty dark). But with the simple instruments that intertwine with Kelly's voice, "Actress" carries a wistfulness message that I wanted to capture in the portraits. My latest obsession has been washi tape and I wanted to incorporate it in the portraits, contrasting it with watercolor pencils. It was my first attempt using watercolor, so please excuse the mugginess in them lol.

"Over Those Hills"

been playing with After Effects with my new fave jam for the year so far

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Wanted to try the ink splatter transitions in After Effects feat. a design I might sell for my church's craft faire ... but we'll see how it goes 😬 hope you all have a wonderful day with your loved ones!

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:
while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8

26, the Golden Year

don't let it go for nobody

I was told that your golden year is when you turn the same age as your birthdate. And honestly, I only found that out like seven years ago. Turning 26 was my golden year ... but it felt more alarming than what I anticipated on lol.

I've had this idea of a doodle of myself looking back at myself when I was younger. Sometimes I think what would 17-year-old me think of me now? Or what would I—if I even had the chance—tell myself ten years ago? Sounds pretty vain to be thinking about, and ultimately it's God who keeps me accountable, but it's a thought that comes and goes through my mind.

Here’s to the beginning of 27.

TAKE HEART

It's been a while. COVID is still around and I got a new job so I haven't really been sketching things as much :( but I'm trying to pick that up again!

I saw this quote on Tumblr a month ago—"Make it your ambition to take heart" from Rainer Maria Rilke. Not sure why, but I wanted to make a Rugrats title card for it. I also wanted to make my own backgrounds, but why not use an actual rugrats' drawing? My niece got into coloring during quarantine and loves it, so I used her drawings hehe.

Honestly I don't know who Rainer is, but I love this quote from a biblical perspective. On their way to Gethsemane, Jesus focused His ministry to His disciples before He was arrested. He said,

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."
(John 16:33 ESV, emphasis added)

Also, fun fact, I found out today was the release date for Rugrats 29 years ago!

"Jesus wept."

"The Greek word here has the connotation of silently bursting into tears in contrast to the loud lament of the group (John 11:33).

"His tears here were not generated out of mourning, since he was to raise Lazarus, but out of grief for a fallen world entangled in sin-caused sorrow and death.

"He was 'a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief' (Isaiah 53:3)."

—John MacArthur, ESV MacArthur Study Bible

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens,

Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a

high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in

every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with

confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and

find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:14-16

"I will not compare other beauty to mine."

I wouldn't really call myself a "huge Paramore fan," but for someone who has been following up on them since my freshman year of 2007, Hayley's solo album Petals for Armor was released today!

I've listened to most of the songs, and so far I like what I hear—but it is very deep and very personal as it talks about her depression and her divorce. If you've liked Paramore's latest album, After Laughter, you can vibe out to this album as they share some similar music vibes, but you can also get a sense of her own style she's put into it.

One of my personal favorites is "Roses/Lotus/Violet/Iris," which inspired me to finally do some flower studies. They're still pretty rough, but I love the meaning of how we all grow together but differently, displaying our own kind of beauty.

 

 

(Fun fact: the purple flower was grown from my mom's garden)

my fave song during quarantine ... so far

I believe it was April 1st when I discovered this song and even up to now, I still jam to it as if it was the first time I've heard it. So after listening to it so much, I was inspired to create a (second) Lukanette drawing. I'll set the mood:

Marinette and everyone from Kitty Section are hanging out at a café and it’s open mic. Marinette highly encourages Luka to perform the song that’s been stuck in his head (if ya know what I mean lolol), but he’s hesitant. Marinette then gets their friends to encourage him to perform. Luka is still skeptical, but when Marinette asks him, he shrugs it off and gets on stage to perform. So his song goes something like this …

"Bags" by Clairo

(and yes, specifically THIS version!!)

Bonus sketch: