Fennec

Finally, glad I did my 4th toy again. My talented sweet lovely client Denise Baldwin a.k.a. ODDimagination sent me 6" inches Munny toy. She said, 

" As far as what to do with the Munny, I truly meant what I said and you may create WHAT EVER your heart desires. If that is Babu and Abu that is great! If it is something else, that will be great too! If you want to experiment - go for it! Even if you need to cut holes in that munny or cut open his head (ha ha!). My truest joy will be in having a creation that is totally from you! " 

Awww, I was happily pleased that she respects my own imagination.

Before I started customizing Munny toy, I tried to search Denise's wonderful artworks on her Etsy shop and found her work, " Baby Fennec Fox ". This gave me a good idea and thought of myself, " I adore Fennec fox, I must create him for Denise! " I got inspired by Yakuza, which those beautiful detailed tattoos amazed me. Please see my wip photos in my previous blog entry. Honestly, I was so slow to customize Fennec toy. Because I was also busy in doing running errands, attending my friends' two wedding events and other busybee stuff.

After more weeks, it's done! " Fennec " is not my title so once he will be arrived, my client Denise will have a new name for him soon. Red ribbon from the local craft store and cruelty-free angora furs from Etsy shop are perfect for customizing Munny toy. I love it!

I think he's really good at posing / modeling. 

Love him so much, he's really quiet, positive, humble and brave.

I was also videotaping while working on Fennec toy! I filmed it with my trusty Panasonic Lumix GF1 camera, Voigtlander Cosina Nokton 50mm f/1.1, Lumix 20mm pancake, SLR Magic 26mm toy lens and my dad's old tall tripod. Unfortunately, I still haven't received Pico Flex Dolly from online store for more than 2months. Super disappointing... that's why I used my dad's old tripod asap. 

TAKE NOTE: my video might make you dizzy 'coz mostly I did " pan right " camera technique movement. There are few errors in two programs, iMovie and Garageband about audio / clips so my video is slow, wobbly and not smooth, it makes me disappointed. 

When I have time, I need to re-edit a new movie project for smoothening my Fennec video and learn how to use Adobe Premiere / Final Cut Pro. Anyway, SHOW TIME! Get popcorn and enjoy watching! DON'T FORGET TO USE HD (720p).

UPDATED: My friend Jean-Sébastien Monzani helped me to re-edit my wobbly video, which it looks clearer, smoother and much better! I have replaced my video with this revised one. Merci!

He already shipped yesterday. He can't wait to become a new family member of her owner Denise soon. Next time, I'll make one for myself so I won't be sad, hihi. Miss you so much, Fennec.

For my next commissioned Trikky toy, I don't think I'll videotape it because of my current busy art projects... maybe better next time. I'll post my Trikky toy and sculptural piece (fox + tiny kittens) for my client Edward once they will be done. See you guys next time!

QUESTIONS about customizing toy

Hello guys! How are you all doing? Hope all is well. I received many repeating same questions from my lovely fans. Here are my answers: 

 1. Where did you buy a Magic Sculpt clay? 
- I ordered MS clay from Ebay online shop but they delivered my orders to my relatives' location in States. Then my relatives went back to Philippines so they brought MS clays to me. Unfortunately, I think they don't have MS clay here in Philippines. They have Apoxie Sculpt, you can purchase it on The Sculpeyman Trading multiply store. Here's a link: http://thesculpeyman.multiply.com/ Remember, MS / Apoxie is a self-hardening clay, it doesn't need to bake. 


 2. Which one is better: MS or Apoxie? 
- MS and Apoxie are almost same. I used Apoxie for my first toy (Owl) in the beginning, it was really nice. For my personal opinion, I prefer MS because I love to smoothen the MS clay with water only. I don't like the way that Apoxie clay needs to smoothen with rubbing alcohol. MS is more sandable than Apoxie. Try to use Milliput. I heard that Milliput is just like MS. I never tried Sculpey, Fimo, Premo, polymer clay, wax clay and paper clay... maybe in time, I'll try these different clays. 

 3. Why don't you try Sculpey?
- Errr, I haven't tried Sculpey yet... Maybe in time. I must admit that I'm sometimes impatient, I don't want to wait for baking Sculpey in an oven... or boiling Sculpey clay in a pot longer. :) 


 4. How do you smooth the MS clay? 
- Sometimes I use water MS for smoothening. Or for avoiding rough surfaces or dimple-like in the toy surface, I use a sandpaper to scuff it. For thick rough unperfect clay, use 80 - 100 grit sandpaper. After this, change the grit then hit it with some 150.... then 220 or 250....and the last satin/silky feel, use 400/1000. You keep rubbing it with different grit sandpapers from roughness to smoothness. 

 5. What are your tools for customizing toy? 
- sculpting / carving tools, hairdryer, MS clay, aluminum foil, recycled things (for instance, wood, metal, paper, old pencils/sticks, etc.), sandpapers, Dremel rotary tool, Xacto knife, acrylics, colored pencils, gesso, wool or felt or fabric, glass, varnish spray (matte or gloss), more. 

 6. Can you share your techniques, tricks, tips and ideas about DIY custom toy? 
- Wish I could have free to answer these. But there are a list of complete FAQ stuff on Kidrobot forum, which I learned a lot. Here's a link, hope this helps you. http://forums.kidrobot.com/viewtopic.php?t=56606 Also, there are a *lot* of DIY custom toy tutorials on blogs, you can google them. Thanks to Internet, hehe! :)


 7. Did you already videotape your 4th custom toy? 
- Yes of course! You all will wait for my new toy video soon... I think my video might be short like 5 or 6 minutes. I'm currently filming while working on toy. See y'all soon! It's bedtime for me, goodnight!

Kingdom Carousel

ARRGGGGHHH! Flickr really annoys me. I don't understand why some Flickr images don't appear on my art blog entries. So annoying, what happened to Flickr??! Well don't worry guys, I'll fix them soon. 

Anyway, I received a late invitation from Gallery Nucleus for the wonderful group show, " The Animal Kingdom ". Remember about my black background? When I created my previous ACEO cards, I started using a new medium, Golden Black Gesso. I really loved it so much!

So I chose my medium, acrylic and black gesso on strathmore paper. It was quite easy to paint it fast before the deadline, hehe. Many people asked me if I could use masking fluid. Nope, I must admit that I never use masking fluid, really.

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Hello, 2013

After I posted my old blog entries about the years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012... 
I did my quick simple drawing on my hand again. 

Hello, 2013.
Hey you, highfive!

Oh, did you notice an old scar of my left index finger?

It was my cutting accident - my art cutter, haha.

Graphic Canon Volume 2

I'm super happy to contribute my Alice pieces to the graphic novel book, Graphic Canon Volume 2: from  "Kubla Khan" to the the Brontë Sisters to The Picture of Dorian Gray, edited by American editor and publisher Russ Kick.

" The Graphic Canon, Volume 2 gives us a visual cornucopia based on the wealth of literature from the 1800s. Several artists—including Maxon Crumb and Gris Grimly—present their versions of Edgar Allan Poe’s visions. The great American novel Huckleberry Finn is adapted uncensored for the first time, as Twain wrote it. The bad boys of Romanticism—Shelley, Keats, and Byron—are visualized here, and so are the Brontë sisters. We see both of Coleridge’s most famous poems: “Kubla Khan” and “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” (the latter by British comics legend Hunt Emerson). Philosophy and science are ably represented by ink versions of Nietzsche’sThus Spake Zarathustra and Darwin’s On the Origin of Species... " Click to read more on Graphic Canon wordpress.

Anyway, I received two books and wow, they are really thick! Great quality, 512 pages! I would like to share these pics with all of you.

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My Bitter Tears

While waiting for my clients' responses about commissions, I was doing my small drawing. I needed to do warm-up drawing exercises (nope, it's not like stick figures... for instance, smudge, shades, contour lines, scribbles, circles, etc.) Because I didn't draw / paint for more than three weeks. Before doodling, I tried to imagine my girl character when I listened to my all-the-time favorite song, "My Bitter Tears" by Smote. I recommend this splendid music Smote for all of you. Enjoy listening! (Thanks for sharing, Camy!)

Anyway, I used Staedtler mechanical pencil and kneaded eraser. I love doing spontaneous pencil techniques that makes me feel more motivated. See more detailed photos below.

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Audrey and Hal

I would like to thank you for purchasing my 101 ACEO pieces. They were all sold out... so wow, I never expect it. In the future, I'll definitely make more ACEO pieces again. And of course, next year I'll plan to make original graphite pieces for my next project, Innocent Girls III. Thank you so much for supporting!

By the way, I was excited to start working on my commissioned pieces for my client Audrey & her new hubby Hal (pilot and adventurer) in August 2012. She needed me to create new paintings for their new wedding. Awwww... She showed me some photo references of them, their adorable pets two girls Miskit (dog) and Midna (cat), beautiful horse Dakota, nature, adventure experiences & airplane. When Audrey contacted me about a commission, she was really drawn to my piece, Babu at the Torii. She is really into nature and green is definitely her favorite color. Since then, She has met Hal, and they have begun a family together. They are definite adventurers and she would really like a piece that reflects that and their little family.

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101 ACEO Cards

Last year, my original 50 ACEO cards were sold out.... And now, my fans and collectors requested to create more. I did 101 pieces, YEY! I wasn't tired of doing many cards because I love to improve my skills and learn a lot about colors, details and patterns. ACEO stands for Art Card Editions and Originals. These cards have one main rule - they are 2.5" x 3.5" inches, the size of a standard card. And collecting them is a great way to afford original artwork. 

Are you all ready?

*Mall shuffles cards and dances crazily*

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Gallery Nucleus interview with Mall

With her drawings and paintings on wood currently on display, artist May Ann Licudine shares about her characters Babu and Abu in this new interview. Check it out on Gallery Nucleus blog. 

( Thank you for interviewing me, Candace! )

ManilART Fair 2012

Hello guys! I arrived home from Manila. Anyway, I created my 3 pieces for ManilART Fair 2012, this is my first time to expose my art there.

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Bloom Arts Festival

The last time I got exhibited at the group show, "If I were a monster" in CubaoX Manila was in 2009. This past show was curated by Dex Fernandez. Over the past few years, many fans contacted me, " Miss Mall, when will you have future shows in Manila? " I told them, " Hello! Uhm, I haven't gotten any invitations from Manila-based gallery owners / curators yet. " They said, " Awww... Mall, we wish we could see your works in person, huhu. You have international shows at all times. " I know how they felt. That's what I was hoping for.

This 2012 year, I got contacted by Tof Zapanta, who created the biggest art show of the year, Bloom Arts Festival. He asked me if I'm interested in participating and I was like " Seriously? wow... Finally, my art will be going to expose to Manila again. " I felt quite happy & surprised and greatly thanked him! I'm so honored to be a part of this Bloom Arts Festival. Bloom, by definition, to support abundant growth into the achievement of a certain potential (unexpectedly, in remarkable quantity or degree) / a state or time of great activity or achievement, and with that we focused this year’s Bloom event (launch) on one of the significant places where the slow bloom of contemporary art and design was nourished, Cubao X.

Anyway, I created 3 graphite drawings. Wish I could add more details to two of my pieces, "La Niña" and "Melodía". But I was way too rushed to finish these drawings before creating another few pieces for Manila Art Fair. My style got a bit improved & different so I'm happy again, woohoo! I got inspired by Filipiniana traditional fabric and laces.

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Forest Carousel

I'm always happy & blessed that Gallery Nucleus keeps supporting my art since 2008 (wow, 4 years now!). Wade (co-owner of Gallery Nucleus) contacted me about the duo exhibit show with the amazing illustrator/comic artist Becky Dreistadt, I became overly thrilled & overjoyed and I said, "YES!" 

TAKE NOTE: The colors of the preview images on Gallery Nucleus online shop look so different. It's better & clearer to see these photos here. Anyway, enjoy viewing these numerous images below. I created my graphite drawings on paper. Gosh, I can't remember the measurement. I guess it's 9" x 12" inches each drawing.

SOLD

SOLD

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

Then I created colored paintings.

" Babu's Nagasaki Festival "

Acrylic & Colored Pencil on Wood

15" x 20" inches

SOLD

" Halt! "

Acrylic & Colored Pencil on Wood

15" x 20" inches

AVAILABLE

" Toro Nagashi "

Acrylic & Colored Pencil on Wood

15" x 20" inches

AVAILABLE

" Mind Game "

Acrylic & Colored Pencil on Wood

15" x 20" inches

SOLD

" Harum - Scarum Woods "

12.75" x 10" inches

Acrylic, Colored Pencil & Graphite on Wood

SOLD

" Sweet Hypnosis "

12" x 9.75" inches

Acrylic, Colored Pencil & Graphite on Wood

SOLD

" Old Times "

10.5" x 10" inches

Acrylic & Colored Pencil on Wood

AVAILABLE

" Night Out Walk "

11" x 9.75" inches

Acrylic & Colored Pencil on Wood

AVAILABLE

" Escape "

Acrylic & Colored Pencil on Paper

10" x 14" inches

SOLD

" Fly, Fly Away "

Acrylic & Colored Pencil on Paper

10" x 14" inches

AVAILABLE

" Never Forget "

Mixed Media Sculpture

9.5" x 5.5" inches

SOLD

" Fukurou "

Mixed Media Sculpture

8" x 8" inches

SOLD

See more details.

FUN FACT: This fish clay which I made, it is "movable" so you can swing it with your finger gently. I got inspired by Studio Ghibli figurines that's why I love doing sculptures. I'll definitely do more in the future.

Whew! You can see the prices and availability on their Gallery Nucleus online shop. I got my two exclusive prints, "Babu's Nagasaki Festival" and "Toro Nagashi". It's USD$30 each. Check more works of Becky Dreistadt and Chris Appelhans out!