"In the times in which we live it is far too restricting to say that art can only be found in art galleries and not touch people's everyday lives.. I want to use any means that are necessary to communicate to people what I feel about things. There are no rules. And if there are rules, then you may as well break them." Ken Done
Yesterday, I had the pleasure to collaborate and jam with two artists, Tessar Lo and Harvey Chan. We worked on several large pieces, talking art while experimenting and just having fun, over lots of tears from laughing.
Also had the chance to check out Tessar's new studio, he has just posted photos of his place as well over on his blog.
Here are some photos of the day.
"I do not know myself how I paint it. I sit down with a white board before the spot that strikes me. I look at what is before my eyes, and say to myself, that white board must become something."
- Vincent van Gogh
You're travelling through another dimension. A dimension, not only of sight and sound, but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination. Next stop, the Twilight Zone!
Here is a painting I recently finished for the Twilight Zone Tribute show at Gallery 1988 called 'Another Dimension'.
*Click to view full image
Title: To Serve Man
Size: 16'' x 20''
Medium: acrylic on watercolor paper
*Click to view full image
Size: 11'' x 14''
Medium: graphite on stonehenge paper
This piece is inspired by the feeling and mood of this series, 'The Twilight Zone'. I'll leave the rest for your interpretation..
The opening reception is tomorrow, Thursday May 20th, 7-10pm
For other details, here is the show image:
*Click to view full image
Here is the episode I was inspired by:
Me and my friend T will be guest speaking tonight at Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts today for their Digital Media Night.
We will talk about the use of digital media and how it has influenced the creation process in the art industry.
Another thing is, we will be launching the first official LIVE streaming show after midnight tonight.
The exact time is: Wednesday May 19th, 2010 at 2 am EDT, 11pm PDT
We are planning for a second stream this coming Friday and that will happen earlier for East Coast people. To find out more please visit Sketchoholic.
Here is a little more progress on the piece...
*Click to view full image
*Click to view full image
Been juggling between commercial work and personal work a lot lately, as busy as it may be, it has been a lot of fun. Here is a little something that I'm working on for an upcoming group show at Gallery 1988 Los Angeles. I will have this drawing as well as a finished painting in the show.
More to come in the upcoming days. 
*Click to view full image
For any illustrators and art enthusiasts out there who are into building an art/illustration book collection, this is for you.
3x3 Mag, is doing a storage clearance to make room for their new books in the future.
This is a great illustration magazine and annual. You can get any issues or multiple issues for FREE. This includes their annuals as well.. the only thing you gotta do is pay for the shipping.
The offer ends May 14 or until their magazines run out, then prices will go back to $15 each.
Hope you're all enjoying spring so far, its been really nice here in Toronto lately.
I've been extremely busy the last month but finally here is a sneak peak of the beginning stages of something I am currently working on for a show on May 18 at Gallery 1988 Los Angeles
Little teaser Gallery 1988 posted up on their blog recently..
Also been finishing up on a book project that I've been working on with my friend Kei Acedera that will soon announce.
more info to come soon...
About 2 years ago, I found this nice piece of wooden board while I was on my trip to Japan. Something I like to do is to always keep an eye out on new objects to paint on...guitars, skateboards, vinyls, antique old book covers, etc.
This past Friday I found some time to finally paint with oil paint again. A painting study of a portrait for fun, wanted to focus on tones.
I was uploading images on Twitter during the night of #FridayNightArtDorks (a group for artists to share art on friday nights) Here are the images throughout the night, documenting my process so far. Next step would be to start the color stage.
Hey everyone, a bit more than a year ago, Jason Seiler, Thierry 'T-Bear' LaFontaine and I had the pleasure to assist lead designers Bobby Chiu and Kei Acedera on some concept art for Alice in Wonderland by Tim Burton. Now the film is finally coming out!! To see some of the production art already released, you can visit here.
My friends here at Imaginism Studios - Bobby Chiu and Kei Acedera will be having their first big show in Paris, France at Arludik Gallery this coming Thursday, March 4th 2010. It will be an awesome show, through the past few months i've had the pleasure to see them work on these images for the show and they look AMAZING. If you are in the area please go out to see this show!! In this show there will be over 30 pieces of original art for sale and another 20 pieces or so of production art on display. Another awesome lead designer Michael Kutsche will also have some of his production art on display in the gallery!
Here is an interesting video for aspiring artists interested in the Fine Arts industry. Its also a great inspiration to any artist about believing in what you do. This is a documentary video about the struggles of a group of artists in china where an art market didn't exist when they started to create art. Through their struggles, they eventually become successful fine artists, selling paintings for extremely high prices in the international fine art scene. They did what they love even in a society with a lack of appreciation for arts and education at a time.
New drawings from the subway.
More to come soon. Working on a few new pieces.
Today is a day to think about what has happened this year and what we've learned and experienced from 2009.
2009 was an awesome year full of great people, memories, and laughters. Lots of travelling happened this year and it looks like that'll be coming back in 2010. I've learned a lot this year.
One of the most memorable moments must have been the passing of my grandmother. I've known her for so many years and it was tough for me and everyone else to see her leave us. This really made me re-evaluate life in general. You just never know, when things in life might change, for better or worse. Appreciate these moments that you live for, and love them even more. Call those friends you haven't talked to for weeks, months, years. Keep in touch.
2010 is looking to be an exciting one. It will take a lot of hard work and energy to continue the road to my dreams and the ultimate goal - complete happiness.
Thank you everyone for all the support and sharing a bit of you. I'm looking forward to many more great moments in 2010. Thanks for reading and commenting here on the blog. I'm excited to share new work in 2010 as well as seeing new ones from you.
Take care everyone and have a Happy New Year!
PS. JUMP more on New Years Eve! :)
Happy New Year! from Happy Garaje on Vimeo.
This is nice. Check it.
LXD "Choices" Teaser from Jon M. Chu on Vimeo.
LXD "Moments" Trailer from Jon M. Chu on Vimeo.
Not too long ago, I had the pleasure to jam with two creative talents, Tessar Lo and Erika Danusasmita to experiment with a bunch of media. A night dedicated to good music, drinks and paint.
Its nice to draw and paint to bring out the inner child for a night. Enjoying the process and not worrying about the results.
Here are some photos. Courtesy of Mr. Lo
One of my last few Limited Edition Giclee (of 10) print 'Beenoculars' will be part of the 'Lunch Bunch' Print auction starting tomorrow organized by Ana Bagayan. 
100% of all proceeds will go towards Lunch Bunch meals! 
What Lunch Bunch is about >> Feeding L.A.'s Homeless
Lunch Bunch consists of two friends that get together once a week to create home-made meal packages to pass out to the homeless of Los Angeles
Artist's prints/artwork in this auction will include Amy Sol, Gary Baseman, Chet Zar, Tim Biskup, Glenn Barr, Amanda Visell, Jeremiah Ketner, Jeremy Berkley, Shannon Bonatakis, Liz McGrath & Morgan Slade, Fang Ling Lee, Peter Chan, Dominique Fung, Natalie Shau, John Zaso, N.C. Winters, Jeannie Lynn Paske, Christopher Umana, and more!
Thanks for putting this all together Ana!
