Whenever, whatever.

so...

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:24:15 GMT

finally got a job. Concept artist/Visualizer or rather, Visual Illusionist, from what my boss calls it. and Knowledge Enhancer, as for my other part time job. haha.

my ring finger and pinky on my left hand is numb. numb. try to type with 8 fingers. hard i tell you. could be carpal tunnel, could be something else.

met alan quah and muid latif on saturday. awesome peoples, awesome pub, awesome turnout. wish i could go for that more.

will post more later. ciao.

Ambivelence.

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 06:08:02 GMT

Feeling a bit down today, while processing the graduation pics. Damn, i miss you guys lots. Its unfair for me to single out who's who. I wish that i could go back to US, but i'm already here. I got responsibility and all that, to my family, students and people around me. Nevermind, one day. One day.

just for the lulz

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:29:50 GMT

I thought i wanna share it with you guys.

Words of Wisdom

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 22:07:28 GMT

copypasta from http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2008/05/what-you-cant-help-doing.html. Neil Gaiman (Sandman) wrote this.

To quote one of your other fans, “I have a question for you about writing”. I find that my own writing will echo the style of which ever author I am currently reading. Any idea how I might get around constantly mimicking others?

You write more.

I don't think there's anything wrong with copying other people's styles -- it's a skill you'll need, after all. Many actors begin as mimics. You don't worry about it, and keep writing, and after a while you'll have written enough that you can't help sounding like yourself, whether you want to or not.

Style is what you get wrong, that makes what you do sound like you. Style is what you can't help doing. Style is what you're left with.

(I just googled "style is what you can't help doing" because it sounded half-familiar, and I wondered who said it originally, and discovered that it may actually have been me, as I found myself looking at an extract from a speech I gave to an audience of comics artists and writers in 1997 at ProCon in Oakland:

We are creators. When we begin, separately or together, there’s a blank piece of paper. When we are done, we are giving people dreams and magic and journeys into minds and lives that they have never lived. And we must not forget that.

I don’t want to sound like an inspirational speaker here. "Be you." "Be the best you that you can be." But this is really important. It’s something that we mostly lose track of when we starts, because when we start in comics we’re kids, and we have no idea who we are or what our voices are, as artists or as writers.

Young artists want to be Rob Leifeld, or Bernie Wrightson, or Frank Miller, just as young writers want to be Alan Moore, or Chris Claremont or, well, Frank Miller. You’ve seen their portfolios. You’ve read the scripts.

We all swipe when we start. We trace, we copy, we emulate. But the most important thing is to get to the place where you’re telling your own stories, painting your own pictures, doing the stuff that one-one else could have done, but you. Dave McKean, when he was much younger, as a recent art-school graduate, took his portfolio to New York, and showed it to the head of an advertising agency. The guy looked at one of Dave’s paintings—"That’s a really good Bob Peake," he said. "But why would you I want to hire you? If I have something I want done like that, I phone Bob Peake."

You may be able to draw kind of like Rob Leifeld, but the day may come, may have already come, when no-one wants a bargain basement Rob Leifeld clone any more. Learn to draw like you. And as a writer, or as a storyteller, try to tell the stories that only you can tell. Try to tell the stories that you cannot help but tell, the stories you would be telling yourself if you had no audience to listen. The ones that reveal a little too much about you to the world. It’s the point I think of writing as walking naked down the street: it has nothing to do with style, or with genre, it has to do with honesty. Honesty to yourself and to whatever you’re doing.

Don’t worry about trying to develop a style. Style is what you can’t help doing. If you write enough, you draw enough, you’ll have a style, whether you want it or not. Don’t worry about whether you’re "commercial". Tell your own stories, draw your own pictures. Let other people follow you.

If you believe in it, do it. If there’s a comic or a project you’ve always wanted to do, go out there and give it a try. If you fail, you’ll have given it a shot. If you succeed, then you succeeded with what you wanted to do.

meme time~

Sat, 31 Jan 2009 05:56:06 GMT

MEME TIME from </a>futomimi

01. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me!"
02. I'll respond by asking you five questions of my choosing.
03. Post the questions and their answers in your journal.
04. Include this explanation and an offer to interview someone.
05. When others comment asking to be interviewed, ask them five questions.

1. When did you start drawing seriously?
hmm.... to be honest, i seriously consider it when i was Form 3, i guess. At first, its more like a hobby, then habit, then... it goes downhill from there.

2. What do you like about our home country? :D
The weather, food and 24 hours mamaks. You can never get those anywhere else.

3. Can you cook? If so, what do you like cooking?
I used to cook before i came here. So that means yes? (i can make an awesome chinese fried rice and spaghetti meatballs, i have the materials.)

4. Do you enjoy sports?
Yep. One of the things i enjoyed most, before i tore my left knee ligament, 10 years ago. I played football/futsal, pool, bowling, badminton, swimming, rollerblading/rollerhockey, and recently, snowboarding.

5. If there was one thing you could have right now, it would be?
Right now? uhm. Most probably a chance for me to break into comic industry. Thats definitely the hardest thing to get if you're a comic artist, it seems.

Thats all for now. Things are getting bit complicated on my side at the moment, hopefully it will clears up as time goes on. Life never fails to surprise, and to depress me at the same time.

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:04:55 GMT

I got this in the mail from my teacher.

"Thought you all might like to know there will be an opening for an exhibit of artist James Jean on Saturday January 10th."

Details
James Jean
Kindling: New Works on Paper and Canvas
Jan 10 thru Feb 7 2009
Opening reception Saturday January 10th 6pm - 9pm
JONATHAN LeVINE GALLERY
259 West 20th Street, 9E
New York, NY 10011
212 243-3822

the gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday, 11am to 6pm
for more info: info@jonathanlevinegallery.com

I think the school gonna make a field trip to that place. its gonna be awesome.

ridiculous

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 20:17:09 GMT

hay there.

Life can be abit absurd at times. Like just now.

this what happened. Dont mind the shaky camera. I ran out of cigarettes.

i bought a Jo-chen poster from a friend at school. Normal ones that Udon Comics put out.

But look! Apparently its limited. number 263 out of 500 copies. Nice. not to mention that she signed it with silver ink. Thats awesome.

Oh, and another thing.

Life is absurd, im sure.

When it rains, it pours.

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 03:43:49 GMT

Friggin hell.

To be honest, even i cant believe my luck (or hard work). Barely a day since the semester starts, i got 3 pencilling job offers. I mean, sure. i'm excited but seriously, let me finish my school first before i can work on something else. Why the hell i couldnt get jobs during summer break? Why now, of all times.

Im not complaining, just that the timing wasnt right. wasnt right at all.

I guess i'll see how things goes from here. If the stories of horror is true, then i'll have to make some sacrifices i guess. *sigh*

Sample pages ^^

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 02:54:24 GMT

I've been very busy recently, juggling these pages and assignments at one time, not to mention other scripts that coming in during summer break. oh dear. nonetheless, here it is.

Things like this definately look better on paper. the scanning doesnt do justice, really.

oh, did i mention that i got sample scripts from Marvel? looks like i wont have sleep anytime soon.

moo.

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 22:06:59 GMT

My Personality


Neuroticism	35
Extraversion	46
Openness to Experience	29
Agreeableness	15
Conscientiousness	73

You do not experience strong, irresistible cravings and consequently do not find yourself tempted to overindulge, however you are sensitive about what others think of you. Your concern about rejection and ridicule cause you to feel shy and uncomfortable around others. You are easily embarrassed and often feel ashamed. Your fears that others will criticize or make fun of you are exaggerated and unrealistic, but your awkwardness and discomfort may make these fears a self-fulfilling prophecy. You tend to feel overwhelmed by, and therefore actively avoid, large crowds. You often need privacy and time for yourself. You prefer facts over fantasy and are more interested in what is happening in the real word. You do not enjoy confrontation, but you will stand up for yourself or push your point if you feel it is important, however you feel superior to those around you and sometimes tend to be seen as arrogant by other people. You take your time when making decisions and will deliberate on all the possible consequences and alternatives.

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:32:33 GMT

Holy shit. Keii-san post a meme. Thats something :o

List 10 fictional characters you wouldn't kick out of bed (in no particular order) ~~and tag five people to do the same..~~

yea right? Lets move on.

1. Belldandy. (ah my goddess). - That goes without saying, really. its more spiritual then erotic, if you ask me. haha
2. Saber (FateStay/Night) - 'I'm your sword, you're my sheath'. Hmm. i suppose its the other way around....
3. Soryuu Asuka Langley. (NGE) - Fiery.
4. Ayakashi Moka (Rosario Vampire) - AH~ Moka-chan~ you can bite me anytime~
5. Kagami Hiiragi (Lucky Star) - Kagamiiinnn~~
6. Mint Adnade (Tales of Phantasia) - Ah~ *melts*
7. Deedlit (Record of Lodoss Wars) - mmm.
8. Aeka (Tenchi Muyo) - Jurai princess is rumored to be rough. I dont mind that XDD;;
9. Tear Grants (Tales of the Abyss) - Theres more than meets the eye >D
10. Iori Yoshizuki (I"S) - So normal, yet so perfect. I wonder.

Wow. Its so hard to come up with the list. I had to dig up all the references and some i totally forgotten. haha

New York Anime Festival update

Sun, 09 Dec 2007 05:32:19 GMT

'Believe in yourself, and things will be wee bit easier for you"
- Josh Elder, winner of TokyoPop's Rising Stars Manga competition 2007,

Alhamdulillah, everything went well, even though there's some minor glitches that cant be avoided. Let me go over how its been before i forget everything. ^^;

The alarm goes off at 7 am, before i knew it, i went back to bed and woke up at 7.30.(oh well, things happen, right?) get prepared, then i walked to the train station even though last night was snowing, so coldness is expected. Got there pretty late, since i misjudged the distance between my house and the train station, so had to take the 8.30 train instead.

Let me cut to the chase here. i know you people not gonna like reading all these little details here, kay?

The place isnt that huge, compared to what i've seen in NYCC last march, and not to mention they took the smaller hall. Since this is their first year doing it, so i give them some kind of leeway of determining whether its good or not. They have screening rooms(live actions, AMV and MTV, sneak peeks, and such), game rooms, rooms for autographs (Kobun Shizuno, the co-director of Eva 1.0 is there, i heard that Takehiko Inoue is there as well on friday, which i didnt go), Dealers and Artists Booth, as usual.

Went around showing my Portfolio around as i intend to be, much to my suprise that i got pretty good reviews. especially from DarkHorse. I got lucky since the person i approached is an editor, so i'll follow up for on that in couple of days time. Met more artists and editors which they asked me show them more stuff that i did, but hey, thats not a problem at all. (XD) Massive praises and comments like "what are you doing here? Get it published!" or something across the line. ^^;;

sorry man, i still consider that i have LONG way to go. seriously.

Got chewed off from Udon Comics, which i dont really care as much (flip,flip,flip, good work, thanks. That kind of thing), aspiring critics and nudging me tp enter Rising Stars Competition (more like forcing it down me throat) from Tokyopop and before that...

/me takes a deep breath

KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA~ i met JO-CHEN~ KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA~

jo-chen looks VERY surprised when i mentioned about her artbooks, which did went back to fetch her books and showed the audience. Fun, right? haha. I dont fanboys over things very much, but this is an exception. She's very nice person to talk to and pleasing to the eye. ahhh....life.

All of that, fanboys and fangirls still irks me the most. Thats why it reminds me ALOT of ComicFiesta. Kids in their costumes running around shouting and screaming, yaoi actions and all of other nonsense. Somehow i prefer 'normal' Cons like NYCC in march. oh well. i cant have everything, can i? BUT, who am i to complain? Somethings are good liek:

SimonxKamina

2 Kaminas and Simon

Phoenix Wright cosplayers

someone drew Voltron on the floor. Its coo'

Too much to think right now, contemplating over options given and new avenues that i can go, since new doors opened up to me. Lets see how things move on from here. I'm glad that i have this chance to make things as i wanted them to be, and work towards it. There's nothing more satisfying than that.

Time flew...

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 04:08:05 GMT

oh yeah. another update, just to say that i'm still around.

or something like that. ha~

Things doing allright over here, although there's some bumps and jumps that i have to go through. Its not fun when things are out of your power to do anything about it, except to put faith and belief in it. Getting older earlier this month, before i know it. I'll try not to put too much emphasis on it. :|

New York Anime Con is coming up just before the Xmas break, which most likely that i'll be going. Showing stuff around is a good way to get jobs, IMO. but oh well, thats gonna be a while anyway. Thanksgiving break is almost done, since tommorow i'm gonna start class again. It snows couple of days back, but still no snow even though the temp is around -4 degrees even during daytime. I swear it wasnt like this last year. Locals said that this is gonna be the harshest winter in 10 years. Who knows, i might have blizzard anytime soon. whee.

Talking about that, and snapping pictures, i left my digicam when i travelled here, so dont expect any kind of pictures anytime soon, unless i can borrow someone else's to camwhore. haha. Not to mention i left my drawing tablet too. stupid me.

Yeah, i got some stuff online, which i think some of you have seen it. Mostly stuff for people, and dA, nothing more than that. I can only scan stuff at school, which before or after class. Nifty.

HB pencils all the way. Sketched this in my book and scanned it up. Looks good to me :)

I kinda enjoyed working on this one. Took me a LONG while though, since i stopped working on it as soon as assignments starts to pour in. I managed to get it done, which i think its all right.

Best screenshot ever. Its from Hayate No Gotoku.

Well, thats all from me now. Its not that much, but yeah, i'm doing ok here. Trying my best to be better in what i do, and want to do. Things like that goes a long way, i suppose.

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 02:30:58 GMT

haha. >D

Verizon 20mbps Fiber Optics for yah.

Cops who obviously have nothing to do.

Tue, 10 Apr 2007 23:44:32 GMT

this happened few minutes earlier, as i was doing my work. Sirens wailing and i thought another ambulance passed by. God, i'm wrong.
12 (yes, twelve) cop cars were chasing this dude on a motorbike from the highway to this dreary town. As i got out, (hey, i'm a malaysian, you know. Always wanted to see things) voila! A fiesta.

All the way here just for one dude speeding. I wish malaysian cops are like this XD

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 02:00:30 GMT

The movie 300 is made of AWESOME and WIN. trust me.

of nerds and geeks: New York Comic Con 07 report.

Mon, 26 Feb 2007 21:22:50 GMT

*cracks knuckles*

hmm...where should i start this...

We headed out kinda early that day, waking up at 7 and rushing out to the train station at 7.30 to catch the 8.15 train (its a good 30-45 minutes walk! but we got there early since we're all walking REALLY fast). Managed to get a bit of shuteye while sitting on the train, looking at this while Ian and Tom snoring away rather loudly( the person taking pictures still dont wanna get his pictures taken, although you can make out the silhouette on the mirror behind Tom). At one of the stations, a women fell off the stairs due to her rushing to the train, i went @__@ as she flips and twirls during her descent. She could win an Olympic medal for that. seriously. But she's allright, though. bit of sore butt and scrapes on her knee, thats all.

As we got the NY Penn Station, Tom took point and leads us to Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, where the Con is held. And so, he made us walk the whole block before going the right way, not to mention "whoops wrong way, guys" notations now and then. I think Heal is better than him in terms of pathfinding, slightly. One thing to mention, though: Its scheduled to snow that day and we're walking about 2 miles from the station to the hall, and temperature is around -8 and strong winds blowing in your face. By the time we got there, i cant feel my face and i'm drooling without noticing because my frozen lips. IT SUCKS >"< (who said winter was fun, anyway?)

We finally got there, Oh yeah, but this the first thing i see. THIS. but hey, we have to go in first to get out pre-regged tickets that we ordered online. Lo and Behold, Ladies and Gentlemen. We're in the CON! well, not yet cos we have to go through this, and this before we can go in. One thing i found out about this people though, no matter how long the line is, they're all patient and civilized. Stay in line and dont fuck around. Thats what they are, i mean, after seeing what malaysians do in ComicFiesta, i'm ashamed. Very ashamed. We saw a crispy taxi while on the line. We chatted along the way whilst cosplayers (yes, cosplayers) who dressed up as StormTroopers directs us the the entrance, now THATS cool.

We finally (and legally) in the Con now, and overwhelming feeling of adrenaline rush went through me. Honestly its not as big as Otakon or AX, in mind, but its big enough for me to gaped in awe more than just a few seconds. After all, this is my first time being in an overseas con. They have this, this and Jedi Lightsaber training. I'm not kidding. People dresses up as Sith and Jedis teaching kids and adults how to wield a lightsaber, and fight with it. And i thought the japanese are weird. Then, the Main hall... this caught me by surprise. Comparable to the stuff i've seen in pictures, nothing can prepare the the sheer size and preparations they did on the Con. Massive booths, playable games, loads of nice stuffs, and more. I knew i'm gonna have loads of fun on this trip. Tokyopop is there too. LIEK WHOA. did i say that they even sell every manga ever existed?(no, not at Tokyopop.I mean, at the whole Con) even the book that kitmun wanted, such as Loveless: FOR YOUR EYES ONLY which was sold at 25bucks. I'm not gonna get that though, people gonna give me an odd look if i do. >_>;;. They're selling Figurines, which i found My darling Sei from Bakuretsu Tenshi and Haruhi (i swear to God, that dude is hungry, i have NO INTENTION of talking pics of him. Honest!) I have no intention of buying things this time around, no money and its snowing, which i dont wanna risk it.

Went around looking for freelance job and peddling my work. Its not an easy job but there's no hurt in establishing some contact that might prove useful later in the future. Gone to a few Portfolio reviews and most of em are praises( "this is good" "great" "why dont you work for us?" and those kinda thing) albeit my shitty portfolio.But yeah, things are different on how they do the things, but i'll get the hang of it. Scooted over to Artists Alley, where the hotshots reside. From here, praises for my portfolio arent that much and i got kicked in the nuts or punched in the teeth for that, not literally, though, but still... its a good experience. Talked to Gene Ha, Mark Morales, Tom Defalco, David Nguyen, Steve Ellis, and Mike Mignola signed something for me, which, is OUT OF THIS WORLD. haha.

All in all, the Con ended at 5pm, took the train back and walk through the snow again. Classes are delayed, but fuck it, i'm not ditching class cos cramps and strains here and there, not mention sending mails and follow-ups on the portfolio review.

My thoughts? After all the things i've seen, people like kitmun, futomimii or hooli sell their stuff there, people will come and throwing them money to their feet, and thats how it is. Its so easy to sell your stuff there, plus exposure to larger, interested, hungry crowds. And they STILL buy them if selling artworks up to 10k, which Alex Ross does.

Looking at this and experience at home, for all nerds and geeks, i'm certainly not feel out of place.

when it rains, it pours.

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 20:40:41 GMT

Yeah, it snows. Snows like nobody's business and its getting worse by the minute. It looks kinda like its letting up, but i can assure you that its not. I'm sure if its stays like this later, i'm not gonna go to class, regardless what it is. Because IT SUCKS.

¿qué? ¿una actualización?

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 04:56:45 GMT

Its certainly been a while. haih

school starts again after the xmas break, still no snow (even though there's snow in california, freaky freaky weather these days) trying not to think of home too much, trying to keep myself busy, trying to save cash as much as i can.

Anyway. Artworks Time!

10x15 inch Pencils and Inks. Stipling Assignments. One of those painintheass assignments

one of those days, where keii gets kinda lonely... IT HAPPENS.

X-10A Freedom Gundam with Archangel on the background. Took me whole 3 days for that.

Oh, this? my current collection. nice, isnt it? :D

Well, thats all for now. i'll write something again later.

Las cosas son diferentes ahora

Tue, 12 Dec 2006 20:33:56 GMT

Heh.
There's no word that can define how envious i am, watching people getting ready for the CF this year, while im here still immersed in my own work, just enough to smile and move on.

I guess things are different now, the path im taking gonna be leading me to things that utterly different, things that i never experienced before, things that gonna give me more knowledge and recognition that i lack. Hopefully.

Xmas coming along pretty soon, gonna make a trip down to california to visit aunts who're staying there. Besides, its gonna be 2 weeks break, might as well go around since i'm not gonna stay in the house alone >_>;

I'm getting along with the rest of the students in the school, aside from the classmates, and had the chance to see their work. some are okay, some are really mind-boggling. Its fun, since i can see alot of varieties in what style people choose.

Andy called me earlier, and we chatted for abit. He asked me if i'm homesick or not, which come to think of it, i'm not. Maybe i'm too busy to get homesick, i suppose, or things that i've promised making me move on without looking back.

I'll make the best of the time i'm here, too old to fuck around anyway.

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 23:00:36 GMT

ah, I'm sure some of you seen some of the works that I've did. But oh well, it doesn't hurt to put it up again.

Assignment for 3 point perspective. Impressive, doesnt it? Took me a while, but i'm sure i can do better than that.

Little Miss Coffy. Pencils and Charcoal smearing tech.

Now, ladies and Gentlemen, turn your head sideways. Why? because i'm lazy to rotate it. =_=;
Assignment for determining Focus Area, which definately the center of the pic.

Thats all for now folks. I'll post everything else if i can, or wait for me to come back.

HOLA! petición por favor!

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 02:10:36 GMT

Yeah, thats what i meant. i'm open for requests now. Trying to keep myself on my toes when i'm done with schoolworks.

normal rules apply. No hardcore hentai straight/yuri/yaoi, anything that offends religion, race, ethnics or whatsoever, I will decide whats good or bad in my own perspective, and if i'm offended by it, too bad.

B/w only. i'll take the first 5 requests then move on the next 5. I will not charge anything for this (for now). I will not send the original copies to you, and i will only scan the artworks and put it up here.

Yessir. if there's any inquiries, please let me know. and keep the requests coming.

Mon, 09 Oct 2006 00:09:11 GMT

ahh.

Guess i'm still alive. Things are good here, although its on the surface. Trying to make the best i can. Looking at what's going on in malaysia makes me feels abit jealous. Yeah, i'm the kind of person who always hands-on on certain things, sometimes it too much for my own good. ah, i dont know.

We're kept pretty busy over the weeks. 10 assignments per week which due weekly sounds pretty tough, but i'm kinda used to it. Besides, learning new things always makes me enthusiastic....somehow. Been surrounded by nerds and geeks in the same house makes me feels abit more at home, or around CF people, at least. haha.

Yeah, i miss Malaysia, but not that much. I miss a few selective people more than anything else.

hopefully we're getting proper internet connection on monday. Jacking connection is fun, but not in a long run. I was hoping to post up artworks when i have decent connection up.

In one way or another, take care and good luck. I'll be here for a bit.

Sun, 17 Sep 2006 06:27:15 GMT

its only a week, but i feel like a month already passed by. living on jacked connection from some unfortunate maggot is always fun.

school? well, rubbing shoulders with people who draw Brenda Starr(June Brigman), Popeye(Hy Eisman), MAD magazine Artist(Brian Buniak), Archie comics (Fernando Ruis), Superman and X-men (Andy and Adam Kubert), just to name a few. I feel honored to be with them, and definately will help me on the course i'm going right now. People in the house i'm staying at right now are the best. Happy-go-lucky fellas.

allright. its kinda late here. i'll update a few more when i have time. take care you all.

Thu, 07 Sep 2006 05:57:44 GMT

Now, back to newark, where the real purpose of me coming here. Will drive down to Rockaway, 5 miles off Dover, check-in into some hotel there, and take a bus down to dover. Pretty tired now. I'll update more later.