NEW AND EMPOWERED

Pencil & Prisma Color Markers

Rocking the one shoulder.

KEEPING MY MEMORIES

Inlay, Burma
Acrylic Paint

Since I've posted up Felicia's painting, I might as well continue. This is a a painting of the gorgeous view from our room at the hotel in Inlay. It was amazing to watch the sun set behind the mountain as it reflected off the lake. This was during my trip to Burma two years ago; it was the first time going back in 12 years I've lived in America. It was probably the most amazing time I have had in my lifetime, and I think I just might visit again this coming winter after I finish my study abroad program in Hong Kong! I gave this to my cousin Benita, ironically because she was moving back to Burma. Now that I think of it, I should have painted her a view of San Francisco so that she could have had something to remind her of the states while she's in Burma. Not my brightest moment.

My goal for the weekend: work on a painting, sketch some designs, and maybe start studying for my midterm. Maybe being the keyword.

SPECIAL RECORDS

This is a painting I made for my friend Felicia. I think it was a "You're going off to college!" present.

I've been having the urge to paint lately, and I have a lot of ideas floating around in my head that it must explode onto paper/canvas/toilet paper soon. Maybe it's my internship that has given me this blast of creativity. Everything I see, I want to transform and translate into my own language of art. It's a beautiful thing this feeling.

P.S. The weather has been consecutively perfect for more than a week now. =D

BCBG

I just started my internship at BCBG in LA and although the drive is a bit of a pain from Irvine, I must say...it is AWESOME! Just being in that environment just inspires me like never before. AND believe it or not, I was actually in the same room as Max Azria and Lubov Azria! Insane!

I am working with the runway group in the design department. Today, I was able to go into fabric storage and it was like I was a kid in a candy store. Everything is new and exciting, even the mundane things like boxing up shoes and organizing drafts and swatches into a binder. I get to see everything, hear everything, and I'm like a sponge taking it all in. I'm so sure I'll learn a lot during this internship and I'll be able to improve myself tremendously.

ON THE CATWALK

IT'S JUST NOT WORKING

Keeping up with blogs is hard work. I just don't think I'm fit for this job. I've been wanting to do a post on all of my sketches and pictures of my models from the show, but I haven't gotten around to scanning my sketch book. Finals' week is not helping with this issue either.

Here's something special though. I work at the UCI Communications Office, and I got a chance to work with the department in doing a feature on the fashion show. My 5-minutes of fame on the UCI homepage. Watch the video clip too!

http://uci.edu/uci/features/feature_fashioninterestgroup_090602.php

FIG'S SPRING FASHION SHOW

Fashion Interest Group's spring show is Wednesday, May 27th at UCI's Pacific Ballroom D in the Student Center. There will be 10 student designers, including myself, with guest judges from BCBG!! There's live music, free food, and lots of talent!! Come show your support!! And the greatest part...GENERAL ADMISSION IS FREE! VIP tickets are $15; great seats right infront of the runway and goody bags!! Come out and support all the hard work we've put in to make this show possible!

PHOTO-REALIST

Color Pencil on Paper

Since I haven't posted anything in a while...I'm giving you a two-for-one tonight. Here's a drawing I've been working on.

INSPIRATION

I went to the MFA exhibition on campus today and finally got to see some of the work from my former TA Sean Sullivan. I thought some of the work I've done were meticulous, but this is just unbelievably amazing. You really can't appreciate the work unless you saw it in person...every detail, every little pen/brush mark. oh man.

MAGIC MARKERS

Some time last year, I was so indescribably excited when I got my Prisma Color markers in the mail that I immediately whipped up this piece. Just playing with some warm and cool colors here. These truly are the magical markers that have made a dramatic difference in my designs.

Things have been super hectic as the fashion show tiptoes to date: model castings, meetings, fundraisers....AHHH! I've been working endlessly at my own little sweatshop for my collection that's premiering on May 27th and I wish I could post them up, but that would of course ruin the whole element of surprise. Stay tuned! Maybe I'll give you a sneak peak at a piece.

As for the weekend, I am going back to San Francisco in what seems like forever (5 weeks is forever for me). Irvine isn't TOO bad, but a weekend away from this darn place keeps me sane. My cousin Benita is back from Burma for a couple of weeks so I get to see her and my family's celebrating Mother's Day early since people are actually home, which means...DELICIOUS HOME COOKED FOOD ALL WEEKEND LONG! =D

THE VALENTINO

My friends and I just watched a documentary on Valentino. A M A Z I N G. I think I teared up a bit. It's amazing what a person's mind can create. He said something that made me giggle with joy; he spoke of how he would lay in bed pretending to sleep while he dreamt of the beautiful stars and the gorgeous gowns. The imagination never seem to cease. I think my most brilliant ideas come when i lay awake sleepless in the wee hours with these crazy images jumping around in my mind. I would have to literally force myself to think of something less exciting in order to fall asleep.


This design is somewhat of a preview to the collection I'm currently creating. Unfortunately, my laziness is working against me. I've set an ultimatum for myself to work this weekend...or else...

what will be my punishment?

BLACKOUT

The days before my Prismacolor markers. The difference a good marker can make is amazing. Aside from that, this is one of my favorites gowns. It reminds me of my senior prom dress that I got for a sweet deal at Bloomingdales, but much elaborate. It actually has a long tail, but my lack of equipment forced me to cut it off. I wish I had fancy events to attend to give me an excuse to pull my dress out from deep inside my closet back at home.

SPRING TIME!

Spring break has past, a new quarter has begun. I've been failing miserably at keeping this blog updated, but my life has been unusually calm for the last few weeks. Being home for the break was like refresher course. I ate home-cooked food, got to see my closest friends/cousins/family, and I was on a high by the longevity of SUN during that week. Daly City is known as Fog City...The sun is a rare and precious thing to us. So what else would you do on such beautiful days but frolic around the City!!!

Now back to reality. This quarter actually seems very relaxed, and dare I say...easy? It might be because I'm only working 9 hours a week due to my conflicting schedules. But for now, it's a good thing because the fashion show is coming up in a little more than a month!!! AAAHHH! must work work work!!

OFF TO CLASS! will post pics soon =)

FINALE

One final project for 2D/3D. There is (or was) a 3D version of this painting....but it crashed into pieces while I was walking out the door. =/ I will attempt to reconstruct it once I get back to Irvine, so we shall see how that turns out.

For now, I am back home and it feels great. I've been welcomed with never-ending offerings of great food and my tummy's quite happy. Home-cooked meals are truly the real luxuries of life. While I fatten myself, I really need to start sewing. I'm sad to say, I'm not as motivated to do the work compared to last year, most likely because I've experienced the amount of work and time it takes to get everything done. I just need a push!

MY KIND OF GEOMETRY

I think all this geometric/organic stuff I've been doing in my 2D/3D class is really rubbing off in all of my work. I'm actually kind of sad that the class has come to an end. I really love this design though. I wish I had to skills to make it right this moment.

I've just finished my finals!! WOOHOO! I'm making the 6 hours drive up to Norcal alone tomorrow so that should be a blast. I'm not sure how much of a break this will be with me having to get a move on on the sewing for the show. But home always brings the procrastinating-lazy bum-sleeping until noon everyday person out of me. I look foward to it.

PINK ROSE

I need a bigger scanner =/.

FIG Fashion Show 2007-2008

These are some of my designs for my first fashion show last year! I'm working on this year's line at the moment so keep a look out for updates on the show. AND COME TO THE SHOW, WHICH WILL BE SOME TIME IN MAY!

CATCH UP

So I'm pretty much failing at keep this thing updated. BUT I do have a legitimate excuse...at least I think so. Finals are coming up, but for someone in the Studio Art major, finals come a week or 2 earlier than everyone else. From last Saturday to about 5am Thursday, I was working on a final painting project (which I will post as soon as I take a picture of it).

GOOD NEWS! I was interviewed for the New University and was featured in last week's issue! WOOT WOOT!! Here's the link, if you're interested.

http://www.newuniversity.org/main/article?slug=behind_the_magic%3A_student181

In other news, I've finally had my designers' meeting for the Fashion Interest Group fashion coming up next quarter! I'm so excited for it because we actually have a good number of student designers this year. I'll keep you guys updated on this as the stress of sewing builds.

Just to give you something to look at...

Learning the likes of Gauche.

TO PANTS OR NOT TO PANTS

Something I might try to concoct this or a version of this for the upcoming fashion show. But first, I'll have to learn how to sew pants.

I spent friday night finishing Eclipse and starting on one of 3 projects. I have a long and crappy weekend ahead. Projects due, finals are coming. Ooh the life of a 3rd year. Can you feel the excitement?

COMPLEMENTS

Complementary colors, mixed + tints

Playing with positive/negative space to create bilateral symmetry

These are some projects I've had to do in my 2D/3D class. The class is pretty intense, but I'm growing so much as an artist in this class, and learning a lot about myself and my growing meticulous, OCD traits. My professor Mara has to be one of my favorite professors in the art department. If I heard correctly, she was never formally trained, and I respect and admire her raw, instinctual knowledge about art.

COAT TAILS

One of my latest designs. Strong shoulders. coat-tails. What more can a girl ask for?