Alex A-R

Air, Earth, Water

2012-01-30T22:28:00.000-08:00

Character concepts for my films. Lame doodles, woo!

Class Notes

2012-01-30T22:05:00.000-08:00

Random notes I take during class. I draw with highlighters now, and I like figure drawing my teachers or people from my class. Hope they're adequate!

Water Film - More Junk

2011-12-14T11:08:00.000-08:00

Highlighters - Soma Designs

2011-11-18T11:09:00.001-08:00

Designs for my film supporting character, Soma:

Noah, the lead character for my film, Water, amongst other doodles:

Gesture crap:

Playing with class notes, and personal notes.

Collab drawing with Hae-Joon McRadical Lee, Bryan Brantley, and Brooke Regalado!

Experimenting with Photoshop

2011-11-18T11:08:00.001-08:00

40 minute doodle. Too rough, should change the pose a bit!

Noah's Clothing Final - WIP

2011-10-29T15:18:00.000-07:00

My film character, Noah's clothing design. I'm going to fix a lot of inconsistencies and work a lot more with his values so he has a clearer and more readable design.

Water - Noah Costume Designs

2011-10-22T11:12:00.001-07:00

Playing with lighting, color, simplicity and styles of clothes. I'll be back with more!

Oldies

2011-10-08T20:55:00.000-07:00

Renewal

2011-10-07T14:13:00.000-07:00

Time to get cracka-lackin.

Back

2010-10-25T13:11:00.000-07:00

I'm posting here again, and more regularly about personal or artistic matters.

I want to document my journey, through the good and bad, and also post up inspirations or things that interest me to know myself better.

That also means many more sketches and drawings to put up and work on here.

Closure

2010-05-14T02:21:00.000-07:00

I finally got to see my Character Animation friends films on the big screen! And it blew me away, honestly, I'm honored to be a part of my class. Even to those that weren't in the Producer's Show, I've never seen such a talented diverse artistic group of my life, and I'm in the middle of it all.

...In a more sullen note, I've realized my boundaries with friendship. A lot of people have been twisting my words this year and I've lost a lot of friends and respect because of it. Yes I am responsible for all of it in the end. I'm keeping my mouth shut now.

I'm finding people who appreciate me.

It's sad how it all turned out, I've spent days not being able to sleep about it because I've been cut so deep by the mistakes I've made. How some people didn't take the time to listen to me or trust me without judgment. I just want to be acknowledged.

And to some people I have, and that means the world to me. Just a place were I can belong. I don't want to talk about other people behind their back, I never wanted to. There's always something so cool about each one of you, that it's not worth making ourselves angry about the negativity. We're better than that.

I just want to stop apologizing so much. I want someone to give me a hug when I'm hurt.

Did I say too much?

But, it is what it is. I can't change it even if I change myself. I want to hold on to the laughter, the time when all of us were excited in the beginning, trading names, handshakes, hugs, and art. When we'd call each other to make trips happen, or have breakfast in the tables joined.

Together. And up on the big screen, regardless of whatever shit may have happened between any of us, it was swallowed by the bigger picture. We were unified, we are unified by that art, our art that pushes us forward no matter what.

Thank you for that guys. You inspire me to this day.

No matter what show you've been in, what you've said, who you are, what you've done inspires me.

Missed my Train!

2010-05-03T07:57:00.000-07:00

I had a great time this weekend! I got to stay with my family, and I watched How to Train Your Dragon with my younger brother and two friends who haven't seen it yet!

I also got to play a healthy amount of video games. But most importantly, I had the opportunity to see my brother's last high school performance which was pretty awesome, especially in the parts where he sang with his group.

He has some insane singing skills.

But I missed my train to head back this morning, meaning I'll leave at a later train. I guess I miss my dance class today...

But I heard my film was a success too. I have to say that I'm completely surprised and honored at the reaction. I really couldn't have done it without your constant support and help.

I'm still kind of in disbelief! I want to check it out for sure once I get back.

But congratulations to those that got into the Producer's Show! All your hard work and dedication paid off, and I'm proud of all of you guys for completing a bad ass film.

You deserve any recognition and praise you get!

Away

2010-05-01T23:22:00.000-07:00

I'm at home in Sacramento for my younger brother's last performance instead of the Character Animation Open Show.

I'm kind of ashamed of how unfinished my film is, being that it might be (or already has been) shown but there's nothing I can do now but work even harder on what I've got.

I have a lot to work on for myself, by myself, and at least I have a film now to be associated by.

I don't care where I stand amongst CalArts anymore. I'm me, and all that counts is my growth, my happiness. I wouldn't be where I am without you guys, and I'm figuring out what should be important to me.

Alchemy

2010-01-11T20:26:00.001-08:00

I've lost my creative touch, but here are some things that I've done in the past few days using Alchemy and Painter X.

I miss my friends at CalArts. It hasn't been the same without them.

Double Entendre

2009-12-22T15:13:00.000-08:00

I was playing a board game today with Robert (my younger brother), and I was thinking about board game titles. Then I remembered "Scattergories" which sounds a lot like "Scategories". I then said that to him, and he didn't get it. I asked him if he knew what it meant, and he said yeah.

I asked him what scat meant.

He said "Boo-dee-doo-wop-wop".

Apparently scat also means jazz onomatopoeia used in singing.

I broke it to him hard.

Home

2009-12-21T09:57:00.002-08:00

Every day has been an overcast day in Sacramento. I've really been missing that. The temperature is also colder, but it bites less than in Valencia.

Day before-yesterday I spent the morning and afternoon setting up the ornaments and birds of my Christmas tree, and also preparing for a party that my parents were having with some guests in our house.

It was real nice! There were three kids that came, and we played Clue and Pictionary. It was pretty funny, I tricked my brother into losing by saying the the suspects that we thought were true, but I used the weapons card I had to lure him in.

Too bad I was kind of stupid and took the long route of getting back to the stairs from the Conservatory instead of teleporting to the Lounge and moving only six spaces. So, one of the guests got there before me and won.

Bitter, bitter defeat.

After that we had a nice meal in the table. Some home made barbecue ribs with a sauce that my mom and sister make from scratch for special occasions, mashed potatoes, string beans, and finally some three milk cake made from scratch with a dollop of cool whip and raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries on top.

It was amaaaazing.

I want to take photos to document my blogs visually, but I'll have to wait until after Christmas when everything goes on sale.

Until then, I'll just be using my laptop:

Yesterday I spent my time with my brother's best friend, Aaron, playing Halo 3 and biking to Walgreens for some junk food. After Aaron left, I did all of my Christmas shopping in one load in Arden Fair mall with Robert (brother), was invited to a friend's party, and talked with the pleasant Riyoko Iwamoto during the morning, and lovely Hannah Ayoubi in the evening. I also got Super Smash Bros 64 for the Wii's Virtual Console (and then splurged with Pokemon Snap and Zelda: Majora's Mask).

What a vacation, geeze!

Secrets

2009-12-18T02:19:00.000-08:00

Are slowly coming undone. Well, not really. I just felt like saying that.

But anyways, Christmas vacation is now! I'm going to spend one free day with my friends before I head back home. They are the coolest people I could ask for, really. I feel like we kind of have become a fusion of relatives of sorts and friends. It's just a close community that I have never experienced in my life before so artistically inspiring and so jubilant.

There's nothing more I can ask for than just that.

Resolution

2009-12-17T15:22:00.000-08:00

I've finished finals and decided!

Blabber

2009-12-16T23:01:00.001-08:00

I think I should learn how to keep personal feelings hidden to prevent trouble. Yet, if I'm not true to myself, would I be living behind a mask?

Finals

2009-12-16T13:54:00.001-08:00

I only have one more final left, and I've inappropriately been feeling like it's already vacation. WORK DAMMIT. WOOORK.

The World of Elements

2009-12-16T01:15:00.000-08:00

I promised to explain the fifteen elements around a week ago, so I'm overdue. These are the fundamental elements to me in my imaginary world. I'm fascinated by how the world is made, from the four or five elements known in cultural teachings, or how it's scientifically dissected.

As a bit of back story, I made them up when I was in fourth grade, and they've grown and changed as I have. Each element has stood on its own against the test of time.

This is what the elements do as groups:

Air: Expands molecules to become gas structures
Water: Expands or contracts molecules to become a liquid
Solid: Contracts molecules to become solid

Light: Produces light energy
Dark: Takes light energy

Heat: Giving of (thermal) energy to make something warm
Cold: Taking of (thermal) energy to make something cold

Earth: The ability to change molecular structures to form different materials; Alchemy.
Bio: Molding organic structures.

Conduction: The pushing and pulling of magnetic fields
Psi: Warping space to control gravitational fields.
Current: Weaving directional influence with any element.

Time: Controlling time continuum.
Mind: Tapping into neural bonds.
Spirit: The supernatural.

But, I have organized them in this list by my personal colors that are associated to their nature:

Light [White]
Air [Off-White]
Mind [Light Magenta]
Heat [Red]
Earth [Muted Brown]
Time [Orange]
Conduction [Yellow]
Bio [Green]
Cold [Light Blue]
Water [Sapphire]
Current [Lavender]
Psi [Purple]
Solid [Steel]
Spirit [Translucent Silver-White]
Dark [Black]

I hope it makes sense to you guys.

Stupidity

2009-12-16T01:03:00.000-08:00

I two crushes. One who understands and appreciates me for who I am, and one whom I love for who she is.

Both are beautiful, loving, caring people, whom I consider dear, true friends. This is no game, and I know that I have to choose eventually.

I feel stupid for making this public, because I can jeopardize the feelings of whom I care about beyond them. I really don't want that, but, I want to come clean.

It feels morally wrong to be torn about this. Something has to happen, and I hope that what I do isn't impulsive or foolish.

15 Elements

2009-12-08T22:00:00.000-08:00

Light
Air
Mind
Heat
Earth
Time
Conduction
Bio
Cold
Liquid
Current
Psi
Solid
Spirit
Dark

I'll explain tomorrow.

I Sculpted My Animation Teacher!

2009-12-03T22:34:00.001-08:00

Mike Nguyen, during his three hour lecture. I did pay attention in class, but it's really hard to model a moving person while trying to keep track of everything he's saying!

Static

2009-12-03T16:19:00.001-08:00

When I walk to my room in the fourth floor (only stair accessible) I somehow build static in my shoes.

Reason I know is that every time I touch my key to the keyhole of my door, I see a little spark of electricity ignite.

Crush

2009-12-02T23:26:00.000-08:00

Even despite being lectured by my older sister of the luxuries of being single in college, I still sometimes feel lonely.

I've never had a real girlfriend yet, never had a first kiss or mutual intimacy with another woman.

That said, I do know what I want out of myself and of any significant other I may come by. I think I may just need a partner in my life, to help get out of my comfort zone, try new things, to enrich my life.

And, more than ever before, I've learned how to set boundaries, how to establish space, how to confront conflicts in a constructive way (thanks to family and friends).

I know that if I do get into one, it will be brief. If it's long-distance in vacations, we both have lives that we live separately. I can't have myself be held back, and they have the right to feel the same way.

What I'm getting to, is, I want someone, anyone, to add their piece to my puzzled life.

Multichannelled

2009-12-01T23:53:00.001-08:00

I found out this week that I can take dance classes whenever I want to join and that there's an available piano near my Animation cubicles.

Need to get to that!

Yo to the Yo

2009-11-30T23:42:00.000-08:00

Despite that deep self-realized thought, here's my perspective homework:

About time I uploaded something!

Community

2009-11-30T22:21:00.000-08:00

I have to slow down and play around in Character Design.

Tiffany Ford taught taught me to relax my approach to designing characters today, something my Character Design teacher failed to teach. John Mahoney, my illustration teacher, was right: art should be fun, and in turn I'll grow beyond those that treat it like an industrial task. Arem Pak, a bud of mine in Sacramento, taught me no one has the right to change who I am because of what I am.

Because of daily interaction, my friends know how I work, think, draw. Teachers only see pieces of myself, through my window their class. They have experience, sure, we're also smart, and we all know what someone else doesn't.

I can't do it alone.

I think that's something worth writing about.

Back

2009-11-29T16:38:00.001-08:00

Just came back from Mexico. It was a blast. I took Kai Wu along with me, and I think he enjoyed it immensely too!

Well, back to the drawing board.

Overslept

2009-11-19T12:32:00.000-08:00

Just woke up, and I need to get ready for class. Hopefully the teacher doesn't hold low esteem since I keep on having to make up my missed times on Friday. I'll be searching for the last place I can think of where I might have lost my wallet.

Starbucks, oh boy.

If worse comes to worse, I'll go to Student Affairs to buy a new ID for meal plans during the meantime.

Tired

2009-11-18T23:40:00.000-08:00

I lost my wallet and I can't find it.

Today I pitched my storyboard for a chase scene. I shouldn't have procrastinated, even though I really did get close to finishing it digitally before scrapping it and starting over.

Sometimes being drastic in approach leads to better results. Hopefully I don't do it so close to class next time. I'll be drawing them over in Flash this weekend, along with working on Character Designs and my Perspective homework, both of which I vowed that I would put all my efforts into.

Personal Channeling

2009-11-18T02:08:00.000-08:00

I need to start posting my ideas and thoughts more frequently out in the open.

Not many know how or what I think about, or more importantly, how I feel.

So here's a silly proposal: Every day I'll say what I've wanted to say about art or personal feelings so you can learn something new about me in a daily basis.

Cool? Sure.

Pre-Birthday Art.

2009-09-21T23:28:00.000-07:00

2009-09-19T20:33:00.000-07:00

School has been fantastic, albeit with new emotional obstacles to hurdle. I have my niche firmly cracked into my school year now that I have bought all of my major art supplies and fit them neatly into my Animation Cubicle.

Tomorrow I'm going to Staples to buy the finishing touches for my spaces, and probably buy some paint from Home Depot or Walmart (because it's somewhat of a walking distance).

I'll be taking photos of my favorite works weekly, and some photos of where I live and my cube space. It should be all within somewhat good taste.

South Bound

2009-09-06T10:42:00.000-07:00

The remnants of my past are packing into the car. I will leave my home shortly, verklempt.

Wart Blood Art

2009-08-20T23:53:00.000-07:00

I removed a small wart on my right handed middle finger with tweezers after a week with salicylic acid treatment. The wart strands I plucked were like grass skin, with black roots of fungus on the bottom, and then my finger became flooded with blood.

I used a lot of my cotton swab and Hydrogen Peroxide to make it stop bleeding. After twenty minutes of it not stopping, I decided "Fuck it" and I drew some shapes with it on a piece of paper.

I'll let it dry, draw it in with pen, then post it.

Tomorrow.

New Old Drawings

2009-08-16T21:50:00.000-07:00

I need to catch up.

Backward Bounded

2009-08-16T00:19:00.000-07:00

I'm back, unpacking, and now searching for some misplaced CalArts forms, which I heard are mandatory by Vince's accord.

Spending time with my extended family down in Ensenada was nothing short of spectacular.

I've been practicing lots of ping-pong ever since my cousins have gotten their new table.

Now, I'm off to sketch. Drawings will be expected tomorrow.

Bound to Mexico

2009-08-06T14:58:00.000-07:00

Heading to Ensenada in about half an hour, and we're stopping mid-way through to spend the night in Fillmore.

I'll be gone for a week, but I'll make sure that I at least post a couple of sketches while I'm at it.

Introduction

2009-08-05T16:19:00.001-07:00

I started this to post doodles and other scraps that haven't been posted before. You'll get a view of the good and bad in my life, my art, and growth.

It's nothing impersonal.