Army Strong (by Alex)

Moleskine Large Sketchbook 5"x8"

While driving back from Baton Rouge to Lafayette, 2 cars skidded off the road because of heavy rain. I was listening to the radio, and all of the sudden I started to realize how many times they play the commercial of how joining the National Guard, the Army could pay for your college in full, and keeping people in mind at all time that college is indeed very expensive. The famous tagline will never be wiped off my mind "There's Strong, and then there's Army Strong". It makes me wonder if most of the brave souls fighting in the wars, are they really fighting because they want to defend the nation they love so much, or because if they don't they won't be able to afford to go to college and get the education they need to get a good job and make ends meet? And that what really goes through their minds when they are in the battlefield? Are they fighting for glory or for survival?
I grew up in an army camp. My dad was in the air force, my sister is still serving in the military because they paid for her medical degree, and yet I don't really know the answer to those questions above.
This is to all the people who are serving in the army.

Contrast in Scenery (by Alex)

(Click to Enlarge)
Strathmore Bristol Vellum 300 Series 9"x12", 100lb (260g/m²)

I haven't done any water color painting for over a year, and I haven't painted trees for 7-8 years now. Thanks to my wife's housemate who prompted me to do so, I suddenly thought it was a good idea to fiddle around with the cheap Reeve's watercolor set I bought not too long ago, but however on the wrong kind of paper. It's entirely experimental but in a good way. I enjoyed doing it.
I wanted to create a plain background, and a tree in the foreground which contrasts it, so I changed the light source to see if that works, but it didn't. It looks more like you've taken a picture of a scenery with a powerful flash from the right instead.
Anyway, thanks for all your comments in my previous post. I really appreciate the thoughts, and that I am missed when I am inactive. Dan is right... the hearts grow fonder when you're far away or away for a while. ^^
Oh yeah, I've given this drawing to my wife's housemate, Mallory. Thanks for the idea!

AVATAR (by Alex)

(Click to enlarge)

(in progress...)

It's been a while since I last posted, I apologize profusely. I had been trying to cope with my weekly schedule, which turns out to be non-routine, so it was hard to be to get myself to sit and draw around the same time everyday like I usually do. There's just so much going on with my new life right now that's why.
Now that I've realized I don't have a routine anymore, I figured that I'd just sketch and draw whenever I am able to no matter where I am. I drew this one today, 2 hours in the library, and another on the couch in my wife's apartment on campus lounging around with her and her housemates. Definitely feels like drawing in public too, and I am slowly getting used to the idea.
I am sorry I hadn't been able to visit all your sites looking at your drawings, I'll catch up I promise.
Thank you all again for dropping by and leaving comments. I really appreciate it a lot, and I'll try to draw more too. ^^

Lawrence & Pam (by Alex)

Lawrence is the Iceman, that's what everyone calls him here because if you need anything to do with ice, he's got the way to make them. He's also a good friend of my father-in-law, and he and I collaborated in an interesting project for my wedding reception, an entirely unique and personalized ice sculpture with the touch of asian and cajun cultures, my pencil, his ice, an interesting fusion. The result is as below:-It was fun designing it, and seeing it happening in 3D, and moreover, in ICE! It totally enhanced our wedding reception, made it even more unforgettable for us. A brief explanation on the design, The top block is lined with the Chinese character "Double Happiness" I arranged them in such a way that it would show more "t" and "A" because my name and Tanna's names' got a lot of A and t. The Fleur De Lis is of course Cajun's favorite symbol, and the bottom block was designed to show a solid foundation, with a lot of 45Degrees angle to reflect lights.

So here's my way of saying "Thank You!" to Mr. Lawrence and his wife Pam. I'll give it to him tomorrow morning, and hopefully he'll like it as much as I love his ice sculpture. Thanks again everyone for all your wishes, comments and feedback! I really appreciate them ^^

Strathmore Bristol Vellum 300 Series 9"x12", 100lb (260g/m²)

Coffee (by Alex)

First of all, I want to wish everyone a belated HAPPY NEW YEAR and MERRY CHRISTMAS!
I know it's late and all but things couldn't get any more hectic with wedding preparation and all the paperwork in the way. It's a major transition for me (and yes Raena, I am here ^^)
I've missed out all of your work, and I will soon have a lot of time to spare while waiting for the government to get things done before I could get employed. Hopefully during this time I'd be able to look through the 2 months of work that I've missed from you guys.

I drew this when I was in still in Germany, and it's the last drawing I did there and last year. I just didn't have anything to do while in the cramped hotel room, so I walked to the nearest McDonald's and ordered a major cup of coffee and started drawing in public for the 2nd time =)

Thank you so much everyone for all your comments for the cat I drew. I really miss you guys and I hope I am not forgotten.

Katze (by Alex)

(Click to enlarge)

This is my first drawing of a cat, and it too will be given away as part of the deal I've made. It can also be considered as my first sale perhaps, but I don't think of it that way. I was racing against time with this one(2-3hours), as I will have to settle a lot of things in this and perhaps next week as well, and I'll lose my internet connection in less than a week time so I might not be posting anytime soon.

I'd like to take some space here to thank everyone for your generosity, for visiting the site, for looking at my drawings, for leaving comments and for your precious time. Every little words every little gesture helps in keeping the motivation level up, and I am really glad that I've known so many wonderful souls from EDM. It has to be the best group I've joined EVER. ^^ With much respect, and much gratitude I bow down to everyone in the group. Thank you very much!

Knapsack Guys (by Alex)

(Click to zoom)
Graphite on 16.5" x 11.6" 190g/m² A3 paper

So here is the gift that I've been working on for the passed couple of weeks. It's a huge one and it is a gift for Sascha(the big guy in the front) and he's been one of the closest friends I have had in the whole 3 years I've been here in Germany. It's not the first drawing I did for him either, the first was a drawing of the cute version of Optimus Prime on the birthday card that I bought him. The names of the people from left to right starting from the bottom row are Frank, Alfred, Stefan, Sascha, Martin, Giacomo, Wolfgang, Thomas in his uniform, Marcus, Ralf, Bernd, and Heinz-Gerd.

He actually asked for this one... he said he wanted to have another drawing from me before I move away... he didn't specify anything, just something that's me. So I thought it'd be nice to draw faces of the boys I've been working happily with. I gave this to him this morning, I think he remained speechless for about a minute. So I asked him "were you expecting this?" and he was like "NEVER" and was smiling the whole time, like he won a trophy or something :) In my opinion, the best look ever, and that's also one of the reasons I love drawing in the first place, and that's the reason I gave all my drawings away prior to this year.

Thanks again for all your encouraging words and posts on my previous sketch. I am glad I could bring out the characteristics of Mandy Lane... it's a very twisted movie, but I love how the plot changed.