Lillian Lai's Sketchblog

Sketchin'

2012-01-22T16:55:00.000-08:00

Sketchin' time! I feel a bit guilty if I don't update my blog so here are some sketches. Most of these are people I've seen in the cafe. Sometimes I wonder if I have ever been unknowingly sketched...

Winter wonderland painting.

2011-11-09T21:38:00.001-08:00

Some new art on my blog! Oh em gee.

This background was painted for Toppling Towers Christmas but sadly, the project did not go through. Thus, I shall post it up here so it can get a bit of an audience :) I'm quite happy with this one as I painted it after working on Toppling Towers Halloween and I feel it is an accumulation of all the experience I gained while working on all those Halloween backgrounds. I'm happy with how much I've learned through the process of painting these challenging, and sometimes frustrating, backgrounds.

People watercolour sketches.

2011-10-03T14:49:00.000-07:00

I really enjoy sketching people in cafes, on the bus, etc. I cleaned up a few and painted them with water colour. Occasionally someone may catch me looking at them and I'll either look away pretending I was just casually looking around the room, or I'll stare right back. STARE DOWN.

Sneak Peek at Gracie's Got a Secret

2011-09-03T19:18:00.000-07:00

I'm glad to tell you that the book will be out in the next month :D Until then, here's a sneak peek at one of the pages and one of the characters Gracie meets in the book.

Who else does Gracie meet? You'll soon find out. She's definitely a lot more gutsy than me and has quite the adventure. I feel I have gotten quite fond of her after working on this project. I definitely want a chubby cheek goldfish;They are adorable.

This is the test page I did in applying to be the illustrator for the page. I'm happy with how the illustrations progressed and the dynamic improvement from the test page to the finals.

You can also find the facebook page here, where the author, Heather Conn, will be posting updates and details.

Stay tuned for details of the book's launch!

Gracie + Family

2011-04-12T22:21:00.000-07:00

Gracie and her family from "Gracie's Got a Secret"

I had three beta fishes for pets, and in the following order they were Bubble, Bobble & Spabble. They are not so cuddily, but it's fun to see them scrabble up to the top and follow your fingers around 'cause they know food is coming :P I remember Spabble was very lazy and would lay near the top between the leaves on the plastic plant. I'm afraid I would forget to feed them sometimes..but thankfully they are tough fishies!

Illustrating a children's book "Gracie's Got a Secret"

2011-02-27T22:04:00.000-08:00

Above are sketches of characters from an upcoming children's book that I have the pleasure of currently illustrating, Gracie's Got a Secret by author Heather Conn and being published by MW Publishing. The following is a description about the story:

In Gracie’s Got a Secret, an impatient and feisty little goldfish named Gracie escapes her fishbowl and leaves her family, determined to share a secret with the outside world. Along the way, she befriends a weepy alligator who’s stuck in the sewer and a circus elephant with dreams of freedom. By helping her new pals, Gracie learns to slow down and go with the flow, gaining remarkable results and a clear way back to a loving home.
This uplifting story, which comes with engaging questions to prompt discussion, invites children to believe in themselves, support others, and find their inner stillness.

I'm very glad for this opportunity.The process of working with Heather and the publisher has so far been very engaging with great feedback and an enjoyable unfolding in finding the characters and story. I'll keep you updated and hope you'll take a look at it when it's done!

Happy New Year! ..need some chocolate.

2011-01-04T22:22:00.000-08:00

After treating myself to loads of chocolate and sweets this Christmas vacation (not in small amounts at a time and spread throughout the day) I have found myself feeling chubby and (much more than before) craving chocolate. This drawing depicts my current feelings, har de har. I bought some on sale Christmas chocolate to wean myself slowly but so far it is not going well...

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas

2010-12-24T12:57:00.000-08:00

I've been seeing a few of these babies...

Hope everyone has a lovely holiday!

I haven't forgotten you old pal.

2010-09-22T22:12:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted in a while, but I do attest to the fact that I am continuing to work on my personal projects in the off work hours. Anyway, throwing this up on the blog so it doesn't look like I forgot I had one. I painted some people sketches in water colour for funsies.

Wallstreet Cyclops

2010-07-10T19:14:00.000-07:00

A submission for a Sketchoholic contest, subject being Wallstreet Cyclops. Just having some fun illustrating, but with a nice deadline in place.

Angiotech Anim.

2010-07-04T13:55:00.000-07:00

Soo..almost a year later, here's the animation I made at Angiotech. Sorry for the very very long delay. I wasn't originally going to post it, but thought why not? So take a look if you'd like.

Apologizes for the no music (although there's sound effects) as I grabbed the copy that was rendered before the bg music was added in the end.

Adobe Flash, Photoshop and Premiere.
2009.

Dragon Chess

2010-06-21T17:14:00.000-07:00

I thought this might be a funny idea to paint. I'm not super happy with how it turned out, but once I started, I thought I might finish and post it anyways.

People watercolour sketches.

2010-06-18T19:47:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of updates. I've been enjoying my freedom. I don't want it to become too dusty in here so here's a small quick update. Been doing more people sketching, and I painted a few of them in watercolour. Started working on some other artwork for funsies~

Portfolio

2010-05-13T15:03:00.000-07:00

Portfolio has been updated! Both 2d and 3d. Click on the link to the side to see in full.
It's been a good long year at Capilano University's 3D digital animation program.

Here is my environment demo reel.

Gradshow!

2010-04-30T16:19:00.000-07:00

The concept for my 3D environment, an abandoned theatre.

The Capilano digital and commercial animation program is having their gradshow on May 7th and 8th!

The booths displaying artwork will be up the prior week so drop by harbour centre to check it out if you can't make it to the official gradshow day.

For more details, please go here.

Daily challenges

2010-03-04T23:23:00.000-08:00

Around 80 min. Topic is "It wasn't me".

About 80 min. Topic is "When I grow up". When I was very little, I wanted to grow up and be a cashier, or library or bank clerk. Yeah, I was that cool kid.

Alice is in "wonderland".

2010-02-25T19:15:00.000-08:00

I hope this joke makes sense... Being a hermit means I haven't been getting feedback.

This is another submission in one of the sketchoholic chiustream contests. I really like entering these because it gives me motivation to draw and a deadline to finish by.

With this illustration, I decided to try painting it differently than the last one. I outlined it and tried to get a bit of a painterly look. I also wanted to have more of a story. If you look, I put a few of the other "Alice" characters in the scene.

Cheshire Cat

2010-02-18T19:00:00.000-08:00

This is my entry for the sketchoholic chiustream contest. The topic was cheshire cat since the next interview guest will be kei acedera and she was a character designer on the up and coming Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland movie. It was a lot of fun to work on. There are over 300 entries with many creative delightful illustrations. I don't think I'll win, but it was great to enter a contest with a deadline pushing me. I did this in one day, late into the night/morning.

It's a Trap!

2010-01-09T00:06:00.000-08:00

Although it's not something I'd usually post, I'm so charmed by this toy and proud that I made it that I'd like to post it. I knitted the body and stitched/glue gunned the felt clothes. It was a lot of fun to make! It's Admiral Ackbar, made for my geeky boyfriend.

Merry Christmas~

2009-12-27T19:22:00.001-08:00

A little late for Christmas, but I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday.

This is our 3 week group project. It was a lot of fun to work on! Courtesy of Mike Jones, Carlyle Wilson, Jess Hilliam, Courtney Pearson, Josh Pan and I.

3D

2009-12-07T23:00:00.000-08:00

Extreme 3D!

A group environment project where we all modeled and textured objects, but had to individually light our own scene.

A character I modeled in ZBrush and Maya

Title

2009-10-19T22:46:00.000-07:00

Was lazy last week. Thanksgiving holiday yay!
Here's an image where I was trying out a different method of painting on a quick head sketch. Needs more work, will try painting something similar again.

Bam, kick it up a notch.

2009-10-07T21:18:00.000-07:00

All of the paintings so far have been studies off of photo references.

Yup.

2009-10-05T16:40:00.000-07:00

Doing Alright, doing alright.

2009-09-30T20:29:00.000-07:00

A new week, another update.

2009-09-28T10:08:00.000-07:00

Painting

2009-09-25T13:11:00.000-07:00

Originally, I wanted to do a small painting everyday, but I'm not sure that'll work out with school, and homework. So I'm aiming for a few each week.
At the moment these are taking me around an hour. I'm hoping as time goes, I'll get faster and better.
If I work off a reference, such as a photo or painting, I'll post that too.

Reference:
Caspar David Friedrich

Student Short 2009, Monster at Work

2009-09-24T13:48:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted my student short from last year, "Monster at Work", because I entered into the Ottawa International Animation Festival. Unfortunately, it didn't get in, but I'm not surprised considering the huge amount of entries this year!

Out of sheer luck though, it got drawn to be shown in Salon de Refuses, a screening/party at OIAF that showcases some of OIAFS rejects. I think that's quite nice, haha.

The party has passed, so I think it's okay to post now. Monster at Work! Hope you like it.

Angiotech

2009-09-09T19:49:00.000-07:00

This summer I worked at Angiotech doing illustration and animation work on their company beliefs for their employees. I liked that their number one priority is helping patients (not $$$). It was a good experience; I liked the company and the project I was working on, and that's not something that's always easy to find.

I also did a short animation as well. Soon to come!

Capilano student union handbook

2009-07-14T00:10:00.000-07:00

This is for the Capilano Union student member handbook and day planner for the upcoming school year 2009/2010. The image was inspired by the beautiful forestry our school is surrounded in. To my advantage, there is always a lack of participation in the Capilano agenda cover contest. I actually use this agenda by the way, very good for organizing.

Pitch

2009-06-13T23:21:00.000-07:00

My pitch for the pitch party my animation program was throwing this year. Will be in the Animation Magazine.

Updates will be coming! Must give myself a kick in the butt XD

Update time?

2009-05-20T13:05:00.001-07:00

I haven't updated in a while..but I have graduated from 2D animation!
Lillian Lai's Portfolio

There's some new work that I haven't posted on my blog in my portfolio. I don't have much else to report..here are two new layouts I've done for the beginning of my Monster At Work short.

Watercolours

2009-04-09T10:10:00.000-07:00

Busy preparing everything for gradshow! Haven't posted in a while, but here's some watercolours I did recently of cafe/bus/waiting room people sketches.

Monster at Work

2009-02-25T18:36:00.000-08:00

Character illustrations for Digital Painting Class and for my final short (which I pray that I can complete to some degree..)

Lunchtime

Bring your kids to work day.

At work.

Bear

2009-02-02T21:15:00.000-08:00

Here's a bear I coloured for digital painting class. He's rocking out.

Final Storyboard Assignment

2009-01-23T19:03:00.000-08:00

Final Storyboard Assignment for last semester. A commercial for a 649 & BC49 scratch 'n win ticket.

Mine needs audio to really sell it.

Basically,
Guy comes in all excited with piece of paper in hand.

"Guess what I've got?!"

Crowd in anticipation.

Reads paper "I've got..I've got...chicken pox AND allergy rashes!
YES!WHOO HOO! MMM, YEAH!" Starts scratching. "OHH yeaah, that feels good!"

End with "Scratch the real winning combination, 649 & BC49 Scratch and Win".

Self Portrait Weekly Illustration

2009-01-23T19:02:00.000-08:00

Myself in Fairly Oddparents style.

SnowBeast Weekly Illustration

2009-01-23T19:00:00.000-08:00

Chinese animals illustrations

2008-12-26T16:40:00.000-08:00

For my father's Christmas gift, I put together a book of illustrations of the chinese zodiac animals. I really have no idea what to get him every time a holiday crops up, so I think the "Here's drawings for gifts!" trend will continue. Plus there's always the "Hey this didn't cost a lot of money!" bonus that he always likes. I'd like to have designed a few of these better but I didn't have the time. I'm a rabbit, hee.

Airline Commercial.

2008-12-13T23:14:00.000-08:00

My 15 second commercial for Capilano Air. This airline provides real awesome snacks, not silly "rocket chips" or tiny pretzels.
Sometimes I go "huh, I did that? Wow. Cool."

I don't have any other stuff to update 'cause I left my flash drive in N.Van. I leave everything on there for when I work at school. Shucks.

~~~

Oh wait, here is some houses and trees I did during the summer. They were for an idea I had but now I don't think I'll use them.

"US Airline Begins with U." "Life is a journey, travel it well." " It's time to fly."

2008-11-23T14:30:00.000-08:00

Some stuff related to my 15 second commercial (I think I gave myself a lot of work to do o_o; oh boy)
I did two posters for fun. They feature characters that will be in my commercial. They could still use touch ups...but more importantly, I haven't yet decided on a slogan. Also, I'm still not sure what I want the airline to be named. If you think of anything cool, please tell me.

and a color script thumbnail. Some of the colours changed a little bit in the process of colouring but it pretty much stayed the same.

Weekly Illustration Childhood memory

2008-11-05T20:45:00.000-08:00

A very quick sketch. Yes my allergies have been with me for a looong time.

Weekly Illustration #3 Servitude

2008-10-05T18:49:00.000-07:00

This was fun to do.

Weekly Illustration #2 Pride

2008-10-03T19:36:00.000-07:00

Late, but here it is.
Er a pride of lions (kind of), um..the lady is kind of proud probably..I'm sure the lions are proud too. Yup there's lots of pride there.

...or maybe I just wanted to draw a sexy girl and threw some lions in there.

nah.

Weekly Illustration #1 Germs

2008-09-21T21:11:00.000-07:00

Let's give it a shot

2008-08-13T11:40:00.000-07:00

Concept art forums have some really awesome artwork. It's inspired me to try my own hand at environment painting. I need to fix the waterfall one but seeing as I might not get to that until much later, I'm putting it up with the other one for now.

If you consider that they are my first two attempts at this kind of painting, then I'm happy with the result. If you compare them to a professional (those really elite cool concept guys), then...ehhh...yeah not that hot..XD I definitely want to keep painting. It can only get better.

Blinded with awesomeness!

2008-06-26T23:10:00.000-07:00

A bit late, but there is no deadline for awesomeness. Kungfu Panda was just a whole lot of FUN. So here's a PO fanart sketch X3 Loved his chub, boing sound effects and his kungfu boyfan-ness.

Girls and cute baby me.

2008-06-15T21:13:00.000-07:00

Because girls are fun to draw. (Also trying out a style.)

One of the three drawings I did for my father for father's day. He's so hard to shop for and is a typical asian cheapo . "how much did you spend on this?" asked. So I decided to go with cheapo arto, 5 bucks for some mats and a glass frame.

Baby me and brother

Dump some more art.

2008-05-30T11:45:00.000-07:00

I finished colouring these the day Colin gave back critiques. I waited a while and then thought he wasn't going to get back to it. So you get my non-redone characters instead of spiffy new ones. At least they are colourful I suppose XD

Was trying out a style with this background. Not completely sure how I feel about it. Need to keep trying I think. Also possibly need to do less colouring and more drawing XD

Cowboys and girls.

2008-05-17T17:48:00.000-07:00

If you haven't already, join the design group Colin created. This was drawn from the cowboy theme week.

Art Dump

2008-05-11T18:46:00.000-07:00

Watercoloured some heads for fun. I'm not that great at charicature yet so I'm not too pleased with the results but I thought I'd throw it up here anyways. Kudos if you know who's who.

Did this for an idea I had but scrapped XD I'm having a love-hate relationship with it.

Final Animation, First Year second semester.

2008-04-20T09:31:00.000-07:00

Portfolio

2008-04-20T09:16:00.000-07:00

The portfolio I submiited to Studio B and Bardel, with the exception of the last page, visual art, which I only submitted to Bardel.

Two Character Action with Dialogue

2008-03-27T21:13:00.001-07:00

la la la~ did no hw today.

2008-03-08T23:47:00.000-08:00

I got a wacom tablet a bit ago, finally x3 It was on sale too, yes!

Here's a girl with guns 'cause that's fun to draw.

I tried to do some digital painting today and failed miserably. Hours of my life gone! So I tried doing this exercise on painting a fruit instead.

La De Day~

2008-02-24T21:07:00.000-08:00

Just some quick sketches I did this weekend. I really like how some people do quick watercolour sketchy paintings so I've been trying that out...although mine are more like washes with pencil crayon on top. I love lively really sketchy drawings but I haven't gotten there yet.

At Belcarra Park.

On the bus.

At Rocky Point Park.

quadraped bear walk

2008-02-24T19:55:00.000-08:00

Happy <3 Day!

2008-02-14T23:46:00.000-08:00

Who doesn't love a cute girl? Happy Valentine's Day!

Just special effects

2008-02-04T18:21:00.000-08:00

Water Splash

Water Wave

Rat-a-too-ee

2008-01-24T22:47:00.000-08:00

The books I've ordered have been arriving! One each day so it's like a present each day! I got The Art of Ratatouille today and was so happy! I devoured it with my eyes, it's such a visual feast O__O
Hence, a sketch of what's supposed to be me as a rat.

Yay public transit.

2008-01-18T19:15:00.000-08:00

While I was taking the bus other day (which took me an hour and half rather than my usual hour) there was a couple making out on the bus and it made me think of other annoying things I dislike while using public transit. I did quick little drawings on them.

SMACK! MWAH! SLURP! Any other swishy kissy noises insert here XD They are kissy fish.

I saw this once and thought it'd be quite awkard. Avert eyes! Lower..uh..crotch area XD

Don't people on the bus look like zombies?

Loud music can be annoying.
One time I was silently wishing no one would decide to sit beside me on this not so full bus but unfortunately this one guy just had to choose me. He then proceeded to blast bagpipe music. Bagpipe music for at least half an hour XD

Mike and I went people watching and drawing last week, thus the binoculars.

Random Sketches

2008-01-07T20:20:00.000-08:00

Hamtaro Ham Ham Heartbreak, a gba game, has the cutest most amusing poses to their hamchats. The one above is to "hamigos". They butt butts and then pose together.

Situation from drawing at the cafe today, fruit & veggie style =O
...okay it doesn't really explain itself XD basically I was embarrassed 'cause a bunch of cops or safety men (not sure)..noticed me drawing and looking at them and came over to look.
Ran out room so I folded the paper, and that's why there's a line.

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-25T21:42:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone is having a good one.

I got a Nintendo DS YEES!

Character Design Oz Final Project

2007-12-23T12:21:00.000-08:00

I was hesitant to put our character design final project up 'cause I'm not proud of it but what the heck, I should be posting waaay more (which I will be 'cause people might actually read this thing o_O)

Animation Final for Semester

2007-12-18T23:53:00.000-08:00

The turtle from Cats Don't Dance and Mario =P

Assignments

2007-12-04T20:30:00.000-08:00

Dialogue Assignment

Pink Panther Wall and Trip.

Nothing really school-related/scribbles coming your way!

2007-11-17T23:29:00.000-08:00

If I wasn't lazy, I'd scan in char. design...XD Got to get on that...

Oh well, here's scribbily things instead!

Anyway, you knew this was coming...

I didn't mention Sailor V. Sailor V (venus), the one with the ribbon and red mask, is pretty cool. She was originally a sailor scout on her own, fighting evil. In the anime, she's also a video game and such =P She's not my fav but I definately like her. I won a drawing contest a long long long time ago and I asked for Sailor V to be drawn XD

I also went skating and most of the time looked like the drawing above...er if it's not clear, that's me falling XD yes yes, I'm not good at posing...

I ate dim sum a while ago, and this was drawn shortly after. I <3>

Sketches

2007-10-20T23:31:00.000-07:00

Ho ho~ an update. I felt bad for not updating. So here are just some sketches, fun fun =D I've been interested in traditional chinese clothing. They are just so pretty x3 I know at one point, in high school, I even wanted to make my own. Glad I didn't do that (due to money & laziness) as I don't know where I would ever get to wear it. Oh and the people sketches are just people on the bus.

Walk Cycle

2007-10-20T21:35:00.000-07:00

Character from a Tex Avery Model Sheet

Yo.

2007-10-04T19:39:00.000-07:00

My blog doesn't have to show only good stuff right? Crap (or semi-okay crap?) can go up here too right? XD
Well thought I just make a post to fill up the space 'til I actually put something here. Here's a doodle I made when I first got the toy on my desk.

Btw, how do I add all those blog links at the side?
The main reason I made a blog was so I could have easy access to updated blogs. I suppose it's not like LJ where you just click on friends and they show you updated posts?