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Sketches

Few sketches I have yet to continue and finish up.

Mr Fear (2019)

hello, my name is Mr. fear

you know i'll never disappear now get me out of here just trust in me, my dear no cure is coming you know i'll never disappear now get us out of here don't fight with me, my dear why can't i be in here?

- SIAMÉS "Mr. FEAR" -

Behind the artwork:

Mr fear highlights people battling with their own fears; their insecurities, anxieties or struggles for change. To be able to accept that fear, put trust in it or finding the right balance - in order to be stronger and possibly move on and be at peace with yourself.

In the illustration ‘Mr Fear’  is posed as this statue bearing many faces suggesting different emotions or stages/state the person is at. The stairs shows the steps each person has to go through to face these stages and finally reaching the top of the statue where the head displays a keyhole; as final stage of achievement – being able to conquer the fears (possibly trusting or giving in to the fear accepting it as something that is a part of yourself, part of growing and life.) There is nothing wrong with being weak. It is okay to be scared, but you have to get out there, open up, love, make mistakes, learn, be stronger, and start all over again.

You and I are chemistry (2019)

Narrative piece of two people who are a “perfect” match to each other; they have “chemistry”. Coincidentally, the two people illustrated are also scientists of different professions. I wanted to create a quirky and warm atmosphere between the two, and even maybe capturing some dorkiness or nerdy vibe out of either two.

Upon drawing this piece, it reminded me of a story back in 2012 that a friend made and I helped to illustrate into a Manga.

Hello 2012 art :’D

abfjasbkjaf wowza

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A collaboration film project with a close friend of mine Jeremy Jecky who is the director of this live action and animation film titled ‘Kelinguh’. I am very honored to be able to help with the illustrations for the animations.

More details can be found via the Instagram or Facebook page: @Ditutprodution

'Kelinguh' Official Teaser Poster!

'Kelinguh' is a short film that combined live-action and animation, tell the story of a modern-day adaptation of a Kenyah folklore about the Sarawak traditional instrument - sape'.

STORY

“Elena's search for her missing husband inadvertently leads her to a surreal and magical landscape.

It is a modern-day adaptation of a Kenyah folklore about the origin of Sape**, a traditional lute instrument said to have magical healing qualities.

According to legend, a farmer is desperate in search of a cure for his dying wife. In his dreams, he is visited by the spirits of his ancestors telling him his wife is trapped in the spirit realm. So he carves himself a boat to transport him to this realm and rescue his wife. This boat he crafted, in the end, became the sape'.

The film begins in a hospital room with a woman tending to his sickly husband. She leaves the room for a while to take a break from her husband, but when she returns, her husband has disappeared. She hears strange music echoing in the hallway. As she draws closer to the source, the world around her begins to bleed into the realm of the supernatural. As she treks deeper into the spirit realm, flashes of her past life with her husband plays in her mind, reminding of a life she shared with him. As she nears the edges of the realm, a great flood washes her away back into reality. She awakens to find her husband back in the real world. Her journey has helped her accept her husband's deteriorating condition, and to embrace the time they have left.”

**The Sape (Sampe in Kenyah dialect) is a plucked string musical instrument which is synonymous to the Orang Ulu ethnic groups, specifically the Kenyah and Kayan from Borneo, for its traditional music and the essential accompaniment for their dance.

Be on a look out for the next updates! :D

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Culture

I have a few culture related illustrations and artworks. Below is an illustration that is part of an assignment to take a Disney Movie and combine it with our local culture. I’ve decided to draw a gender bend of Merida from Brave into Kayak culture.🍂

This piece is inspired by the Disney Pixar movie ‘Brave’ and is an interpretation of their main character ‘Merida’ in male form. The character is designed as a Kayak man from Bukit Beruang (Tutong) descendants; as it is befitting to Brave’s story. Character is set in Bukit Beruang which is rumoured to have bears, it is located in Tutong and amongst the descendants of Tutong habitants are of Kayak tribes (river dwellers). This place also used to be a place of trade.

As Merida is a skilled archer in Brave’s movie story, this character’s characteristics is as a skilled spear or sumpit wielder. Kayak tribes have tattoos decorated on their bodies as marks of achievements or protector against evil spirits. Each design symbolizes variety of meanings – on the character’s shoulder are ‘Bungai Terung’ representing the becoming of a man and also a symbolic representation of his journey. While on his arms are ‘Aso’ a decorative motif of a dog which acts as protectors against evil spirits. In Brave, Merida was distracted by the ‘will-o-wisps’ which lead her into a witch’s den – on the other hand this character will be protected from evils that will stray him away from his journey.

In this artwork the man is set in his traditional attire, posing casually by the river with his weaponry in Bukit Beruang forestry. While surrounding him are spirits and a silhouette of bear can be seen lurking in the background. 

The medium used for this piece was a mixture of colour pencil and soft pastel to give its overall whimsical and fantastical look.

Below is another piece of artwork with Sarawak related culture. It is a collage portrait of a Bidayuh Woman. 

I had absolute fun doing artworks with various different mediums. For this, I used old magazines.

I have always been fond and amused by Bornean culture. I had the chance to stay and study in Kuching (Sawarak) for a good three and a half years, and got to explore and dive deep into their rich and beautiful culture. I will probably share few highlights in a separate post. :D

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Clay Shenanigans

Back Story of “Off the record we go”

Highlights 2000 – 2003

I was in Saudi Arabia for 3 years. I think I was in Kindergarten up till second grade. It was such an eventful 3 years. School was easier back then. In between classes we get to take these “breaks”, for 30 minutes or so for those who finishes class works early (it’s almost like a blessing and a gift for the smart kids who finishes their works early and gets to have early playtime, but a torture mechanism for kids who can’t finish their work and only gets to watch – been there, it was not fun). We get to choose to play with either legos, sand bucket or water bucket, or clay and other stitching stuff. I’m usually one of the unlucky ones, along with my best bud, who don’t get to play early. But, on some miraculous day later, we got to play early and got to have fun with clay. Yay.

 Clay was an amusing and a dangerous thing back then. It was one of the causes for bullying. For some mysterious reason all the big kids want them. Having clay with you officially list you on their ‘wanted list’. You know how kids get bullied for lunch money? Well, in this case it was clay. (I question this till this very day).

Me and my best bud like to sneak stuff from classrooms (we were pretty good at it too; just 2 sneaky mouse lurking around, avoiding teachers like pros), we would take turns and grab things to trade with each other – it’s like a challenge or dare we made up to see who can get the coolest things. We got craft papers, play cards, tissues (don’t know why), seeds, toys, stickers, other things and clay. Somehow word got around the playground and eventually reached these 4 bullies. So everyday after lunch, we see these bullies, who were at that time 2 grades above us, standing around demanding “Where’s the clay huh?” or “You got it for us?”. It’s like some illegal transaction going on in the playground by some elementary school kids and the teachers supervising the playground don’t even notice. But, sucks for the bullies, me and my best bud got fast legs and prior to even seeing their faces we planned our escape routes everyday and knew the best hiding spots. It became a thing to look forward to; outsmarting them.

Haaa.. 2000s school days, twas a good time – Pokémon, WWF and harry potter trading cards and other exciting things.

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“Off the record we go”

[Just a rough work]

Behind the sketch:

Pictures two best friends playing together, hiding away from other people – they had each other’s back; she had his and he had hers. They had their own space, their own rules and their own world.

 Hits close to home.

Had a best bud back in 2000 in Saudi Arabia, some kid from Thailand. We were in the same class since kindergarten up to second grade. At that time, I knew a little English, conversing was challenging but somehow, we both hit it off, became the closest of friends, and school also became more enjoyable. But then we parted, our family had to relocated due to my dad’s work.

Some more back story coming soon. 😃

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Sketches Coming Up

: I sometimes wonder how i’m still up and about with tons of projects and little to no sleep. *ahahaha*  Gotta push through.

Talking about stories, I have a whole stack of ideas and concepts embedded somewhere deep in my head; that I may or may not have been too chicken or anxious to dig into. Plus, unfinished sketches. Yay. Thought I’d post a series of them here and dump my thoughts. Sharing some inspirations and ideas behind the sketches whatnot. :D

art ig: tincan_art

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Wise words

Just putting this out here while I’m at it:

S: “What’s your secret?”

D: “Don’t focus so much on talent. Making art is all about communication. A piece of art is a conversation. Every choice you make, is a statement.”

D: “Don’t worry about labels, or conforming to a standard. Just be true to yourself. And people will appreciate your honesty.”

- Dogcopter

Man, Dogcopter knows his stuff. When watching cartoon TV series can hit you hard😥. AND ALSO, THE MOVIE HAPPENED. Haven’t got around to watching it, but i’m super stoked. Looking forward to seeing it very soon.

art ig: tincan_art

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Can’t wait for drawtober!

Also this Bat is adorable and the illustration is just 😍👌💕

“The Bat who Lit the Black Match” 🔥⁣

Drawtober on Instagram begins next week! 🎃⁣

At a fall harvest festival yesterday, I found A delicate glass container with the moon cycle painted on it. Within contained several very long, solid black matches that were itching with the impression of magic. I can imagine them being meant for more than just lighting decorative candles. As I starting sketching these matches, the idea of a batty character came to mind who simply wanted to see a pure white flame emitting from these seemingly powerful black matches. The concept of something so serious being used triviously unknowingly of the spooky consequences seemed fitting for the start of the Fall season! 🦇⁣

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Out of my cave

First post is always blegh...

I’m finally getting a feel to step out of my somewhat invisible, comfy, square-y, box. I’m not one to write and talk, always have and always will be letting my draw-art-thingies do the job. I’m already struggling as I type this. No more thinking. SO, heeeeree goes the first post :’D

art ig: tincan_art