Fling, Flang, Flung

i need a new hobby

It's my life, man!

(click on the image for a bigger glimpse, if it please you.)

i have to go sharpen my pencils now, they are getting dull.

Thank you, Mr. Root

I heard the news about RORY ROOT this morning. It greatly saddened me.

I never got a chance to have a REAL conversation with Rory, had only corresponded with him briefly through emails, but I would definitely always see him at conventions and of course at Comic Relief. Everytime I did see him, he always had a warm smile and this positive energy that was so contagious. His store opened up a whole new world in comics that I never thought existed: Love and Rockets, ACME Novelty company, and other alternative comics. In the beginning when I started to draw minicomics, his encouragement and enthusiasm in putting my little scraggly minis on the shelf next to all these comic artists that I had admired inspired me to stay creative. There aren't a lot of big comic store owners that would do this, support small press starters like me, but he did. And that gave me such confidence and hope.

Thank you so much, Rory, for your heart, your spirit, and passion. We will miss you!

Summer?

It feels like pittsburgh in the summer, and that's not fair.

Things to do

I've been doing things. Look! see! I swear! Drawing again after a week with my mom and settling down from Portland. Above is a panel for one of the stories of Namby Pamby 5.

ALSO, if you're in Berkeley, there's a nice comics reading to go to tonight! Let's all go!

Reading/Slideshow
with Ariel Schrag, Trevor Alixopulos, and Vanessa Davis

Berkeley High School
Florence Schwimley Little Theater
1930 Allston Way, 7PM

The Men of Piedmont

Here is a sample of the typical male you'd find on my bus.

Mumsies

Yo! Mom! Lookit! Happy Mother's Day!

(She would be ashamed at the way the scanner does not show colors well.
"Why does it do that, hon?")

Tuesday's Traffic

Bolso

Mom's back from the Philippines.

The news is depressing

Back to normal?

This is the only time I did work this weekend.

Wow, back from Stumptown, which was a blast. The reading went well, thanks to my dad. It was a great chance to hang out with comics friends who I haven't seen in so long. And Portland is an awesome city. I love the architecture, the signs, the food, the beer! Excellent! The weather was so great this weekend, not raining as the meteorologists on the Weather channel had supposed. I'll definitely be back soon.

Here's some more pix from the show

Few and Far Between

Hope to see you at Stumptown, maybe?

She's loud, okay.

Also, do we all have to know how crappy her investments are doing? No!

Hooked on Phonics worked for me!

Hello, no doodle today, because I wanted to tell you of a reading I'm doing up in Portland this Friday, April 25th, at Guapo Comics to kick off the Stumptown Comics extravaganza. I'll be reading pages of a story that I'm (still) working on for Namby Pamby #5. Comics wonder-stars like Jason Shiga and Alixopulos will be there to read from their latests books too! So hope to see you there! I've never done a reading before, so at least show up to cheer me on while I make a fool out myself trying to speak in my dad's voice. Also, in other news, my minicomic Doodle Daze was nominated for a Kukoc Award. As Lark says in Christopher Walken's voice "Wowie, wow, wow!"

Cafe Hot Stuff

I drew a new doodle. I remember, yes. It was last weekend, but only now have I had time to scan it. It was in Starbucks, near the window looking out at Gaylords. This one girl bought something from Starbucks and then sat in Gaylords. What does that mean? Anyway, I was busy dealing with the plot points of this story that I'm working on, and then all of a sudden this lean and too-too tanned Asian dude with shoulder length hair, wearing only silky short shorts, was skateboarding down the street like it was Rodeo Drive. Big yellow headphones locked in place, this cool-ass MOFO surpentined (is that a word) down the avenue through traffic, blazing everything and everyone that came in his path. This dude was smoooth! A little boy stopped in the middle of traffic and gasped, mouth agape. Whoooa! Then the disco Asian dude proceeded to get off his skateboard, greeted everybody like he was entering a big discoteque, and then propped his feet on top of one of those East Bay Express newspaper machines next to Gaylords to do push ups on the pavement!! What a hot hot specimen! The people in Starbucks were laughing, the people in Gaylords were shocked and appalled!

Forget me not...

...because I surely haven't forgotten this blog. I've been on a personal deadline to get some stories done. I was supposed to finish one story this weekend, but the nice weather made me forget it! hee hee. But here is one panel from the secret story! (I actually drew a doodle for today, but it was scanned very bad indeed!

What to do?

When all else fails, just draw your desk.

Men are from Venus, Cartoonists are from Jupiter

Jupiter, upstairs. From last night's comix jam.

Transbay Terminal

Sinus Triumph

Yesterday's Today

Dad in the kitchen

while trying to come up with things to draw in my sketchbook, I always go back to my dad.

Early Morning Blossoms

Just a morning doodle. I was thinking about how it was always so dark in the morning, and I wanted to remember how the blossom trees looked in the darkness. Now it gets a lot lighter in the morning than it did a couple weeks ago. So I guess the clouds symbolize the lighter mornings vs. the darker ones before. ?!?

Springtime Sushi

Hi there! Sorry for the delay between posts. I took a short break with some distractions, but here's some stuff I drew these past couple of mornings. The first page was done while waiting for a bus that never arrived because of the crazy traffic on the bridge yesterday. My hand was cramping and my shoulder was hurting because of my bag. The second one was done while I was having fits of allergy sneezes. You can kind of figure out when i gradually lose the energy to draw in both of them.

EDIT: (3/20/2008)I have added the last two pages, which were drawn a day after the first two. The third page was drawn on a windy day in the bus station. The last page of the story was drawn with no adverse weather or health conditions, so there is no real excuse I can give for it looking blechhy.

Oh where, oh where?

I know you say, "Get over it!" Right?

Early morning

Not raining yet, still dark out, just a little breezy.

Tea for two

I tried to draw, but I spent most of my time writing notes to Ken about the weird conversation of the couple sitting beside us at L'Amyx.

Testing, 1-2-3

Sorry about the delay, i've just been trying to work on the upcoming comic...I've been sort of struggling with layouts and also styles. This one is a quick and loose version (mistakes included) of one I've done before but in a more traditional "box" version. It's kind of fun drawing in this more sketchy style, sort of like the doodle approach, but i'm not sure if it translates as clearly? Also, I'm examining the non-box approach. Let me know your thoughts!

Also, If you've submitted an email through the web form on my website in the last two weeks, I might not have received it. Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! My web host moved my files to another server, and in turn, I had to readjust the code. However, I've fixed the problem, and the web form now works. So, please send your message again! I promise to write you an extra-special email back.

Working Out

Chugga Chugga Chugga Chugga Chugga Chugga Choo Choo!
(I know, I keep taking the same picture of my desk. Yeah. you're right.)

Why Can't I Focus?

I just want to play video games all day looong.

Dad Talks Movies

It's great to review movies with Dad because he has a firm grading system.

Jeery Doodie

Click on the image to get a bigger glimpse.

Across the street

Sketched from Gaylords.

Also, Rob Clough wrote a great review of some mini comics including my latest, Doodle Daze. Check it out.

Whirrrr

mbzzrk.

Focus, focus...

Getting drawing tips from the master.

Super Do

Tuesday was really exciting! The one thing I'm happy about was high voter turnout. I hope people are as enthusiastic about the elections when November comes around.

Wonders never cease

It was really ugly out.

We're gonna make it

I am sorry for no doodle for today, I actually drew one, but I was not happy with the results. It required more skill at drawing rain drops on windows. But on other fronts, I have been working diligently on the Namby Pamby comic. It's been fun, and I've been getting a lot of great support from people, and I thank them so much for it. So I'm trying my best to make it a good one for them and for you guys. YEAH!

Rainy Days and Sundays

Fun should never stop.

Doesn't your idea of fun consist of drawing, eating, drinking and making fun of people in bibs too?

Some people, I love ya!

Where Do I Begin?

Believe me, I'm working, okay?!?

I AM, seriously. You have no idea! But what's regrettable is that I didn't get the chance to draw a new doodle to post today. Bummer City! So, I thought this is a time I can finally post the sketches I forced my parents to draw when they were in town during Thansgiving. I really couldn't believe they'd actually do it.

Mom's sketch of things she used to draw as a girl:

Some Chagall imagery here!

Dad's self-portrait. He now has a moustache:

This was very impressive, he did this in probably 5 seconds.

Not Feeling Motivated At All

By the last "panel",I was feeling really frustrated that i wasn't doing anything productive. I really need to chill.

The Joy of Cat Toys

Decision Time, America

As America decides on which candidate to nominate for the presidential elections, I am here, deciding on which version of this one story for the upcoming NP5 is my favorite. I have come up with 4 different versions already. I'm not doing this as some wonderful creative exercise, no. I wish, but no. There's at least one thing wrong with each one, so I get really super annoyed and start over. Above are originals and print-outs of 2 versions. I am saying to the little worker-bees in my head "Get your act together." Don't mind me though, please. Have yourself a good weekend.

New Year = New Comic!

I made a new mini comic for the new year. It's 56 pages of selected doodles and comic strips that I have posted on this here blog and my website during the year 2007. It also has some sketches never seen before (for better or for worse.) It's $4.00 or comics for trade. Email me or leave a comment for this blog entry if you're interested.

Have a Happy New Year, you guys. We all need one.

Happy Holidays to you!

have fun and be safe,
rina + ken + cat

A seething, roaring, shouting mass...

Crowds.... ... serious dancing going on there... ... and these people could be waiting for a bus, maybe.