Last week's IllustrationFriday challenge theme was "Your Paradise", which gave me way too much food for thought...

What will my "Paradise" be like? What is the ideal, perfect world that I'll love to spend an eternity in?

I have not decided yet, but I am sure it involved a lot of fresh air, delicious food, beautiful photo opportunities at every corner! :)

Perhaps it's easier for my hamsters to decide what THEIR Paradise would be like...

PARADISE 

Nitecaps #0050

"Your Paradise" ~ Edric Hsu

So, what's YOUR Paradise like?

Incidentally, this post marked the 50th "Nitecaps" entry, which meant I'd been doing this for exactly 50 days since I started. *pats myself on back*

As of today, my cartoons will be posted every now and then, when I feel inspired. Any sincere, no-nonsense feedback are welcome...

And I shall channel more of this discipline and determination into getting my house beautifully renovated...

When that is done, I could then invite you to MY PARADISE! :)

This week's Illustration Friday's challenge theme is "Signs"...

And since today was the grand finale of "American Idol" and the winner had been announced, I've decided to marry the two topics together here...

* SIGNS *

Nitecaps #0035

"Signs" ~ Edric Hsu

Yes, the signs were all there...

For this week's Illustration Friday challenge, the theme is "Citrus"...

Rather than giving the obvious, here I have my dwarf hamsters, Eeni and Mini, again...

They might be twin sisters, but when they were still alive, they'd often just get into such a sour mood and refuse to get along with each other...

CITRUS - TACIT 'R' US

Nitecaps #0025 

"Tacit 'R' Us" ~ Edric Hsu

And yes, there IS such a thing as an "Ugli Fruit"...

A few Nitecaps back (#0006), I drew a couple of old men who are apparently fixtures at the Raffles Hotel bus stop. I have seen them again yesterday, and hurhur, they don't look anything like what I've drawn of them...

Anyway, that's what you get when you depend on your memory...

For tonight's cartoon, I have decided to draw their counterparts: the elderly ladies who are daily fixtures at my flat's void deck, sometimes feeding the plump stray cats, other times chatting about the current affairs of the day...

Nitecaps #0011 

And remember the other night when I mentioned the drunken killings at the carpark downstairs? These friendly, chatty old dears were the very ones who kept me up to date...

Bless them all...

Here's wishing all who are celebrating...

. . . HAPPY HALLOWEEN . . .

And since the past week's Illustration Friday challenge was "Ghost", I thought it might still be appropriate, so I'll post my belated version here anyway...

GHOST

Edric Hsu ~ "Ghost"

600 x 600 pixels

Adobe Photoshop 7.0 x Genius MousePen 8x6

Image hosted by : Photobucket.com

For those of you who are non-Chinese, the above image is a stylised form of the Chinese word "Ghost", pronounced as "Gui3" (said in a scooping manner)...

May the only spirits you encounter today be the ones that can be poured out of bottles... :P

On special request by gentlegiantt, and to all my friends out there, here's my take on...

 FRIENDSHIP

Edric Hsu ~ "Friendship"

600 x 600 pixels

Adobe Photoshop 7.0 x Genius MousePen 8x6

Image hosted by : Photobucket.com

May we always be connected with our friends by our Hearts...

Here's a quick sketch on the current haze situation...

TROUBLE

Edric Hsu ~ "Trouble"

600 x 600 pixels

Adobe Photoshop 7.0 x Genius MousePen 8x6

Image hosted by : Photobucket.com

Interpret it as you wish... :P

After a long period of absence on Illustration Friday, I have decided to make a quiet comeback, with a simple one-minute piece...

...QUIET...

Edric Hsu ~ "Quiet"

800 x 600 pixels

Adobe Photoshop 7.0 & Genius MousePen 8x6

Image hosted by : Photobucket.com

The above Chinese character means "Quiet" or "Silence"... 

Hope you like it. Will come up with another version later...

Okay so I've decided to forgo the 3 hr version of "Quiet" that I created but lost to a computer crash. It's probably not meant to be...

Here's another calligraphic creation as requested by dave_sg_888, who's been one of the most generous, giving friends to all of us...

...CONTENTMENT... 

Edric Hsu ~ "Contentment"

800 x 600 pixels

Adobe Photoshop 7.0 & Genius MousePen 8x6

Image hosted by : Photobucket.com

The above characters say that "happiness is to be contented with what you have", or something to that effect...

Hope you like it...

I have not participated in IllustrationFriday.com's weekly challenges since January this year, but I have been itching to get back to it...

So with a bit of spare time today, I managed to come up with something meaningful to me for this week's topic:

_____________ Skyline _____________

"Skyline" ~ Edric Hsu

600 x 600 pixels

Adobe Photoshop 7.0 & Genius MousePen 8x6

Image hosted by: Photobucket.com

Perhaps it was my involvement in this year's National Day Parade, or perhaps I really missed my family especially my late parents, for this illo I wanted to convey a sense of home, by featuring the outline of a loving family over-looking the skyline of our homeland, Singapore...

The images were taken randomly off the internet and edited using digital tools, but the feeling comes direct from my heart...

Hope you can feel it too...

If you are an avid art collector and looking for some special new painting, OR...

If you would like your favourite actor's artwork adorning your new living space, OR...

If you wish to support our local actors and help raise funds for local struggling artistes to further their artistic training, THEN...

Please do come down this Saturday, 15th April 2006, 6pm onwards, to The Actors' Gallery Benefit Auction at 72-13 (Theatreworks) Mohd Sultan Road and pick up an artwork (or two) specially created by our talented pool of local performers and arts supporters!

And since you are reading my blog, you might be interested to know that my recent painting "Ironn-Six" will be part of this auction, going with a starting bid of S$1000...

And for the past couple of weeks, I have been helping out in this event's Curatorial Team, working on the photography of these wonderful art-pieces and spent sleepless nights creating the presentation slideshow for this event...

Finally, it's all coming together!!! So, please do come support us this Saturday!!! :)

Me and my baby...

( CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS... )

Preview All Artwork Here...

Currently Reading: The Creative License - Danny Gregory

This is mostly for my own record, but for anyone interested in how I created my debut canvas painting "Ironn-Six", read on for a step-by-step pictorial account...

First, I took inspiration from my character's image (far right, bottom row) and personality from "Ten Brothers" 

Art materials, including acrylic paints, spray paints, and primed canvas

Pencil sketch of face with features clearly demarcated

( CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL PAINTING PROCESS... )

The finished painting with newly sprayed background and silver highlights

This painting took me a total of about 6 hours to create, over the span of several days, and was a great learning experience and test of patience throughout the process...

How much do you think it is worth?

Currently Watching: Da Chang Jin

In half a month's time, on 15th April, 2006, the Association of Singapore Actors (ASA) will be staging its annual fundraising event at 72-13 (at 72-13, Mohamed Sultan Road, TheatreWorks)...

This fundraiser shall be in the form of an Actors' Gallery, in which more than 20 of our talented local actors and supporters of the acting industry will contribute their own artwork and paintings. These artwork will then be auctioned off to the highest bidders...

I had wanted to submit a print of my earlier illustrations of three cats, see HERE. But after some deliberation, I have decided on a totally different idea: a mixed media painting on canvas!

And the subject of my painting? None other than the face of one of my favourite roles to date:

Ironn-Six

"Ironn-Six" ~ Edric Hsu 

12" x 16" (Original Dimensions)

Mixed Media (Acrylic, Spray Paints, Glitter & Lipstick) on Canvas

Image hosted by: Photobucket.com

I have drawn the above image on my own face for every single show of Toy Factory's "Ten Brothers" last year, and I felt it would be representative of my work as an actor as well as an artist to present this face in a full-fletched painting... 

If any of you feel that you would like to support my creation, I aim to start the lowest bid for my painstaking work at S$1000...

For those of you wishing to support our other "starving artistes", namely those of us in the performing industry that lack sustenance in the form of funding and budget, please do come by the event and bid for our creations... 

More info and list of contributing actors here: http://www.asa.org.sg/news.htm

This week's topic on Illustration Friday will scare away Chermaine Ang, as well as little mice and hamsters...

Cats

"Cats" ~ Edric Hsu

600 x 400 pixels 

Adobe Photoshop 7.0 & Genius MousePen 8x6

( The Synchronicity of Cats... )

The past week's Illustration Friday has an interesting theme, and I just have to be part of it...

Because...

E is for... Edric

"Self Portrait" ~ Edric Hsu

266 x 400 pixels 

Adobe Photoshop 7.0

It's been a long time since I participated in any online activities, and I've been missing out on some of my favourite ones like PhotoFriday.com and IllustrationFriday.com...

But this week's Illo Friday theme suits me well and I'm able to grab an old illustration I did for myself, sort of like a self-portrait of sorts...

The theme is...

Sea

"Merman" ~ Edric Hsu

400 x 400 pixels 

Adobe Photoshop 7.0

I created this image a couple of years ago when I first discovered the wonders of Adobe Photoshop...

Fooling around with the various filters and editing tools, I thought "Why not create a super hero, like Superman, Batman, or Spiderman?"

That soon led to "Why not create a super hero based on my nickname, Merman?"

And so, the above self-portrait was born...

On a different note, I'll like to mention that all my life I have been fascinated with the oceans and anything sea-related... 

The sea conjures in my mind contrasting images of tranquility and turbulence, lazy shore relaxation and speedy surf action, and at times immersing oneself within its vastness allows for the most private moments...

The sea has many magical qualities that I am still discovering everytime I am near it or in it. And most of all, I am very definite that have lived many past lives asa creature of the sea... 

It's been a long week, mostly spent on rehearsals and other activities. Sometimes at the expense of my social life, and sanity... 

This week's theme for IllustrationFriday.com gave me a chance to express what I have been trying to say for a while, to those whom I care for and love... 

Broken

"Broken" ~ Edric Hsu

600 x 350 pixels 

Whiteboard Markers & Adobe ImageReady 7.0

I was determined to create a more positive entry for my illustrations, and after reflecting on this week's theme for a while, the only thing I felt should be broken was "silence"...

Sometimes it is the hardest thing to apologise, especially to the ones we love most. All it requires is for one party to open the mouth and break the ice...

After a long busy period of rehearsals and some procrastination, it's almost the deadline for last week's IllustrationFriday.com weekly challenge...

When I first saw the theme, I immediately thought of the concept of "The Butterfly Effect". The theme is...

Remote

"Remote" ~ Edric Hsu

800 x 400 pixels 

Whiteboard Markers & Adobe ImageReady 7.0

As part of the Chaos Theory, "the Butterfly Effect" illustrates how "a butterfly flapping its wings in Brazil could cause a tornado in China" (loosely quoted)...

I could go on and on about this theory, but shall leave it for another relevant occasion...  

Meanwhile, hope you enjoy the above artwork...

Footnote:

The images of planet Earth are taken from a Google search which led to some NASA pics...

More Footnotes: 

Oops, I DID miss the deadline for last week's theme after all...  

It's fast approaching Halloween, and although most of us in Singapore do not celebrate this festival for it's true worth, it has always been a fun excuse for horror-themed fancy dress parties...

Some creative folks have come up with a "Draw A Witch Halloween 2005" contest where illustrators are encouraged to create their own interpretation of witches and submit it to the website (click on link above)...

I decided to have some fun too, and here's my entry... 

WITCH

"Witch" ~ Edric Hsu

420 x 420 pixels 

Whiteboard Markers & Adobe ImageReady 7.0

The Green Witch has always been comfortable looking the way she does, which is how most story books and movies depicted the typical witch anyway...

But now that the annual Halloween Ball Fancy Dress Contest is around the corner, she is very excited indeed! For she just had a sudden brainwave...

Why don't she dress up as a Human Being this year? 

Oops, Constanthing of IllustrationFriday.com just tagged me and so here're my 20 random facts for whoever cares to know... ;)

1. My fave food is anything spicy and preferably with egg and/or luncheon meat...
2. From five to twelve years old, my lazy eye problem got so bad nobody really knows who I was looking at when speaking to them... 
3. I endured scary eye operations to correct that problem at age twelve and thirteen...
4. Because of that, during my teens, I *saw* a lot of strange and bizarre *things* and so-called *ghosts*...
5. I am very good with all word puzzles and games, but please spare me any mathematic problems...
   
6. My primary school tuition teacher called me a *slow coach* due to my often belated response and submission of homework...
7. I am still a huge procrastinator, as some things never change...
8. But I am faster than most people when I walk...
   
9. I finish every last crumb on my plate during meals, as every morsel of food is a blessing...
10. I have *seen* and *re-experienced* several of my past lives through regression...
11. I entered the world of acting and show business to experience being in the shoes of other contrasting characters and personality of my roles...
    
12. I am a Reiki Tummo Level 3a Practitioner and actively channel the universal energies around us for healing and protection...
13. I joined Sunday Schools in my childhood because I loved all the singing and dancing involved...
14. I can sing convincingly almost all the vocal parts in any choir, from Bass to Soprano...
15. My first feature film debut was as a part-time extra in the movie flop "Medium Rare" in 1991...
16. My first major public musical debut was "Kampong Amber" in 1994...
17. I carry my digital camera wherever I go, and I am VERY trigger happy...
    
18. Although both my parents have passed on, I still *talk* to them whenever I am home and feel like it...
19. Everytime I need a taxi or bus urgently, I would call upon the *angels* for help, and they always do (everyone should try it!)...
20. I look forward to a happy life of leisure in Southern Australia, with a loving partner and a thriving coffee shop business, and still find time to sing and act whenever I feel like it...
    

I've never been tagged before, so I am just rambling out what comes to mind, and not really sure what next...

Since it took me only five minutes (without counting spell checks), I shall tag another five persons (running out of *untagged* folks that I would love to know 20 random facts about though)...

Anyway, I tag the following fellow illustrators: Wynlen, Loobylu, Binny, Sketchdump and Shyue Chou...

Have fun! ;)

This week's theme for IllustrationFriday.com is...

Cold

"Cold" ~ Edric Hsu

400 x 600 pixels 

Whiteboard Markers & Adobe ImageReady 7.0

This is a place at which I don't wish to be,
isolated and cold within an uncaring cell.
A cheery sparrow that comes and goes
is the only glimpse of life, of freedom.
But it belongs to the world outside...

There is a place at which I will rather be,
full of sunshine, out in the open air.
I can be that sparrow too, for I know
that I am light, I am life, I am freedom.
That these are all deep down inside...