Its time to close another chapter in my life for 2011. Its been an awesome year, alot of self-development going on in my life and I owe it to many people that walked into my life. I've gone through thick and thin, through many storms and calm seas and survived.

Five years... felt like yesterday I walked into my first job as an animator back in 2007. Truthfully, I never liked being an animator but I don't hate it. I'd learn alot in doing animation and post-production (its fun to edit stuff sometimes) but my real love is in doing illustrations, and concepts.  Bleh, if you see my animation work, you'll burn your eye sockets. haha  

Since I want to do more illustration stuff, I decided to work my way to become a concept artist, keep on practicing, drawing inspirations, doing background and visual designs for various projects, over-influenced by other masters, re-evaluate my style (I still don't see which part of my style is like Gorillaz...seriously haha but I take it as a compliment all the time), open to more learning (it was a painful process) and more practicing (especially my linework). I find storyboarding fun (depending on the script I get), and moodboards are the best way to practice your understanding of colors and lighting setting for an act or sequence. I love doing those (except when they are rushed then, its a bitch to do).

Do I ever felt like giving up? Oh hell yes, lots of times, you have no fuckin' idea how many times I break down emotionally in my room wanting to quit my job. My dad supported me alot in those down times and I thank him for that.  Nobody gets their dream post or job if they are not willing to open up for more learning (that is what I'm still getting use to). If it clashes with your pride and ego in it, you'll go nowhere.

If someone (which is an experienced artist) tells you bluntly you suck in drawing, take it in and accept your errors and fix it (hell, lots of teeth gritting and fist clenching involved ahaha but a few deep breaths and a good rock song, will do just fine) Do I get alot of rejections? Hell, yeah plenty. That means I still have alot to improve on.

On a personal note, to my colleagues, old and new, when the dept leaders tells you to keep a sketchbook, they don't mean keep them till they collect dust, use the fucking thing and keep doodling shit in there until it becomes good shit. Don't prove to others and don't prove to your leaders, but prove to yourself that you can do what it takes to improve your skills. Don't call yourselves artists if the sketchbook is absent or if its empty. I'll take that empty book and use it instead (first to slap you with it before keep it as my own.)

So where am I going next year? Journey to the land of Down Under to master my illustrating skills of course. I'll be boxing kangaroos, blowing didgeridoos, and have koalas infesting in my room. I will deffo bring more sketchbooks to fill in once i'm there. Commissions will continue next year, FMM will have new adventures and more future webcomics will take shape in 2012.  

See you on the otherside. Wherever that is.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Superman: Hey no fair using reindeer!
Santa: Oh yeah, no fair using our yellow sun you fucking alien!