And for the final day, for the Facebook Illustration challenge, i want to close these 5 days with the theme: Sketch, For me, it is always easier to begin something with pen or pencil on paper. While I'm also OK scratching digitally with pen tablet, i always feel the urge and special feeling to start with paper. Perhaps, it is clearer for me to begin with the bigger picture then continue on each detail. Well, i believe every artist has their own method, but if you ask me for how my work is done, the answer is always started with a simple sketch.

These are sketches for cover of Talenta Magazine. It was a very special issue!. Special printed for PO Binus 25 years anniversary. I don't know who took the picture, but look pretty nice how everyone worked together in photo session that day to create a cheerful composition for our beloved community. The idea was every generation was on the same train. We meet departed from different station but while we were on the same compartment, we enjoy our journey together as a family.

This sketch is one character guide for Garuda vs Tikus, our class team project Public Service Announcement for Anti Corruption. You can watch the short animation here. I did the charavter design and the storyboard and work with the team to finish the animation. Aside of the film was screened in Berlin Animation festival, this animation was very special because this project was supervised by Alm. Denny Djoenaid, one senior animator.

I guess that's a wrap. Actually, it's a pretty fun challenge to look back, to remember, and to see the progress of my work. I realize that there are improvements to be grateful for and the need to learn and draw even more. I don't mind to do these challenge again someday.

For today's Illustration challenge, my theme is: Covers. These are illustrations that i did for Shelter One, a local community magazine in 2005 (It's already been a decade!), a kids activity book published on 2006, and a 2009 calendar school project - It was a very nice project with the team. As the old proverb said, "Don't judge a book from it's cover" which means we really shouldn't judge something or someone from the first impression. But the fact is: covers do matter. It's inevitable part of sight-seeing in the bookstore these days; unless you have the permission from the Mbak-Mbaknya to open the plastic seal and browse all day long like you usually did. Hehe!

Shelter One #02

Digital Finishing. 2005

So we made this magazine and order for print like 200 or 300 books. It was part of fund-raising for a youth-concert in Tarakan. I remember the excitement as a beginner by using Adobe Photoshop for coloring the scanned images. Back on those days, i spent lots of time exploring and applying effects. Though it was far from perfect, i'm quite proud for the final art work since we have this edition sold-out like in 2 weeks.

From the stick-man era, we tend to draw people, or place, or things that we love so much. Remember, when we usually draw 2 tallest figures that resembles Dad and Mom with us and our siblings inside of jaggy squares we called home. Perhaps, drawing is the simplest way to express our feeling, long before we are introduced to the wonder of the words and the magic of the melodies. Speaking of people, i find that it is always challenging for me to draw people since i'm total newb in real-life drawing. So i guess, i take the different approach to express the longing to draw people.

These are my drawing for the Day 3 FACEBOOK ILLUSTRATION CHALLENGE: Dearest People

"...But the Workers are Few"
Digital Drawing. 2011

I grew up with Sunday School Bible stories. How i am captivated and moved by the simplicity and genuineness of the people inside each chapters. God really does interact with us, mortals, in a miraculous and or an ordinary way. My favorite part is always the nativity story. It's a loud sign that a season of joy and best part of the year is coming. Other personal favorite is David and Goliath scene. The battle and the victory!

Here, for the Day 2 Illustration challenge: The Stories

O Come Let us Adore Him
- Pen on Paper. Digital Finishing. 2014
It is meant to be a sequel for the previous design. This is a 2014 Perkantas Jakarta Christmas Card. They wanted me to do the same local-taste of the nativity. The process of this illustration is done quite fast since the idea already there just after i finish the first card. This one tells about the kings from the east who bring their best offerings to the newborn Messiah accompanied by Wawa, Panpan, Mbok Darmi & the Preman.

David & Goliath
- Pen on Paper. Digital Finishing. Somewhere around 2009, i guess.
After being introduced in a class, i was like instantly in love with the world of Wayang. The stories, the intrigues, the morality, the stylized ornaments, and ... (Sure, i can spend a whole day to explain bunch of things on why i love this art, but it will bore you anyway). In other hand, using the Wayang style is always left lots of detailing to be filled. This one is kind of left as work-in-progress state for years. Perhaps, someday - when i feel diligent enough, i'll go back to finish this project.

It's been a while since a friend tag me a "Facebook Illustration Challenge" and i don't quite remember when was the last time i post a content aside of thoughts and comic strips in this blog, so i decide to post the challenge here for the sake of boredom. The rule is you post 3 works everyday for 5 days straight and tag one of your artist-friend to do the same thing. Thank God, it's not always mean that you have to create totally 15 new illustrations in 5 days. So, this taken me back to the old folders of mine and spend some time picking some artworks — either it has a meaningful story or just random works that i proud of. While preparing for the challenge, these illustrations, at the same time kind of a beautiful reminder for me to the point where i begin. Yet, i see some worth-bragging progress and some humbling lesson to keep me down to earth.

Well, here's for the starter: Black & White

I find the clarity, the contrast and how we manage the detail of one artwork are challenging. Strokes, lines, and patterns played in only 2 color are always enough to capture emotions perfectly, just as the random doodle in back page of our old Math notebook.