Caricature for RSAF

That RSAF Aeromedical Centre building again. Third time! Think I have drawn enough of it for this year.

Same lady as in previous job. This time is a farewell gift for her. She's dealing with people. Thus, the client wanted to have people behind her. Of course, I draw in the happy faces for them.

Caricatures in ink

Wanted to use the other more exaggerated photo initially, but worried that the client may not be able to recognise that caricature. Gave up in the end. Now, a normal and quite boring caricature. If it is not customer's order, I will use that photo. Hahaha.......

M1 mobile broadband

Subscribed M1 Broadband yesterday, after finding a good excuse (finally). Hahaha.....
Need it for next Monday when I am outside.
Took the lowest price plan of 384kbps., $22.42 per month.
Try out first. If too slow, still can upgrade to 1800kps plan. - $38.72 per month.
M1 doesn't allow downgrade.
Anyway, my shop one is using Singnet 256kbps. Still acceptable, though dedicated.
Checked that I can use it when roaming in Kuantan, though need to pay roaming partners there - Celcom.
Thank goodness. No need to use dial-up anymore.
If too expensive, worse comes to worst, still can subscribe Celcom Mobile Broadband. RM$8 per day, unlimited usage, since I am there for a few days usually.
Put in the M1 3G Sim card into my P990i. No fuss. Can surf net. Hooray!!! Next time can surf without shock when receive my phone bill. 5gb is more than enough for me to surf net and check email.. Starhub is charging me about $10 for 1mb, for using the current 3G phone Sim Card to download and upload data. Damn expensive!

蔡琴新加坡不了情演唱会2007

一波三折，终于与老妈欣赏到这一场蔡琴新加坡不了情演唱会。
在进场前在楼下The Mushroom Pot 长生锅 吃了一锅很不错的野生菌菇火锅，要不是就要开场，肯定将这锅汤喝完！四年前与父母妻子前来观看谭咏麟演唱会，因妻子不爱火锅而错过，老爸也因此而永远错过了。唉......
看现场演唱会是市面上的DVD与VCD无法比拟的，现场的音响加上蔡琴低而细腻，高而激昂的歌声，出乎意料之棒，绝对值回票价。
无数经典老歌与金曲，回味无穷，唯独欠缺我接触蔡琴的第一首歌曲~抉择。
演唱会中，蔡琴说了一段挺有意思的话，大意如下：

“为什么你的孩子会觉得你落伍，因为你没有自己的音乐地盘。翻开家里的CD架子，全是孩子的喜爱歌曲。你让他们不尊重你的爱好........你们也曾经年轻过......他们也会有老去的一天......谁说老歌落伍，老歌词曲都很棒，不像现在的流行歌曲没有内涵......拿出你的影碟与唱片，大声骄傲地对他们说这是好东西！"

虽然说我还不至于这么老，可是我确实认同她这一番话。经得起的时间的考验的歌曲都是好歌，始终觉得以前的歌曲朗朗上口，现在的听了就忘记，就算同一歌手如张学友与刘德华等，昔日的的叱咤风云已不复再，除了天时地利，相信歌曲是主要原因。也许你会认为当时的歌曲太商业化，但听众往往记得的就是这些歌曲，高格调的需要时间的磨炼，经得起考验的就成为经典，经不起的就被淡忘，歌手的演艺前途也往下滑。始终相信歌红人红，人红后可把歌带红，歌不红，长久下去，人就不红。有实力的歌手也得碰上好歌，才能延续其演艺事业，无实力的，碰上好歌会一炮而红，过后碰不上好歌就成为一片之星，一糜不振。这其中当然不能全部抹杀天时地利人和的因素。

这演唱会最大的遗憾是不能与老爸共赏，相信他会非常享受这场演唱会，这些经典都是我儿时他常爱播的歌曲，耳濡目染下，我也爱上这些老歌，听着听着，儿时回忆一目一目地浮现眼前。
老爸在生时，当时新加坡不流行老歌手开演唱会，不然我一定带他前来观看。

另一遗憾是我的Nikon D80 不能带进场，原因是太专业了。岂有此理！上一此谭咏麟演唱会，朋友带的D100也可进场。只能大叹倒霉。用手提拍摄的录像过后也被制止! 唉....

李香兰的<三年>。


李香兰的<夜来香>。

Caricature theme - Surf's Up!!!

The client gave me the Surf's Up poster to follow, but replace the penguins with them.
Since it is meant as a birthday gift for this lady, I proposed to have the guy holding the birthday cake, while surfing. The pig she's holding is her soft toy. So is the monkey. The dog is her pet.
The client wanted this caricature to be printed on a mouse pad. Unfortunately, the machine is out of order at that time. Thus, didn't get it done in time for her birthday.

Caricature theme - bike + Labrador Park

Client's request:-

"Caricature as an anniversary gift for my boyfriend, Kelvin Tan.

Create a portrait of him riding his Suzuki GSX1300R K6 - also known as Hayabusa (he has great passion for riding) and me as the pillion. Through this caricature, I hope to bring out the character in him as a sweet and loving boyfriend."

Then she requested to have Pokka Green Tea and Sushi in their hand, with the Labrador Park setting. The yacht in the background was one of her other requests too.

Feedback from her:-

"Hi there!

Thank you for the job well done...
My boyfriend likes the caricature alot. =)

Regards,
Sharin"

On Wealth Magazines

Magazines with the caricatures I have drawn for them in May and July, sent in by my client. Think she missed out the on the lady's jogging caricature. Or it was in these 2 magazines and I missed it?

Caricature for ERM

Farewell gift. The draft was given by the client. Background is the chemical plants of their company, and the usual Singapore landmarks like Merlion, Esplanade and OCBC building. That piece of paper he's holding is the company logo.

Caricature theme - Air stewardess + Marathon runner

Anniversary gift.

The lady is an air stewardess from Singapore Airline (SIA).

Her boy boy is a marathon runner.

So, I proposed to have him chasing after her who's on the SIA plane.

Changed the posture of the Merlion, which curls backward, with a hand pointing at the plane.

Swapped!

Spot the difference from the original?

Ya. Drawn the wrong person as the main character.

Hence got to some touch-up on the softcopy which the client has requested for it earlier on, and have it printed out as hardcopy.

Caricature theme - giraffe + Singapore Botanical Garden

Used for this baby girl's first birthday party as poster placed at the entrance.
She likes Giraffe, and the 2 swans in Singapore Botanical Garden.
The client requested it the original artwork to be scanned into softcopy and printed on a roll-up banner.


The bag for the roll-up banner.


The aluminium casing.

The roll-up banner, about 3feet by 7feet.

Portable!

Caricature theme - wedding

Another wedding caricature. This time, I have a simple posture of the groom standing behind the bride, with his hand on her waist, since they have no design in mind. Looked more like a wedding photo, but in caricature form.

Caricature theme - wedding on DHL hot air balloon

This couple will be using these for their invitation card and wedding (or ROM??!!).

This is where he proposed to her - on the DHL hot air balloon at Beach Road.

Singapore skyline below. Think they are fascinated with the love-shaped eyes Merlion when they collect this artwork - laughing away.

Even my son too. He asked me why do the Merlion have love in her eyes?

Caricature for Ritz Carlton, SIngapore

This is another client from Ritz Carlton.
She wanted the same concept which I have done for her colleague for the previous job.
If possible, I usually won't draw the same design unless the clients insisted.
At least, I will try to do something different.
She agreed.

This is meant as a farewell gift.
The main guy (in the centre, foreground) is from the Food and Beverage (F&B) department. For him, I have him holding a wine glass, toasting. The other 2 guys next to him also from F&B, holding wine bottle. The guy on extreme right is in charge of banquet - have him dining. . The extreme left one is the lounge manager - so on a sofa.
The second row:-
From the left, first guy is the room service manager, so with a trolley, serving food.
Next to him, the secretary of the main guy, jotting down appointments and notes for him.
Next to secretary, the manager of the Green Restaurant - a plate of salad in her hand.
Next to her, the concierge manager - checking available rooms on a PC.
On extreme right, this guy is in chatge of the Chinese Restaurant. So I have him in Chinese Cheongsam with "DimSum" in his hand.
Third row:-
From the left:- in charge of the dish-washing, if I remember correctly.
Next to him, in charge of Snapper Restaurant. Drawn a fish for him.
The 3 guys behind has left Ritz Carlton, but wanted to join in and present him this farewell gift.


Started inking before constructing/sketching the Ritz Carlton building.
A different process, as I don't want the many construction lines of the building messing up the pencil sketches of the caricatures. Another reason was that I don't like to draw buildings, with so many repetitions in the windows. Tried to leave it to the last stage.
Didn't inking still at this stage, as the faces are inked in. Didn't want to smudge the ink while constructing the lines. (The ink is sticky even when it is dried, till colour marker added in.)


Added in the inked outline of the building after the colouring of the caricatures were done.


Finally done!!! Phew!!! Took me about 2 hours on this building alone, which is equivalent to the time to draw about 3-4 caricatures. But this time, the building turned out a lot better than the previous one, at least it was an improvement!!! Glad!

Caricatrue theme - wedding on Melbourne tram

Client's brief"-
"i) Caricature of us as a couple, me in a white wedding gown and my bf in a black suit;
ii) A university of melbourne logo in the background (please write the word "The University of Melbourne" near the logo) (that's our uni); and
iii) A picture of the melbourne tram (tram colour to be yellow and green as per picture and tram sign to say 'Melbourne') in the background (to symbolise Melbourne, the place where we met). I have also enclosed a picture of your caricature of a couple in a beetle. Would like to have something like that with the tram replacing the beetle, is it possible? Do include some colourful confetti flying around as how you did with the beetle picture to add more colour to the picture."

A new caricature theme! Outcome quite good. Added the word "Melbourne" on the tram front, instead of in the background.

time to raise my blog Pagerank soon?

Saw from my StatCounter that Google visited my blog a few times today.
Or was it that the visitors used Google server and landed here?
Don't look like, as there were no referring links, and the posts they visited were in different months of the post. Quite random. Could be checking whether it is human blogging or using software to get other blogs content and insert here. Thought of using it last time, as I don't know what to blog for my content at that time.
Hmmm.... got to work harder. More blogging.......

Caricature for Wealth Magazine - 5

Client's message:-

"Dear Jit,
Could you draw the guy below, in our usual style? I’m sorry, I don’t have a higher resolution. Hope you can use this.
Please draw him examining a table of numbers (like the financial report you see in a company’s annual report). Maybe make him look like a detective (Sherlock Holmes style), holding a magnifying glass to magnify the numbers. He should have a high stack of reports beside him. "

Ya. very low resolution photo provided.

Asked for his name, see if I can search for his photo online.

"No, he doesn’t have a photo online. His name is Mac Kalyan, age 45 or 46. He’s a fund manager and has an idea for finding more information about small companies that banks can use. "

But I found it on Google Images, to my surprise!!! Must be a well-known guy.

Put in Sherlock Holmes' tube, but didn't put on a cap for him, as I think his high forehead and hairstyle are his unique features. Didn't want to hide it. The annual report....... Hahaha... Just got it fresh from SGX (Singapore Exchange) website. It is CH Offshore's first half financial year 2007 annual report, to make the magnified part more convincing, but missed out on the year part..... if you do notice. My fault!

Client giggling away upon seeing this caricature, said his expression is really funny! Hahaha......

Caricature theme - graduation at SMU

Graduation gift for this lady.

Background is the Singapore Management University which she graduated from.

Hmmmm..... yellow colour.... science faculty?! Can't remember what the client told me...... Hahaha......... Not important anyway........

那一段日子.....

在Youtube网上找到这些录影片段，勾起了我的无限回忆与感慨。
转眼已廿十年，当年播了无数次的卡带，现在已经不能再播了。
录像中的歌手艺人不是年华老去，就是已经撒手人间了。唉......

Caricature for Mediacorp Star Search 2007

Think he should be using this as the poster for his own cheer team in the Star Search starting a week plus later. 21st Aug? Should look better in colour, I think. More impact and 3 dimensional feel.

Let's see if we can see this on tv by then.

Caricatures for RSAF

Remember this lady on the left?

This time the 2 ladies in this artwork wanted to give the guy in the centre, this caricature as a farewell gift to them.

Requested for a full view of this RSAF Aeromedical Centre building, but they sent me the same photo supplied previously. Sigh..... no choice but to have the building ends where the 2 ladies stood. (They want them to be standing in front of this building.) Tried my best to spice up this stationary postures.

Getting bored drawing this building, second time!!

Just received another order from this same department, but another client, wanted to have this building drawn again as the background for another caricature. Faint....... Third time!!!

Caricature for NK-Lassic Pte Ltd

A farewell gift to this Japanese lady going back to Japan.

Gave the client some suggestions of sea sports (saw her skiing in the photos) and in Kimono.

She opted for the latter.

Photos provided of her are with glasses, but she requested it to be removed, since this lady seldom put on glasses. Slight challenge, but the bigger challenge was the low resolution photos given. Luckily, she and this lady's brother said this caricature looks very much like her, upon their collection.

Feedback received through email from the client on 13th Aug 2007, 3:21pm:-

"Hi Jit, Thanks for your caricatures. We like it very much and it looks really like her. Thanks for efforts and many good feebacks from the colleagues. Cheers May"

Caricature for Ogilvy

Very long brief from them:-

"Mike (our boss) is leaving Singapore and moving to the New York.Thus, I'm looking at having him running across the bridge between 2 islands(one island with a Singapore skyline and the other island with a New York skyline).The focus should be more of the Singapore island and him running across the bridge.The reason why I say this, is because I need to show that there are somethings chasing after him from the Singapore island.And there should 3 main things running or flying after him - a HUGE Kotex sanitary pad, a HUGE Huggies diaper and a HUGE American Express Blue Box -All should look naughty and evil... I've drawn a rough scamp for your reference. Just to give you a perspective, but feel free to recommend other layouts.I've also attached some reference visuals for you.Singapore skyline - Should include the tall CBD skyline, the Esplanade and the Merlion (plus any other Singaporean icons that you can think of).(See attached file: Singapore Skyline.jpg)New York skyline , in background - Should include the tall skyscrapers(such as Empire state building), the Statue of Liberty and lots of yellow taxis(See attached file: New York - Lady.jpg)(See attached file: New York Skyline.jpg)Baby Diapers - Need to look like the baby ones, White in colour , and should have a suttle Huggies Logo on it at a corner. Please make sure that it has a evil looking face.(See attached file: Disposable_Baby_Diaper.jpg)(See attached file:Huggies%20logo.jpg)Sanitary Pad - Can be flying and running on the bridge. White in colour with a blue strip in the middle, should have a suttle Kotex logo on it at ac orner. Please make sure that it has an evil / naughty looking face.(See attached file: Visual of New Pad.jpg)(See attached file:kotex_logo.gif)Blue Box - This is to represent American Express. Using the logo and makeit like a big blue box with a mean face, also running after him. Please follow reference in terms of styling.(See attached file: Amex Blue Logo.jpg)The hero - Mike - He should look like he is desperately running across the bridge to get away from the evil looking diapers / pads and boxes. He needs to look scared. It will be nice if he can be wearing a baby diaper too. He's Caucasian, thus please ensure that he is does not look too tan.(See attached file: Mike Photo.JPG)Look and feel - we will like the overall look and feel to be funny and bright colurs. Perhaps you might want to consider doing the fish-eye effect, whereby the focus is more the hero and the evil things running after him."


Didn't draw his desperate and scared look as the photo supplied is a smiling one. Can't change the facial muscle like that, as everyone facial muscle changes differently.
Upon seeing the final artwork, the client said she need more pampers, sanitary pads and AMEX boxes.
Saw on her brief of "a HUGE Kotex sanitary pad, a HUGE Huggies diaper and a HUGE American Express Blue Box ", but she said her sketch provided has a few more of each.
She also added in the caption, as she needs to fill up the empty space of the whole drawing.
No choice, but to take it out of the frame and add in, but can only collect the next day, as I need my framing guy to seal the frame.

Distorted prints

See this job I have done previously? This is the original artwork in softcopy.

See this snapshot standee printout they have emailed me?

The client asked me why the board turned out to be square when they requested for a rectangle in landscape format?

I cut out a rectangular cardboard as template for all the caricatures. How can it turn out to be square? After seeing the files on my pc, checking through my blog to double-confirm, I am very sure that the squarish board was not due to the mistake made on my side. My conclusion was that the printer changed the proportion by pulling it up vertically, to get the life-size height.

Now, I was being 'accused'. In fact, I was unhappy seeing this. As a professional printer, he shouldn't distort the artwork like that. Even though this is a caricature, there's a certain proportion we will take into consideration when drawing. It doesn't mean that you distort in any direction, and it will still be alright. Now the printed caricature looked so awkward. I told them the printer should answer for this, and not me.

Caricature in pencil

Last minute birthday gift. 1 day delivery.

Moving soon.....

Paid rental today.
Wanted to renew contract for my shop, which the management hasn't gotten back to me after 1 month. Can you imagine? And they said need 3 months advance notice for renewal.
Asked them again. That girl who collected the rental forgot to pass the message. Damn! Who's going to bear the responsibility?!

I am quite pissed off with the management since the first few days here. They switched off the aircon and lights around 2pm plus. Asked them how am I going to do business here when the whole storey is in the dark? They said contract stated they will on them when deemed fit. Damn!!! Win liao lor!!! Before signing the contract, everything is ok. Told me aircon off only at 10pm, not 8pm+ when I happened to pop by days before signing the contract.

After signing, they get the boss out to speak to me, said everything goes according terms and conditions stated in the contract. What the hell is that? I really felt cheated. He told me Republic Plaza also stops the escalator, lights and aircon early. I paid for the maintenance fee of $500. !@#$%^ He told me if I need them to be on, I need to pay extra for the PUB bills.
What's worse was that after I have moved in, then the tenants around me told me that this China Square Food Centre will be pulled down in March 2008. Nearly fainted after hearing that. Spent few thousands doing up the place, and I can only use it for less than 3 years.

Since I have signed the contract and everything done, I will just have to make do with it. They still switch off the aircon, but don't dare to switch off the lights after I make a fuss at their office.
My clients knew this place. I am getting more walk-ins everyday. To fully utilise my renovation and startup costs, I renewed my contract last October. Now, time for another renewal.

They told me that at most can renew till 28th March 2008.
After that, they will revamp this place, either pull down or renovate this building.
No plan yet.
Think they just don't want to reveal anything yet.
Don't tell me there's no plan so far. Less than 9 months left.

Knew the deadline is March next year, but didn't realise it is so near till today.
Wanted to rent a unit in The Arcade, but taken up by a photocopying service shop, after more than 9 months of vacancy. Thought can bargain with them the rental, given its long vacancy.
Now, got to hunt around for a new place. I am looking for unit around Raffles Place area. Any good suggestions?

Now that my exposure on internet is getting better due to my consistent blogging effort etc, I don't think leaving this place is of too much loss to me. Like the lower rental here, but pissed off with those idiots upstairs. Anyway, a portrait shop in a food centre isn't that professional and ideal. Moving out is just a matter of time. Initial plan of choosing this location is to test the market, whether I can survive in a food centre in Raffles Place. Time has proven that I have done even better, as compared to in Clarke Quay and in Orchard Road. Think the next step is to look for a more ideal location. But I can foresee the rental will increase by at least 50% - 100% or more. Inevitably, my prices will have to go up. I can't be bearing the cost hike all by myself, though I am currently bearing the 2% hike in GST on my drawing materials, season parking etc.......

Caricature theme - birthday

A gift for this lady's 20th birthday. The boy is her son, hodling the cake celebrating with her.

Caricature theme - travel

An anniversary gift.
Think this couple loves traveling.
He wanted the Great Wall of China, Leaning Tower of Pisa, Pyramid, Eiffel Tower and Statue of Liberty, but didn't managed to squeeze in the last one.
I have this design in printed version years ago, but not in softcopy. Thus, it didn't appear on my website and blog (think so). Did this design again to add to my portfolio on this blog, as well as sample for clients when looking for ideas. for caricature themes.

Caricatures for Procter & Gamble (P&G)

Considered a regular client, as they engaged my service quite often, though by different person most of the time.

Client's brief:-

".... the idea is to drive the three main themes : Talent, Team and Founding members.. So, I can picture at this point at least 2 options - one would be the Talent Show theme where everybody is performing and showcasing "different" talents,- this portrays Talent and Team. The other could be a "team" of "Explorers" on a expedition, who discover say, the "AAI Talent Practice Island" - so, the leader is seen to be hoisting the team flag on the island and the others following him hitting land."

My proposal:-
"I think the second option of "Explorers" is a more fun theme. As what you said, the leader will be hoisting the team flag on the island, while the rest either on the small boats, some stepping on the water near the shore, some on the beach, but all running in one direction towards the leader and the flag."

Her reply:-
"Hi Jit, This sounds fun. Specifically, on the big boat you could have written : The Talent Scouts and the tagline could be " Discovery of the AAI Talent Practice". "

Due to limited budget, the cliemnt opted for the ink version, which to me, should look better in colour.

Really in holiday mood when doing this job, despite the number of errands to run, which took of some of my time. Only managed to finish 90% the whole artwork in Kuantan, and the rest when back in Singapore.

Back from Kuantan!

About 6 hours of drive today.
Thought I will be too tired to drive after half day of hanging and pasting banners, stickers and doing some paint works for my brother's handphone shop, but no. Maybe should thank the ice coffee at breakfast time.
Lots of errands to run for this trip.
Missed out some good food, especially those at the market - the 'Look Look' and the dried noodle.
Didn't manage to bring my kids to the famous Telok Cempedak beach, which my son has requested since the first day there. Sigh.... though first few days were drizzling.
Hopefully I can have the time to post up those photos of the food (hahaha... think only snap photos of the food). It's a shame that I have not posted the photos of last trip to Kuantan during Chinese New Year and the Italy trip.
Sigh.... time is never enough for me.
P&G group caricatures not done yet. Damn!...... behind schedule!!!