Nostalgia Show Recap

August 19^th, 2016 marked the second year of the Nostalgia Show and the last bit of fall! Local artists, Natalia Virufuentas and Elgin Bokari, created the Nostalgia Show to showcase and provide a space for various facets of art produced by other artistically inclined Artists in Chicago.

Natalia Virufuentas 

The Nostalgia Show is a gallery event that lets artists run wild with their renditions of childhood cartoons and shows that appealed to them. For this year’s theme, local artists produced work that highlighted their favorite dastardly villain or courageous hero. 

 Several artists took to using the mic and their lyrical and musical skills, rapping and using poetry with memories of popular shows and strengthening messages imbedded within. The others used paintings, drawings, and even plushies and 3d printed art works as their mediums of choice.

Elgin Bokari

I was able to speak with Elgin and he had this to share:

“I had a great time and love seeing my people smile and enjoy themselves. The NBostalgia Show is a means o f connecting with your inner child and getting back to times in whixh the boggest ccare in the world was simply choosing what cartoon or favorite show you wanted to watch. We struggle to stay balanced in this crazy world, reliving positive moments only breeds an awaking of new energy.”

Crossposted on Sugargamers.com

 All pictures are property of James Brodie Photography

New Banner!

Whew! Not only did I update the banner for my Youtube channel...

I also got to redo my banner for my blog too! 

Old

New

 Yippu!

The old one wasn't working for the new background I had. Too black and white and the size was just not ready too. For some minor changes, also changed some of the fonts too so its not too busy.

I feel like I should have thrown something fall-esque in there... like some pumpkins or leaves. Maybe I will pop something in there one of these days. hahaha 

~~Updates~~

So, I have been trying to find a second job or freelance these days. Having another month of no work is not really fun. I applied to a few retail shops and firms. I am trying to stay calm, but I feel like a tea kettle almost at boiling point. :/

Plus, my skills still need refining for normal life/career. *sigh* 

I feel super lost in this post college life. Some days feel really good and I get hopeful, some days seem bleak. I just want to wake up and have it be like a script... wake up from a play or something. lol 

I also don't really get Linkedin either. I was told several times I needed one, but it feels like another Facebook to me...just more boring! I know it is for work, but geez... (-__-;

Other updates... I have been working out and meditating off and on again. Sucks my diet is horrid at the moment. I miss my veggies! 

I have been doing more Youtube vids again! It feels kinda good. I am glad people are enjoying them! 

I am amped for the Alternative Fashion Walk hosted by myself and two of my ColumAlum, Brit and Krisi! I hope you stay tuned for pictures! 

Infinity Loop + err0r

I saw one of my past French Teachers on Thursday! It's been about 7 or so years of being in his class. My French has gotten so rusty over the years.C'est Mal!! I even forgot how to reintroduce myself in the heat of the moment. It was sad. He told me to keep working hard and all that. .

I have been getting good advice from friends and mentors lately. Its like a pep talk or one of those huddles before you do your thing or play football!

SO!!~ I did the thing. I made another mini video for Youtube. 

I would have loved to actually wear a nurse uniform for this.... but oh well. Maybe next time, right?
I wanted to tell a story between robots/androids. One is aware that the other is malfunctioning due to bad reprogramming or malware, but the one that is, isn't.

And, even though all this stuff about doll people or whatever thats in right now... nah. I prefer catgirls and robots! Which totally takes me back to my old online gaming and Apocryfa ones too. 

The Nostalgia Show

On February 21, Natalia and Elgin rounded up a bunch of Chicago artists to create pieces based off our favourite childhood cartoons and also video games for the Nostalgia Show.
It was great looking at pieces that the other artists did, and great to be in an environment literally bursting with creativity! The place was packed!!

Shintendo and Vagabond from The Terra Gods, Elephant Rebellion, and WestSide School for the Desperate had AMAZING hip hop and poetry performances throughout the night. I never knew that DragonBall Z and also random video games from my childhood could be made into poetry!

I was also able to meet up with some familiar faces as well! Kira*Kira (Black Cherry and Gal*luxy) and her boyfriend Kurt, Chris and Doga, Crystal, Tim, and Ashley all made it out!

From Ivonne Chavez

Lovemi Designs

My Ahh! Real Monsters piece and I.

Natalia Virafuentas

Natalia Sustaita

Elephant Rebellion

Lovemi Design

Elgin

Nat and Tan

Spirit Bomb...for 10 episodes

2602 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

WCG's Spotlight

Interview: Shigetomo Of MGX Factory

Shigetomo is a Japanese illustrator and designer, residing in Osaka, Japan. He likes to collect inspiration for his illustrations from Facebook and also collects vintage pictures books. In his drawn world, he creates big, alien eyed girls called Monster Girls with frowns on their faces, accompanied with cats or rabbits also with frowns and angry looking eyes. His colour scheme is centered on pastels and also polka dots he also takes inspiration from cats, rabbits, and mushrooms.

 He was inspired by graffiti design and typography. Shigetomo also has a café, inspired by East Germany.  He has created prints and also clothes with his work on them for sale. His design products range from t shirts, bags, prints for soap dispensers, and even has an iPhone app available to Japanese iPhone holders. He and his wife also design dolls, both having different from each other. He enjoys solo rides on his bike.

Book spotlight in a British book

Interview

Lisha: Good evening,  Shigetomo. It has been a while since we have talked. I have some (interview) questions for you if you have some time.

Shigetomo: Good evening!

L: I would like to know your inspiration for your works.

S: What sort of inspiration do you want to talk about?

L: Any type of inspiration from you is fine. Art, books, anything.

S: You mean, that… What I got inspiration from? I got it from old picture books and young fashion. And cat and rabbit, etc.

MGX shirt

L: Cat and rabbit? I don’t know if I know of them… (thinking they were specific characters or not) Real animals? (Your animals) look like cute stuffed animal toys.

S: Yes, real cats and rabbits. They are adorable! A lot of ideas come when I see them!

L: That’s interesting! Your drawn girls look kind of like the cats too. What do you think about Graffiti style? Some of your old art has a bit of the same feeling to it. Was it your inspiration before?

S: Graffiti is an interesting art that tested all kinds of typographies.

L: I think the world needs a bit of Monster Girl Graffiti in it! Who are some of your favorite artists?

S: Anime, Sci fi movies, Manga… I watched a lot of them. I like Evelin, Mark Ryden, Rita Ackermann and more. I like old European picture books. Especially Kuhn, Werner, and Klemke.

L: Thank you for the list! I like Rita’s work! Why are the girls “Monster Girls”?

S: Monster Girls are mysterious, strange emotion girls. Just look like they are mad or upset. Also, Monster Girls are made from mushrooms. They are mushroom people.

L: Interesting! I didn't know they were from mushrooms. So, What do you do when you do not feel very
creative? And were there any mentors for you, or do you have one now?

S:  I like mushrooms. I will read a book of mushrooms and fungi when ideas do not come to me. When you are in a café talking to friends is also a good idea to have ideas come to me.

I currently do not have a mentor. Before, I worked at a graphic design firm, but illustration was self taught.

L: Thank you for the interview! I really appreciate it!

You can also download the Monster Girl messenger app for your Android phone to send a cute note to a friend!

MGX App

Originally published for Columbia College Chicago, Winter 2013

 (Thank you to Hidenori Onishi for helping with the translation.
Photos courtesy of MGX and Yamamoto Shigetomo)

A Nightmare Before Christmas

On the 22nd of December, Natalia organized another art show, this time the theme was Tim Burton's A Nightmare Before Christmas. Different artists that she selected showcased their work with Tim Burton themed paintings and drawings!

There were also two bands and two hip hop artists that played there as well. With the music, food, art and good people, the night became lively and inspiring.

The poster I created for the event

Cid Zombie's crazy works!

Natalia Sustaita's Work! And her super cute cookies and cupcakes!

Amil's Work

Mynor's works

Paul Thompson's work

Cafeteria Yesenia
4244 S Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60609
(773) 523-8480

Art!

Happy Halloween!

Carved my first pumpkin last weekend! It was pretty fun!

 I have watched a lot of amazing and interesting things that have sparked an idea in my mind. I try to sketch it or write notes down as fast as possible before I forget (which happens too often!!)so try to take advantage of art days at my home where I can take my mind off some things and paint or sketch a little something here and there.

Here are a two sketches:

This one is a sketch I did when I started of thinking "what do I want to draw?" I thought of an idea a friend told me about, so I wanted to draw a picture that might go with it. The inked pic is a little distorted though.... I liked the moments where I can quickly get out an idea and still like it after i got a lot of it planned out by pencil!

Sketch with blue pencil and inking process

Pencil portrait sketching

This one is drawn with some strong emotion to it. I took a pic, edited on my phone, and uploaded to instagram. I also wanted to draw it because I wanted to try to match the angle of the face.







I also edited a picture (with persmission :p)
Of Utsukushii gal's Rii. I really liked the photo, and just wanted to play around with making it look like it should be in a magazine.The second one is just amping up the colours withing the hair, darkening the shadows, and making her eyes and lips POP! 










BAM! SUPER GLAM!













The third picture is just me making her eye make up look more dramatic, and changing the lip colour to a more purple tone. I still want to make it a bit more edgy though.






Being stressed out isn't fun! And though I cannot make all the stress just *poof* and disappear, I try to get in some meditating, praying, and writing stuff down so I can manage my time a bit easier. Just meditating once or twice, making one list, or just saying things will change won't make things happen magically, but getting into the habit of changing how you look at things that gets you down helps a lot!

Taken when I went to La for Anime Expo