a sketch or two a dayTumblr (3.0; @sketchbysl)http://sketch.bysusanlin.com/<p>I can’t deny the value of reading, for example, and when I see everyone I aspired to around me doing so, I go ship myself the most appealing book at the time.</p> <p>However, after skimming the first few chapters, I tend to forget about the thing and let it collect dust for months before ever picking it up again. The feeling? Waste of money, space, time, effort, intent - I could have spent those hours doing something I truly enjoyed. In the end, I would have felt good about the time put into the result instead of regretting.</p> <p><strong>Lesson </strong>Instead of gravitating toward things you think you <em>should </em>be doing, take a step back and figure out the things you actually enjoy doing. As we grow up, it becomes more and more evident that we’re all racing against time. To develop a good handle on anything, it’ll take dedication and hours. But more importantly, it’ll be an enjoyable journey on the way to that peak point.</p>http://sketch.bysusanlin.com/post/873956492http://sketch.bysusanlin.com/post/873956492Thu, 29 Jul 2010 01:45:33 -0400<img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l5zyp1deWr1qagczco1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Reminiscing via photographs - Look at how small and cute Habu was when we first got her guinea pig butt. She’s also fond of the camera (<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bysusanlin/sets/72157622401790329/">click-thru for Flickr set</a>).</p>http://sketch.bysusanlin.com/post/848474025http://sketch.bysusanlin.com/post/848474025Fri, 23 Jul 2010 02:15:00 -0400guinea pigguineapigcutefluffyhabubabyyoungphotosflickr<img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l5y8qbtuvJ1qagczco1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>I can’t stop thinking about this plush Totoro mousepad I spotted today…</p> <p>Sometimes, Form > Function.</p>http://sketch.bysusanlin.com/post/844303082http://sketch.bysusanlin.com/post/844303082Thu, 22 Jul 2010 03:56:00 -0400totoromousepadcute<img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l5vj26X1XI1qagczco1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>More notebooks than I could possibly find time to fill…</p> <p>I wandered into an Anthropologie last night after getting my fro-yo fix. Picked up both the Lime and Purple washes for 4 a pop. <3 I’d be willing to pay around 10 for a good sketchbook.</p> <p>The paper inside is slick (good for pens), and is lined w/ a dotted grid.</p>http://sketch.bysusanlin.com/post/838554861http://sketch.bysusanlin.com/post/838554861Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:00:00 -0400anthropologiesketchbookgrids<img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l5oe1omaxz1qagczco1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a href="http://shirt.woot.com/Derby/Entry.aspx?id=44074">3 Birds</a> is under New Hotness! 3rd derby submission is doing well (appropriately for the “three” themed derby).</p> <p>One thing I like emphasizing in my process for shirt design is <strong>the placement</strong>. The front of our bodies, as a canvas, are rarely flat. Draw shapes to wrap around the curves!</p>http://sketch.bysusanlin.com/post/821378622http://sketch.bysusanlin.com/post/821378622Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:15:00 -04003 birdsbirdsbirdartCMYKshirttshirtdesignwoot!derbycontest<img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l5kzcxDa2O1qagczco1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>As much as my love for organic foods and branded clothes grows, I will always love love love stores like <a href="http://www.daisojapan.com/">Daiso Japan</a> who stock ridiculously cheap but cute things.</p> <p>Interestingly perhaps, the cashier was a fairly young (high school?) white boy. He politely asked me how I was, and in return, I smile and asked him as well. He snapped out of his polite talk mode, and looked genuinely happy that I returned the question. Poor guy was probably getting ignored by all the Asian ladies buying toilet scrubbers. So, glad to have made his day.</p> <p><em><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bysusanlin/sets/72157624497416102/">click-thru</a> for rest of cute swag</em></p>http://sketch.bysusanlin.com/post/813665430http://sketch.bysusanlin.com/post/813665430Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:05:22 -0400cutedaiso japanjapaneseswagcatskitties<img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l5bj6rDz421qagczco1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a href="http://shirt.woot.com/Derby/Entry.aspx?id=43786%20">Support pls!</a> I drew a kiwi on of a pile of kiwis for the latest derby.</p> <p>At any rate,<br/>Chances of popularity: slim.<br/>Benefits of giving myself a reason to do something I actually enjoy: infinite.</p>http://sketch.bysusanlin.com/post/791685920http://sketch.bysusanlin.com/post/791685920Fri, 09 Jul 2010 21:37:39 -0400woot shirtdesigntshirtkiwikiwisfuzzycute<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l4jy35qWND1qagczco1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Now, this is truly a sketch (5, 10 minutes?). <a href="http://bysusanlin.com/cheesebear.swf">Click thru to see the animation</a>.</p>http://sketch.bysusanlin.com/post/733329523http://sketch.bysusanlin.com/post/733329523Fri, 25 Jun 2010 00:06:00 -0400sketchgbearcheesebearanimationflashdumb<img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l4icrd6IhY1qagczco1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Day 02 — Your favorite movie</p> <p>Instead of reposting posters, decided to doodle something!</p> <p>I just saw <em>Toy Story 3 </em>this past Sunday. That being said, Pixar movies are SOLID. <em>Toy Story 3</em> is my favorite movie of the moment. (See, 5 stars.)</p> <p>Other long time favorite movies include <em>Totoro</em> and <em>Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo</em>.</p>http://sketch.bysusanlin.com/post/730606446http://sketch.bysusanlin.com/post/730606446Thu, 24 Jun 2010 03:28:00 -0400doodlefan artfanartmoviesphotoshoppixarsketchtoy storytoy story 330 days<img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l45is0mbOq1qagczco1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l45is0mbOq1qagczco2_500.jpg"/><br/> the aftermath<br/><br/> <img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l45is0mbOq1qagczco3_500.jpg"/><br/> cheap economy canvases... rippable<br/><br/> <img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l45is0mbOq1qagczco4_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l45is0mbOq1qagczco5_500.jpg"/><br/> based on this post-it sketch<br/><br/> <p>IT’S ABOUT TIME I picked up the brush again. In an hour and a half (respectively), I laid out the first two paintings of the summer.</p> <p><em>For the Modern Art Enthusiasts</em> - Sometimes, you can’t help but to feel lost. The ground you are walking on, is it real? Even if it’s clearly concrete, doesn’t it feel like thin ice at times? What if you just plunged into bitterly cold waters? This caved path with spots of light poking through means to show you that not only there is a clearing at the end of the pass, but little spots of wonder throughout the journey as well. Surreal, wonderment, provoking.</p> <p><em>For Everyone Else - </em>I wanted to paint some pretty trees.</p> <p><em>Regarding the second painting</em> - Due to the leftovers, and the desire not to waste paint, I used what I had to sketch out a second piece. There’s not much to it, maybe I’ll finally get some people practice.</p> <p>At any rate, I love the stench of turpentine. Even if my professional title is “Interaction Designer,” the creativity that dwells in me expresses itself naturally in painting.</p>http://sketch.bysusanlin.com/post/707473868http://sketch.bysusanlin.com/post/707473868Thu, 17 Jun 2010 05:09:33 -0400brushpaintpaintingoil paintslandscapetreescouplecutesketch<img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l456dcaksj1qagczco1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Why haven’t I shared this yet? <a href="http://www.linkedin.com">LinkedIn</a> and <a href="http://yelp.com">Yelp</a> pillows inspired by the Adobe CS pillows seen on the internet. A very simple, and rewarding, diy project.</p>http://sketch.bysusanlin.com/post/706872129http://sketch.bysusanlin.com/post/706872129Thu, 17 Jun 2010 00:41:00 -0400craftpillowslinkedinyelpfavicontechgeekfor fun<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l41u6q54at1qagczco1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Day 03 - Your Favorite Television Program</p> <p>I’m still listening to the soundtrack, and it still makes me fluffy on the inside. Can anyone recommend anything of the same caliber?</p> <p><em>I skipped a from Day 01 to 03, kthnx g’night.</em></p>http://sketch.bysusanlin.com/post/700462522http://sketch.bysusanlin.com/post/700462522Tue, 15 Jun 2010 05:25:37 -040030 daysautumn's concerto<object width="400" height="336"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YloRfljPeqI&rel=0&egm=0&showinfo=0&fs=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YloRfljPeqI&rel=0&egm=0&showinfo=0&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="336" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent"></embed></object><br/><br/><p>Day 01 - Your favorite song</p> <p>This is it, at least for the moment. I pop on a song like this whenever I’m designing, and need something soothing to keep me going through the pixel pushing.</p>http://sketch.bysusanlin.com/post/662627908http://sketch.bysusanlin.com/post/662627908Fri, 04 Jun 2010 03:28:50 -040030 daysvideojay chouchinesemusic<p>Sorry for the lack of updates! I am being creative, and such, however most of my work recently is bound by NDAs. Thus, keeping my legal promise, I’m not allowed to share any of it until it goes live on their respective sites.</p> <p>All of it takes up most of my time, and pushes the majority of my pet projects into the back burner.. for now.</p> <p>Enjoy my stabs at Woot! derbies (with 129 votes, I am very happy with <a href="http://shirt.woot.com/Derby/Entry.aspx?id=42710">my first go</a>) since I am sure to enter more.</p> <p>Also, I’ll pursue this in the meantime. Maybe it’ll humor some of you.</p> <p>Day 01 — Your favorite song<br/>Day 02 — Your favorite movie<br/>Day 03 — Your favorite television program<br/>Day 04 — Your favorite book<br/>Day 05 — Your favorite quote<br/>Day 06 — Whatever tickles your fancy<br/>Day 07 — A photo that makes you happy<br/>Day 08 — A photo that makes you angry/sad<br/>Day 09 — A photo you took<br/>Day 10 — A photo of you taken over ten years ago<br/>Day 11 — A photo of you taken recently<br/>Day 12 — Whatever tickles your fancy<br/>Day 13 — A fictional book<br/>Day 14 — A non-fictional book<br/>Day 15 — Part of a story<br/>Day 16 — A song that makes you cry (or nearly)<br/>Day 17 — An art piece (painting, drawing, sculpture, etc.)<br/>Day 18 — Whatever tickles your fancy<br/>Day 19 — A talent of yours<br/>Day 20 — A hobby of yours<br/>Day 21 — A recipe<br/>Day 22 — A website<br/>Day 23 — A YouTube video<br/>Day 24 — Whatever tickles your fancy<br/>Day 25 — Your day, in great detail<br/>Day 26 — Your week, in great detail<br/>Day 27 — This month, in great detail<br/>Day 28 — This year, in great detail<br/>Day 29 — Hopes, dreams and plans for the next 365 days<br/>Day 30 — Whatever tickles your fancy</p> <p>30 Days via <a href="http://chanjou.tumblr.com/">chanjou</a></p>http://sketch.bysusanlin.com/post/659325721http://sketch.bysusanlin.com/post/659325721Thu, 03 Jun 2010 03:55:00 -0400ramblenda<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l37ijppSEU1qagczco1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Awhile back, someone suggested that I try joining the shirt design community, and making some pocket change with my abilities. Here’s the first stab on Woot! Shirt’s current Psychedelia derby.</p> <p>Version with a hand: <a href="http://shirt.woot.com/Derby/Entry.aspx?id=42692"><a href="http://shirt.woot.com/Derby/Entry.aspx?id=42692">http://shirt.woot.com/Derby/Entry.aspx?id=42692</a></a></p>http://sketch.bysusanlin.com/post/645100745http://sketch.bysusanlin.com/post/645100745Sat, 29 May 2010 20:26:12 -0400shirtwoot!wootderbydesignsdjpsychedelicart<img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l32ai5zYyw1qagczco1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l32ai5zYyw1qagczco2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l32ai5zYyw1qagczco3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l32ai5zYyw1qagczco4_r1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>From concept to realization, it’s the Nyanko (<em>Natsume Yuujinchou</em>) pillow plush cushion I made for a friend’s uber belated birthday gift.</p> <p>Retrospective: The design would have probably fared better without the stubby feet at the bottom, though I wouldn’t say it’s too bad for one of the more complicated designs I’ve undertaken.</p>http://sketch.bysusanlin.com/post/636596517http://sketch.bysusanlin.com/post/636596517Thu, 27 May 2010 00:44:00 -0400nyankonatsumeyuujinchouanimepillowplushcraftdiygiftsoftfluffysquishyfleececushion<img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l2qvp4lFd81qagczco1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Mochicat is a collection of 2D pixel games exploring the usage of progressive music+art to enrich the player’s experience. <a href="http://mochicat.bysusanlin.com/mochicat_beta.zip">Play the beta version!</a> (Windows only for now.)</p>http://sketch.bysusanlin.com/post/617627679http://sketch.bysusanlin.com/post/617627679Thu, 20 May 2010 20:51:04 -0400watercolorpencilsketchmochicatcatcatsstackcutequeueheapgameindie game<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l2hlrqb4ah1qagczco1_r1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l2hlrqb4ah1qagczco2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l2hlrqb4ah1qagczco3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l2hlrqb4ah1qagczco4_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>Old news, but photos of a keychain pair for someone special (and me!). Designed and handmade from scratch, of course.</p>http://sketch.bysusanlin.com/post/602191514http://sketch.bysusanlin.com/post/602191514Sat, 15 May 2010 20:38:00 -0400plushhandmadesewnkeychainscraftartsbeargbearmumuchupikachucatcute<img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l2ehxwv3ro1qagczco1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>I feel like I don’t relax enough. Maybe, my busybody state is what gets me going in life.. but, you know, if I can’t even take a moment to breathe, then all that success really means nothing.</p> <p>Leave me at peace while I enjoy something that takes my mind off my life. <em>P.S. I also recommend this drama.</em></p>http://sketch.bysusanlin.com/post/597624898http://sketch.bysusanlin.com/post/597624898Fri, 14 May 2010 04:22:00 -0400asian dramadramanext stop happinessautumn's concerto<img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l2br5iYcZn1qagczco1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>This sketch was inspired by the art of <a href="http://art.yukister.com/">Yuki Nakano</a> as part of a series of style emulation.</p>http://sketch.bysusanlin.com/post/593259614http://sketch.bysusanlin.com/post/593259614Wed, 12 May 2010 16:48:54 -0400yuki nakanosketchwatercolorwatercolor pencilwomenfigure