WELL, HELLO THERE

I am so over counting how long I've abandoned this digital canvas, but I'm not over saying how I'm too busy to update this... only because I really am.

It's the start of June and I've been struggling on one end of this really long string, and enjoying life at the other. Tying the knot at the middle to balance these two sides is what I'm tryna do. Wow, deep shit there, Trace. You sure you're ok?

I did some self-reflection the other day and the thoughts has been haunting me. Since I can't explicitly explain the "bad" stuff of what's happening in my professional life (for obvious reasons (Google is everyone's best friends)), I'll skip that part (which I am 110% will regret for not penning this down because you and I both know I have Dory's memory).

Let's flashback to 2012 when I saw a simple ad on some pillar at a rundown shopping mall beside my University that says "VACANCY: GRAPHIC DESIGNER PART TIME". Gosh, I remembered I wanted to jump on that offer so bad. I went over to their little shop; They're a small team of 5 creating wedding cards, consisting of 3 middle-aged owners, 2 young graphic designers. Key takeaway here are 3 owners; THREE. It was a walk-in interview and I remembered panicking a little because I only had one skill and that was Photoshop. It wasn't top-tier Photoshop skills, but it was a strong basic I would say. I mean, I had the program back when I was in High School, me having the curiosity to fiddle around with it is a God-given blessing itself.

I panicked because the little test for the Graphic Designer part time role was to create a map (ones that you'll see on the back of a cheap-ass wedding invite) with an example given... with Illustrator. WITH ILLUSTRATOR. Now, at the time, I only had the program back home for about a month and hadn't got time to play around with it. Thinking to fake it till I make it, I sat down and REALLY tried to create the damn map.

I remembered clicking here and there with the mouse, after drawing a line and then accidentally make 10 copies of the same lines (exaggeration, but yeah). Tbf, I did mention I was only 'good' at Photoshop. Give me Photoshop and I can create that goddamn map in no time. Of course at the time I didn't know terms like vector or things like that, where if I did anything in Illustrator, it could be resized to a humongous size and yada yada, complete opposite to Photoshop. Well, it's called PHOTOshop for a reason.

At the end, they had to think about taking me in. That itself gave me so much hope lol. I wanted and was obsessed to get experience in any art related job / course. For some goddamn reason, I can't take an elective subject pertaining to anything because my University sucks balls. I'm still mad to this day. I could've just paid more to get myself into one semester in Graphic Design class, but NO. They don't do that. I'M STILL MAD AND I ADMIT IT.

It doesn't help that I'm stuck in some business course because I couldn't afford a full art / design course. Many come up to me bewildered asking the same thing "Why aren't you in Design school again???" Three question marks, that's how confused they are. Flash back to the day I got a First-class Degree in my Marketing course (surprise surprise) which means I get exempted from paying back my student loans. If only I did that with a GD course, I COULD have essentially be exempted from paying my GD course loan and only be responsible for all the art materials I gotta purchase for that course. Right now, I'm just a vessel of if only's, maybe's and what if's.

Back to my story; they called maybe, a few days later. It was a messy phone call. Remember the 3 owners? The call started with, "yeah sure we'll hire you" and then at the back 2 of 'em were discussing with the one on the phone and then it went "hold on" and more talking at the back. And then ended with "No, no we're not hiring". Uh...

Ok. Well I'm not mad about this I'm honestly more mad that I couldn't add any GD-related classes to my list of subjects. Imagine working there LOL? 3 heads telling you what to do, AT THE SAME TIME? It's not like I'm glad I didn't join this, but I'm glad I wasn't like sad, sad that I didn't "made it". It would have been a cool story bro moment though, like "Oh yeah started from the bottom, at a local wedding invite design store". Anyway, I got a few weeks later as an Art Instructor near my place, which I'm still working at part-time till today. I insisted to get a job in this Art industry to somehow show the world that I'm serious about this. I know I wasn't privileged enough to be learning this in some high-accredited institutions like The One Academy or Lim Kok Wing, or whatever art school there is out there. But to show I DO have passion for anything art/design related that, that itself pushed me to learn these Adobe programs, and that this "fire" hasn't burned out to this day.

In that same year, I vowed to learn Illustrator because seeing that graphic designer so fast and quick on that program when drawing a simple ass map made me look bad lol. In that same year, I created Illustrations that I put up for sale two years later. They say it's not that good to be so involved in every area because then you won't be focused / a master in one; but I never learn. To this day, I am a walking (self-proclaimed) art enthusiast and I cannot not just drop what has become of my hobbies: Sketching, drawing, digital illustrations, typography, calligraphy, watercolour, photography, graphic design -- posters, logos, flyers, branding; and let's add in guitar, ukulele, piano and programming in that mix too. All these are what I can be proud of personally even if people don't see it yet, because it was my self-initiative that made me learn these things.

Flash forward to 2014, is when I uploaded my digital illustrations to the public for sale on Society6.com/itstracyy (cool plug bro). I've got little engagement on there, it's not anyone's fault but mine. In order to get more likes and possible sale, you've got to be active on there commenting on work by other artist's and the same will be done to yours. But... as said in the second paragraph of this post, "I'm too busy".

Flash forward to today, I'm a full timer at a local Company, shy of 8 months. I write, illustrate digital pieces, done photography, and created UI for clients as well. I wouldn't say I'm a Sifu of Photoshop and Illustrator now but boy I can tell you it's a explicitly drastic 4 years or so difference between then and now -- From not being able to draw simple maps to illustrations like these.

And if that's nothing to be proud of myself, I don't know what is.

I know I'll never get to be professionally called a Graphic Designer or a Designer alone or anything of the sort, but to be able to hone my craft and deliver, is satisfying for me. For now.

But hanging on mid-2016? Yeah, I am but I'm not letting go.

Labels: art, random

CURTIS TURNS ONE; MICHELLE AND I GOT TO BE THE PARTY PLANNERS


BTS




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I have to say, organising a party (almost) from the nitty gritty plans to managing the actual party can get pretty exhausting considering the amount of DIYs you'd have to go through to get to these pretty Pinterest-worthy (I hope) pictures. I went for the unconventional illustration for the invite poster on this one, because well, baby birthday posters are usually too 'fun & cheer' in my opinion. Let me add a touch of manlihood for baby Curtis- He's one, he should have it. He should. Which also explains the color scheme I chose; it's not too grunge for a baby's party but it's not too happy and bright and rainbows and unicorns either. Perfect balance, I'd like to think. Also did some themed poster signage for gift bags area which is aptly named 'baggage claim' and food labeled as 'in-flight meals'. We're so funny. More on the actual party, Michelle and I DIY those decorative treats — Lolli-propellers, airplane garland, propeller straws (of course the straws are store bought), pin the propeller game, the gift bags; and one of my favourite, the cupcake toppers— based on the airplane themed.

Also, I got to practice photography with fast moving objects i.e. kids, and semi-bad lighting. The photos turned out great! Better than I expected. My ISO was bump up to 1600, crazy high considering the venue was near the window with natural afternoon sunlight. A little grainy for some but I'm learning. Although... I do actually like the grain on some of the pictures. Maybe I'm just biased. So good job, me.

Michelle and I are planning to pursue this event planning thing. We don't know where are we heading with this but 'Budget Event Planning' comes to mind. Best believe we did all of that DIY in less than MYR100. That's the business model we're talking about. I believe we need a budget planner for small to medium size scale parties.

1. Contact these *ahem* awesome budget planners via venturebanana(at)gmail(dot)com — Tell us your details and we'll quote you a good price!
2. If you'd like the airplane cake, find the awesome baker here.
3. Want the files to these printable (and editable!) visuals (ie. cupcake topper & posters)? Email me at tracywee93(at)gmail(dot)com

VIEW THE FULL ALBUM HERE



Photo post-processing with Adobe Photoshop CS3

Labels: advertisement, art, Birthdays, photography

CURRENT VIBE

Labels: MusicReviews

5 - 8 July 2015

THIS IS PROBABLY MY 234837TH TIME TO THAILAND


But who's complaining? When you thought you couldn't love Thailand any more than you already have, and Koh Samui proves you wrong. Of course, the water looks straight out of Google Images, it is that beautiful. Pretty sure I made you want to jump into that picture right there. Don't is my advice. This was taken during the boat ride from Surat Thani to Koh Samui island during Day 1 (Yes, it takes almost the whole day to travel from Malaysia > Koh Samui)... So, we're talkin' x amount of depth here. Who knows what's lurking behind that? Cannibalistic mermaids, maybe?

I strapped on my DSLR for the whole trip; One, for fear someone might rob me off it and two, pictures can't take themselves.
One of many things that still amazes me is that everywhere in Thailand, these scary lookin' wires hang just right above your head. And slowly you start to imagine the unknown... I actually saw one sparked so, that one particularly wasn't my 'bright' imagination (ba dum tss). These were Day 2 whilst walking around our chalet along Chaweng Beach Road in Chaweng Noi. I have to say though, this is a tourist-infested island — More than half the time I didn't feel like I was in Thailand if it wasn't for the street and vendor signs; beauty/spa parlors, malls, the streets, the beach, are filled with white folks from the US, UK, Australia, France, etc. (observing from their accent, of course). Actually, come to think of it, I felt we were the odd ones out lol. Pro-tip: Noi is 'small', according to our cab driver.

The one thing that's on the top of my checklist was to lay in the bright, blue water... which I didn't get to that much. It's partly my fault for wanting to take pictures and by the time I had my fill of candids, the rain the storm decided to crash the party. I literally was in the water for less than 2 minutes and I'm not exaggerating on that one. Bummer. Lesson learned, Tracy.










































































Photo post-processing with Photoshop CS3

Labels: photography, Thailand, Travel