Borders' Marshmallow and Holly, Artist Interview - Character Design Blog and Happy Holidays!!!

Kei’s interview on Character Design Blog!!
Many thanks to Randall Sly for my interview on character design blog! Click on this link to see the interview.

Keeping with the Holiday theme, here are some more awesome photos of the Borders campaign from our friends Shawn Escott, Bill Presing and Ikumi, and Fabian from SF. Thanks so much again for the photos guys!









Many thanks to everyone who's been leaving comments and emailing us with your kindest thoughts about Marshmallow and Holly! We're very glad to hear such great responses.





And for those of you who inquired about Marshmallow and Holly prints, we've just added them onto our store along with several other new prints! View Prints Here


MERRY CHRISTMAS to all!
-Kei

Dragon Art - Title: "Carrot Run"

Dragons, dragons and more dragons! Here's a piece I did recently. Unfortunately I didn't do it in time for our Dragon Sketches book.

If you'd like to see more dragon illustrations please visit our Dragons section of our portfolio.

Title: CARROT RUN by Bobby Chiu
Software: Photoshop
Description: "Every year, a young member of the Fuz'hy Lindt Tribe who has come of age must prove his worth by donning the blessed regalia of the sacred carrot and leading the Tribe on the Great Hunt. Only the fastest and bravest of warriors will ensure a successful Carrot Run, providing food for the Tribe through the winter."



Here's a fun animated gif I put together to show a bit of work in progress.

Art Classes at Seneca and Schoolism.com

School information update:

Seneca College Digital Painting classes are open for Registration.
Start Date: February 5, 2008
Location: Seneca (York campus)
(Keele, north of Finch) MAP
Duration: 9 week course.
7-10pm every Tuesday
Cost: $595
Bring a tablet. There will be a few tablets available but not enough for everyone.
Limit to 30 spots. Register HERE

It's bigger and better than the one that I did at Sheridan. Now with the integration of schoolism.com it's the best of both worlds. You'll be able to do the live classes with me and also have access to my online class videos so you can review the classes at home as well. The only thing you won't have is the one on one critique videos on your own work but I'll be answering any questions in the live class.

Please click HERE for testimonials from the classes I did at Sheridan.

Please leave any questions in the comments area.

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Online art classes at Schoolism.com - information update!

Now open for registration:

Character Design by Silver
Instructor: Stephen Silver
Start Date: January 14, 2008
Fees: $998 USD / SelfTaught: $698 USD
Pre-Requisites: None. This course is for any skill level.
Sign up at Schoolism.com

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The Art of Caricature with Jason Seiler
Instructor: Jason Seiler
Start Date: January 16, 2008
Fees: $898 USD
Pre-Requisites: None. This course is for any skill level.
Sign up at Schoolism.com

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Digital Painting Techniques with Bobby Chiu
Instructor: Bobby Chiu
Start Date: January 3, 2008
Fees: $798 USD / SelfTaught: $558 USD
Pre-Requisites: None. This course is for any skill level.
Sign up at Schoolism.com

Previews from the Dragons Book!

Here are some more previews from the "Dragon Sketches Book".

Hope you guys like!

the chase


Ziggy


the night battle


dragons collage


love dragons


shark-mouth dragons!


Blue Tongue Battle


lil dragons!


-Kei

A message from purchasing dept.

Hi everyone!

The holiday season is fast approaching and all of us here at Imaginism Studios would like to wish you and your loved ones all the best!

Thank you very much for all your support over the past year, commenting on our blog, coming out to see Bobby and Kei at your local conventions, and of course for choosing to shop our Imaginism Online Store this Christmas!

According to Canada Post, parcels to the United States intended for delivery before Christmas should be sent out by Thursday, December 6.

The suggested cutoff date for international shipping is Friday, November 30. Unfortunately, any purchases made after these dates will most likely arrive to you sometime after Christmas. We're sorry for any inconvenience that this might cause.

Our Purchasing Dept. will be working extended holiday hours, which will include weekends until Dec. 21 so if you have any questions or concerns regarding our store, products, or orders, please feel free to contact us at purchasing (at) imaginismstudios.com and we will do our best to help you!



Happy holidays!



Purchasing Dept.

Imaginism Studios

Dragon Sketches mailing out this week! Subway Sketches Sold Out!

Hi all,

I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you for all those that have a copy of our Subway Sketches book! We just sold the last one yesterday. Thank you so much for your support everyone!

On another note, thank you for all the people that purchased our Dragon Sketches book! Over 25% sold before the books arrived!

Here's a piece I did from the book
Materials: gouache on recycled sketchbook paper

Farm Animals at the Royal Winter Fair

Every year, just when winter starts, hundreds of farmers from Ontario come together in Toronto to showcase their livestock in this HUGE convention called the "Royal Winter Fair". Its a really fun-filled event and most of the art schools from the area would come to draw the animals and their owners. Its one of my favorite fairs that I'd always try to attend--its just full of character and life! You have everything there--little smelly school kids, friendly and not so friendly farm people, funny wine & cheese people, the elderly, and tons and tons of animals to pet! It was a really great time. ( but not so great for the cows n pigs, because they also sold some bacon and burgers close to them)

So here are some of my sketches from the event:

farm animals (gouache on watecolor paper, 8 1/2 x 11 inches; pencils on paper)


Lemur studies (gouache on watecolor paper, 8 1/2 x 13 inches)




And here are Bobby's Sketches


(these were from a cool dog show there)




Here's a wonderful link to
Thorsten Hasenkamm

-Kei

Strut Your Reel.com - Interview

Here's an interview I did on Strut Your Reel (www.strutyourreel.com) a little while back.

Click HERE

Hope to see some of you at the Labyrinth this Saturday for our art show!
And here's a little preview of one of my pieces from the Dragon Sketches book.
Title: Goth Dragons
Material: Ballpoint Pen on recycled sketchbook paper with a little bit of PhotoShop

Dragon Sketches and Toronto Art Show CHANGED TO Nov.24

IMPORTANT DATE CHANGE:
Our art show has been moved to next Saturday Nov. 24th. My apologies for any inconvenience!

Our books have been flagged for customs check. Appearently books made in Columbia are suspicious to them.

Here's one of my favorite pieces from our Dragon Sketches Book.
Title: How to care for your dragon by KEI ACEDERA
Materials: Gouache on recycled sketchbook paper


Hi everyone,

Many things are happening... too many to mention all of them at this moment but I would like to mention two of them.

On Saturday November 24th 7pm, we're having an art show in Toronto Canada to showcase the original art from the book. If you're in the area please feel free to come on by and say hi! It's at the Labyrinth.
Visit us at: 386 Bloor Street West (2 blocks west from Spadina Subway Station) 416 840-4506 or email:info@thelabyrinthstore.com

If you're not in the area but are interested in the book, please go HERE

Limited to 1000 copies. Signed & numbered.

7”x10” 72 pages full color
As always, FREE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE.

Bobby

the process-Borders Holly & Marshmallow

Hi guys!
Here are some of my drawings and sketches for the Border's campaign. The idea is about a sweet relationship between a toy polar bear cub and a fairy named Marshmallow and Holly. It's a story about friendship, inspiration and enchantment.



They needed Holly to be youthful and sweet, and less mature--so they chose the one on the far left. I also drew numerous variations of dresses for her--and the "holly" dress fitted best for their color palette and also matched her name :)



Originally Marshmallow wasn't supposed to be a toy, but the idea that he magically came to life, just like Pinocchio, made the concept even more holiday-ish.

Bringing Marshmallow to life was a lot of fun-- he is like this really adorable playful puppy, except he's a bear. I love how he just got chubbier by the end.





And here are some photos inside the Borders store courtesy of Michael Campbell and Shelly --Thanks so much guys!























It was one of the most fun projects I had the opportunity to work on (so far), and the people were great. They also made actual Marshmallow plush toys!...Yes, I have one :P

-Kei

BORDERS - Marshmallow & Holly

A few months ago I did the winter holiday campaign for BORDERS bookstores. Unfortunately we live up in Canada where there is no BORDERS.

I wonder if I could ask for a small favor?

If anyone can take a picture of the illustrations at Borders and email them to me, I'd be very appreciative!
email: kei at imaginismstudios.com

As a token of my appreciation, I'd be happy to post the pics on our blog and put a link to your blog :)

I really just want to see what it looks like in the stores! We're going to try to take a road trip down but things have been really busy around here so we might not be able to go.

The characters I was asked to create was a little fairy named Holly and a cute little polar bear cub named Marshmallow. It was a really fun job. Thanks BORDERS!

Schoolism - Digital Painting Classes start on Jan 3, 2008

Hi all,

My Schoolism January class is now open for registration.

Course: Digital Painting Techniques with Bobby Chiu
Start Date: January 3, 2008
Spots available: 15
Duration: 9 weeks, one lesson every week
Personal feedback videos on every assignment
Cost: 798US

Or register for self-taught classes and start anytime.
With Self Taught classes you have access to all the videos (including everyone's feedback videos) but without your own personal feedback.
Cost: 558US

Find out more information HERE

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Now for a much deserved update on the 3rd year animation students in my life drawing class!

I'm a strong believer in the idea that everyone has the ability to become great. With hard work and dedication, just about EVERY student has improved noticeably in the past 8 weeks!

My method is to teach them a new way of fundamental thinking and analyzing every week. They practice it until they can do it too. That's it... it's as easy as that to improve. Continue to learn new things in new ways... new ways of thinking. This gives yourself options on how to approach the things you observe. That's just what I think anyways... either way, it working!

Here's just some of the students that have really been stepping it up!

Letti Lo - Beautiful gesture! Great design as well


Lisa Tao - 5 minute pose. Great job Lisa!


Vivian Lai - excellent job!


I don't remember who did this. No name on it either. It's a great drawing though! Inspired by a pose the model did.


This week we started learning about caricatures. Here's a great one from Alex Haddock!


Please visit the STUDENT BLOG for more of the 3rd year Sheridan Animation students.