Hi NAFA

Taken during the first day of orientation! I still remember the feeling I had when I waiting for the first day of orientation. It's like a dream come true. Stepping in into a art school that I've never dream before because I never once thought I could draw well since young. 

I was so excited and even start screaming at home when I first received my package of admission to NAFA. But as the days gets nearer to the orientation, I was nervous about what kind of people I would meet. I have to even start from scratch in making friends. 

All is well now, I have my friends to have fun with in school and doing what I like to do. Just once in a while it can be too much for me to handle. 

Unicorn hair

Crazy unicorn hair. It's crazy I know and this cost a bomb. I've made an impromptu idea to head down to the salon and pamper myself. It's crazy about what I can do. Went down and told the stylist about this particular combination that I want to try knowing that these color will fade off easily. But there's always this one day you doesn't want to follow the rules and do what you want to do. 

This hair cost me a whooping $150. It's not a high end salon so it's still slightly cheaper. However it still burned my wallet. The outcome is totally what I wanted so I'm very happy with what I've spent. Though it lasted for nearly a month till the purple fades off and my red started to go brown. I would still try this color combination though. Only when I feel rich. 

Tasmania

This is a huge Tasmania bow tie. If you all remember, Tasmania is a cartoon that was shown in the 90s. I remember watching it before and it was funny. I even played the games as well! 

This bow tie is made from just a normal tie and it is just twisted and folded into a bow tie. I've made this impromptu bow tie for my brother for a dinner he had to go some time back. It turned out good even though it's a last minute thing. 

Seeing him so handsome and get complimented makes me accomplished and happy about this bow tie. Getting complimented by my family for making it is another thing to be happy about. At least being artistically inclined isn't that bad.

Haji Lane

This is a photo shoot that I've helped my friend did. First time ever in my life that in the model of the shoot. It's a fun and interesting experience. It like you can try to imagine yourself as one of the Anerican's Next Top Model. The only downside of it is, you have to think of a lot of poses to do which is a difficult task. 

This image is shot at Haji Lane. I find Haji Lane where a photoshoot have to be at least held once there. It's not exactly your everyday kind of shopping area, and the atmosphere at Haji Lane is different too. You can see that the shop there really put in extra effort to beautify the whole outlook of the shop to suit their theme. And the name of their shop is exquisite too. 

Long way up!

Good places are always difficult to go to. It's either it not easily accessible.

This picture was taken when I was looking for The Grandstand. I was told to walk up and it's a walkable distance. But honestly, not so much as being a walkable distance. It good enough that there's a lot of things in The Grandstand if not the whole journey up would be wasted and the time spent there would be disappointing. 

However a long this pavement up all the way to The Grandstand, there is a lot of things to be seen and it's interesting to me. There's a place for horses and it even have lessons on how to ride a horses. There's this particular place where there's lots of dog playing in the water. Cute scenes all the way up but the distance is still really far. 

Unfair

This is smoked salmon salad from Breko at Holland Village. And it taste so good that I can't wait to go back for more. 

Salad is healthy and nice, but it sometimes doesn't make sense of paying $10 for a lot of greens, to be honest, it's quite expensive. And delicious salad are sing expensive because store owners have to take advantage of that fact that it's popular among people. But in a way it's still cheaper than their main dishes. But who would walk into a restaurant or care that you've never been before and orders a salad. It doesn't do the restaurant any justice. 

Laoban craze

I drew this for my entrance exam for nafa this year. If you all know, this is the logo for a popular soybean curd that was once very very popular. I even use this idea on one of my POP Display assignment during my ITE years. I know it's weird to use it, but I really went crazy with this particular beancurd that I eat it almost every week, I am that obsessive about it. The whole idea is quite interesting too. The whole logo is being a display. I used it on my entrance rest because I ran out of idea because I haven't been drawing for that few months. But it still made me pass through the exam.

Leica

I did this picture during my final year group project when I was in ITE last year. It's a image that I have to print out for my small window display. This is something that I am really proud of using photoshop and illustrator and being able to create something like this. Something that I'll never forget that I did as a designer. Even though doing this image takes me quite some time and intense concentration to do, but the outcome of it is more than accomplishment. Even my teacher that taught us couldn't believe that I did this image myself. Something that I aimed for everytime, to make my favourite teacher's teaching worthwhile and make him proud. 

Celebrity Chef

Finally dining at Jamie Oliver's restaurant in Singapore, Jamie's Italian. Part of the menu is the show on the chalk board as another form of display on the wall. The ambiance of the restaurant is good to. And the food, something to really try out even though it's pricey. But it's really really nice. The restaurant that I finally went after so long and after so much hype. I've avoided it because of the amount of waiting time just to get a seat. It can take up to 2 hours! But after trying it now, it's really something I would go back for. How could you turn down something so good.

Suede rocking the world

My first concert in my whole life and it's free. It's a rock concert by suede held at Resort World Sentosa. To be honest, I got no idea who is suede, and I don't like rock. I think there's a generation gap there. I thought there wouldn't be a lot of people there but there is actually a big crowd of people who really looks like they're having fun. It's something new to me and a great experience. I realise that I really dislike rock nor do I go crazy over idols for their concert. It was fun with the whole atmosphere rocking the whole place. A different kind of art. 

Huge bowl, small ice cream.

A scoop of ice cream for dine-in in a big big bowl. It's interesting to eat in it, and interesting to take photo of it. But it's pathetic when you start eating it. This ice cream store it in Resort World Sentosa and the big bowl look for the ice cream interest me so much that I went to try too. It's expensive for 1 ice cream. But for the big bowl, it worth a try. Something new to experience rather than paper cups or ice cream cones. one got to explore new things in life to make life more interesting! it's something i live by it for quite some time.

Laboratory for ice creams

They literally made the ice cream in front of you with the mixture of the flavored ice cream you chose plus nitrogen. Different level of ice cream eating. With the whole laboratory interior design, it makes it different from other ice cream store which usually design it on a sweeter look. It looks as if they specifically concoct the ice cream out in front of your eyes. So magical. the whole outlook of their cylinders is like as if you step into a laboratory specifically made for ice cream. as if stepping in to a story book. it's a fresh new look for a ice cream store. i like it a lot despite the taste of the ice creams. maybe i won't give up hope on it just yet. i shall go back and try other flavors.

Bookworm

I've started reading all over again. But reading books differently. I'm making use of how technology is working right now and download books to my phone to read. I no longer need to carry a heavy book around. All I need is my phone! It leaves me no excuse in not reading any more. I can also spend my time wisely when I'm traveling than staring into space. it have made my traveling time seems faster and improving my vocabulary as well. I adore this application so much, and really appreciate the creation of this technology. bring back all the bookworms in me!

Let's talk over some marshmallow

I like to have impromptu meet ups with friends. Either it's over dinner or just over a drink. It update ourself on what is going on with their life. It's also another form of action to keep the friendship going. Talking over a drink can take forever. Time passes without you knowing it and usually you will get closer to them. Friends have to be treasured. You have to put in effort to treasure them and not lose them. I meant those friends who are worth it. we don't have to meet up frequently, even once is a blue moon suffice. but it's the effort that counts, and you will know how much you're worth as a friend to them.

Behind the scenes

The setup for our Creative Thinking project where we made stop motion for it. It makes me feel like we did too much for it but it's an accomplishment for us, or rather for me. I've never made a video myself, or for that matter, in a group. The only video I've made is instagram's video.  That's why I've put in effort in doing this stop motion video. Something I'm so proud of. it's totally stepping out of the comfort zone for me to be doing something like this for it. or even dreamed about being able to make a video for anything.

Going vegan for a burger

The exterior of this fast food restaurant is totally different than McDonalds or KFC. It gives of a farmer kind of look to me because of the brown and white fence details. It's called veganburg, a vegan restaurant. Literally. There's no meat in it. The patty of the burger is made of soy. You would think that there wouldn't be a lot of people visiting it, YOU'RE WRONG. It's very crowded!! The food is exceptionally nice as well, further more it's healthy. there's isn't entirely 100% healthy and no fried food. there still this fried pop on the menu that is just heavily. something i never actually expect it to be this nice.

Fruits and veggies for you?

This is even better than the signages in wet markets. how unique could this be. even vegetable could be publicized in a typography way.  This would probably attract people because it not ordinary and it looks cute even as a decor or a signage. I would be very willing to shop my groceries at this place even though I know the price of it would be higher than the ones in market. But the "packaging" of the shop wins it all. correctly used typography just helps to give a final touch to things. if supermarket outside would use this method too, i would gladly go for grocery shopping with my mom.

Designs

What a design for a wall to show people what the whole place is about. I'm acting all touristy at a foreign singapore place, if that even make sense. I took lots of photos even though there's tons of people staring at me. How can I stop the kid in me to not be happy just by seeing all those designs. This is the place that I want to frequent a lot because of all the designs I see. it's like they let art runs freely. no rules to following in what need to be designed where to attract people or not. it's simple just the freedom or designs. Art just makes me happy. 

Pasarbella

 

This is not a common marketplace. First look at it, I thought it's a restaurant so I didn't intend to go near. I thought it's probably some Mexican restaurant, but no. To my surprise, it's a market place. Another way to design an entrance of a marketplace. There's basically no boundaries to where design can go. it's amazing how they would think of this way to design a marketplace. because they would have the Dos and Don'ts for what can attract people and what would not. even the food inside is extraordinary. for example like the macaron which is just right at the entrance. it's beyond amazing. totally my kind of taste of macaron.

Keep calm and explore

This neon signage intrigues me.
Despite there's crowds around, I manage to capture this image. The particular lighting that caught my eyes from far and the words that makes me laugh. This is located at The Grandstand's supposedly supermart. It's like a place full of art and it bring out the kid in me being amused and excited wherever I walked. it's like bringing what interest youngsters and is often brought up by youngster and making it work and is suitable to be in the marketplace.the way it's displayed isn't like just a poster but rather using neon lights. something i wouldn't expect.

architecture

This building is located at Chinatown. I'm really amused by the structure of this builtding and it's design. It looks like layers and layers of cardboard stacking up and I can't help but stare at it everytime I happened to go past it. It interest me so much that I finally had a chance to walk past and snap a photo of it. It can be part of my inspiration to my design. There will be more interesting structure for me to explore and be inspired. i find that different structure of buildings give you different kind of ideas and inspiration for you to work on. so it's crucial to open your eyes and look around wherever you are.

Lomo

These lomo camera shows how camera evolved from films to the current digital pictures. I really like the styles of these camera but it's not very user friendly because it's not the type of camera that you can delete pictures that are not up to standard. It kind of wastes films. Digital camera with similar styles is Leica, but it's pricey. But for people like me who isn't photography inclined, they stuck at wanting to take nice photos but doesn't want to fork out a large sum of money. i need to act like a student and not a student that have big bucks that isn't theirs. need to start growing up and act like an adult now.

Snapple fun

Snapple's bottle cap is fun. It's not any ordinary bottle cap but a bottle cap that gives you real facts. It's something to know and it's fun to laugh about. A Snapple to start your day because it puts a smile across your face. Smiling at the start of the day will let you feeling happier and better for the rest of the day. this is like another form of advertisement. making people feel like opening a bottle of snapple is interesting and would spend a little more for that little bit of fun in life. just maybe they won't throw the cap away and they would know snapple for life.

Family time

This is the man I love more than anything. This is my brother that I spend my 20 years life with and I don't regret it. In fact I'm having so much fun with it. 

We don't hang out often everyweek. He's in army and I'm always busy with going out. But recently we have been hanging out together on every Sunday. Always a last minute plan. We grew even closer because of it. 

Every family really need some time together. If not they'll start to drift apart. And by then, it's hard to save it back. Even talking to each other is a little family time together. No harm taking out a few hours and relax with your family, that's what I plan to do every week. 

No harm in being healthy

Yes, I made this sandwich myself. It's avocado with egg and peanut butter sandwich. I know it sounds slightly disgusting, but actually it taste really good. 

Just trying to get myself in to a healthy lifestyle because I find that the food that we eat nowadays are very unhealthy. Because of a fast paced lifestyle we have, we tend to eat a lot of food that we can get fast. Like fast food, instant food which is all junks. Not a lot of people cares what they put in their mouth anymore. Maybe because of people not taking care of their body, there's lot of different kind of illnesses surfacing. Having a healthy lifestyle may just make one's mood better and even health better.

Growing up

Met up with classmates in my secondary school. Not all came but we had a mini class gathering. Despite having it every year, not all will come. 

As I looked at all of them, I find that some matured and some is still the same. Maybe it's the environment or the friends they made, some really didn't grow up with their age. Maybe it's just my expectation of a 20 years old is high? To me it's a age where people have to grow up and be matured. They even have to hold a job, or at least a part time one. Maybe it's just me that is influenced by the society. 

Teachers

Teacher's day, a day where you show gratitude towards the teachers that taught you so much.

For me, it's difficult to visit all teachers from secondary school to ITE. Partly because I'm lazy and have to travel a lot to do so. At my own advantage, I only visit teachers that made a huge impact in my life. The teacher above is my Teacher-in-charge for my class for the 2 years of my time in ITE. I'm proud and glad to say that he's the best teacher I've ever met. Despite being different compared to other teachers, he spurs me on by being sarcastic. I hated him at first, basically the whole class, but gradually we love him a lot. He don't act like a teacher to us, he's more of like a friend instead. The motivation that he gave me made me who I am today. The girl who finally know what she wants. 

I think that the type of teacher that we meet and know during our times in school, no matter which level is crucial. It's either they will pull you up or push you down. Some teachers just really don't care about you, that's when I find that those teachers are teachers have actually have no passion. Not like I'm blaming the teacher for our growth, but sometimes we just need that extra push to do even better. 

I'm glad I've found mine. I'm proud to talk about my ITE life because of him. I owe him a lot. 

Happy teacher's day. 

iPad is the new childhood memories

This is my niece. The cutest, prettiest and the wackiest kid you could find. Or at least to me. She can be obedient and she can be naughty, that's how kids are. But ever since she's born and started growing up, her type of childhood games or memories is no longer the same as what my childhood memories are. Or maybe it's just the parent's fault. 

Currently her life revolve around iPad, iPhone or any other gadgets and tons and tons of presents everyday like even cosmetics. 

Instead of reading a book before bed, he would watch videos on YouTube before bed. Her favourite type of videos would be looking at girls putting on cosmetics. At 3 years old, she already knew which cosmetics is for which area. She even knew how to put on lipstick herself! No doubt she's smart. Compared to before, kids at her age won't even know what cosmetics are or even knew which is what and for which places, or even know how to put on lipstick without making a mess.

Things change from our times to her time, we don't even need to compare till my mother's or even grandmother's generation. The different would be even wider. 

I don't think I would want to know how kids would be like as years go by. I think it would be too much for me to handle. 

Sweet sweet dessert

These ice creams is from a restaurant called Mado which I visited in JEM at jurong east. The brown one is chocolate like usual, white is called "Sade" and the hot pink one is Framboise. The price was slightly higher compared to normal ice cream. However, it's not something you can have everyday as it would be a tad bit expensive if you adds up the total amount you spend on it. 

But thinking back in the olden days where probably during my grandmother times, I doubt they would have such expensive ice cream for their little pleasures in life. Maybe they don't even have ice cream to begin with. Maybe it's just too expensive for them to afford and they find it worthless to spend their hard earn cash on it. 

Now, people splurge on expensive food for the way it taste, it's popularity and even the way it looks. I'm guilty for all of the above. To me, it's more of like exploring new food. Being adventurous about it, but there's a cost to it. 

People in the past most probably have the cheapest food they can find and don't really care how nice it taste or how nice it looks as long as it will fill up their tummy. People now would only go for food that taste nice. I guess we all are pampered to a certain extend regarding food.

Culinary art

Having meals with someone older than you or with your parents could be interesting. You'll learn 1 or 2 things each time you spend time together with them. 

Had a dinner appointment with my dearest mommy and her friend at a Taiwanese Restaurant. I only knew that the oyster meesua comes from Taiwan and other than that I don't think there's such things as Taiwanese cuisine. Like usual, we ordered our stuff and waited for then to serve it up. First look, it's basically local dishes. 

Bring curious, I asked of why should we dine in at a restaurant with food that we could get a few times cheaper outside and still is exactly the same. 

They explained that that porridge which is cooked with sweet potato is taiwanese cuisine. I've tasted it, and it taste like any plain porridge. 

You basically need to add a ingredient that other people never thought of and that's a change of cuisine. It's amusing for me to start with. That's culinary art. 

But art isn't something that you can take the original and add a few things here and there, and you're still able to call it yours. 

Even though I call those art, but different kind of art have different kind of expectations like how each and everyone and different expectations towards themselves. 

Take a break, have a Kitkat.

 

I think relaxation is very important in everyday life. Maybe you just don't have to do it everyday, but it's good to pamper yourself once in a while. Sometimes you can relax without having to spend because we all knows that money doesn't come easy. There's this Chinese sayings that says that taking a break allows you to go further. So not only striving in work or in school, we need a break. If not I think that it would be very hard to do the things that society made us do. 

Definitely, telling you to take a break, letting your hair down for abit means you take that as an excuse to procrastinate. Because it would defeat the purpose of letting loose and lasting longer. 

It have to be done moderately and not excessively. 

That's what I've learned in the process of me growing up.

But compared to the past, I guess people are basically relaxing everyday. It's a common thing when people can't study so much due to the financial problems and lower standard of living. 

But earth still go around and things will change and improve.