Art, Lakers, and Koji truck

Grandma's 70th Birthday Piece

This captured the beauty and color of my dear Grandma, Mai. This original 1/1 piece was created with a water based ink for the over paint and water colors for the under paint.

She was and is still one of my inpirations and driving forces for my love of the culinary arts. Both my mother and my grandma's secret ingredient to cooking is their own Love and Soul.

When I was in 6th and 7th grade she helped me make a Wolverine and Gambit costume for Halloween. I was the art director and she produced everything on her sewing machine in our garage. Being original and over the top with my costume creations since then, has earned me the title of someone to look forward to every Halloween. I'm usually humble and pretty reserved with my creations, as is my Grandma with her creations, but deep down inside we both know, we ROCK!

After watching "We Were Once a Fairytale"

We are all apart of something grand and larger than we realize. We run around with the greatest gift...free will. We are the drivers of our own lives driving down this road towards a better and beautiful destination. Close to perfection is what we sometimes imagine it to be, but we tend to find out from experiences, that its never the case. Reaching that place we call point B is sometimes worthless because of our inability to retain what we've learned."What the heck was inbetween those two points? Why does it feel like I'm still at point A." The Grand beauty we search for is less than we imagine and the bigger part of us is ugly and not the perfection we were told we would find if we work hard at it. We are the same person we were 10 or even 20 years ago. Our free will leaves us to decide wheter to move forward knowing the facts of an ugly truth and trying to overcome them. Most of us do quite the opposite and put blame on others, give up on the journey, and CUTTING and beating ourselves up for making the same mistakes over and over again. Thats the reality we all live in. God is not perfect, and we are not perfect. We sometimes may feel cut off from God's love and life,but even with that and even with the horrible mistakes we make over and over again, there is always one thing to remember we have...free will...free will to change and to live a better life. Free will to change and to live a better life with all the evil, hate and ugliness in this world. Free will to change and to live a better life even if you've wronged more than you can remember. Free will to change and to live a better life.

...we can change. We can live a better life.

Daniel Tes

California was where I fell in love...

with music,
with art,
with beauty,
with change,
with colors,
with struggle
with family,
with friends,
with myself,
with my love,
my dreams,
my god,
my destiny...
my life.

Sunny Days Ahead...

First time trying out Flash. The assignment for class was to understand basic animation, we had to animate sunshine. This is pretty fun. hmmm, endless possiblities ....I was listining to "We are the People" by Empire of the Sun while making this quick animation.

"We can remember swimming in December, Heading for the city lights in 1975 We share in each other Nearer than farther The scent of lemon, drips from your eyes We are the people who rule the world A force running in every boy and girl All rejoicing in the world Take me now We can try We lived an adventure Love in Summer Followed the sun till night Reminiscing other times of life For each every other The feeling was stronger The shock hit eleven Got lost in your eyes I cant do well when I think youre gonna leave me, but I know I try Are you gonna leave me now Should you be believing now I cant do well when I think youre gonna leave me, but I know I try Are you gonna leave me now Should you be believing now Can you remember and humanize, It was still where wed energized, Lie in the sand and visualize like its 75 again We are the people that rule the world A force running in every boy and girl All rejoicing in the world Take me now We can try I cant do well when I think youre gonna leave me, but I know I try Are you gonna leave me now Should you be believing now I cant do well when I think youre gonna leave me, but I know I try Are you gonna leave me now Should you be believing now I know everything about you Know everything about me Know everything about us x2 I cant do well when I think youre gonna leave me, but I know I try Are you gonna leave me now Should you be believing now I cant do well when I think youre gonna leave me, but I know I try Are you gonna leave me now Should you be believing now x2"

Mon on the Moon Screen prints

Number 2/7

3 week screen print project comes full circle 10/07/09. 7 prints done on 19x24 Bristol Vellum sheets. Actual painted area is 11x17. Mixed media using water based inks, color pencils and water colors. Title: Mon on the Moon.

Kid Cudi - Man on the Moon: End of Day

It just makes a whole lot of sense to me. The album is fresh. Something that bridges the gap between distant sounds of some familiar era but yet not confined to just one genre. The sounds and the messages are here to stay.

Painting Realistic Hair

Still not quite there, but here's me starting the tutorial on painting hair in photoshop. This is a pic of Maia in our room in Boracay. I painted over her hair trying to create subtle curls and still trying to apply the weight and direction that her hair would be in.

Here's the link to the tutorial:
http://features.cgsociety.org/story_custom.php?story_id=3174

The Barenaked Soul...

I recently rediscovered a mix from my cousin, Nando, called The Barenaked - Soul Mix. Check out the mix, it'll put you in the right mood. After listening to it again I was inspired to create what you see above. I've been trying to come up with a new concept name for a series of pieces I'm starting up and I believe the name Barenaked Soul really triggers something to help convey the visual concept.

http://nandobeats.com/2009/01/29/dj-nando-the-barenaked-soul-mix/

Kadan's Marker

I recently helped out Katelyn with Kadan's Marker which was definitely an honor. This is a rendition of Kadan's Bear.

30 YEARS OF MARRIAGE...

Congrats Mom and Dad! Pops actually took time to make a card on the computer. Creativity runs in the fam.

OBEY this DJ

A quick rendition of Dam Funk for an OBEY contest. I did it like an hour and submitted it. My creative art juices have not been working for me this past month. I need to find motivation. Dam Funk is definitely one of the dopest though and really inspirational.

Jay Z - DOA Remix

Just for fun. I love the original version to the fullest.

You are still here with us even though your physical entity has left. We are not alone because the music will always be heard. RIP

Michael Jackson 1958-2009

RIP MJ. You inspired and moved millions. There will never be anyone like you. The greatest of all time. Today we say goodbye to you, but your spirit and music moves on. Love and Peace. Your soul lives in everyone of us.

The Roots - How I Got Over (Live Debut)

This song makes you do everything. Groove. Think. Feel. Love. Smile. Live.

http://www.3030fm.com/2009/06/25/the-roots-jimmy-fallon-show-6242009/

Obey/MetroPark's 3rd Annual Public Works Contest

http://www.metroparkusa.com/publicworks

Nicolay - Soul Clap Remix

http://www.nicolaymusic.com/2009/06/off-the-shelf-3-united-soul-feat-yahzarah-phonte-soulclap-nicolay-remix-free-download.php

Quotes - Jeff Koon

"Although I’ve always accepted that I had limitations, I always wanted to expand to whatever was possible. For me art has been a vehicle of self-acceptance. That started with the idea of accepting objects — external things in the world — then moved into what it’s really about, the acceptance of others. "


http://www.jeffkoons.com/site/index.html

Now Yu Du know I love to create.

I picked up a new toy yesterday that I am super excited about. I'm not gonna say what it is yet or give any details about it, but I'll just say its another small step in life that will help me bring out my creativity and show it off to the world. Feels so good to create things out of nothing.

Kanye Piece

Early concept of Ye and a futuristic city. I was going for an A.I. vs Iron Giant vs. Blade Runner vs Star Wars type scene.

Mr Dibiase Piece

This is a dude that has really inspired me. I am amazed by the music he creates. Mr Dibiase. aka Diabolic. Super cool dude. He has the underground L.A. scene wanting more of that Cali soul and love, at least from my comprehension. I wouldn't be surprised when he becomes a house hold name.

This is a piece I created late Febuary 2009 I labeled Cali Soul, which sprouted out from listening to UNI's mixtape, Before there was Love and Dibiase's Cakeology. Something I originally did just for perspective practice and composition. I actually got a chance to get it to him at an art exhibit in LA he had showcased for. I can not express the joy of seeing someone really have love and appreciation for what I do. A great feeling I'm sure many people can relate to in their own way. Whether it's art, music, cars, helping people, sports, or whatever. I'm gonna keep doing what I love to do.

For those who don't know. Respect the Game.

http://www.myspace.com/diabolic1

Kid Cudi Piece

I started this piece back at the beggining of March, at around the time when Sky Might Fall came out. I was trying to find a good color scheme to compliment the idea of the song but not get to crazy or literal with the phrase. I definitely am feeling Cudi and what he reps. He's great with his wordplay and melodie.

It was almost coincedental that he was performing in Cali a couple weeks after I started this. So I wanted to give it to him in person. I went with Maia and some of the friends to check out the show. When we got to Crazy Horse in West Covina, it turned out to be a really wack hoochie, club going crowd, not really the mood or group we were looking for that night. We actually heard on the way up to Crazy Horse that he was also supposed to perform at Cinespace in Hollywood. So it was already late but we went anyways. Along with a couple songs from NORE and a pretty long freestyle session with Will.i.am. and Apl, the show was great. Cudi did his thang. Maia actually wore the picture I did on a shirt which really got homeboys attention and gave me a chance to tell him whats and give him the picture. He loved the picture so much he gave me a hug. lol A full hug too no bro half hand shake hug shit. A FULL ON HUG (hahaha yeah ok im proud, but no homo shit hahaha) He's a really cool humble dude and I'm really glad I got a chance to do that.

Common - Gladiator Danyo Remix

(if the video above doesn't work here's the youtube link) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8G1kjApFLo

Dynamic Producer recently showcased a competition to remix Common's Gladiator. The contest was simple. Get the accapella and remake the joint with whatever you want. Just make it dope. The conference was on June5 -June 7. I attended the 2nd day and tried my hand at the competition.

I didn't win, but it feels damn good to create something dope that a lot of folks can feel.The top three dudes who actually got picked had super great production and the melodies were cool so I give it up to them. I know I have to step up my shit with regards to mastering and cleaning it up.

I seriously feel I nailed it down as far as getting the right feel and mood to compliment the lyrics. What really inspired me to do the beat this way, was Terminator Salvation. Common is really doing big things outside the norm for your typical hip hop artist and I wanted to convey "the strength in a beard." (the song is now forever stuck in my head) I was going for a stand out song for a soundtrack type deal. If there could have been an urban type soundtrack for this movie, this remix should have been the main song. I need a time machine right about now.

Maia Piece

This is one of the first pieces I did back in November 2008 of my beautiful lady Maia. It was a gift for her birthday since I was broke at the time and couldn't really get her something nice. This is really meaningful to me because it's reminds me of a beginning and birth to my art.

Blog Virgin

Well of course as with anyone new to any application or social website, you got to let it be known to whoever and whatever dream world you live...so yeah this is it...MY FIRST BLOG POST!!!!

I'm super excited about this because I can I finally put up art and music I've been working on and just random stuff that I think about or am inspired by. Myspace, facebook and twitter are all great tools that I've been using but I've been in dire need to put up something dedicated to the work I do.

So here we go...

P.S. Thanks for the heads up DR.