{Menta Verde}

Menta de Guardia.
For my Graphic Design III class we had to pick a Dominican brand or a popular product to redesign. For some strange reason I ended up picking popular product "Menta Verde" or "Menta de Guardia" {Panca being the brand}. After designing a packaging for it, I was told to design a poster for it and I ended up with something I was not expecting...

This did get attention from a guy at the print shop who owns an advertising agency who gave me his card so I guess it's not THAT bad. I keep expecting to become better at this but it's hard and frustrating and ugh... whatever.

♪♫ Daniel by Devendra Banhart

{Tell it to the Marines}

There's always been something about nautical themed stuff I particularly enjoy.
Stripes, ships, anchors, water, etc, etc, etc... Maybe is the fact that I live in an island myself or maybe is just how awesome nautical things are {despite the fact that I'm TERRIFIED of open waters}. Anyway, last night {or really early this morning?} I saw this little doodle I made the other day of a sailor with waves behind him, grinning like an idiot. I had this urge to draw so I decided to give it a try. I've always been fan of old cartoons, as in1930s cartoons {Fleischer Studios, Walt Disney and all that} and how the shades of grey and silly animations worked so well. I was planing on making this a color drawing but decided to try and use grey scales. I kind of like the ending result and I think I'm going to play around with the grey palette for a little while.

Also, HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY! A little late for that but this is my first post of 2014 so yay! I don't hold on to useless resolutions I know for a fact I'm not going to make so let's leave it at that.

♪♫ Happy by Pharrell Williams

{Doodlers Anonymous Coloring Book}

Volume 3, that is.
I few months ago, I saw that Doodlers Anonymous had an open call for it's Coloring Book. I didn't know what I was going to make but I sure knew I wanted to submit something. After getting the longest art block of my life, I came up with something. Not the greatest thing but I submit it anyway. And so I waited and waited till they announced they were going to be mailing the ones who made it in 2 days.

Book cover and GIF by Doodlers Anonymous

Volume 3 of the Doodlers Anonymous coloring book features the doodles and drawings of 60 artists from around the globe - some fresh novices, others seasoned veterans, all of whom share a love for the hand-drawn.
The artwork is playful, beautiful and inspiring - not something off the shelf. So treat yourself, your family, and your faves to a little bit of happy!

I lost all hope of making it when, all of the sudden, I got a mail saying my drawing made it! 670 submissions and MINE made! Of course I started squeaking, giggling and whatnot like a moron but it's not everyday my so-called art make it somewhere.

Still can't get over this. First time something I made got into something so you can {and will} feel my excitement for a while. You can get the coloring book here as well as the past 2 volumes and some other goodies. 

2014 is just in a couple of hours so HAPPY NEW YEAR, MATES! {For those of you on the other side of the planet} I normally make resolutions but forget them in 2 days top so I'm not going to fool myself this year and just do what it seems right. See you next year!

{GR's 2013 Reading Challenge}

Ever since I joined Goodreads and {a year later} discovered the anual reading challenge I told myself I'll try to complete it every single year. So far I''ve succeed and this year was no exception. 

My book goal {25} was high than last year {20} but lower than the first year {40}. I ended up reading more book than I thought {no surprise there}. Some were amazing others, eh, not so much.

{From L to R}
1st row: 

• Enclave (Razorland #1) by Ann Aguirre
• Ninth Grade Slays (The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod #2) by Heather Brewer
• Eight Grade Bites (The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod #1) by Heather Brewer
• Twelfth Grade Kills (The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod #5) by Heather Brewer
• Tenth Grade Bleeds (The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod #3) by Heather Brewer
• Eleventh Grade Burns (The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod #4) by Heather Brewer

2nd row:

• Bitter Blood (The Morganville Vampires #13) by Rachel Caine
• Fall of Night (The Morganville Vampire #14) by Rachel Caine
• Daylighters (The Morganville Vampires #15) by Rachel Caine
• Gates of Paradise (Blue Blood #7) By Melissa de la Cruz
• Drink, Slay, Love by Sarah Beth Durst

3rd row:

• The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
• Blood Prophecy (Drake Chronicles #6) by Alyxandra Harvey
• Blood Moon (Drake Chronicles #5) by Alyxandra Harvey
• Falling Under (Falling Under #1) by Gwen Hayes
• Epic Fail by Claire LaZebnik
• Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2) by Tahereh Mafi

4th row:

• Soul Bound (Blood Cover Vampire #7) by Mari Mancusi
• Blood Forever (Blood Coven Vampire #8) by Mari Mancusi
• Walking Disaster (Beautiful #2) by Jamie McGuire
• Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful #1) by Jamie McGuire
• The Indigo Spell (Bloodlines #3) by Richelle Mead
• The Fiery Heart (Bloodlines #4) by Richelle Mead

5th row:

• Vampire Academy* (Vampire Academy #1-6) by Richelle Mead
• Delirium (Delirium #1) by Lauren Oliver
• La Caída de la Publicidad  y el Aure de las RRPP by Al Ries
• Allegiant (Divergent #3) b Veronica Roth
• Immortal Hearts (Vampire Kisses #9) by Ellen Schreiber

6th row:

• Stealing Phoenix (Benedicts #2) by Joss Stirling
• Finding Sky (Benedicts #1) by Joss Stirling
• Seeing Crystal (Benedicts #3) by Joss Stirling

*Re-read the entire series

As for next year I hope I can keep up with this. I really glad they do this since it gives me motivation to read since I hate loosing challenges. 'Till next year mates.

♪♫ Midnight Memories by One Direction

{iPod}

In the time I spent in IL, I doodle a lot.
I tend to doodle "ads" of things that were happening, what I was eating, what I was doing at the moment and/or how I felt. One of them was from June, 20th. I was taking my break in the employee cafeteria, sitting alone, listening to music, minding my own business. You know, the usual.

This ended up on me doodling a series of iPods which ended up on an ad, like most of the thing seems to be ending up those days. I decided to make something out of it.

Foolin' by Devendra Banhart from What Will We Be

R U Mine? by Arctic Monkeys from AM

Island by The Whitest Boy Alive from Rules

Trying Your Luck by The Strokes from Is This It

♫ Hit the Road Jack by Ray Charles

{New Jersey VS Illinois}

2012 New Jersey me and 2013 Illinois me are not quite the same, but not quite different {appearance wise}. It's always fun to practice this new way of drawing I seem to be stuck with.

 ♫ Who's Gonna Save my Soul by Gnarls Barkley