Zephyr Keita

Kumon Summer Class Illustration

2011-04-06T06:25:00.000-07:00

Volunteering work again. But this is for Kumon and not for Japan America Association.

Chronologically, I did these drawings for Kumon first and did the Dancing for Hope Poster second, but chroNONlogically, I posted this afterwards.

Those are drawings that goes along with email that is to be sent out to notify parents about summer classes during the summer to imprison and torture kids with loads of worksheets and homeworks.... ahem excuse me..... to improve skills with Reading and Math (and Japanese also). Hopefully, director of Kumon didn't read that part....

Well, to be honest, that's how I felt when I used to go to this Kumon as a student during middle school and high school....

But now I'm teaching here and I am realizing how important learning was...

and also confused by myself that I am teaching at a place where I absolutely shunned in going during my school years. I guess I'm here to fix my problem that I had long time ago.

Thanks to the director of Kumon Hideko Fujiwara, I was able to improve my math skills during middle and high school, and gave me an experience to teach by giving me a job as a Kumon tutor. So as a thank you, I volunteered in doing this for her.

This Kumon here in memorial drive in Houston is really one of important pivot in my life.

One thing I need to learn is writing in a proper English, darn it!

Houston Ballet Poster and Flyer

2011-04-03T18:45:00.000-07:00

Poster

Flyer

This is a poster I made for The Japan-America Society of Houston. Volunteering work it is.

People from ballet dancing and gymnastics gathered to raise fund for recovery from earthquake/tsunami disaster that occurred in Japan.

I talked to my friend Yuri who is a graphic designer and we both agreed that I put too much text and made it too big after the project was done.

There was nothing I could do about putting tons of text in it since that's what client wanted but I could've made the font smaller... at least for the Poster.....

I still need training.....

It's been a while since I pulled all nighter to finish a project since I took the project at a bad timing. Next time, I'll make sure I'll take project where I can have more time to.... at least sleep. Ok, I'm writing too much and I'm getting bored by my own writing. Heading to bed. zzzzz

Adding to that, I made a typographical mistake on the website to go purchase. Luckily, I made in time to fix and to have it resent to the printer (I think). I needed to check from 3rd person point of view to see if all the info was correct but.... deadline was on press to the extreme and I didn't get to do that since this was overnight work. I know that sounds like a lame excuse but it was really tough trying to keep myself awake for 2 days without sleep. This project really pushed me to limits with many things and now I know what to do and don'ts when it comes to taking a project.

Penplex (Penguin Apartment Complex)

2010-07-25T20:46:00.000-07:00

Somewhere in this planet is a place known as Penplex (Penguin Apartment Complex). Either an outcast animals from the society or being too smart to be surrounded by humans choose to live here. It's such a peaceful and quiet place for ones to stay. The founder of this building was from outer space, giving the right for those wandering ones to live quietly on their own on this planet.

Who are those founders you ask? Well, one is our alien friend Puu. He's the blue fellow who's opening his Japanese Plum Soda-pop at the front of the apartment entrance. The other one is sitting right next to him drinking Blue Explosion Soda-pop, and the one who is sitting inside reading a romance literature book. What's their name you ask? Maybe you'll know when they choose to show themselves to the public. They told me to keep their names a secret until they choose to reveal themselves to the children of this planet. ;)

Bravebird... or rather Bravechick

2010-07-13T20:11:00.000-07:00

Here's another piece I was working on for the portfolio. Bravebird!... or rather Bravechick!

With his special bandana and his wooden sword, there's nothing that scares him.

He even stands up against the monstrous twister... until he uncovers his bandana that's covering his eyes...

Don't worry, He survives the storm.

I mean he is the storm in some ways....

Chillin Pig (Dizzy?Lax?Still thinking what his name is going to be...)

2010-07-12T19:10:00.000-07:00

This is the character I'm working on right now. Pig that's chillin~. I haven't determined his name yet whether it should be Dizzy or Lax or something else. I like this little guy a lot, especially for the fact that he doesn't really care much about his surroundings and he just does whatever that pleases him. He's pretty much the lazy bum who goes on his own tempo. He's the dark side of me, hehe.... Oh, and I've got portfolio to work on for children's book so I'll be uploading more stuff on this blog as I go.

Sherry Blossom

2010-01-19T23:14:00.000-08:00

It's a little early in the season, but this is Cherry Blossom from a different planet of ours. It's a tree called Sherry Blossom.

Legend of Sherry Blossom:

It's said that the traveler from deep outer space seeks it in order to gain healing from their scarred lonely heart. Just by taking a look at it will heal the deep scarred heart caused in deep outer space.

-Traveler from Prutina

ORANGE!!!

2010-01-12T09:54:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to set my little fellows to an adventure on a desert planet. Instead of using blue, I used the complement orange to pop them out for the background color. This one's painted and not a vector stuff that I usually do. Thanks to Linda C. I was able to make something different from my tendencies to make everything blue. Well, enough talking. Hope you like this. I do!!!

some stuff

2009-08-02T22:10:00.000-07:00

some stuff I slapped in few minutes without much thought. nippon?

reflected on pond-ering (明鏡止水)

2009-05-19T22:26:00.000-07:00

I always thought that the artist who comes up with work of art was amazing... but what's great isn't artists. It's the world that's great. I guess we artist simplify that according to our perception of the world. It's communication between viewer and the perception of artist. It's kinda interesting how it's viewers who create ranking of what's better than others of which perception is better than others.

Belated B-day present (奥義・画竜点睛)

2009-05-19T21:40:00.000-07:00

birthday present... that's super belated. It's for my master Rin Aiello.

It's really been a while since I touched photoshop once again to finish this piece. I had the urge to work on this piece a little further since my friend Yuri suggested something about my work. He told me that if I were to bring in some textures into my work, it would bring out some depth. It really did! I think...

but I only realized that only brought me closer to what my master has already realized in her work long time ago. Ah well, I guess I still have a long way to go... but that's alright, I can work harder as long as I know I'm not good enough.

Anyways, Happy B-day Rin. (super belated)

I wish...

2009-04-20T22:12:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, looking into deep sky makes me feel better when I'm feeling down.

On a fireflying Land

2009-02-21T09:56:00.000-08:00

Update - 30% Done

Remaining Process - Shape retouch and Photoshop effect

(P.S. I am still alive)

New Journey

2009-02-03T18:06:00.000-08:00

I guess it's almost time for me to pack up. Internship has ended and freelance extra work is about to be over soon...

Working at a corporate as an intern for 6 month, plus freelancing gave me some opportunity to know how corporate worked. It's just a part of the huge body.

TEAMWORK!

Not just one person's ability, but to function well in a versatile manner for the company is what keeps the company healthy and wealthy. If one organ doesn't function well as an organ, the body would want to replace it with one that functions well. Healthy company keeps themselves real healthy like that, which may sound cruel but makes logical sense. Each role has it's own task and it's responsibility. It's not all that fun if you write down list of task and responsibility but once I became a part of it, it was pretty exciting for the fact I was functioning as a necessary organ of the company.

I guess the luxury I was able to gain by working in the company is the joy of being useful to somebody and being able to make my own living out of it. Thanks Carter's Company!

Almost half of life as a human is spent at our work so I might as well find something I like. Time to start my new journey.

I'm yelling out to the ocean

2009-01-29T21:24:00.000-08:00

... this is kinda wierd to say it here.... but I wanna do CHILDREN'S BOOK! Something that's educatable! Not like fairy tale stuff like happily ever after and poopy poo like that. but something more realistic message with more of thing that teaches for growing kid.... I'm yelling out to the ocean... no one heard this... ignore this post if you've seen it. I just wanted to write this down somewhere so I can remember what I said. It just had to be a place where I don't forget like on my computer's notepad program... that's all. ok

No one can predict the tomorrow

2008-09-14T22:09:00.000-07:00

Something I've photoshoped from scanned drawing I did a long time ago... if this summer counts as long time ago that is... This is a drawing I did when I was thinking of friends I'm leaving behind in Sarasota. All the Ringling colleagues... I wonder how they're doing now... Once in a while it's good to think back of old days I had with dear friends. Well, I don't have that many friends, but that's why they are valuable to me. Thanks everyone, for who have concern of me, who cares about me.

I'm off to new life tomorrow... saying that makes it sound like it's big deal but it's nothing but a same routine of chronological order. Different Mindset brings new perspective to life. Living for someone else as well as yourself is what's important. That's what I come to realize recently. This world is not only a place for myself but for others as well. I'm just a part of it. Then why not, lets do something to contribute a little happiness to the others. I'll be creating more stories with these little guys having little bits and pieces of everyone I know. Good and bad, both of 'em.

Reflection of High and Mighty Colored Mirror

2008-08-26T09:42:00.000-07:00

With the guilt from lack of post I've done since I started this blog, I'm posting the recent sketch I did for my character drawing. ('~') I'm thinking of using this guy for my comic/manga I'm thinking of starting.... in a few more upcoming years... (<.<) I randomly started drawing after listening and getting inspired to the song "Mirror" from "High and Mighty Color". That's my self proclaimed theme song I've given for this story! mwahaha. I'll be coloring this drawing with Adobe Illustrator. Drawing with vector has soaked into me since I started working for Carters. Maybe I'll give some gradient if I get to it...

Daily life in Carters

2008-08-23T17:39:00.001-07:00

Surprising to see that there are quite a numbers of Ringling grads working here. Not all the people are from Ringling, some are from SCAD, ACA, and etc. Working here for 2 months as an intern, I can see definite talent that these artists have. I'm working my way up to be up at where they're at! :D

This is some quick drawing I did of how it's like with each cubical (triadical???) thing in Carter's. Although Theresa and Lauren in this drawing is working in real life.... (this drawing is done in a way to show their personality). Lauren is a helpful cubical neighbor and Theresa is cool neighbor who has her own pace. I'm just struggling as an intern... haha

I did this drawing for tiny farewell drawing for cubical group on where I used to sit. Now I sit next to two other guys which are Jermaine and Rolon. I'll have to draw for them since Jermaine requested it for his drawing to be done. :D

New place to live and part of my life

2008-08-23T15:50:00.000-07:00

I haven't updated in a while so here's some part of my life just to fill in some blanks... (._.)

Here's my desk where I spend time chatting with friends and waste time surfing through the net.

Ikea's lamp. It was so weird I had to buy it!

Ikea has some unique lamps and for cheap!

Here' s my chef at my house. The incredible CURRY PENGUIN!!! If I don't make my curry the right way, he takes his chef knife and chases me with it.

If you were wondering what was scattered on the floor, I'm building a model kit. This is my favorite mobile suit, Wing Zero Custom.

It's taking me quite a while to finish this model kit since I'm carving off the extra chipped part with exacto knife where I nipped it off from the set. It's just what I do for model kit that I want it to look neat when it's finished.

This mobile suit appears in one of my favorite show Gundam Wing. Gundam Wing has deep story involving political dilemma to one's reason to fight as a soldier. The main character Heero Yuy who is also the pilot to this mobile suit has some guts that I look up to. From few shows I've seen, this is probably one of the best show that has existed. Plus, all the Gundams that comes out in Gundam Wing is aesthetically amazing!

Carter's Internship

2008-05-16T09:06:00.000-07:00

Jaws droppage! Carter's flew me up to Atlanta last friday and I got a phone call from them afterwards that I got an internship with them! This month basically has been the most hectic in my life, I would think... I had senior thesis show, graduation, getting kicked out of the dorm the day after graduation, moving into new apartment, first interview ever, and the internship notice! now, it's matter of finding new place to live in Atlanta and surviving in Carter's... Hopefully I can ride through the current that's delivered by Carter's... So here I am, repacking my stuff I've unpacked in my new apartment... (-_-) But hey, I ain't gonna complain since Carter's gave me a new start on my career. Thank you Carter's! I guess I have enough time since I told them I'm going to start the internship on June 9th. Hopefully, all works out fine.... (>_<)

Puu-Tees

2008-04-03T22:07:00.000-07:00

Ahlrighty! Here are some piece that I'm working on for my thesis. I made a design for the T-shirt with a mass load of help from my awesome old roomie Kiem Vu!!! who is an amazing Graphic Designer! This image is just my design put on top of some random image of guy with t-shirt to see how it looks like.

Yup, so the Tees are gonna be front and back having Puu the penguin chasing after Boro the robot. It makes it look like it's going across the tee sideways so you feel like you're walking along the same direction with two character's chasing eachother. Unique eh? yeap, that was Kiem's idea! Honestly, I couldn't have pulled out this Tee's design to look as successful as this without Kiem's help. SUCCESSION 200% FUUUUU~~~!!!! I gotta say, teamwork is awesome!!!!!

So now, I gotta go take it to the Tee printing company to get em printed out and ready to sell it for thesis show!! It usually takes 2 weeks for Tee printing company to get it printed out, so I'm barely on the safe line to make it for thesis show. Phew....

Ok, back to work! laterz!

1st post!!!

2008-03-22T20:04:00.001-07:00

Hi! this is going to be my first post on this blog since I made this account... ...it took forever for me to actually post something up here but.... I was able to finally managed myself in posting up my work!!! ... sorry for those who I told I was gonna post it like a century ago... well, it took a century but here are my posts!

Ahem, so those are children's book pages I'm working on for my senior project. I'm doing 28 pages with title and cover for the children's book .... geez, so much work to do... ahhh, gotta get back.... ok! seeya!! I'll be back soon posting more of my work!

...btw, those works are still in progress... it still needs fixation with value structure in some part... I realized that after I posted it.... ._. please feel free to crit my pieces.