Creative Release

We Heart Sketching

Instead of gathering at a studio to sketch models, my co-host and I have been gathering our sketching friends at bars to use the characters there as our muses.  Our out-of-place spread of sketchbooks and ink has occassionally attracted and pulled in strangers to pick up a pencil and join in.  Somehow bars have seemed to inspire monster themes.  Snapshots of our sketches here.  

Hsing's Library

 For the new year, I've decided to operate a library out of my home and am opening Hsing's Library for my friends.  Aside from sharing words and images that have influenced me, I have a second motive of seeding face to face connecting moments.  

While the website lets you browse through my available collection, books can only be checked out in person.  As bonus, some amusing book reports may be written over time (my late fee).

 

Itchingly Stable & Tinkering Doodles

Most of my illustrations are hidden in moleskins, but may share a few at Tinkering Doodles.

Weaved some recent doodles into a short comic Itchingly Stable (click through pages of the full book here).

iPhone Portraits

Over the last few months, I've been drawing collaborative portraits (using a basic app) with all my friends (in my iPhone address book). The Rules: Friend draws up to 3 strokes. Passes to Hsing (me), who builds on their drawing. Repeats back and forth until Friend declares "Stop." No erasing. End collaborative result gets assigned as their Contact image that pops up when they call or IM me.

It's been taking awhile to accumulate a critical mass of portraits, since I must physically see everyone (and not be forgetful when I do).

Most interesting has been the process -- Personalities didn't predictably draw concretely or abstractly; Varying ways to sidestep around the rules (Dan's is actually multiple pixel layers thick) not to mention varying degrees to which certain folks thought and tried to bend those rules; Each portrait unique with especially surprising differences btw close friends (favorite example Levi = one of Jay's best friends, Allysa = Jay's wife); Those who drew themselves vs depictions of what was happening with me in that moment vs. fantasies vs. whims of color.  Larger Yearbook style group portrait of my portrait collection so far is viewable here.   

4.18.10 UPDATE: On a personal level, its achieved what I had hoped for. A visualization of 1:1 combined bits of me + my Friends. And each time they call or text, a surprisingly clear memory of the moment when I drew with each person.  Expanded version (larger version of below image) now viewable here

Secret Brunch

Mystery brunch location + mystery brunch partners + mystery hosts = Secret Brunch Club.  Playing on my favorite meal and the fresh dynamics in strangers meeting, linked up with two friends to become part of J, J & H (clue thus revealed for any invitees who find this post).

Step 1: Decide on an unexpected location
Step 2: Pick people who should meet
Step 3: Anonymous email from secretbrunchclub at gmail
Step 4: Anonymous phone text like "Pst... did you get the email"
Step 5: Series of hints & missions to contribute to and discover location of brunch

First brunch was a success.  Location found.  Accomplices friended.  Adventures to be continued

Occasional glimpses.

King of Williamsburg Boardgame

Inspired by nostalgic conversations about my ever morphing neighborhood, created a boardgame called King of Williamsburg.  This weekend, over a get-to-together chez moi celebrating the return visit of an ex-Williamsburger, the game got its first play test.  

Become King of Williamsburg by being first to reach the center of Bedford Avenue (for now, my apartment).  Correct answers move you forward faster -- including Williamsburg-centric knowledge about: Are you on the list?(entertainment), Yum! (food), Memory Lane (history), Visual IQ, and 133s (friends).  The luck of the dice could land you on a red dot, some where you spot a hipster hottie and must move back a step following him/her (other red dots have different consequences).

   

More photos of board and playtest on my Flickr set

Reverse Pickpocketing

Note: Most successfully played in hungry, crowded environments.

Goal: Target, Distract, Deftly Deposit Grilled Cheese (or other packagable edible) on a Hungry Stranger, Escape Undetected. 

Optional Directions:  (1) Make grilled cheese sandwiches.  Package for rough shipment.  Label menacingly. Sample: "You've been Grill Cheesed"  (2) Gather an elite squad of conspirators.  Four is a good number - one targeter, two distractors, one reverse pickpocketer.  (3) Team or player with most number of surprised, fed strangers wins.

Emotipix

 

Created Emotipix.  The inspiration started when I was in Brazil and my then boyfriend (still great friend) was in New York. While emoticons : ) : ( : P : / ; ) gave our text a little more personality, our “emotipix” brought me a bigger smile.

Each of our emails ended with an image composed of keyboard characters, sharing a little bit more feeling and sentiment than an emoticon could express. Even though they only took a few minutes to create, like hand-written notes, they made our exchange seem more one-of-a-kind and personal.

Curious whether people will try in their own emails (or if they already do).

Green Inspiration

A short commercial, Keep It Equal, I made for CurrentTV.

The gist of it: "Being green doesn't mean losing everyday needs. Being green also doesn't have to be overwhelming. Four comparisons of simple changes people can make in their lives and that impact the environment."