Tick Tock Crocodile!

Recently, I've joined a virtual gallery named "Susanita's Little Gallery". The creator of this wonderful "Riquino" gallery, Susana, understands the joy of artworks created from classical fairytales or from beautifully animated films, as well as how rare this genre is presented in the gallery world. 

I am honored to be apart of her gallery and had so much fun creating my 1st piece for them under the theme "Peter Pan and Wendy". I've decided to paint one of my favorite but least emphasized characters, the CROCODILE! I had a lot of fun trying to capture his eager but patient likeness. I even went back and re-watched Disney's classically animated film "Peter Pan"and fell in love with that film all over again! Here is the final result:

Title: Tick Tock Crocodile

Medium: Watercolor and Ink on Paper.

If you are interested in purchasing this original painting, please visit the "Peter Pan and Wendy" exhibition at Susanita's Little Gallery coming in July, 2012! Know that 20% of the sales from this exhibition will be donated to the foundation to which James Barrie donated his book rights, “Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity”: http://www.gosh.nhs.uk/home/

Right now they are still exhibiting "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" Check it out before its to late!

http://www.susanitaslittlegallery.com/en-US/Home.aspx/Index

Happy Mother's Day!

Here is to my mother! And all the mothers in the world! 

Thank you for all your sacrifices, your nurturing ways and your unconditional love.

Originally I wanted to do this mother's day card like usual, with watercolor, but during the drawing process, I got carried away with the details and I ended up with this:

I really loved the drawing at that time and the thought of having to transfer all that to watercolor paper just felt so tedious. So after a good while of contemplating, I decided this was the perfect opportunity to practice painting in photoshop.  

I've been using photoshop for quite awhile now, though I have always preferred to digitally paint with Corel Painter. Thanks to some photoshop friends that showed me their ways, and after downloading and testing tons of brushes AND organizing them, I was finally ready to take on this opportunity!

I liked it, and when I printed this out on watercolor paper, I have people think it was done in traditional mediums! Also I'm feeling a bit more comfortable painting with photoshop, though I do suspect I will go back and forth between the 2 programs. All and all, a nice little success!

Animal Sketches and other random doodles

   

These 1st 2 images are from the AAU's Big Cat Day. Thanks to all that made this workshop happen and thanks for welcoming alumni! It was such an awesome opportunity to get so close to big cats and see their tender interactions with their wonderful caretakers! They were so fun to draw, though they also move a whole lot! (i'm only posting the decent looking ones)

These are from the SF zoo I went to earlier this month. It was great fun sketching with Arthur Lin and Yuki Yamagata. Must go again! It's free for SF residents every 1st Wednesday of the month you know?

and of course, some chicks ;)

Summer Reds

This couple of weeks, I've sorta been in a rut and felt rather negative about things, and I realized I haven't just paint for fun in a long long time. So, as advised by some peers, here a painting of some juicy red tomatos and peppers. And YES, I finally remembered to take photos throughout the process! 

***I've actually referenced a friends photo for this painting, (I WISH I ate this healthy!)

So here is a big shot out to him: "Thank you Matt Bucholz!!"

I do a lot of "wet-on-wet" initially to create more seamless and spontaneous blends of color. I've always wanted to adapt a looser style, though almost always towards the end, I go back to old habits and render the hell out of everything. Guess I gotta keep practicing!

Ta-Da!! Here is that final scan! I like this orientation much better than the vertical way. Now, it is time to go back to working on my next book. Hope you liked it. :)

Stanley's Tails of Love

Hello All!
Sorry for not posting for a while, I'm so bad at blogging. I promise to get write more soon!

So so so, I've been busy working on my lastest book, Stanley's Tails of Love by Lori Schineider. It is a book about a young golden retriever named Stanley off on a adventure to be a volunteer for the very first time. This book is designed to share with children the joys of volunteering and the concept of adopting/helping animals in need. This children's book will also raise money for the animal shelter or rescue books for your choice!

On your right is a sample of one of the interior pages.

I am trilled to be working with such a wonderful client like Lori, and to be a part of such a great cause. Her story warms my heart and brings a smile to my face, and I can't wait to finish it and see it published!

To know more about Stanley or Lori, to learn more about volunteering or to reserver a book (available by November)

please visit:

Blog:  http://www.stanleystailsoflove.com/

Website:  http://www.volunteerkids.biz/index.html

Facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/volunteerkids

Hansel and Gretel

Spring is almost here, to be exact, only 1 month away! Time to melt away the winter glooms and add some color back in our lives!! So here is my spring promo for 2012:

"Hansel and Gretel"

Quote: ""Nibble, nibble, gnaw,

Who is nibbling at my little house?"

Medium: Watercolor on Paper

I remember I've avoided doing Hansel and Gretel the entire time while in school, simply because there is just too much elements/details, which will mean I'll have to spend a lot of time on it. 

Now here I am, a year after graduating, working on a Hansel and Gretel. As much as I dreaded working on it in the past, I actually quite enjoyed painting this piece. It really pushed me to work on my values, color and explore decorative elements.

I hope you'll like it and thanks for dropping by!

Back to work now, until next time :)

3 x 3 directory

Hi Peeps,

Sorry I haven't been updating a lot lately, I've been so occupied with dealing with the business side of things I've hardy got much time to paint! I've been working on a couple sample art for a potential medical illustration gig as well as a spring promo piece of Hansel and Gretel for my agency. I will post those up once I get around in scanning them. Meanwhile, the 3 x 3 Directory is finally out! I've been looking forward to this... so here is a couple photos:

ahhh.... my name amongst so many other talented artists! 

And finally my page!

Thanks for looking :)

Charity Calendar

Happy New year everyone! Hope you all are having a splendid New year so far!

I was greeted last week by a pleasant surprise in the mail. It was a copy of the Charity Calendar I participated in last year, along with an adorable card from all the kids in the orphanage. This really warms my heart, and it also gave me silly grin every time I look at the calendar.  

*Month November*

Look at all the cute little signatures <3

Happy Holidays Everyone!!!

Happy Holidays to you all!!! 

This is the x'mas postcard I made this year... 

Bella, please be more involved in the picture or not get out of the way!

Bella: "how about now?"

Now you are just hogging the whole picture,

looking all emo too...where is your holiday cheer? 

   

Bella: "What holiday cheer? There is no cheer until I get my special treat!"

(she is off to the kitchen already... )

Anyways,  I wish your world be filled with warmth and good cheer this Holiday Season!

If you want to see more of where this art came from, please stop by my website: www.isabellakung.com

Love, Isabella

Chicken Licken

Helllloooo everyone,

I've decided to participate in this year's Tomie de Paola Illustration competition by SCBWI.

Here is the quote we needed to base our illustration off of:

So they went alone and went along until they met Turkey Lurkey

"Goog morning, Goosey Loosey, Ducky Daddles, Cocky Locky, Henny Penny

and Chicken Licken," said Turkey Lurkey, "Where are you going?"

"Oh, Turkey Lurkey, the sky is falling and we are going to tell the King!"

"How do you know the sky is fallying?" asked Turkey Lurkey.

"Ducky Daddles told me" said Goosey Loosey.

"Cocky Locky told me" said Ducky Daddles

"Henny Penny told me" said Cocky Locky

"Chicken Licken told me" said Henny Penny

"I saw it with my own eyes, I heard it with my own ears,

and a piece of it fell on my tail!" said Chicken Licken.

"Then I will go with you," said Turkey Lurkey, "and we will tell the King!"

My medium of choice is Watercolor and ink on paper. Original size is 12" by 16". I had a wonderful time creating this piece and I hope you'll like it.  I hope Tomie will like it too! *crossing fingers*

The Calendar Charity Project

Check it out! The Calendar Charity Project I participated in is out!! Pre-order now to help out the little kids at an orphanage in Ipoh Perak, Malaysia.

Click on this link to get more info:

http://www.behance.net/gallery/2012-Charity-Calendar/2437727

Leo's Job is out!!

I'm so so so excited to announce Leo's Job is out!!

It is a picture book about all the 'jobs' Leo the dog is in charge of and his bond with Christie.

I will be selling some limited signed copies at APE next year, 

meanwhile you can purchase it directly through amazon.

Written by Darlene Conley

Illustrated by Isabella Kung

Happy Halloween!!

What are you going to dress up as this halloween? ;)

Fund raising project

This is for a fund raising project for an orphanage. I had fun with the project, especially using a a lot of textural effects. I hope this will be a success and will help those kids

AAU Newsletter

Guess who I found on my school's newsletter? ;)