KittenChops Illustration-Heart Opening Energy™: 2007

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Korean Kim Chee story

This illustration is for a short story by Jenny Kim about a Korean immigrant girl trying to find her identity in the USA.

"Nobody “told” me that the woman in the family serves herself last. I watched my mother bustle around the kitchen after rushing in from a full day of work, not even taking time to change her clothes. When the When the dinner was ready, she would scoop a heaping mound of fresh, hot rice for my father first, then my younger brother, then me. Then she’d scrape together a small handful from the bottom of the rice cooker and take the smallest piece of fish for herself, insisting she wasn’t hungry. When I was younger and couldn’t finish my food, I’d give my plate to my mother, not realizing what I was doing. I was giving my mother the leftovers, something she grew up with as a postwar Korean female—the generation that knew firsthand that things, dignity, family, and friends, peace, and national unity, could be taken away at any instant, and that woman were taught to put themselves last. Hearing about her impoverished childhood made my eyes sting, my privileged conscience uneasy, and my own childhood stories pale by comparison. For her, scraping the rice pot sometimes yielded nothing, an humble survival came down to accepting leftovers from your own—it was one of few constants provided in the former precarious world of hers. (old habits are hard to break.) Yet, my mother told me not to stand there with both hands open, meekly waiting for things do happen. An ambitious and generous woman, she even chose the name Debbie(meaning “industrious”) when she immigrated to the U.S. Nothing gets accomplished sitting down, she says. I was left with this contradiction and a half-eaten bowl of rice. Watching, waiting, and never understanding."

Thursday, November 15, 2007

KittenChops at Licensing Asia TOKYO ^,,^

I just got back form my favorite city in the world, Tokyo. I have exhibited my work at the the Licensing Asia show. It was fantastic to be in such a fun, creative environment with many talented artists and all the big players. I am now working on following up with some potential Japanese clients. Superspecial thanks to my dear friends: Cindy and LeiLei and my onee-chan/translator: Motoko.
You can check out the few photos I have from this trip! :)

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Pawses II

New and cuter! Thank you to Hana-chan, Ruby and red neighbor kitteh who have contributed the fur photos that turned into the new Pawses characters. I have also updated my TREATS page on my website so you can download some super fresh KittenChops desktops! www.kittenchops.com/treats.htm

Saturday, October 20, 2007

KittenChops for IPOP magnets

I have just received my sample box of magnets from iPOP! So much fun!!! ^,,^ Of course the package had to pass inspection by the home safety supervisors: Mitsu and Cicka! :)

Illustrations for Wild Dill

These illustrations for Wild Dill an online Children's Organic Clothing store are made with a new style and technique. I usually work/collage in Photoshop but this time I wanted to create a softer and more gentle look and tried out Illustrator. So here are some cute bugs living in the meadow in the shade of some fragrant dill flowers :)

Thursday, October 11, 2007

You are sweeter than jub-jubs (gulab jamun)...

Gulab jamun (gul-aab jaa-mun) is a popular South Asian dessert, made of a dough consisting mainly of milk solids, (often including double cream and a little flour) in a sugar syrup flavored with cardamom seeds and rosewater or saffron.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulab_jamun

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Love you more than I love cake!

Check out the new pastel palate...very elegant for a kitteh wedding! :) Mouse is peeking out from behind the cake and snaps a photo of the happy couple. Fur texture is kindly provided by Cicka and Hana (Satoko's kitten).

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

I like you painting

I liked the I LIKE YOU illustration I have done for Madison Park Greetings so much that I made it into a painting on canvas! It is 36x48. It was so much fun to paint with acrylic! I would love to do more paintings and have a show.

KittenChops Pawses Dolls

These dolls were made of silk and they are based on photos of my cats' paws. Cicka and Mitsu keep delighting and ispiring me every day! Shiny, happy.

Tira MITSU - Kitteh inspired sweetness! :)

This is my favorite dessert to make! I cut out a stencil for the kitteh, then I shake some cocoa powder over it! YUM!

Monday, June 11, 2007

KittenChops Surtex booth

Wednesday, May 9, 2007

Jelly friends and family

How to Guard Yourself Against Fairy Tales

This illustration was commissioned by Weekly Reader Magazine to illustrate a poem written about the dangers lurking in fairy tales (eg: wolves and old ladies with big noses :)