September TMI / This Month I: Went to Tokyo!

Over the past year I've discovered that I love travelling so much! I can really say that now, when I was younger I liked traveling, I knew it was something that was important to like, but I didn't love-love-love it. I was a bit scared of it and while abroad I would only ever do daytime activities and I would always make sure to retreat back to my hostel before it got dark out.

Maybe it's getting older and having a little more experience and disposable income but with each trip I feel more and more liberated, I'm probably more adventurous and open to new experiences while I'm traveling now and I'm constantly scheming about how I can go on my next vacation.

Marion Crepes, I read in my guide book this is the original place to get crepes in Harajuku and duh, you have to eat a crepe while shopping in Harajuku. It's the kawaii thing to do. But while it looks super cute in photos, the crepe was full of artificial cream and not very delicious.

I drew this while catching an episode of Bizzare Foods with Andrew Zimmern, tell me this doesn't look egg-actly like him. No word yet on whether this particular egghead has met his hard-boiled end during breakfast time.

This month I also got to work with the amazing Marks and Spencer team to create an illustration for their A/W 2014 press preview event where I got to live draw some of the media guest right into the illustration alongside Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth, Kate Middleton and M&S spokespersons Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and David Gandy.

They were also kind enough to outfit me in this amazing graphic print Per Una dress and little black patent t-strap heels. I felt soh kyute!

One of my absolute favourite photographers came to do a lecture in Hong Kong! Martin! Parr!

Speaking of traveling, it was on a trip to Paris where I was first introduced to Parr's work. I saw an ad for one of his exhibitions "Planète Parr" on show at the Jeu de Paume on the Paris Metro (ah, the wonderful exhibition ads in the Paris and London subways, how I love thee) and I just had to go.

After hearing him speak and explain his process a little, I don't even know how else to describe the man except that he's just soooo coool. Blog post to come soon!

I got to create a logo for my friend Nicole's brand new website Nic416.com, I'm so happy I got to help her create this portrait to use as a logo for her site and it was so much fun to make.

After every trip I always get post-vacation blues, I love being able to roam around a city all day, have travel buddies to hang out with all the time and meet new people and it can be so jarring to switch back to home/work mode. Good thing I bought a lot of souvenirs in Japan all complete with cute packaging like this sake juice box, it even comes with a straw. Weirrrrrd.

"We can dress up for our own pleasure, but we must speak up for our rights." - Naomi Wolf.

That quote is often how I feel about living in Hong Kong, we love our hedonistic pleasures here but we also have a lot of freedom and while we should enjoy them we shouldn't forget that this freedom is a privilege and we should make sure we stand up to protect it. I made this little sketch to support the Occupy Central protests that have been going on.

To finish off this month of Tokyo hopping and face-drawing, here is a favourite portrait from the live sketching job I did for Tiffany & Co a few weeks ago for their in-store event. The guest was even wearing the exact shade of Tiffany blue, how perfect.

August TMI / This Month I: Night Hiked + Quick Sketches

RIP Lauren Bacall, she along with Marilyn Monroe were two of my favourite old Hollywood stars. I used to watch How to Marry A Millionaire on repeat in my early teens. I'll still put it own whenever I'm feeling down. That broad sure was on the level.

Do you guys know about Old Master Q? 老夫子! Ohhh my gosh, I can't even begin to tell you how much I love this comic. As a kid living in Hong Kong, I used to go for dim sum with my grandma every weekend and each time she would give me a few bucks to go down to the newsstand to buy the new issue of Old Master Q so I would sit still for a even just a second during the meal. They were selling originals (!) at Sotheby's, I got a chance to check out the exhibition and most of the pieces still had me laughing out loud. So much love.

I've been so into night hiking this month, I've been challenging myself each week with a hike from Wong Tai Sin to Sha Tin Wai and it feels so good to see myself improving. And the hike itself is magical too, monkeys (ok, sometimes scary), lighting bugs and the trail ends just 5 mins from the MTR. Ugh! Too good. I drew this little sketch after a walk along the Tai Po Promenade where the sampans were parked for the night, romantic!

Pink is the word, is the word that you heard. It's got groove, it's got meaning. Pink is the time, is the place, it's the motion. Pink is the way we are feeling. I've been collection pink things this month just by accident: strawberry fields Tic Tacs (ew!), plastic hair thingymabobs, Japanese peach candies with adorable packaging, my new Kate Spade Saturday card case and my Strawberry Milk illustrated postcard.

One of my favourite things about being an illustrator is drawing ridiculously inane things for my friends for their birthdays. May I present 'Jumpin' Josh Hot Sauce', so hot it'll make you hop.

At last, it's my 27th birthday and just like that I'm in my late twenties. How did that happen? I did a casual day at the beach and BBQ in the evening at Shek O this year and I made these illustrated crowns for all my friends to wear for the festivities. Ifffffff I could turn back time (then I'd be Cher, I guess).

July TMI / This Month I: Floated Along the Molten River of HK Summer

Sailing along a molten river is a bit of a problematic analogy, what would my vessel be made out of? Surely not wood, that thing would explode into a mountain of flames as soon as I cast off. A metal dingy? No way, the river is made of rocks that are so hot they're melted. Get rrrrreal.

Anyways, that's how I felt this month. This summer month just drifted by idyllically while I binged watched a lot of Orphan Black and now before I know it it's already August.

I've been painting some designs for scarves! Working Artfiy, a company here in Hong Kong that partners with local artists to create printed goods from their artwork the scarves will feature my illustrations and should be ready in a few months so keep your eyes out!

The Madame Bao postcard was featured in The Black Ren's always chic and minimalist #shelfies, get your own pack on my Etsy Shop. Thanks Daniel!

Another design for the Artify x Kitty N. Wong line of scarves, this one is a continuation from the illustration Rainbow Crochet Girl.

Spent a lovely Sunday one the last weekend of this month painting a little elephant in support of #ElephantParade a campaign to raise awareness for the endangered Asian elephant. I'm so happy I get to paint to help support such a great cause!

Swire Properties is going to host Hong Kong's first Elephant Parade this summer at Pacific Place Hong Kong, Cityplaza and Citygate Outlets starting in August so keep your eyes out for them!

My 27th birthday is coming up next month (gulp!) and I've been thinking about buying myself some jewels to celebrate, last week I hit up the Jade Bazaar in Yau Ma Tei to hunt for some booty and little pearl earrings.

At the library, procrastination by doodlenation. Wearing my new red seamed dress from Kate Spade Saturday, Sseko sandals and vintage woven leather bag.

Got to check out Gemma O'brien typographic work at Pop: Summer Group Show, it's so cool to see the works in the flesh since I'm always admiring her spew bags through my tiny iPhone screen, The show is on now until August 23 at Above Second in Sai Ying Pun.

July has been a slow painting month - I told you I'm currently drifting (adrift is probably more accurate) down the molten river of summer laziness. Here's a WIP shot of the redhead painting I've been slowly working on - hawt.

June TMI / This Month I: Got Back to the City

On my very last day in London I spent the afternoon wolfing down scones and chamomile tea at the top floor restaurant at the National Portrait Gallery, it's got one of the best and most interesting views of London, looking towards the Thames behind Trafalgar Square.

Feeling super inspired and creative from my trip in London, I wanted to make sure that I had a fabulous outfit to wear to The Golden Age, Duddell's 1st Anniversary Party. I went to Sham Shui Po, HK's sewing district to find fabric and trimmings and made my own costume, a gold lame qi-pao. I felt like THIS is how a young girl should live, like a F. Scott Fitzgerald adaption of Cinderella staying up into the wee hours to sew my own dress for the ball. Check out the final look here, complete with gold flakes under my eyes. Gold Dust Woman!

 Sketches from the Xu Bing exhibition at Asia Society, read the full blog post here.

"I will not just be a tourist in the world of images" - Anais Nin. Practicing hand-lettering which is always fun and easy.

Organizing my London-trip sketchbook, a pressed daisy, the flowers were ubiquitous on the sidewalks and in the parks all over the city. An art nouveau sticker from my favourite fast-food joint LEON's, and a ticket stub from Chatsworth House.

 Working slowly (but not even all that surely) on my London zine.

Spent an accidental afternoon at the beach, that's one of my favourite things about this cosmopolitan city, as cramped as the highrises are you are never too far from nature. This is Repluse Bay, a 20 minute bus ride from Central.

Just some loose sketches, since being back, maybe because it's the humid summer but I've had a hard time finding my daily rhythm and routine again. Doing little drawings without any purpose in mind always helps me feel better.

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May TMI / This Month I: Was a Dream Girl in a Dream City

Month of May it's a violent thing! I can't believe May has come and gone again. May was indeed a bit violent at least for my schedule. I had three live-drawing gigs booked! One of which was for Lane Crawford, and the second was during Art Basel at the Chai Wan Mei Village event for Tangram x Spottly. This mirror I painted was part of my booth and mini-exhibition where I sat and painted large watercolour portraits for the price of a deep dark secret from my subject.

My illustration for Tatler Hong Kong art month's The Great Debate: Can Art Still Shock? Read the article here. As always thanks to the editor Charmaine.

Sketches at the Xu Bing exhibition at Asia Society. Read more about it on my blog post. 

As I was getting ready for my upcoming trip to London, I found a new use for those watercolour scraps that have no use but are too cute to throw away. I used the paper to pin all my earrings together so they're organized when I'm travelling. I hope people noticed that I wore these very location appropriate Big Ben earrings all throughout my London trip, just like Miss Frizzle would do. Dee. Eye. Why?

My first sketch in London made on the tube from Heathrow to my hostel in Holborn. The Tube, so expensive and so rickety! During my trip, I mostly ended up taking the bus or walking. And since being back in Hong Kong, I have gained back all the weight I lost while walking everywhere in London since being able to afford public transportation again.

First stop in LDN: National Portrait Gallery. NPG! NPG! NPG! This gorgeous mosaic floor was taken at the neighboring National Gallery, dope!

Last month was so special, not only did I get to visit a new country for the first time, but I also got to witness my very special friend designer and illustrator Belinda Love Lee get married in Wales.  During the ceremony inside a beautiful marquee decked out in white and the most delicate shade of grlue (green + blue) I snapped a pic with my pretty university pal Katelyn Bishop, who is also a talented graphic designer.

Sketching Henry Wessel photographs at Tate Modern.

I did a lot of walking when I was in London and during my walks I pretty much stopped at every single charity shop I came across. Retromania by Fara was my favourite, not only are they a really well curated vintage shop but all the proceeds go to charity. I got this super sick 70's white and blue printed batwing dress, can't wait to show you guys!

Sketching Robert Mapplethorpe photos while waiting for my time slot to the Matisse: The Cut-Outs to start. Overlooking St. Paul and the Millennium Bridge, Tate Modern really is a magical space in a magical city.

Love you so much London!
Follow my daily adventures on Instagram - @kittynwong.

March TMI / This Month I: Drew Everywhere

This month I drew everywhere, I got out of my studio and into the real world which takes a real effort for most illustrators, its a career where we spend most of our time in front of our easel and hand in assignments via email. The most interesting place at which I set up this month was at the Star Ferry Pier in Tsim Sha Tsui. I did a special pop-up live sketching session and invited friends and strangers to get painted for quick portraits right on the promenade. My friend photographer Josh Tam is making a video of the event which is coming soon!

This beautiful Polaroid is from photographer Dickey Lai.

Here's one of my lovely little models from the day, she was so shy and waited behind me for almost an hour hanging out watching as I did my other portraits, but after a little urging from her dad, my friends and I she finally came around and didn't want to stop posing even after we were done. So cute!

I also got to draw at the Affordable Art Fair for Sassy Hong Kong, see the drawings here. 

And then some more live drawing for the Sassy Mama Awards. I set up a booth and did live portraits for the guest of the events, and it was extremely popular - 2 hours of non-stop drawing! It was exhilarating to interact with real people who were so interested in my work.

And of course, being out in the real world means you should have your business cards ready especially in a city like Hong Kong where it's all about giving out your "card". Make it rain bitches! I ran out of my self-portrait cards and get some new ones printed with my Cat Marnell painting on the back.

Mango, peach and cantaloupe, it was all bright and sweet with Paola, designer of Tangram at the M+ NeonSignsHK exhibition opening party. The night was sponsored by J.Crew and held in a park near Temple Street, directly across from one of the most impressive neon signs in the city.

Photo courtesy of M+.

In an attempt to declutter, I started a new habit where I cut out bits from old drawings that I liked and collage them into my sketchbook which helps to slightly dismantle the mountain of old sketches that are not really good enough to save but of which I feel too precious about to just throw away.

 I drew a lot of girls in my sketchbook, which you can read more about here.

I updated my Etsy shop with new postcards and prints. Go check them out here and get some lovely gifts for your friends (or yourself).

Phew, that was a busy and fun month. And now it's APRIL! Which has so far been very gloomy and dark. Happy Spring everyone and for daily updates get over to my Instagram - @kittynwong.