Textile prints

Here is a montage of some textile prints I developed for Smartthreads, F/S 2013.  The techniques we use really give these prints dimension.

Urban growing

Plants are like people--they need to be cared for, basic necessities met, and each plant has different, individualistic needs.  When all these things are met, they bloom and change with the seasons and it's so interesting watching them grow.

This is my first time growing several different types of herbs and flowers inside my home, which is on the 5th floor in downtown L.A.  It's not easy growing things in our place because 1) sun only comes in through one side, and 2) there are no window bug screens (industrial windows) so bugs keep coming in attacking my babies.  I've killed many plants since picking up the hobby and I just move forward with a different plant and learn as I kill--I mean grow.

The varieties I have are dwarf basil, sage, flat Italian parsley, peppermint, chocolate mint, creeping thyme, and marigolds.  Here are some shots after recently harvesting them and some tips I learned:

Top: Peppermint; Bottom: Chocolate Mint.  Mint is very invasive so needs to be planted separately or in a pot.
They prefer very moist soil and can be harvested year round.

Fashion Illustration

Here's some (really old) sketches I did mostly while in school.  I just totally dated myself.  Let me just go in the corner and watch reruns of She-ra now.

"I don't give a flying..."

"Come on, Dover! Move your blommin' ass!"

Eliza Doolittle at the racetracks, of course.  And so we donned our big hats and off to the Santa Anita Race Tracks we went.

Things are blooming this time of year

Baptism Note

Masks

Here are some graphics I did based off the artist Aj Fosick's work.  The client didn't end up buying the art.  Yeah, that happens when you freelance your work out, so now it's yours to enjoy!

Controversial Blog Post?

I love controversy.  Not because I'm antagonistic, but because it raises questions and debate over issues that we otherwise feel nothing towards.  Good art is often controversial.  And I don't care if the name of this blog connotes a feeling of negativity...if you look closely it really isn't about the negative stuff.  But I digress.  I design for a clothing company which I also write some blog posts.  Today I had to pull this post off because it had a negative comment on our FB fan page.  Here's the comment:

Jason Hames: I like your products and thought about purchasing some, but after reading this I have changed my mind. I will be removing your company from my FB feed.

So Jason, what were you so offended by?  I'm curious to know.  But since this blog post is being removed from all memory, I may never know.  What do you think about my post?:

"A few weeks ago, the LAPD disbanded the Occupy LA peaceful protesters from the City Hall grounds in downtown LA.  I live a few blocks away from city hall and was able to take some of these photos when they were camped out for several weeks straight.  The area was highly monitored by police, but overall it was a peaceful and non-violent protest and anyone was able to walk through the grounds, speak with the protesters, and attend meetings held nightly.
The main theme behind Occupy is shedding light on the fact that the top 1% of the richest people in the US own about 40% of our wealth.  The protesters were speaking on behalf of the other 99%.
Was there an Occupy movement going on in your city/town?  If so, how did you feel about the message?  Do you feel this movement speaks to you and your generation?"

88Tees

 More freelance work for Hawaiian brand 88Tees:

Surf Co. Graphics

Some graphics I did for several surf shops in Hawaii, swapping out the name for each store:

College-Licensed

Some flat sketches for college-licensed apparel for Smartthreads:

Boys

Some illustrations for mens designs for Golden Tailor.  Everything was made in their vertical factory, so I had a great time working with screenprinting to get the right results.  We did a lot of custom allover textile prints, hand-stitching, and hand-crafted artwork.

Girls

These girls were some sketches I did for a small clothing company "Callixta".  The owner's idea was to create a cut&sew knits and full-fashioned sweaters line that exemplifies the spirit of a wandering nomad, collecting inspiration from multiple cultures and time periods, much like an archeologist uncovers the earth.  The line was called "Arkeology".  Here are the sketches:

Throwback

My first design job was for a company called Eisbär.  It was inspired by L.A.'s punk*ss attitude--a combination of beach vs. city.  Still great graphics even for being 10 yrs old...

Face

Disco Skull

I finished this disco skull.  Finally.  After 89 years.

Planter

Apparently I am horticulture-ally challenged.  But that doesn't stop me from trying.  I made this planter in the shape of a "1", and it's a miracle that the plant is still alive (though not too pretty) since I made it over a month ago.

A Present for Jen

Shopping is not my strong point.  I usually would rather make a gift than buy one.  For my good friend Jen's birthday, I decided to have my personal chef create these delicately delicious white chocolate mousse candies topped with bourbon whip cream.  I decorated the bottom of the box with a personal note.  I love hand-creating something special for someone who is such an inspiration and muse to my art!

The final product.

Caricatures

A while back, I offered to do a project for a friend's wedding.  She had the idea of giving away a mix CD to her guests, so I designed the cover and song list with a caricature drawing of her and her husband.  A few revisions and I think I got their looks down pretty good.

So here's the images.

The couple liked hip-hop, so I decided to go with
a bling-ed out hip-hop looking album cover
in her color pallette.

Party Crashers

 

Here's a logo I did for a new company "Party Crashers Entertainment & Catering".  Let Party Crashers take care of your next party event.  For more info visit:

partycrashersentertainment.com

 

iPhone Cover

It became the phone of choice for scenesters, pop rocks, and now internationals in Asia.  My sister, Katie who lives in Taiwan, commissioned this one for her new iPhone, a device that was once priced $800 USD a few months ago.  Damn, that's rent....

She likes cats.

A Fan for a Friend

Sneak preview...

A New Year

Happy New Year folks!  Eh, it hasn't been a very creative holiday, but oh well...there's always 2011!  Here's a sketch for the inside sleeve of a new notebook for my personal chef...

Drifter, Industries

Here are some illustrations for Drifter's wovens and outwear category.  I did some really cool gray denims with a graffiti-style graphic over the leg and 2 tone leather jackets.

Lacey J.

Unfortunately I don't have most of the photos of my designs from previous companies.  I do have these, which I did for Lacey J. Fall '07, the contemporary line to Scrapbook Originals.  Photos by Alexa Miller, styling by Megan Connerley.

Skull

It's almost Halloween.  Here's a skull.  I'm not done with it but hopefully by Halloween I will be.  "Hopefully" being the key word.

Hello World!

Welcome to my blog "On the Crappiest Day of my Life".  I chose this name because, well, I write usually on days I consider "Crappy".  I write, and I rant, and I sound like your typical angry little asian--slit eyes, angry but unable to carry a loveseat over my head and throw it out the window for shear fact that I am slight.  So, I write.  Occasionally on the crappiest day of my life, I create. Everyone has crappy days. I've had lots--I try to turn it around and make something beautiful out of it.

This is a window piece I installed that says "Jesus made me do it."  Do what?  IT...Duh.

May 14, 2010

Yeah I did that just to get your attention.  I pimped out the Lord.  My sweet lord--Hallelujah!  No I am not Christian, though I did go to a Catholic high school.  I'm not really Buddhist either even though living at my parents' we always had a shrine of angry red-face god.  "Mother, why do we pray to the god of war?"  She never had a reason.  So you can say that I see many religious points of view.  But I am not religious, nor am I atheist.  I think we all believe in the same thing, whatever you want to call it.  And those that choose from a buffet table of religion can ask themselves..."Did Jesus make me do it?"  I leave you with that note.