Social Creatures

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Girls are not complex creatures, the entire human race are.

Today, while I was reflecting back on my ups and downs with my university friends, realization dawned on me on how lonely humans are. We are constantly, or hope to be, surrounded by others - family and friends alike - precisely because we fear loneliness. We hate to be alone. This is why, when left to our own devices, we are in a constant search for things to do. Simple, mundane, everyday things such as working, playing that newly bought video game, reading a book, listening to music, and even creating a new artwork!

It has often been quoted: Art is the most intense form of individualism. How true this statement is! It is not just art, but even the aforementioned simple things in life we do that express individualism.

We do things to keep ourselves, our mind preoccupied, especially when we are left alone. For when we are alone, our minds tend to wander, inciting dreadful feelings such as desolation.

Perhaps an oft-quoted statement can aptly sum up the entire point of this article: Humans are social creatures.

And again, to end off this blog entry, I shall post my latest artwork just to keep up the tradition. ;)

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posted at 5:29 AM

Feng Yu Jiu Tian craze

Saturday, January 28, 2012


I have just read finish all 27 volumes of Feng Yu Jiu Tian (鳳于九天), an epic Taiwanese Boys Love novel written by Feng Nong (風弄). To use just one sentence to aptly describe my current feelings would be: I felt my life has come to a complete halt, my thirst to know more is killing me from within! 

 Many (including you, my good reader for whatever reason brings you here) would believe me to be insane or at least a melodramatic individual whose exaggerated claims are better off used for a drama script. But voracious readers or at least fellow readers of Feng Yu Jiu Tian will, without hesitation, nod fervently in acknowledging how tormenting it is to wait for the next installment of a good book you find hard to put down! Put simply, if you had ever once been part of the 99.9% of the population waiting for J.K Rowling to complete her masterpiece and publish her Harry Potter novels, you are sure to comprehend and empathize with my current feelings of anxiety and restlessness.

 Getting back to the main topic, I was conveying how restless I am at having to wait for Feng Nong to complete volume 28. I cannot help but wonder...我是否能在這一生中等到，看到，讀到鳳於九天的結局嗎？In this lifetime, is it even possible for me to wait for, see and read the ending of Feng Yu Jiu Tian? I am pretty much convinced by the time I hit the age of 50, the Taiwanese novel might still be ongoing because the plot just keeps building up, loose ends are still left untied as one arc closes and another begins almost immediately, more characters (both major and minor) are being introduced, the main protagonists and antagonists are in a continuous process of development, and the overarching goal of the narrative (I refer to Rong Tian and Feng Ming's ambitious plan to unite all 11 kingdoms under one single ruler, the Xi Lei King Rong Tian himself) is far from being achieved. Both directly and indirectly, Ruo Yan's malevolent plots to capture Feng Ming and possess him completely in body and spirit impede efforts made by Rong Tian to reclaim his throne and thus set in motion plans to conquer other kingdoms.

Before I continue my ramblings, I shall provide more descriptions of the main characters just to exhibit my great love for these fictional beings! Oh, how I wish they were real~!


Ruo Yan

Ruo Yan (若言). King of Li Guo (離國). Having witnessed Feng Ming's lovable character and remarkable intelligence, Ruo Yan is deeply smitten by Feng Ming, much to the latter's dismay and misfortune, to the degree of possessiveness. He is willingly to sacrifice anything just to attain Feng Ming. Ruo Yan's feelings for Feng Ming are highly ambivalent . On one hand, he displays worry and concern when Feng Ming is in distress, on the other hand, he does not bat an eyelid when 'abusing' Feng Ming's body. However, it is undeniable that Ruo Yan habors romantic feelings for Feng Ming.


Highly intelligent. Brilliant military strategist. Manipulative. Malicious.



Before I end this blog entry abruptly (it is already 4 plus in the morning!), I shall shamelessly showcase my latest digital art recently submitted to DeviantArt.



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posted at 3:52 AM

Angelus Mortis

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Whew! I'm artistically exhausted! This is my latest photomanipulation titled 'Angelus Mortis' which is Latin for 'Angel of Death'. The artwork itself is inspired by the songs 'Serenata Immortale' and 'Diem Ex Dei by Globus.



This was one of my most challenging pieces. The wings was particularly difficult to blend in to create an overall cohesive look. I'm not wholly satisfied with the final product. I still lack the skills, practice, time, and that extra dose of artistic inspiration and talent. But I thoroughly enjoyed creating, constructing, producing the artwork! For some strange reason, or perhaps it's because I enjoy being fully absorbed in a task, I love the process of creating a photomanipulation. The thrill! The exhilaration! The pure joy of being a creator, a maker, a first-hand witness to the birth of an artistic product!

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posted at 6:39 PM

Beautiful Music

Thursday, August 4, 2011



Rarely have I ever cried over a piece of music, but Ayumi Hamasaki's latest single "Moon" really turns on the water faucets. This beautiful music composition will bring even the most stone-hearted man to tears.

浜崎あゆみ / MOON

The night we met blended in with the bustle of the city
Passed between dreams and reality and disappeared like an illusion
Because the moon that day was too far and my memory was vague with your blurred figure
I thought I'd be able to forget you

I'm sorry that I didn't even have the courage to softly wipe the tears
That you showed me for the first time when I hurt your heart

I'll give you a gentle song
So that you can believe in eternity for ever
So please don't ask me anymore
With such sad eyes, in a trembling voice
"Do you love me?"

We looked up together at the moon that looked close enough to touch, didn't we?
It was so beautiful that I felt pain in my chest and was about to cry

I closed my eyes and sweared
"If this prayer come true, I need nothing, nothing else."

I'll give you a gentle song
So that you can believe in eternity for ever
So please keep smiling
And let me hear you say, "I'm happy"
Once again

I'll give you a gentle song
So that you can believe in eternity for ever
So please don't ask me anymore
With such sad eyes, hiding your trembling voice
"Do you love me?"



My latest photomanipulation work. For once it is not dark/gothic/emotional artwork, but purely a simple light fantasy work. I wanted to venture out of my comfort zone and experiment with new ways, methods, color schemes, and techniques. It was a pleasant surprise because I wasn't entirely sure that I could EVER pull off a light and happy piece of artwork.

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posted at 2:54 AM

Set Me Free (deviantart)

Thursday, July 7, 2011

I have just completed a rather complicated and laborious (self-imposed) task. And what task could that possibly be? Why, my photo manipulation, of course! But before I go on at length about my past few days of living torment, I shall first showcase an earlier artwork which I had submitted for a Music Inspired contest.



I finished this piece fairly quickly because the model image, the backgrounds, the lanterns, the leaves etc...fell into place by themselves.... And the entire vision and imaginary world I have created in my mind slowly took life of its own. Oh, the joy and utter sense of accomplishment!

My creative juices did not stop flowing however, and I began to embark on yet another journey to create my imaginary world. This time the 'vision' I had in mind was that of a lady in a volcanic landscape. She is a complete state of nirvana where she is willing to let go and to free herself from her physical bonds. My vision is as you can see from the following artwork.



WELL, this vision was mightily hard to accomplish! Perhaps the toughest challenge I had imposed on myself since I first entered the digital realm 4 years ago.

Knowing that this would be my hardest work yet, I took my time. I would rest after 3 hours and continue after every day or so. Days passed by as quickly as they came, however the final mark of achievement still appeared a goal far too out of reach. I was tired from the lack of sleep, amused and annoyed that flaws kept appearing, but also proud that my 'vision' was becoming a digital reality.

So today is the day where I decided that enough was simply enough. An artwork of pure perfection is a dream of waking artists, and one would be foolish to try to realize that dream, especially one at my current level of photo manipulation skills.

I may be miles away from creating an artwork of perfection but as an artist I take pride in having delivered what I had initially sought to accomplish.

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posted at 2:10 AM

The Tormented (Deviantart)

Tuesday, June 21, 2011





Another dark photo-manipulation which I promptly finished soon after returning from my holiday trip to Hong Kong, Zhuhai, ShenZhen, and Macau (11th to 17th of June). I have no wish to speak about the holiday because, frankly, it has been like a dream - short-lived, thoroughly pleasant and enjoyable, fleeting - that ended all too soon. Perhaps I will speak at length about my holiday trip when my mood lightens.

On another note, I am aware that I have been neglecting my blog, save for the occasional entries about my recent artworks. Hence, for this entry, I shall spend a little more effort in composing a slightly more entertaining and informative content.

So, for starters, let's see what I have been up to... Nothing noteworthy in particular.. I've finished reading Norwegian Wood by my favorite author Haruki Murakami during my Hong Kong trip. The phrase that struck me most and that has remained firmly etched in my mind is: "Life is here, death is over there. I am here, not over there."

After closing the book, I was left stumbled and forced upon myself a reassessment of my purpose in living and direction in life. The answers I am looking for are not simply about academic nourishment to ensure one's advancement in office so as to return in abundance material and emotional wealth to my loved ones. It was...more than that. Much, much more. Unfortunately, as I am philosophically unenlightened, I have not managed to derive a satisfactory answer.

Where do our loved ones dwell after being freed from their physical bonds? Where do we go when we share the same fate? Heaven? Hell? Nowhere? I am not plunging into a long debated religious discussion about who goes where and why...It's just a simple question which we can expect a simple answer for.

We do not die, for such a possibility does not exist. We may have departed from the physical world, but our spirits remain for ever. So, once again, I reiterate: where do our spirits go? Is there really another world out there? Another dimension whose existence we are not aware of?

Of course, by posing those questions, I have already made an assumption that we are indeed living, and are not simply brains in a vat believing our 'lives' into existence. Even if the brain-in-a-vat scenario is true, it still points towards the probability of existence of this other world.

Well, it is PRECISELY because such philosophical thoughts consume me, taking up a good portion of my worldly concerns, that I may end up an asylum patient one day.

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posted at 2:50 AM

Last Farewell (deviantart)

Tuesday, June 7, 2011




This is actually a photomanipulation practice I started on a couple of weeks back but never really got to finish it. Well, I finally sat my lazy arse back down, spent a couple of hours, and finally completed it. I was trying out new painting methods and, of course, painting realistic hair. I think...I didn't do too bad...

OH goodness me, who am I kidding? I know it's horrible. This art smells of a sloppy bad job. For some strange reason, I'm actually in love with this sloppy bad job. It is not only a manifestation of my current digital art skills (an amateur, yes, but also a learner) but also a sign that I have the potential to make further progress from here.

Failure is the mother of success, right? ;)

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posted at 9:15 PM

Love Song Requiem (deviantart)

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

It has been a long time since my last entry. I assure you I have been busy with all things associated with academia and what not... It was a good, tightly scheduled Semester 2 this year and, speaking from a slightly workaholic personality, I thoroughly enjoyed my year 1, Semester 2 in University. Although I could really do without having 5 project essays due within the same week. It ended well though.

So, this brings me to my current 3 months holiday. What have I been up to? Well, apart from following every news regarding the recent General Elections 2011.. I have been lazing around the house like every undergrad student who has been temporarily released from the shackles of academia.

I got to playing a bit of MMORPG such as Forsaken World, Jade Dynasty and Diablo, but I grew tired of those games. I'm currently watching Katekyo Hitman Reborn and Gintama reruns. And of course, I've returned to creating more digital art pieces!

This is my most recent photomanipulation after 4 months of hiatus from Deviantart.


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posted at 10:59 AM

In Love With My Sorrow (deviantart)

Monday, December 27, 2010

I was raptured by the image of the model that I simply HAD to create a digital art out of that beautiful pose! This is my latest photomanipulation.

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posted at 1:28 AM

OF H O P E (deviantart)

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

My first and last fantasy photomanipulation for the year! :)




I really ought to be packing for my holiday trip to Malaysia but I'm too goddamn lazy to do anything that requires physical labor.

This current blogskin was actually designed a few days back, coded and left to rot in my folder. I wasn't too fond of the outcome but I realized that I didn't have a choice. I was simply lost of inspiration and creativity to design anything new or tasteful. So there you have it - a sloppy work that's too bright and hastily put together like a primary school collage.

On a different note, pertaining to my academic life, I have declared my Major - English Literature. But I'm still keeping my options open. I have till Year Two to finalize my Major. Who knows? I might end up becoming a Historian!

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posted at 9:21 PM

Fragility of Life (deviantart)

Monday, September 13, 2010

This is a digital art, mixed media, abstract I designed during my spare time yesterday and decided to upload it to deviantart today after adding the finishing touches.



I baffle myself sometimes; wondering, more often than not, why I had chosen 'Economics' over 'Communications & New Media' for my Social Science Exposure module when I so clearly possess an intrinsic interest for digital art and design.

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posted at 11:39 PM

Allen Chibi

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

I finally completed my Allen Walker chibi! =D About 1 day work, maybe more, I wasn't really checking the clock when I started on this cute project! >_<


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posted at 11:55 PM

Wacom Tablet

Saturday, July 10, 2010

I would like to send out big thanks to Uncle Eric for the lovely birthday and Christmas presents! =D One of my presents included the Wacom Tablet which has been a desire of mine since my Secondary School days. =D

So in order to rekindle with my art spirit, I decided to practice painting a random eye. This is my first attempt using a tablet! ^_^ I had so much fun!




My next practice subject would be manga characters! =D

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posted at 1:21 AM

Phantasma (deviantart)

Saturday, September 19, 2009

I was in my Gothic mood again.


Phantasma by ~justswell on deviantART


This is probably my last photomanipulation until the end of my A Levels. Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death" and Robert Graves' "The Pier Glass". I'm definitely considering Arts Illustator or Digital Artist as my alternative career. OR, I could fall back on designing webpages. Oh wells. Old, old, old. Time's catching up on me. I just had a backache again.

[EDIT] I'm featured in 2 entries! Whoot! Venice Mask contest and Twisted Fairytales Contest

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posted at 12:39 AM

Vector Abstracts (deviantart)

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

I found it, I finally did! T.T After years of fiddling foolishly on photoshop and designing scraps otherwise known to the world as blogskins and photo-manipulations. I think I've finally found my artistic passion; making vector abstracts.

Yup, you heard me right. Designing vector abstracts is, as of now, my topmost priority. Who cares if your mother is nagging away about your untouched holiday assignments, who cares if your dad sighs away in frustration and who cares if your holidays are about to end without a single doodle on your history assignments. As I've always, very very wisely, told my friends - Life is about making the necessary adjustments, so that you can enjoy every aspect of it. "And discarding homework for designs on photoshop is a very wise thing to do," Confucius would say if he was still alive. "Go on, child, live your dream!"

99.9% of the population would most probably disagree (that 0.1% is me of course), but hey...I might just consider being a digital artist as my third career choice. (I still wanna be a math teacher, ya know!)

ANNNNND....my dad is still grumbling away about not being able to make money with my digital artworks. "It's not about the money, man, it's all about the spirit and the passion!"

I don't think the Singapore finance minister would say the same.


butterfly effect by ~justswell on deviantART


iced fission by ~justswell on deviantART


My first 2 attempts at vector abstracts. ^_^

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posted at 12:17 AM

Fallen Angel (deviantart)

Monday, December 22, 2008

Check out my latest photo-manipulation! xD Heavily inspired by my favorite manga, Skip Beat! of course.


fallen angel by ~justswell on deviantART


After a few months of hiatus from deviantart, I'd say, making that photo manipulation was like getting hit by a brick. Wham! Inspiration comes flying in. In case you're wondering, the theme 'Fallen Angel' came from the plot of Fuwa Shou's music video whereby Kyouko Mogami (the female protagonist) stars as a beautiful angel who fell into the deep abyss of insanity after slaying the devil. My god, she looked so stunning that I absolutely had to make something of it!

As of now, I'm experimenting with my beloved photoshop, trying to learn a few new skills here and there. So yup, I will be back with an entirely new layout in a few...hours, days? Hmm...

I was speaking to my friends the other day about a local Japanese man who was trying to get petitions to legalize the marriage of anime characters. My friends, being sane as they were, was absolutely aghast. I was...too.

But now, thinking back, I wasn't sure if I could still say the same. Marrying Tsuruga Ren and being whisked off to his beautiful apartment in Tokyo would seem like an otherwise brilliant plan right now.

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posted at 12:47 AM