Secret Garden's final piece

My final piece for "Secret Garden". It's not entirely finished yet because I didn't have enough time. The work summarise my entire project over the first semester at Mill Hill. I'm quite happy where it is going. It's great to see that the line patterns I've been using is helping me make something great!

Looking into Space

Something I have been working on for my Art final piece. The work is 3D and I'm going to draw on a ball!

Cheers!

Nowhere and in between

Mixed media on canvas

2010

My first final piece for Art and Design. This was done weeks ago and I'm on my way working on the next final piece with the same theme "Secret Garden". The girl represents isolation and loneliness. The patterns are meant to be a looking hole to the girl. She is lost and can't seem to find her way out. There is no escape. The white space is the reason she can't find her way because there is nothing where she is looking.

Roar for Tiger

I made this little post-it to support the WWF - Roar for the tiger campaign.

Submit one yourself too!

Happy Birthday Dad!

Happy Birthday to my wonderful dad!

He is the world most wonderful dad to me. He has taught me so many things and he always love me no matter what I do. I wish so much to be there to celebrate his bday with him.

p.s: This was supposed to go up on the 4th of November but due to internet problems I couldn't.

Back on Earth?

My best friend is the most amazing person I've ever met. I love her so much and I'm so proud of everything she does. Robo Octi is one of her genius creation. Unfortunately, at the moment, publishing of this comic series is not available but I can tell you, you'll just roll on the ground and laugh your shoes off.

I've just received photos from "The Reminders" project and I'm up in sky of happiness to see how wonderful and how big it has grown on this part of Out2Studio. I left Eunice, as this is a collaborated project, before I left with a bunch of post-its I've done over the summer. We're hoping to fill up this space soon enough!

Come over and have a look guys!

Hollow

I haven't had time to blog for so long and I feel guilty about it. I made a promise to Eunice I would so now I'm writing about the past two months moving to London.

London is a good place when I start to settle down a little more.

On the first two months living here, there were up and down. I've made new friends and I've managed to catch up with school work. Fortunately, I have my own room here and it's quite a big room as well.

There are so much work to do, so much classes to attend. I've had my timetable changed three times. I'm continuing drums and participated in the inter-house music competition. Collinson won the classical ensemble where I played the tambourine and the audience's choice award where I played the piano to the mass singing - We're the kids in America. That's the highlight of my first term.

Life isn't perfect! I had a fight with someone for the first time in my entire life, cried for weeks because I miss Saigon and tried so hard to find free time in my timetable. I found more about what an actual high school would be like and how immature people can be. Given the fact that they're all younger than me, I wouldn't be surprise they are.

Yes! I'm enjoying art classes here. It's the only thing that I've actually look forward to all week. Although, there are lots of work to do and I've had to skip lunch to finish my h/w so that I have more time to do art. Drama classes are getting better too.

At the moment, I'm staying at a host family because it's term break. Sure to be going out and around London soon enough.

Miss you all in Saigon! London is good but it's not as great as Saigon!

The people here are okay and will never be as awesome as you guys!

(the photo above is part of my artbook so you know eventhough I haven't had time to do creative things I'm still doing something artsy!)

Farewell

Thurday was my farewell dinner. Tandoor served us superb dishes that still leave me drooling. It was a marvelous night and I get to spend it with all my dearest friends. There were laughters, hugs, kisses, teddy bears and cute drawings. I felt so grateful to know all these wonderful people. Later, we went over to Mojo where there was firework - Independence day!

There is more! Eunice had a sleepover at my house and we ate so much I thought we would never be able to breath again. Tea, shrimp rice crackers, cheetos, gummy and G-FORCE! The rest of that night and the next day we will kept to ourselves. Although, Paris Deli with Bobby and MLinh was something I must mention because awesome art was produced, left us feeling sick to our stomach for some reason.

It didn't struck me until the farewell dinner where I was a bit overwhelmed. Megan is really leaving. I left a few tears hanging that night and told myself - save it for saturday - because that's when she will be on the plane to Spain.

I've sewn together a book with all Megan's beautiful underwater photos a while ago. Last night, I can't stop staring at it and I thought to myself - if I'm just going to sit here and be upset, what good will it do? So I finally got my hand started on making a cover for it with whatever I have around. It's not the world perfect book but I'm happy that all my feelings are packed with it. I didn't cry and I'm so glad to see Megan's off to somewhere exciting with someone wonderful.

At Megan's bday dinner 21 August 2010.

See you soon Emu!

Happy

I had quite a fun day with Eunice, MLinh and Bobby. I came to school on early on saturday morning. They have started to work on a performance for the Moon Festival. I felt at ease watching. Later, the principal arrived with Apsara and Binky - the dog. I had to hold Binky for a while since he was so excited. Binky is an attention-seeker and he successfully distracted everyone from practicing. I picked up Sally's camera. It was good to start taking photos again so I took heaps of everyone until the point that they couldn't be bothered to hide their faces anymore.

Parkson was our next destination for a nice, cheap Japanese lunch. A friend of Bobby invited us to Casbah - a middle-eastern looking cafe hidden in an alley. I've heard of the place but never been there. For a while we sat, talk and laugh. Eventually Bobby and his friend had to go and we headed to Vincom. The decision was to reach Kito Cafe and sleep but we ended up talking up strange ideas. Uraitei seems to be a good place for us to enjoy a deliciously cracking dinner despite the hard rain.

And there were some life-time embarrassment that I can't tell. Dinner was great though and the photo above is a proof of how happy we were!

A N X I O U S.

I've been waiting on my feet all this summer just for something to happen.

Anxious.

So far there a few things are moving along with my visa application. I have submitted it and have my photo and finger prints taken after 10 times, back and forth at two different embassies. Sitting around make me anxious. I have also applied to UCA hoping to get a place. It's incredibly difficult to stay calm on my bare feet. I don't know where I'm moving toward. Is my life really taking a new leaf or am I just here stuck with no direction and purpose?

My life is on the hang meanwhile people are moving along with their lives. My friends are going to school, my sister is applying for university and even my baby cousin has started talking all day, walking and smiling a lot. I'm still right here where I've seated for the past 2 and a half months.

I watched series and movies of a year worth because I thought I won't have time anyway to during the year. I drew and design little things. I hangout with friends, go shopping, sent out my UCA application and constantly running to get visa documents done as required. Once all of that ran out, I read books and I mean a high pile of books. Now I have nothing to do and no desire to. I need to be inspire by life and I need something exciting to happen.

Finally broke down for a moment and that was such a relieve. I can feel most of the weight is gone. I'm still one step away from finally getting rid of this anxious feeling.

May be good things happen to good people. At the moment that's all I can dare look into.

Postcard!

I have never told you how much I love post-cards, have I?

Like other people who collect stamps, I collect postcards! When you receive a postcard, you know that it have been everywhere. There are lines and scratches and the corners are torn. Voila! You have something vintage. It's amazing!

Upon Megan's visit to Spain, she sent me this hilarious Rebel Pig's postcard along with two other.

That's me! Do I rock or what?

Business Card

Davis asked me to design for him a business card last month. I illustrated a draft and edited it with Photoshop CS4. My first time, it was a challenge to photoshop and re-arrange words.

Davis is my drum teacher.

Eyes Wide Open

Requested update from Eunice :) I don't often post any photo of me up but seriously I am out of photos sooo you're stuck with my weird face this week!

I came to school today.

Yes and I'm so overwhelmed by all the love and hugs from people. It's great to catch up with everyone.

Thanks to Sally, I'm finally going to send out my UCA application. Wish me luck! Going to get my visa again tomorrow. Wish me luck on that tooo!

See you soon with more exciting update.

Surfeited with Rain

Rain is pouring hard everyday. It's nice and kinda not. I like the cooling and I like the repetitive sound. It's just that it is wet! My only walking sandals get wet very easily...

Better get use to it though.

Here's a nice view.

There is so much on my mind lately and sudden change of emotion.

Anyway, next week is a "busy bee".

I'm gonna fly! Ha ha

Drawing with Eunice

Drawing with Eunice from Ada Linh Nguyen on Vimeo.

At Paris Deli.

June 2010.

Special thanks to Megan for lending me the camera and Eunice for sitting half a day drawing.

Enjoy!

Recommended to watch on vimeo for high quality.

Downside of Summer

Surprisingly the reason I haven't been creative much is because of the summer!

I have managed though to play piano, practice drums, learn french/italian/spainish/chinese (seriously not as good as it sounds, read books, visa application, mostly just watch movies endlessly and this.

As always I started my drawing with strange lines and develop it into something with meanings. I was blue when I drew this. Death while the rest of the world is sound asleep.

Right now I appreciate school so much. Speaking of which, I've been wondering why I need to stick to high school when I'm not even good at it - academically. I accomplished to get good grades for most subjects but it's not inspiring, not stimulating and not exciting. As I was scrolling through -University of Creative Arts happens to offer Pre-degree courses for 16+.

You can get into a National Diploma or Certificate course - which get you to focus on Arts in general while still do your A level.

Between Home: A documentary

Between Home (documentary trailer 2010) from nickj on Vimeo.

I've just got hold of some of Jack Rath previous work from Sally. He worked with kids and adults making fun and inspiring short film. My favourite was Olli. It's a gorgeous and meaningful film about a kid trying to get away from the everyday life where he is trapped emotionally.

Between Home is Jack newest project.

Congrats Jack.

It's really great!

Glad to hear that you're doing well.

Superfluous

Superfluous - I read this in a novel and Megan happened to remind me of it yesterday. It's exactly what I feel today. Superfluous of unnecessary crap that people are putting on me.

I've just canceled my entire trip. The trip I've been preparing and planning even got to packing. So pardon me if I say I'm tired.

It's actually is my fault for everything. Can't blame them so let's just pour it all on me and start unpacking.

SpOiLiNg MySeLf in ThE wOrLd of CaMeRaS

I love Cameras!!!

I seriously L.O.V.E them!!!

Anyone who have seen me with a Digital SLR know what I mean.

GUESS WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just found out about LOMOGRAPHY - a shop for those who are passionate about analogue film photography.

I'm going crazy here!

L'USINE is currently selling these AWESOME camera and I can't stop from wanting to spoil myself with one. Fisheye2/Pop9/ActionSampler?

I'm falling in *multiple* love!

Oh My - My world has suddenly become shiny and new!

BOX STOCK BOX STOCK

I have trouble letting go of things.

There I admit it!

Mum alway says that I have got to throw things away.

Well I did, and you see I stock new things in again.

Things I collected either have meanings or could be in good use in the future.

I feel the need of proof to what I did in the past.

I feel like having lots of memorable things around.

I feel happy finding meaning of life.

So may be I do have an issue of letting things go.

But can you blame me?

Because I can't just let them go.

p/s: Weird photos of me acting in Drama class!

I am a Kid

My cousin painted this for me with help from my little brother as well.

That's me big and happy in the middle. My brother and my cousin.

I am just another big kid!

Apple Ada

I am Apple.

I am emo and I like black.

Please tell me you can see the joke here because I'm rolling on the ground, laughing my head off on a photo of myself! I always laugh at myself but the point is this picture is surely hilarious.

I went to Shri - this restaurant on the rooftop of Centec Tower and I must say I've never seen anything quite like it. It's a beautiful setting, nice design and great view! The food was good too but being there was just mind blowing.

I went to the cinema twice and watched Knight and Day. It's such a delicious movie. It's so cute, so hilarious and so romantic! It's a must watch for 2010 I guess.

Meg and Aka is off to Spain. Sally is in Italy and my mum is also arriving at Milano next week. This two places are dreams for me. I know I said I love to travel and live around the world but Spain and Italy are just gorgeous places to be in. Please please I beg you send me postcards!!!

Fruity Hangout

I've been out almost everyday since summer started.

But I'm not doing anything BAD and summer seems exciting!

I've been drawing, painting, making cards, talking, chatting, laughing, roaming around Dong Khoi, Vincom, bumper car, reading books, Paris Deli, JUICE, Artbook, farewell, stay overnight at Eunice's, more HOUSE + TRUEBLOOD and more BLOGGING!

Arrived at Gloria Jeans at 10.30 and I sat there laughing with Eunice the Pear and Aries the Orange. I'm Emo Apple Ada who started the new trend for sunnies – The Bug Style!

Harith the Banana came late. Everyone was hungry so we dragged ourselves right over to Vincom. It took us a few minutes to decide we should head to MOF. Hmm yummy lunch! I had Yaki Meshi!

Paid the bill and we moved over to Kito since all of us are still hungry. A bloody 25k Ice-cream scope did not full fill my stomach. Next, Game Game Game time for the boys!

We came back while Eunice was still sitting with her Mac as a cover admiring a guy with incredibly cool clothing including a gold locket! Even I froze looking at him!

Harith and I together head to ArtBook on Dong Khoi. For the first time, I actually went upstair to see the exhibition. Good paintings! Harith caught his bus home while I stayed in ArtBook waiting for Meg to call.

And she did! I walked down to Juice and we had a nice dinner there before going back to school picking up Megan things. Her loads of books crowded the taxi but we could still sit comfortably. I picked up two photos from my Exhibition. I took most of the pictures in this exhibition in the foya at school and edited them all. I'm pretty much happy of the results. They are quite beautiful!

Megan's house - full of awesome and cool stuff. I came here to help her pack and throw stuff away but come to think of it, I didn't help much except the part where I took pencils, a bunch of cards and a paper cutting table and books too. Oooh! The cat is cute and didn't hate me at all. Very welcoming :)

Waking Up at Paris Deli

(Eunice)

No not literally and I woke up at 7 on Monday morning and I was not at Paris Deli until 10.30.

Hmm... Eunice was there.

We practically LIVE in PD. The waiter asks "upstair?" everytime we come.

PD is undergoing instruction at the moment so it smells real bad and the quietness of the place is constantly disrupted by... well ... constructing.

Spent time Macbooking-chatting-laughing until we couldn't bare how crazy we are so we PAINT!

Yes yes!!! The point of going to PD is to PAINT (mostly!)

Here is what we did, before and after I bought new brushes!

Megan as we predicted, arrived late 15 minutes.

More chatting, more facebooking, more laughing and more card!

(Eunice)

I left with Eunice and left Megan ZEEEEEEEEEEE ....

CARD

Mum seems to trust that Eunice won't kidnap or cut my head off and eat it... so I GOT TO STAY OVER AT EUNICE'S :D MORE HOUSE AND MORE TRUEBLOOD!!! AWESP,E!

Again, woke up early and read the most awesome book ever => SCHOOL OF FEAR!

EVERYONE HAS A FEAR!

(Eunice - It's a song by the way!)

PMH bus took us in town where I got weird people staring at me and Eunice's mum fed us Chinese food, which by the way was good except the egg noodles which made me incredibly full...

Box Full of Love

(Of course I'd bring this with me even it's as big as a dinosaur and yes I'm bringing you guys to London but you must shrink down to tiny dolls!)

(Very dedicated selection of box and ribbon)

(Perfect fit! Lovely painting of the sea - btw, MLinh was inspired by me haha and the cool awesome pirate grrr grrr)

(The Evolution of Aries! Well what can I say... He looks exactly like that!)

(When I first saw this, I went "duh! of course I'm Ada!" and then read the back...)

(SEEEEE! FULL OF MESSAGES :D I read it over and over and it still makes me cry!)

(Beautiful earrings Josh selected with help from others and the earrings I made at Ali's)

Note: This post does not include scrapbook flowers and leaves and an oil colour set!

BOOOOOOO! You people don't have an awesome group of friends like me!!! muahahha I'm the luckiest girl on earth!!!

THANK YOU SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SUPER MUCH TO ZE MOST AWESOME FRIENDS EVER EXISTED !!!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU ALL SO SO SO MUCH!!!!