Playing around with some lettering. Inspired by our Little Wonton.

World, meet Romali. Aside from being a raw painter/illustrator/hiphop head he’s one of the most humble artists I’ve met. He truly let’s his work speak for him, not the other way around. Keep your eyes out for my Homegrown Brethren.

More of his work: Facebook, Homegrown Blends

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The best present ever was given to us on Sunday, May 13, 2012. Mother’s Day as a matter of fact.  Sofie aka “Little Wonton” was born at 10:02am weighing 6lbs 1oz and measuring 19.5inches. Mommy was determined and gave birth without the epidural. Amazing! Can’t even describe how much we love this girl. If I could say it in words then it’s probably like being a kid unwrapping that Xmas present you’ve always wanted. Or having your mom surprise you with a newborn puppy. Except we get to relive that experience every day … until she becomes a teenager. Haha. Truly blessed.

On my list of goals this year is to do more volunteer work and find creative ways to give back. So to kick things off, I am volunteering to read to a 2nd Grade class this Friday at San Antonio Elementary in San Jose. This is made possible by United Way Silicon Valley. I’m not a fan of public speaking either so let’s see how this goes. Wish me luck!

Rest In Power Mike “Dream” Francisco. A legendary graffiti artist, pioneer, and style messiah. It’s been 12 years since he passed but the dream lives on. Teach Dem Kulture!

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I was going to go write a long monologue about putting in 110% regardless of money, likes on FB, and how many flights you take a year, but this song below started playing. Crazy coincidence.  So I’ll let the music do the talking. Side note, the tent was drawn using a Wacom Tablet and Photoshop and the background is a blend of stock imagery.  If you can vibe with this then I ride with you. Passion Stays Permanent.

Download Hi-Res Wallpaper: Giving It My All wallpaper (zip file)

Exile ft. Blu “When Nothing’s Left”

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1. Honeymoon Videos – Video recap of our honeymoon in Thailand
2. DIY Blank Walls for Cheap – Decorate your home for cheap
3. Time Management – Learn how to manage your time more efficiently
4. Calligraphy Process Video – A new style is born live on screen
5. Help Japan Print – An effort to help those affected by the Tsunami
6. Money Management – Easily set up your money to work for you
7. Honeydipped Series Unveiled – My biggest personal project this year
8. SJ City Lettering Series – An ode to the city of San Jose
9. Give Thanks Free PSD – Download one of my photoshop files for free
10. 5 Natural Ways to Avoid Getting Sick - A personal guide to avoid getting sick

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As a designer I’m always curious about the process of how designs are crafted. For someone to give you insight into their process is priceless.  Sharing this knowledge is important and helps build up those around you. That’s why I’ve decided to give you one of my works in a layered Photoshop (PSD) format so you can take a gander inside, get inspired and learn from it. Feel free to share.

Download: Give Thanks layered PSD

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This week I’ve heard the saying “passion project” repeated a few times and it struck a chord. It conjured up feelings of struggle and joy.  Whether you’re investing extra time and energy into a side business, producing a video, or feeding the less fortunate, these projects can have a huge and positive impact on your quality of life.  The struggle is not knowing where to begin. The struggle is making it come to fruition. The struggle is doubting and worrying how it will turn out. Yet, the pros outweigh the cons here. Knowing that you saw a project from start to finish should give you increased momentum and direction in life.  You’ll feel awake especially if you’ve made a difference in someone else’s life. So ask what makes you come alive, and go do it! A little theme music below.

Diz Gibran “Impossible”

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