THE PAPER ELEPHANT

One Millionth Tower

2012-01-10T02:10:00.004-05:00

Happy new year everybody! I'm always a little scared starting a new year because i'm never sure what's up ahead....

Below are some development sketches that Howie Shia, Kelly Sommerfeld and myself created for One Millionth Tower, an interactive documentary directed by Kat Cizek, as part of the NFB's Highrise project. You may be seeing ads on the TTC with some of these images, plus videos that will play on the digital info boards-- the ads run through january, a nice way to start off the year.

Hope you are having a good one thus far!

Art For Water

2011-12-13T01:29:00.001-05:00

A print I did for a worthwhile charity, Art For Water, with a formidable collection of pieces from talented artists. Check it out and support the cause!

Morgan

2011-11-23T01:56:00.001-05:00

Just finished the first season of Camelot. The show wasn't great, but it really got me going on the Arthurian legends...and the face on Eva Green! She really made Morgan LeFay.

Ethical Coffee Chain

2011-11-17T16:16:00.001-05:00

This summer i had the privilege of working on an animated video for Ethical Coffee Chain, a coffee co-op with a unique business model. We made a video that explains a little bit about the coffee buying process, and what makes ECC unique in it's way of getting the bean directly from the farmer to you. As an avid coffee drinker, i was already intrigued with the business of bean trading, but what blew me away the most was the passion and intensity that ECC Teammates Jessica Duarte and Madison Matthews had for their little start-up -- ECC creates a whole new way to buy coffee, one which is fair and equitable for all those involved...and did i mention the coffee tastes great too?

Yes, this is a shameless plug, but it's a great company that deserves some support! To learn more, visit ECC's website- and be sure to order a bag to enjoy a cup yourself!

Canadian Family

2011-10-23T23:32:00.001-04:00

Woo! I received this in the mail last week, the november edition of Canadian Family.

Look what i found inside...

Special thanks to Art Director Colleen Nicholson for the opportunity. Always love working with CF!

i talk in my sleep

2011-04-29T02:17:00.001-04:00

Hot Onion Yoga

2011-04-13T02:37:00.001-04:00

A few weeks back i tried a hot yoga class with a friend. It was going pretty great and I actually quite enjoyed the heat, until i went into tree pose. While trying to focus on my breathing, i took in a huge waft of onion smell - I had chopped some up for lunch earlier in the day. I hope no one else could smell me...but maybe they just thought i had really bad b.o., which is SO much better.

on the wall

2011-02-01T00:40:00.002-05:00

Hey! Tim and Ange posted a pic of my artwork hanging in their baby room. YEAH!

He looks quite happy with the pieces. Congratulations again guys.

bedtime

2011-01-25T03:45:00.001-05:00

DEIGO

2011-01-22T23:43:00.001-05:00

My friend's cat.

Baby Mania

2011-01-10T00:35:00.001-05:00

Happy new year everyone! I've been making alot of artwork for my friends' new babies lately. Thought i'd post a few. The first is a drawing for my best friend who was pregnant at the time the piece was made... i was trying to imagine her baby of unknown sex. The last 3 are for some talented photographer friends of mine who requested hipster instruments. To anyone out there with newborns, congratulations! Seems like a really exciting, exhausting experience :)

Suite Suite Chinatown

2010-11-08T13:58:00.013-05:00

Hey! If any of you are in town this Friday night, come join us at the Reel Asian Film Festival for a special presentation of "Suite Suite Chinatown", a collaborative film by 7 chinese-canadian filmmakers (including me) who where asked to run with the question "What is my chinatown?"

To add to the collaborative goodness, there will be live, original music performed by the EXERCISERS and Mary Ward Catholic Secondary School Band
It's 7:45pm at The Royal (608 College St.)
Website HERE

My contribution is actually buried within other filmmaker's pieces-- including some animation over live video. i had a really great time doing some photography tweaking and the animation worked out quite nicely (i think), here's a few samples:

Hope to see you guys there!

Development and Peace

2010-10-05T15:19:00.007-04:00

I just got these in last week! Development and Peace, the international development branch of the Catholic church, asked me to illustrate and design their fall newsletter....and here it is-- i am super happy with the way it turned out. You can download a digital copy by clicking the '2010 Campaign Tabloid' Link found HERE. I finally have a little more time on my hands...looking forward to making more...stuff :)

SPLICED

2010-09-15T23:02:00.009-04:00

A really long time ago, I worked on a cute little show called Spliced at Nelvana. The Director, Matt Ferguson, Art Director Don Gauthier, Character Guru Brad Coombs, and myself, buckled down for a few weeks of pre-production work-- I had a lovely time playing around with locations and thought i'd post some here.

Spliced is about the adventures of bizarre mutants that were left on a tropical island long after their mad scientist creator had been hauled away to jail. Think Looney tunes meets Island of Dr. Moreau.

Ch-ch-cherry bomb!

2010-04-09T19:08:00.004-04:00

Are you going to watch The Runaways? I think Kristen Stewart makes a great Joan Jett! I hope the movie is good as the way the band looks.

Last Night

2010-03-10T10:47:00.004-05:00

The Strays

2010-02-14T01:59:00.003-05:00

If you know me, then you also know our crazy cat house. Since moving downtown one year ago, we've developed relationships with four strays in our back alley. We adopted one, helped find a foster home for another, and watch over the other two-- who still hang out in the alley (well, basically on our porch). I also have a miserable but funny house cat who has to now tolerate the gang. But it's made our lives fun. Anyways, this is my little tribute to them. I am crazy cat chan.

PPF NEIGHBOURHOOD

2010-02-01T00:45:00.008-05:00

I recently contributed this drawing to PPF NEIGHBOURHOOD, a compilation of music, photography and art, downloadable HERE. It's $5 or pay what you can, and the best part of it is that all proceeds with go to supporting MSF (Doctors Without Borders) in Haiti. Oh, and your contribution will be matched by the Canadian Government.....go Canada!

Other contributors include my good friends Robin Joseph, Nick Fox-Gieg, and Lubomir Arsov-- not to mention some incredible musicians from the PPF House. I also happen to be singing on one of the tracks, but i'm not going to say which :P

Anyways, hope you get a chance to grab a copy and give to a good cause!

January

2010-01-27T01:45:00.010-05:00

Some small moments from this new year.

Tying Your Own Shoes

2009-11-10T00:18:00.002-05:00

A year ago I had the privilege of working on Shira Avni's animated documentary, Tying Your Own Shoes, a film about the lives of 4 adult artists with Down Syndrome. The film blends both animation based on the artists' drawings, but also animation created by the artists' themselves. I was inspired, to say the least.

I'm so pleased that the film premiered at the DOK Leipzig Festival, and even happier to say that it took home a Golden Dove, the grand prize for best short documentary. Congratulations Shira!

Anyways, here is a small clip of animation that I did, based off a drawing by Ninah, one of the artists. Again, do check out the film's website and I will post when I hear of a screening!

Tying Your Own Shoes - clip from lillian chan on Vimeo.

Platypus E-card fun

2009-08-12T02:24:00.005-04:00

I recently made a short animation for Platypus, an ethical e-card website dedicated to supporting green projects that reduce carbon emissions. A very cool start-up with very cool ideas. Anyways, below if the final animation- enjoy!

Platypus Ecard Animation from lillian chan on Vimeo. All work copyright Lillian Chan 2009

Vogue-ing

2009-07-03T01:24:00.004-04:00

I bought this copy of Vogue Korea last year that i've been doodling out of when i wait for things to render. A fun way to kill time--here's a few.

TCAF 09

2009-06-07T23:43:00.003-04:00

Wow have i been absent or what? Been doing alot of exciting projects that i can't share yet, but hopefully soon....

But here's a few sketches from kidkoala's quiet party, a TCAF event, and i gotta say, it made me realize how much i like being quiet and drawing with a gazillion other people.

Aw, kids

2009-03-10T08:05:00.006-04:00

I got a special mail order the other day...

Inside are a small set of spot illustrations i did for Canadian Family Magazine...wow! It's a great awesome feeling seeing them in print:

You can read the articles with the spots here:
http://www.canadianfamily.ca/articles/article/creating-birth-plan/
http://www.canadianfamily.ca/articles/article/cranium-concern/
http://www.canadianfamily.ca/articles/article/ditching-diaper/
http://www.canadianfamily.ca/articles/article/private-parts/
http://www.canadianfamily.ca/articles/article/bedwetting-blues/
http://www.canadianfamily.ca/articles/article/gossiping-preteens/
http://www.canadianfamily.ca/articles/article/baffling-behaviour/

That's it for now. Things are starting to ramp up-- I have 2 animated films in the works this year, a couple of side projects on the go, and more ideas than I know what to do with. Here's to a productive 2009!

Cafe sketch

2009-02-26T20:49:00.002-05:00

Aroma coffee on bloor.

That Oscar Dress

2009-02-20T22:50:00.006-05:00

Say what you will about the Academies, it's always exciting for me to see the glitz and glamour of the night. I'm not always in agreement with picks, and sometimes the show is just a downright snore, but the stars in designer gowns never seem to disappoint. Looking forward to this year's fashion!

Birthdays Galore

2009-02-11T09:53:00.007-05:00

Last weekend I celebrated two special birthdays-- my best friend Jen's, and my mom's. They're pretty hard people to find presents for, but fortunately they are two of the best cooks I've ever known, and are pretty absent minded, so a recipe box seemed like a good idea. I stayed up pretty late making with these, but I'm not unpleased with the results. The best part is that if they actually put them to use and write down their delicious recipes, then I'll get to borrow them. So really, it's a gift to me!

Yay! The weekend!

2009-01-23T23:24:00.001-05:00

Plan B

2009-01-15T16:18:00.005-05:00

Food! I don't know how many Michael Pollan fans there are out there but his books, The Omnivore's Dilemna and In Defense of Food have left me thinking every day about what I'm putting into my mouth. That coupled with a trip I took last year with my good friend Robin to Plan B Organic farms have really inspired me to draw more food. We are putting together a comic about Plan B and here are some veggies that I've had the pleasure of creating.

Our New Place

2009-01-06T10:15:00.005-05:00

Happy 2009! John and I moved into our new place on the first and have been slowly unravelling our boxes. We're renting an old victorian that's got great character and really puts me into the mood to draw. Hope you are all excited about the new year too.

Women In War Zones

2008-12-22T10:20:00.004-05:00

i've been working on a Women In War Zones for a while now, creating an animatic that shares the story of a young congolese woman recovering from sexual torture and abuse at the Panzi Hospital. Scott and Brad, the documentary guys, had a premiere screening a few months back...CONGRATS guys! It included some of the following stills. I would love to keep refining the animatic and possibly make a short film out of it...maybe in the new year, stay posted :)

subway

2008-12-15T15:39:00.000-05:00

always nice when a beautiful woman gets on the train.

Invites!

2008-12-12T11:58:00.000-05:00

Well.....it's been a long time. But the posts will begin again, just in time for the new year!
I thought I would post my wedding invites-- I designed them and snapped a few pics of the whole caboodle before we bundled them up to send off. My favourites are the BBQ designs...enjoy!

Couples

2007-11-09T01:18:00.000-05:00

It's always a pleasure drawing couples on the subway.

TALESPINNERS IS OUT!!!

2007-10-29T00:39:00.000-04:00

I have AMAZING news! After a year and a half of waiting, TALESPINNERS 2 is finally available for purchase off the NFB website! It contains my film along with 6 other shorts. You can order it online at the NFB STORE.

Thanks to everyone who keeps asking me about my film's release- it really means alot to me.

life

2007-09-15T01:18:00.000-04:00

Published!

2007-09-05T10:46:00.001-04:00

So, I received a great gift yesterday-- my talented friend Tim Chan wrote an article about me in Hyphen magazine. The story is great and makes me sounds professional, no easy task-- if you get a chance, do grab a copy (or peruse through one in at chapters!)

women in war zones

2007-08-30T00:07:00.000-04:00

just figuring out some boards for this women in war zones project. It's really nice working on something so different from the normal commercial animation work. The boarding has been super rewarding, just giving my brain a little exercise. Jumping back and forth from computer to paper, still trying to figure out a good process. I guess it has always been about trial and error.

lifedrawing

2007-08-26T21:53:00.000-04:00

it's been a while. I'm never really happy with anything i do in lifedrawing, but it is good for me to track my own progress/regress.

TCAF

2007-08-22T11:23:00.000-04:00

Wow, this weekend at TCAF was amazing. Not only did I get to help my friend at his booth (a great illustrator and comic artist, GB Tran), I also had the privilege of buying James Jean a sandwich and helping him sell his artwork ! Wow, what a great festival-- here's some sketches:

Old victoria college, where TCAF was held. The space was just beautiful.

Paul Pope in a panel discussion. The guy should be a model, he's always slouching in just the right way.

At the TCAF closing party. A friends band also happened to be playing there.

west coast wow.

2007-08-16T00:32:00.000-04:00

Just got back from 2 weeks in california: san diego, san fran, LA. We did so much, i don't even know where to start. Unfortunately, I spent most of my time sightseeing and not enough time sketching.

subway sketches

2007-07-21T00:16:00.000-04:00

Here's another round of sketches--

t-shirts continued

2007-07-11T01:47:00.000-04:00

I've been working on some more t-shirt designs -- it's been quite a challenge, but i like trying something new. I hope i get something really printed on a shirt :)

T-SHIRTS AHOY!

2007-07-04T01:16:00.000-04:00

so here are some initial t-shirt sketch concepts... can't wait to do some more.

illustration journalism

2007-06-29T16:55:00.000-04:00

I'm starting a really exciting project with some amazing guys in philadelphia. We creating a documentary/animation about abused women currently undergoing treatment at the Panzai Hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Thought I would post some of my experimental sketches for the film. If you have time, check out the actual photos this was based on-- www.womeninwarzones.com

Lifedrawing

2007-06-27T16:22:00.000-04:00

just started life drawing again this year-- here are some new ones:

Subway sketches

2007-06-26T10:27:00.000-04:00

Just some stuff i've accumulated since january.

FIRST POST

2007-06-18T22:39:00.000-04:00

testing.