“Toys for Tots.”

Collar Free has teamed up with “Toys for Tots” to create t-shirts for a cause and raise awareness during their Holiday Drive in San Diego. I’ve submit a design entitled “Marine Teddy,” which includes a cute teddy bear sailing on a ship and bringing gifts to kids.

To find out more about “Toys for Tots” organization, read here:

The mission of the United States Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys from October through December and then distribute those toys to needy children in the community as Christmas presents.  The toys are collected by Reserve Marines at various community and civic functions, sorted according to age and gender, and then are distributed to local social and welfare agencies, churches, and civic organizations.

Buy “Marine Teddy” t-shirt at Zazzle >







This summer, I was invited to draw animal characters for a friend-of-mine’s pet shop.  I first thought I wasn’t the right person for the job, but a month later, I realized I could get it done, and well! I was very pleased with the results. And I will be showing those designs as soon as the shop goes live. As a result of working on that project, I now felt ready to take on more character designs.

I used to do cartoon drawings in school when I was 12 to 17 years of age. I kind of left that behind as I got older, but I’ve always have had a fascination with comics, graphic novels.  The line work has something to do with my present art style. I just never imagined doing “Disney” like cartoons, actually creating my own. It was a surprise, a challenge beyond my comfort zone.

One of the thing I learnt this summer is the meaning of “cute factor.” It is universal in the world. Big head, small body, little or big eyes, chubby cheeks… how you see a baby, put those characteristics to an animal character and you got yourself cuteness. I read an article about this some time ago, to confirm what seemed clear… if you are saying silly things to your pet, to a baby, to something that looks cuddly, it is because it has cute qualities.  I have two fishes, one is called Popcorn and the other Leo, when I look at both they have these big chubby heads and small bodies… I just want to hug them. I don’t physically hug them, but you get the point!

Posted on 24 Oct 2008.

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