Coba Lagi.. Coba lagi... (Book- The Boy Who Can Not Tie His Shoes)

Grraaah!  I like my new shoes but why it's so hard to tie it!

It's a book about process,
a determination and a story about
a young boy who have a new shoes but don't have any idea how to tie one.

First time I read the script, it gives me a wide smile,

I can picture  every single expression this little dude will be; happy, determined, stress, tired, relieved.











And I do wish that everyone who read this to their young, will express it while they read it, every single expression, and watch how the listener will also change their own expression, that will be fun!

Make this book as a fun one, make them learn about patience, process, and result, at last :).

Don't you agree?


Just contact the publisher to get the book : aksaberama@gmail.com

Ombe Kofie - Logo and branding

Ombe means "drink" in Javanese.

The main concept is something bold, never ending and masculine.

So I end up with something circular, with shape that related to coffee stain under the main image.

With simplicity and one color that describe Ombe Kofie on the first place as a artistry coffee place for those who know the real taste of coffee.












Learning not to put sugar on the coffee. And I prefer a little bit of milk. :D

Ombé Kofie

Jln Pluit Sakti Raya No 117, Jakarta Utara 14450 
Opening hours: 
08:00 - 17:45 
Monday - Saturday 
PH-Sunday 10:00 - 17:45 
Email: ombe.kofie@icloud.com


*All of the photo  above were courtesy of Ombe Kofie.

Woosh..., The Wind Take the Egg Away (Wuusss..., Angin Membawa Telur Terbang )

An ant egg felt down from the tree. The wind flew the egg to several places. It had long and long journey to find its home. The wind flew the egg around the pond, garden, hill, school, market, housing, road and finally the wind brought the egg back home. Who inside the egg? What kinda egg it is?

It's a book that have a story of process, journey, and surprising things.

Nowadays, children are eager with something instant. fast, entertaining, without remembering where it comes from, what's the story behind everything. 

When I first read the book script, I was excited of how simple the subject are, simple yet have a concept that teach the children about the process of a thing, how one aspect could effect the whole circumstances, what happen next, what if, ....

 :: alternative sketch

I'm using watercolor in this book, to give emphasize, natural look that this topics bring, I begin with research of plant that grows around my house, small plants, common one, that if you see it with a 'big perspective' - exist.  Pretending I'm  a lilliput :D.

Then, the situation around us, the market, the seller costumes, tukang kueh. common animals, 

and I love it, I love doing the process. Hope you all love it too :))

Just contact the publisher to buy the book : aksaberama@gmail.com

Happy belated Christmas!

The last year Christmas cards I did for the card company, they want something modern and  simple so here they are :)

The village of little people, and snow, and ice skating, and snow, again.


















:: and this is the real look of the little people, they have no mouth and nose!

 In the land of pine tree and deer.
We don't have snow here, so that's why we are crazy about the idea of white Christmas *sigh :D

 :: another little people and little deer that are 'big'

I love you mom , I love you dad book

Mom, Dad, I Love You. Yes I love the quality of this book, the color and the layout, after all the revision and editing, at last, it's worth it! 

A Collaboration books with colleague illustrator,  click here for the review of this book from the author

The Boy who can not tie his shoes

Hi! long time no see, been busy with all the stuff, drawing, projects, house cleaning..
Pfft, and really I've got to start writing again, been drowning in all the social media application, and realize that I just got to write and take notes in what I've been doing in this blog again! Wish me luck then!

Been working on this project and I really looove the story, it's very simple, basic things of a daily routines in a child life, but it instantly caught my attention, it's like the first time I read the stories, and all the gesture, the mimic, everything comes up and dancing on my head, well what I mean; in my mind.

After searching for some style, I comes up with many reference, in the internet you can find many things and learn many things, just do it like this: 25% browsing 75% working; this is what I always said to my daughter, otherwise if you take 75% browsing with an 'ooh and aah' for seeing all the masterpiece online, you will end up with only 25% working and exhaustion from all the excuse that you make that 'you've been working by browsing', umm  I'm blabbering again, okey back to the topic

This is all my reference, I loove all this illustrator, and hope I could learn from them :) Ekaterina Trukhan, Mary Blair, Shinzi Katoh.

And I end up with my own personal style, I'm trying to capture the crispness of the line, the tidiness of the color and the main thing is, the 'child' inside a child character, frustration, happiness, hope, sadness and so on. Enjoy!

My artwork PoD online shop

It's the day when my friend from Printerous approach me and said,' Hey, do you want to sell your artwork online?" It's like setting up a bunch of local artist , and give them chance to show their work printed on some stuff, Print on Demand stuff. I'm kinda apathetic in the concept of artwork  translated into a printed thing, usually because of the quality in Indonesia, and the form that not suitable to my expectation.

but then, I looked and looked and see the end result, well, amazingly it's suitable to what I've expected, so here it is, my online artwork shop, gotta buy one for myself , I'm really impressed and of course , happy, that finally we have something like this in here, it will help all the local talent and get them enough place to expose their work.

So if you interested in my art, welcome to my shop, take a look around and let me know what you think :)

click! click!
 printerous.com/id-id/duamatasaya

Just click click to see :)  printerous.com/id-id/duamatasaya

Valentine's Project 2015- Gift wrap

 Pattern, I love pattern.. :D
*Gift wrap Valentine's Project 2015

Christmas Cards part 1

Been working for a Christmas cards project, this time I collaborate my design with Mika doodles, to add  an original children perspective of Christmas and style, and it turns out great.. what do you think :D?!

Precious time

Been working on a parenting book, did a little bit of saturation here, for my own satisfaction only, the original it a lot brighter an colorful :)

The Legend of the Golden Cucumber Princess

My latest drawing, water color  and pencil.
It's an Indonesian children story about a girl, who born inside a cucumber.
I know this story since I was a little girl, and here is a part of the story:

"Run Timun Mas. Save your life!" said the mother. The giant was angry. He knew the farmers wanted to break their promise. He chased Timun Mas away. The giant was getting closer and closer.

Timun Mas then opened the bag and threw a handful of salt. It became a sea. The giant had to swim to cross the sea. Later, Timun Mas threw some chilli. It became a jungle with trees. The trees had sharp thorns so they hurt the giant.

However, the giant was still able to chase Timun Mas. Timun Mas took her third magic stuff. It was cucumber seeds. She threw them and became cucumber field.

But the giant still could escape from the field. Then it was the last magic stuff she had in the bag. It was a shrimp paste, terasi. She threw it and became a big swamp.

You can read the whole story here:

Taken From: Indonesian Folklore

:: Make a book from these piece maybe..?
Gotta find a publisher first :)

From Rock to Rock - Children book illustration

The final result for my post about The frog who lost his home  .
Story by Ary Nilandari.

In this project I try to put the effort on the details, about the frog family expression, the mountain of stones that been taken away by the human, and the beauty of the ecosystem in this story. As this story are real life situation , about the rocks mining in Java, a little bit of Javanese culture is put inside the details, like the the "blangkon' that the frog put on their head, the batik for dancing, and gamelan for the music instruments. Enjoy.. :)







Sketches and sketches...

:: Give our rock back!

:: Maybe we can do something...

:: From rock to rock we jump and play, from rock to rock we dance and sing!

Dahlan Shoes Series is out now :)

3 stories about a boy named Dahlan, actually it's the real childhood stories of Bapak Dahlan Iskan, the  Indonesia's Minister for State-owned enterprises. 

It's about his experience as a poor farmer boy, finding his way to get out from his condition, a heart warming stories that remind us to accept life what ever condition we've been given to , but also to be smart and find our own way to break through to find a better life, and respect it.






















































Kriuk! Perut Dahlan semakin lapar.   Dia menatap meja makan dengan nanar. Di sana tidak ada sedikit pun hidangan.Sedari pagi Dahlan belum makan.  

                                           

Rumble! Dahlan’s getting hungrier. Dahlan hazily stares at the dining table. There isn’t even a bit of food to ease this hunger.

Since this morning Dahlan hasn’t found anything to gobble.

:: This one is the inside page from the first book, Dream Shoes.

The frog who lost his home

Still working on this project, it's about a frog who lost his stone where he used to singing and dancing with his  friends, because of the city development.  Got enough time to work on this project, so I do hope the quality is much much better.. :)

Being a Shortlist Illustrator in Singtel Asian Picture Book Award 2013

Thanks to God.. :) 
In May I've got this delighting email from Singapore Book Council, saying that my illustration for 'Cap Go Meh' has been nominated for the Singtel Award, the shortlist was picked from 158 entries sent in from 19 countries. Not win yet but honored yes.. :). 

My friend, Sophie Dewayani the author also shortlisted for the author award. And this is the synopsis from the book, this book has not been published yet, wish us luck that we'll find the perfect publication company.

Cap Go Meh *just click to view more about the inside illustration
Nisa, a Muslim girl, and Lili, a Chinese-Indonesian, debate over where cap go meh rice cake 
is the genuine icon of Eid Al-Fitr tradition or Chinese New Year celebration. After sharing 
the excitement of experiencing each celebration, both end up discovering what is more 
essential; that a dish is able to bridge diversity.

Almost Christmas!!

Hey it almost Christmas, it means so many things to do, how exciting!
I'm done designing these Christmas envelope, phewww.. it's a lot but I'm quite satisfied with the result, I'll let you know later after I receive the print out version..

and Christmas means decorating..



















and baking Christmas cookies, that gone before Christmas, yes, we ate it all.. :D!

Book: Cap Go Meh

Finally done! Been doing this 15 spread books illustration in 2 weeks, errgg I'm so tired and so overwhelmed at the same time! I really love the story line because it really take a lot of courage to lift the topic of different religion and race in Indonesia, I hope this book could give a positive mind set for those who read it, that all religion is good, it is us, as human being, who have to learn a lot more about humanity and tolerance, no matter what race are we, what religion are we...

So.. enjoy.. :)







Cap Go Meh

By Sofie Dewayani and Eugenia Gina

Nisa, a Muslim girl, and Lili, a Chinese-Indonesian, debate over whether lontong Cap Go Meh is the genuine icon of Eid Al-Fitr tradition or Chinese New Year celebration. After sharing the excitement of experiencing each celebration, both end up discovering what is more essential; that a dish is able to bridge diversity. 

Lontong Cap Go Meh represents the Indonesian melting pot. Consisting of rice cake, chicken curry, along with several other side dishes, it characterizes the interwoven of Chinese, Malay, and the local Javanese cultural tapestry.