Halloween!

The Pumpkin Minion Phantom Friend says, "Happy Halloween!" Now say that ten times fast.

Invitation for the Shuffle Gallery Exhibition

I know that it is still a few months from now, but please save the date! Here is the invitation I received today:

Hello Artists and Friends,

I am curating a group show at Hibbleton Gallery and am excited to extend an invitation to you to participate in this exciting event. Attached is a synopsis of the show details as well as the gallery contract. Please read over in detail and consider if this is a project you would be excited about being a part of.

The show is February 12th, 2010, and is called SHUFFLE. It will include an OPENING EXHIBITION, which will feature finished works by a variety of professional artists. Each work will correspond to a song chosen by the artist to be represented through the medium of their choice. The title of the song of choice will be the title of the piece. (ie. "Beat it: Michael Jackson", By John Smith). Each work will be in the suggested size of either a vinyl album cover (12" x 12"), vinyl single, (7" x 7") or cd cover (5" x 5"). The content/Representation is up to the artist. I have personally selected artists that I feel truly convey the spirit of the show I'm hoping to create.

Please get back to me when you can, so I can lock down my list of artists. Please include your Name, Contact Information, as well as some type of recognition that you are committed to this show and the conditions listed. This is going to be an amazing event, and I hope you will all choose to be a part of it. If you have any questions or comments, please let me know!!!

Blessings//Gratitude
Jenikah

My Portfolio

I went on an interview for a freelance graphic design position last week. The amount of pieces was a bit on the excessive side, but I wanted to show a variety of work. Here is a photo of the contents of my portfolio.

Polaroid Gallery Exhibition

A few months ago I submitted few Polaroid photos for Instant Gratification: A Polaroid Party Gallery Exhibition. I went with a nostalgic materialistic 1980's theme, so I purchased some expired film (to get the washed out vintage look I was going for), gathered my childhood items, and snapped away. The camera used was an old, partly broken Polaroid One-Step. The whole process brought back a lot of very fond memories. Can you guess all of the items in the photographs?

Graphic Design USA Competition

A few months back, I received a call for entries for a design competition hosted by Graphic Design USA magazine (GD USA). I'd never entered anything like that before, but had always wanted to do so. I decided to submit a tri-fold registration brochure I had recently designed for the 2009 AVN Adult Entertainment Expo in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, I was doing this independently from my company, so I was not able to submit the entire campaign . Instead, I chose one of my favorite pieces and sent that in to be judged.

I waited for a month. Then two. No word from the magazine, which made me a little down. Eventually, I just forgot about the whole thing.

Then a few weeks ago, I was bringing in the mail when I noticed a large envelope. I opened it and pulled out a certificate(?) and a letter which read:

CONGRATULATIONS!

You have been selected as a winner in the 2009 AMERICAN GRAPHIC DESIGN AWARDS.

Yes!!!

Busy

Hi all. Sorry for the delay in entries, it has been a really busy summer for me! I will update with many entries very soon!

Kogi Shirt Competition

This is my entry for the Kogi shirt competition. What do you think?

2nd Place!

I received an email saying that I got 2nd place in the sticker design competition! I want to thank everyone for the votes, I couldn't have done it without you!

Also, congratulations to the other winners. I think that all the designs turned out great. My absolute favorite has got to be 6th place. I love how the eyeball is substituted for the "O", and the use of negative space to depict the buildings is excellent. It is a very quirky and clean design. Well done!

For a closer look at my design, click here.

Meet Octoblot

I didn't sleep at all last night, but it was worth it! After a weeks worth of planning, sketching, sculpting, prepping, silicone curing, and mold pouring...

I present to you Octoblot, the second Phantom Friends toy. Ghost Phantom finally has a friend to play with. Posted in this entry is the first batch of the fresh-out-of-the-mold, unprepped, unpainted, naked photos.

I just need to prep, paint, package, and they will be ready for public consumption. I hope you like calamari!

Stickers Everywhere!

I just got an email blast from Pop Monster with this crazy image of all the stickers in the sticker contest. From what I can see, they all look pretty awesome. Hopefully I can come in sometime this week to check them out before the competition ends!

Sticker Competition at Pop Monster

This is my entry for a sticker competition being held at Pop Monster these next two weeks. Wish me luck!

There were some restrictions, such as the size (no bigger than 4" x 4"), and the color palette limited to green, red, and black (Pop Monster colors).

I had a blast working on this sticker! I have decided to do a full color version of this as well. It might just see life as a print...

Social Networks

Here is some social network contact info. I love making new friends, add me!

Facebook
Myspace
Twitter

How Phantom Friends are Born

In case anyone was wondering how Phantom Friends are made...they are hand cast from a silicone mold. Cool huh?

By the way, I have some for sale. Click here for the current edition choices. Please email me at tuan@tuanvutran.com for availability and pricing. Thanks!

More Photos from Pop Monster

Just got these highlight photos from Pop Monster! I will post the rest when I get them.

Grand Opening Night for the Meet My Moji Show

I have to say that the event was a huge success. The turnout was a lot bigger than I had expected. All of the sleepless nights and the hard work finally paid off. The show will be up for another two weeks for those that still want to check it out. Directions and other information can be found in my earlier entries.

I want to thank every single person that came out to the show. Thank you so much for the support and encouragement and I want you to know it means a great deal to me. Thanks again!

Postcard Refresh

New postcards featuring work in progress for the show. Check it out!

Phantom Friends

These are my Phantom Friends. I've been working on this project for a few months now. They are two inches tall and made out of molded plastic. Each colorway will be a limited run of only ten. More colors to come, along with other sculpts. I will update with photos of packaging later!

Hey everyone!

Just sending out this update to let you know that I will be part of a group art show in about a month. It is scheduled for
Saturday, March 28th, from 7:00pm - 10:00pm. http://eventful.com/torrance/events/meet-my-moji-/E0-001-019359512-6

At the grand opening of the show I will have:

• The debut my new line of Phantom Friends designer toys in limited edition runs.
  
• Original framed artwork.
• Limited edition prints suitable for framing.
• Dozens of different types of booklets. (You would never think saving three men from a burning car, ghost stories, cockroaches, Wheel of Fortune, lost loves, chance encounters, ninjas, sunburns and surviving in L.A. would have anything in common, but they do!)

The event is free, so please come and see the art, enjoy the refreshments and participate in the awesome raffle! There will be lots and lots of items for sale from all of the artists. (Just in case you decide to bring a Phantom Friend home with you. )

Save the date! It would mean SO MUCH to me to see you there! Here are the details:

Come to the MEET MY MOJI exhibit hosted by Pop Monster!
Enjoy the refreshments, original works for sale, raffle for great prizes, and more!

MEET MY MOJI
Saturday March 28, 2009
A group exhibition showcasing artwork exemplifying the pop art Japanese toy market. Each of the artists has created an original character or "Moji" in each one's own unique style.

Artists include:
Caro
Jenikah
Tuan Vu Tran
Aaron Little
Melissa Martyn

Location:
Pop Monster
24416 Censhaw Blvd. #3
Torrance, CA 90505

By the way, 10% of all profits go towards our local charities! If that doesn't make you run to the show this very instant, I don't know what will (Don't run to the show until March 28th, though).

Go ahead and message me with any questions or comments. I'd love to hear from you. Feel free to forward this information to all your friends as well! See you there!!!

-Tuan Vu Tran