Generative AI test -sketch to render

 I had done this hand drawn 3D view (above)  on 16 May 2021. I wanted to try my hand at AI. So I uploaded this image into a generative AI app today 23 February 2026.

This is the result (above).

The rear view sketch (above).

And the AI result (above).

Reasonably accurate result to my prompt- "Render as photo realistic image, day time in a tropical setting. Gray metal roof, light beige walls, dark timber trellis, white windows with light blue tinted glass."

Above images by Artlist/Nano Banana app.

Also tried same images and prompt in Chat GPT- results below.

Both are free trials. Not sure if I want to subcribe yet.

 

New Year and New Year

 

At the end of December 2025 I decided I would create an artwork based on an idea that could be used for both the Gregorian New Year of 1st January 2026 and also the Chinese/Lunar New Year of 17th February 2026.

As this is the Lunar New Year of the Fire Horse, the base for both artworks is a horse. For the Gregorian New Year, the fire elements were not illustrated. This artwork was posted on Facebook and WhatsApp on 1st January 2026. (Image above).

The Lunar New Year artwork was created at the same time, incorporating fire elements and the auspicious red coloration and was only posted later on Facebook and WhatsApp on 17th Febuary 2026. (Image above.)

However, on 7 February 2026 I was in Penenag, Malaysia for a wedding. Noting a decoration in the Chinese restuarant where I had my dinner, I was inspired to also draw this cartoon artwork and this too was posted on posted on Facebook and WhatsApp on 17th Febuary 2026. (Image above).

Testing new pens

Having received some markers as a gift from our eldest daughter and also having bought some marker pens on my own recently, I decided to try them out with these sketches. Animals on land, in the air and the sea. The images have been scanned in without any touching up or modification.

 

Deepavali Greetings for 2025

 

Singapore -60 years as a nation

 

A busy day today with some errands, but not so busy that I can't create this salutation.

A little bit of practice

 

Vesak is a Public holiday here in Singapore- a day off from work. I hadn't done any cartoon drawing in some time so just for practice, I did this sktech. A South Asian take on a children's tale. Obviously the little girl can't be named "Goldilocks".

2025 Tamil Hindu New Year

 

This year, it falls on 14 April 2025.

2025 Lunar New Year of The Snake

 

Deepavali 2024

 

The festival of light is nowadays celebrated with fireworks.

April 2024 Festivities

This year 10 April 2024 was the Festival of Eid after the month of Ramadan. A few days later on 13 April 2024 it was Tamil Hindu/Sinhala Buddhist New Year.

Both greetings were drawn in a loose sketchy style.

Birth of the Year of The Dragon- two artworks from one

The Gregorian calendar year commenced 1 January 2024. The Lunar/Chinese New Year commenced 10 February 2024. In the past I have done separate artworks for both events. This time I decided to use one base concept to create both artworks. As this is the Chinese Zodiac Year of the Dragon, I chose to depict a baby dragon emerging from its egg. So at the end of December 2023, I created both artworks. Published the 2024 one for the 1 Jan 2024 date and published the Chinese New Year one on 9 Jan 2024.

No. 1-This is the base line artwork drawn by hand, ink on paper, scanned into Photoshop.

No. 2-The base artwork was coloured as above in Photoshop and saved.

No. 3- From that base artwork, this one was further developed in Photoshop as final artwork for the Gregorian New Year and published first.

No. 4- Going back to the saved base artwork (No. 2), this one was further developed in Photoshop as final artwork for the Chinese New Year and published for that event. Auspicious red colour background, orange sparkles and Chinese motif border.

Both No. 3 and No. 4 were completed at the same time, only publication was staggered.

As a side note, our first born was born in a dragon year too, so it has a special meaning for us.

The Making of The 20th Century Fox

 You may have seen my final artwork on this. The images below show you how it was created from concept thumbnail to pencil drawing (19 January 2024 evening) to ink trace on tracing paper,scan into Adobe Photoshop and colouring via various layers on 20 January 2024 afternoon.

A Google Image of the actual 20th Century Fox logo was used as reference as can be seen from some of the screenshots.

Concept thumbnail

Pencil drawing. 3B on white paper.

Trace over with brown felt tip pen 0.5mm

Checking the tracing by inserting a white sheet below.

Scan into Photoshop.

Adjusting brightness and contrast settings.

Black colour fill.

Fox body fill.

Fox costume fill.

Background fill.

Colouring other elements.

Adding shade for a 3D effect.

Colouring the sky. Airbrush tool on a new layer

Adding clouds on new layer.

Shading his shades on new layer.

Adjusting opacity of the shades.

Adding the searchlights on new layer using white fill.

Adjusting the opacity to created the searchlight effect.

Done. So I thought. Oops forgot to light his cigarette!

Done. Final artwork. Saved in JPEG format