Bok Choy Apparel

the artist

Jon Mendez
Hometown: San Jose, California
www.cheeziepoof.com

Nickname: Jon Jon
Year of Birth: 1981
Zodiac: Rooster
Ethnicity: Filipino
School: San Jose State University
Occupation: Illustrator/Animator

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Specialties:

Entertainment Design (concept design, environment design, character design, layout design)

Favorite artists:

Alfonse Mucha, Barron Storey, Craig Mullins, James Paick, James Jean, Paul Lasaine, Gregory Manchess, Zhaoming Wu, Chris Sanders, Nathan Fowkes, Bill Cone, etc.

Associations:

No on 8, Equality California (EQCA), Human Rights Campaign (HRC), Shrunkenheadman (SHM), Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center

Turn On’s:

- the smile
- personality
- an ability to intelligently form and articulately express ideas
- an open mind
- a sense of humor
- an appreciation of cartoons, Star Trek, Harry Potter, and comic books
- an ability to engage in conversation
- a swimmer's physique / toned body
- a sense of creativity, whether artistically, culinary, or otherwise
- a lighthearted, dorky demeanor

Turn Off’s:

- ignorance, close-mindedness and arrogance
- overuse of the word "like"
- people who TyPe LyKe dIsssh :>
- lack of hygiene

Last Meal on Earth:

Prime rib (medium), twice-baked potatoes, steamed veggies, spinach & bleu cheese salad w/ walnuts, 7-layer chocolate cake, and a pot of coffee w/ cream

What is your “community?”

I am a first generation Filipino-American, born in Texas but raised in California. I am a part of the Asian-Pacific Islander community and I consider myself lucky to call myself a member of the artist community, the GLBT community, the Nerds & Dorks Consortium, the Priory of Sion, the FireNation, an officer of Starfleet, the BokChoyApparel Mafia Syndicate, and Ocean's 14th. Yep. Have you figured out that I'm quite random yet?

What inspires you?

I find myself inspired foremost by my artistic peers. Their drive and determination to master their craft... our craft... inspires me to improve my own skill sets and work. I am inspired by the intelligent - academic and "street-smarts." And, like many people, I am inspired by other art forms such as visual art, performance art, culinary art, abstract art, architectural, and the like.

When did you know you were going to be an artist?

I knew I wanted to be an artist when I was about four years old. I had just finished watching an episode of Bob Ross (if you don't know who Bob Ross is, you fail) and I felt immediately inspired to paint. I ran into my bedroom, brought out my Crayola watercolor set, and proceeded to paint my first painting on the wall of my bedroom. Suffice it to say, the parentals were not overly thrilled to see what I had done to the bright white walls of our rented apartment. Encouraged by my dad, who is also an artist in his own right, I grew up drawing and painting. Eventually, my college education and my career path revolved around the commercial and fine arts.

Where can people find you?

People can find me almost always around a computer - whether or not I'm being productive on the computer is debatable. Generally, I tend to find myself at coffee shops, either working, drawing, people watching, or enjoying the company of a friend. Or, I can be found at home... doing the same thing (except there aren't to many people to watch beyond my younger brother and mom).

What’s next?

Next? Next, I continue to improve my skill sets and portfolio while I continue my efforts to find a career in the entertainment-design industry, be it video game design or film design. Until then, I work freelance and live one day at a time.

Where can people find you?

People can find me almost always around a computer - whether or not I'm being productive on the computer is debatable. Generally, I tend to find myself at coffee shops, either working, drawing, people watching, or enjoying the company of a friend. Or, I can be found at home... doing the same thing (except there aren't to many people to watch beyond my younger brother and mom).

What’s next?

Next? Next, I continue to improve my skill sets and portfolio while I continue my efforts to find a career in the entertainment-design industry, be it video game design or film design. Until then, I work freelance and live one day at a time.

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designs by the artist

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