pause/still

the last month

2012-01-23T10:35:00.000-08:00

...has been fairly dramatic.

happy Chinese New Year!
and happy normal new year as well...

here are some photos and good memories from the last month.
more later, after I catch up on sleep and know where I'm going to live tomorrow.

若い

2011-12-22T17:37:00.000-08:00

"there is nothing in biology yet found that indicates the inevitability of death."
- Richard Feynman

this is why I get upset when people talk about getting old or dying.

ps: physics is cool.

thank you

2011-12-13T16:20:00.000-08:00

I decided to pay attention to how I receive things and how it's different depending on who's giving.
I think a lot of the time, as a child, mum bribed me to do something that I didn't want to do (being good or quiet in a public place like the grocery store) by giving me some kind of treat (like a donut). (not to be mean to my mum, lots of parents do this, because it usually works.)
This means I feel like I need to reward myself for doing anything difficult, and I know other people do this too. it also means when I receive anything good (for no reason; a gift of love) I feel undeserving or an expectation that the gift is from someone who wants me to do something I don't want to do. this also sounds a lot like the way the gospel story talks about "the gift of Jesus" and I always felt awkward about that too. because with gifts, I feel like I owe the giver something in return.
I'm not sure why, because when I give something, I just want the receiver to enjoy and appreciate it and feel loved. I give things and time to people I like.
so I want to be able to receive gifts with this in mind. to say thank you and appreciate the thought. and remember that a lot of people don't need more stuff so the gift of time is a good one. a lot of my friends are super generous. I mostly like giving friends things I don't need anymore that I think they'd like. I like to make simple things for people (handwritten notes) and like getting these too. this time of year I always feel like the whole commercial part of Christmas is silly. I haven't been giving (new store bought) Christmas gifts for most of my life. and no one has complained so far.

don't be afraid

2011-11-03T22:47:00.001-07:00

I'm sorting through some things I had boxed up while I went out of town (I'm back).
I found a short list I made in response to something I read about how it's good to admit your fears. in order to get over them? I don't remember details now.

so these are the three things I'm afraid of and my response to negate them:

1.I'm afraid to end up like my parents or being like everyone else. (I'm different already)

2.I'm afraid of wasting time pursuing something that has no benefit. (I can learn from everything)

3.I'm afraid of getting so busy doing something I don't care about that I neglect friends or forget what is important to me. (remind myself of goals often)

I had forgotten all about these fears. I guess doing this exercise worked?
I've noticed that recently I've been better about living in the now, focusing on my goals, and taking the small steps to accomplish things that seemed to overwhelm me before. its becoming natural to break things down into small tasks that are too easy to not do.

おさしぶりね

2011-09-10T23:31:00.000-07:00

it`s been sooo long since I`ve been here... I haven`t forgotten, but I just haven`t had a good time to update. I`ve mostly been in the middle of nowhere with the only possible internet access from an iPhone if wi-fi is available.

I spent 6 weeks in South Korea, where I taught middle school and elementary school students English. I had so much fun and now I feel more confident that I could handle a year long commitment teaching English in Japan. not that it would be the same as doing a ten day summer camp in Korea... but similar.
the first ten day camp was 8th grade students, and I`ve worked with kids this age a lot, so I loved it. my co-teacher Joon & I got along great and teased each other all the time. so this is a picture with the 12 students from our homeroom class. after that, the other American teachers at my school went to stay at a temple for a couple nights. that was an amazing cultural experience, but waking up at 3:30 am to do 108 bows (from kneeling to standing up) both mornings before breakfast was brutal. we didn`t get much rest before the 6th grade camp. they had sooo much energy, and we had none left. but I still really enjoyed meeting them and was impressed by how well the students could communicate in English already.

after the camps we got a little tour of some National museums and went to Seoul for a little free time. I had seen pictures from an island south of the Korean peninsula that were amazing, so I decided to get myself there. it`s called Jeju island, or Jeju-do (which is it`s own provence in South Korea). I went with one of the other teachers with no real plan and we figured out seeing this amazing place we saw in the pictures.

it was rainy and really foggy that day, but we waited around to get a clear view of this inverted dome called Seongsan Ilchubong on the East side of the island. it`s actually a big island, so we saw very little of it. it was really relaxing though - I enjoyed just going to the beach. the people in South Korea are super kind also, and it was great to make some friends staying in the hostel there.

so now I`m in Japan. my favorite country to visit. probably because I feel more confident to have a conversation in Japanese as far as second languages go. after being in Korea for six weeks, I picked up a lot by accident, though a lot of it was the way the students talk and not really appropriate to use. hah. so I felt a little confused going to Japan, but immediately started speaking to people in Japanese a little and not having much trouble to understand either. phew. I was definitely out of practice and slower than usual... but it came back fast.

I met a couple online friends who were super kind and helpful. Hiroko took me to an awesome cafe that`s a tree house. it was really nice to relax there for a while.

and Yasu has been so awesome. we went to the Ghibli museum (first time for both of us) and it was really cool!

tomorrow night I`m going to the Kansai region for the first time to visit our exchange student from when I was a kid. I`ll be there for a week, then off to Hong Kong again!

sandy grass

2011-06-02T18:52:00.000-07:00

a couple photos from last summer that just got processed...
somehow I got a double exposure of my niece & nephew, which is kind of nice.
and a nice one of Lando sort of holding still.
that was a cold day at the beach... I hope we get a real summer this year.
we've had funny weather lately - switching between sunny and then heavy rain all day.
come on summer!
夏来て下さい！

more photos about buildings and trees

2011-06-02T18:45:00.000-07:00

a little late, but I just got a roll of real film processed that had these fun poofball sakura/cherry blossom pictures.
it takes me around a year to finish a roll of film... and this roll was mostly trees, haha.
it's from my Lomo camera which takes very nice photographs.
while I'm traveling I take a lot more photos (in Hong Kong it was mostly buildings) so I hope to continue with the real film in addition to digital. the good things just take longer.
real film is like waiting to open a present. hehe.

it's getting warmer

2011-05-17T18:27:00.000-07:00

hi~i. guess what?
I'm going to South Korea in a couple months!

（７月から８月まで、５週間、韓国に小学校生と中学校生に英語を教えに行きますよ。）

I'll be there for 5 weeks to teach English at summer camps.
after that there will be tentative traveling to Japan (Sept.) & Hong Kong (early Oct.) again.
planning ahead scares me... but if you're over there I'm hoping we can meet up when I arrive!

helping Japan

2011-04-24T13:01:00.000-07:00

It's a rainy Sunday & I'm gonna bring some artwork over to PSU to donate for this art exhibition & auction happening on Friday the 29th. For now, as a creative person, this is the best way I know how to help.

I hope you'll come to the reception Friday night if you're in town - there will be some Japanese performances and art to bid on! Please pass on the info to anyone you think would be interested.

桜

2011-04-06T17:13:00.000-07:00

すごくきれい！
春が来た。

haru kita

2011-03-10T22:40:00.000-08:00

it's finally getting warmer...

magic pinecones

2011-03-09T22:02:00.000-08:00

I really like the pinecones around Mt. Tabor this time of year. the seed wing things fall off leaving this sort of rose shaped remainder. then that part falls down from the tree & continues to split apart as it gets warmer out. they have this nice dusty blue color on the top. I was going to collect a few yesterday, but sort of collected a whole lot of them and started arranging them on the ground in a group. then they turned into a heart shape. I thought that was better than taking some home with me anyway.

consigning

2011-02-04T15:20:00.000-08:00

I am currently procrastinating about studying for a midterm, and as I've been thinking about consignments a lot today, thought I'd share. currently I make things and bring them to a few places to sell for me. I don't like the selling part so that's a good deal for me. though it's been challenging find shops that are run by creative businesspeople that I want to work with. right now I have some prints, cards, and hankies consigned at Knack, tender loving empire, Grass Hut, and Mag-Big in Portland. as of yesterday I don't have anything at Pony Club anymore, though I may bring new things over soon. and Nancy in Seattle just closed! so just Portlander shops now. which suits me as it's easier to check in with them and bring them new work. I'm attempting to only consign at places that keep track of things and actually pay me. because making things is my job.

okay, the important stuff: I just unearthed some oooold (three years = ancient history) prints that I thought were totally sold out! they had been hidden over at Pony Club and are now safe on a clothesline at Grass Hut! if you were hoping to catch one of these super limited edition Polar bear prints (one left!) or the forest print last (3) copies in existence, then get your buns over to the Hut!

ps: kung hei fat choy!

movies

2011-01-24T23:03:00.000-08:00

movies I watched in 2010: a review
I'm not gonna list all the movies I watched (about 52 of them). I saw a lot of movies I didn't like & don't want to bother mentioning.
it's interesting that I watched an average of one movie a week. I think I'll pick the five best ones to mention.
and also say that I watched a lot of movies because of having no day job for the majority of the year, discovering free streaming of Asian movies (and TV shows) online, and the library.
thank you all.
(sorry no pictures this time. lots of links though.)

okay my favorites in the order I watched them in last year:

win #1: Air Doll (空気人形)
by Kore-Eda Hirokazu
I saw this Japanese film staring a Korean actress with English subtitles in a theater in Hong Kong. I guess that's sort of weird. the more cultures involved the better as far as I'm concerned.
I love his movies. they are weird for sure, but also thought provoking & beautiful. just the way I like my movies. in case you haven't heard, this movie is about a blow up doll that becomes real and goes out and gets a job in a video store while her owner is at work. I told you it was weird.

win #2: Honey & Clover (ハチミツとクローバー)
directed by Takada Masahiro; based on Manga by Umino Chika
first, I saw this movie. then, I read the manga. then, I saw the TV series. I haven't seen the anime, though I'm basically obsessed with this story and might watch it sometime, even though I'm not into anime.
it's the story of some friends in art school in Tokyo, and part of the reason I was motivated to go back to school. and then I decided not to go to art school.
in case you were wondering, the 10 volume manga is the best! it not only features at least two love triangles, but also a bike tour, and a different conclusion than the movie or TV show.

win #3: Love at 7th Sight (七天爱上你)
directed by Alfred Cheung
this movie was beautiful & sweet and the best part is it had a totally unexpected twist. it's about a sound engineer who meets a mysterious girl on a trip to Beijing.
thank you again to Multnomah county library for having a great selection of Asian movies that I can check out for free for three weeks! one of the many reasons I love living in Portland.

win #4: About Love (關於愛)
directed by Shimoyama Ten, Yee Chin-yen, and Zhang Yibai
a three part film depicting three different types of love. the first story takes place in Tokyo, the second in Taipei, and the third in Shanghai. they are all stories of one Japanese and one Chinese person meeting.
again the international theme...

and win #5: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring (봄, 여름, 가을, 겨울 그리고 봄)
directed by Kim Ki-duk
another beautiful film from Asia... though this one is not really a love story.
it follows the life of a young monk in an isolated temple. it shows a version of the cycle of life through the four seasons, with the fifth season beginning again with a new student.
I loved Fall the best (it is actually my favorite season) because of a scene where the old monk writes out a sutra in calligraphy using his pet cat's tail as a brush. (I've been practicing Japanese calligraphy for over a year now.)

do you like how all five of those movies are from East Asia?
I like Asia. if you didn't already know, I have to say, 'duh.'

okay... I was gonna write about my favorite books of 2010 next time, but... I don't know if I actually will.
I only read 2-3 books that I thought were really great.
does that mean I have to read better books this year? I guess so.

one week into the new year

2011-01-06T17:58:00.000-08:00

what has changed?
is it better already?

I'm happy to have a tiny bit of schedule in my life, for the first time in a while. I love my class! (although right now I should be doing the hundreds of pages of reading I have for next week.)
it's Chinese Buddhist Art and it's my first ever graduate level class. I'm into it because we are mostly going over sculpture (today I was telling my teacher about the Giant Buddha I saw in HK) but including architecture, paintings, and block prints.

it might be too easy to immerse myself in this class as well as studying Japanese because those are my primary goals for now, but I want to make time for making art. after all, that is my job. I've been thinking about how I love my job of making things and consigning them in local shops. I do need to pay for my class though... so that means I have to make (& sell) a lot of art this year.

end of the year book

2010-12-31T09:46:00.000-08:00

I saw an art project titled 'end of the year book' when I was researching schools, and I liked the sound of it. I have no idea what the project actually was, but I imagined it to be a zine or something about how people feel at the end of the year. things coming to an end or new beginnings coming up? how does it make you feel?

I'm feeling something like selective nostalgia. still wanting to clear out anything unnecessary and focus on what's needed. but also wanting to reconnect with long lost friends.
it's been another year that I haven't done much in. I've been feeling like I need to do something with my life. maybe this is what happens to many people in their 30s. or maybe it's more normal when you're in your 50s? it doesn't matter. I want to live more and waste less of this life.
that sounds really sad. but actually I did make some amazing friends this year. and I'm sure I did some important things I just can't think of now... haha.

today is the last day of the year. so I feel like I need to do something about it... like start using my new toothbrush. or clean out the fridge? but that's not quite right. maybe I need my own tradition that isn't just going to a party or something like that.

there's some extra motivation going on inside for sure. I made lists of books & movies I read & watched this year so I'm gonna do a review with my favorites.
this week I screenprinted cards that I'm really into (above pictures). I'm planning ahead - they were for valentine's day... even though they look like rainbow raindrops.
I plan to make some 年賀状 (nengajou) for the Chinese new year. not sure if I'll make ones with bunnies on them or something like that...

I feel incredibly distracted and I want to do so many things. setting goals is helping me to focus on the important things though.
happy new year everyone!

floating dragon house

2010-12-21T18:42:00.000-08:00

finally finished my painting for Float On, which took longer than expected. it was one of those things where I didn't want to start working on it but once I did it went fine for about an hour. I think an hour is my limit for paying attention. and so that happened maybe 5-6 times. starting really is the hardest part for me.

and... otherwise, end of the year wanting to wrap up everything (not literally - I mean finish) and get organized. somehow I think I'm in the middle of a few books at least, plus a magazine... but I'm finishing off the ebooks that I downloaded this year and haven't read yet.
plus trying to figure out last minute school details and a temp job or a normal job to pay for classes.
the big update is: I'm going for a master's in East Asian Studies instead of Art again. because I wanted to use my interest in Japanese language and take Asian Studies classes anyway. that didn't really fit in with electives for an MFA, plus it was really more of the same that I did for my bachelor's. also known as: 'still-don't-have-a-real-job.' which is probably a good thing, I think I'm allergic to jobs. working on some creative bizness idea things as usual.

菊kiku season

2010-12-01T09:58:00.000-08:00

chrysanthemums are so cool.
anyway, the big news around here is that I decided to go to school for an MFA!
I've been thinking about it for too long, so I decided to just do it, lah.
I'm taking classes next term at PSU and will apply to programs next year.
um, what else?
I've been emailing my previous college room mate in Japanese, which is great practice!
and I'm doing this weird thing called Floating this week.
there's a business nearby and they want me to make art about my experience. it's supposed to be great for creativity. I was curious about it so I thought I'd try it out. it's this type of meditation where you basically feel like you're floating in outer space. (but it's a really buoyant pool in real life.) so I'll share more about that next week.

風呂敷

2010-11-17T14:26:00.000-08:00

I finally did something with all of the handkerchiefs I had made last year. (the original idea was to print a calendar on them.) I already had a big cassette design that I like, so I went with that! something to do with procrastination or being overwhelmed with a project that's too challenging. but I'm better about finishing things now.

in Japanese these are called 'furoshiki' and are used to wrap gifts or just things that you need to carry around. I think they are used in most East Asian cultures as well. I really like them & have already used some for wrapping things - there are techniques for wrapping different shapes of things. for example very handy for carrying a couple of jars or bottles without them clanging together.
*Updated!* I have these consigned at Grass Hut, tender loving empire, and a new place called mag-big in Portland. in fact, tender loving empire has a 15% off everything sale on black friday... just so you know.

check out this article I found about furoshiki, as well as some wrapping techniques to get you started using them. cloth grocery bags are ubiquitous in Portland now, but I'd like to see more of these in use.

naptapes

2010-10-21T13:15:00.000-07:00

I'm accepting preorders through the end of october for silkscreened cassette pillowcases.
printed on both sides so you can listen to side B.
this means you may request and suggest color combos (fabric + ink) you'd like and I will see what I can do. (most likely the pillowcases will be purchased from IKEA in case you're familiar with their selection.)

I'll have them printed & shipped out (via USPS) before the end of November.
the cost will be US$10 plus shipping (a couple dollars probably, depending on where on earth you are). I can do paypal and cash-ola.

send me a message or leave a comment!

zero budget

2010-10-04T14:12:00.000-07:00

you're invited to make stuff without spending money (you do that already right?) for the What If 0 Budget show this winter. I'm excited to make more! (right now!)
info is on the flyer, lah.

roadtrip photoshoot

2010-08-26T12:41:00.000-07:00

the artists in the family:

aly by me; me by aly

happy aeroplanes

2010-08-24T19:35:00.000-07:00

for mini-vacations or holidays, whatever you happen to call them.

I've been using up some scrap materials for my creative inspiration & working towards a daily practice (again).

neutral design

2010-08-05T14:09:00.000-07:00

a series made with muji in mind, and while listening to beethoven. pencil & watercolour on found paper.

pedal powered

2010-07-26T10:21:00.000-07:00

so, remember that zine I was gonna make? about bikes? yeah that one.
I still haven't made it.

the funny thing is, Stumptown Underground was working on a bike zine at around the same time. and I'm gonna be in there. it is different from my idea, which I'll make happen in some form later on. it's one of those ideas that has been tricky to make happen for some reason.

but anyway, I wanted to invite everyone to go to the Stumptown Underground zine release party which will also support the zine symposium.

PS: the zine symposium is rad if you don't already know.

the lost years

2010-07-25T15:21:00.000-07:00

just finished reading this awesome comic by clutch...

I've been so unfocused because I'm planning a trip. this happens just about every time I fly anywhere. I've gotta figure out making it a more efficient process. anyway, hopefully I'll just focus & get my tickets really soon. so I don't have to think about it anymore.

on the bus or when I needed a break from thinking up way too many flight options, I'd be laughing my head off (or pondering philosophical ideas) while reading the comic. yep, laughing on the bus. couldn't help myself.

I still haven't read the latest scott pilgrim (I know, what's wrong with me?), but will get it in a couple days and have it done in a couple hours after that. looking forward to the movie as well.
PS: O'malley is in Giant Robot this issue!

goal setting

2010-06-29T19:46:00.000-07:00

just downloaded F.lux... adjusts your monitor's colour temperature according to the time of day. I like this idea.
yes, my computer is keeping me up too late.
yes I have things to do. but my computer is probably distracting me from those things.

I have just set a goal to save $3000 (at least) in the next two months.
those funds will be used (with a matching contribution from my current savings) for traveling for up to nine months starting in September. I was thinking that I would need around $1000 a month at first, then I remembered that I don't spend that much here. so I won't spend that much in places that are comparable or less expensive.
this is not including what I'd spend on airfare... but that's another story:

currently reading Frequent Flyer Master to boost my knowledge of using mileage awards and getting low airfare.
current skymiles: 24K+

ready set go.

the world needs you

2010-06-07T01:07:00.000-07:00

I hope you know that.
from a series of notes taken at an artist talk by Frank Chimera.
more images on flickr.

I've been thinking about doing book reports. I'd like to share what I've learned with you.

two things I've learned on my own this year:
I don't want to work for someone else.
I don't want my hobbies to feel like work just so I can earn a living.

...where to start...

2010-05-23T10:49:00.000-07:00

hello, it's been a while.

I'm making a bike zine about why riding bikes is awesome. each submission should have an image and the phrase, "This is my version of _____" (fill in the blank with: commuting, going to the gym, fuel efficiency, etc.) let me know if you want to contribute something & didn't already get details. I'm hoping to have the zine done for pedalpalooza in Portland, so the submissions are due by 1st June, which is really soon. I'm not sure what to call it - any ideas?

in Hong Kong, a couple artist friends & I did zine workshops in february and started a little collective called Handroll about the subcultures happening in Hong Kong & Portland. (after the bike zine the next project is going to be about the lucky names of Chinese restaurants.)

and, I finally updated my website. you can check it out here. there is also a blog there and just one post that's about the rad stickers I had made in HK.

that's it for now. more later.
(heart)
a

being productive

2010-04-20T22:41:00.000-07:00

this is what I do in secret when I'm bored at work.
but, I no longer work for someone else!
so I'll be doing this sort of thing whenever I want now.

I heart weekend

2010-04-11T20:10:00.000-07:00

that's what happens when you have a day job...
it was fun to finish projects & see friends.
this morning I woke up & immediately wrote a letter to a friend, which is kind of unusual for me. maybe I'll put it up here later.

it was a good sunday. I worked on repotting some plants but didn't finish up because michelle & bela & I went on an adventure to the gorge instead. it was so nice out, but we sort of went too far & ended up exploring in the snow. it was beautiful & fun even though we had our summer shoes on and our feet got wet.

it's been working well for me to write down 2-3 things that I'd like to accomplish each day.
things that won't take two weeks to do.
tasks that are too easy to not do.
things that I'd get distracted from and not do otherwise.

I didn't make it to the library... but that gives me another day to try to finish "how we decide" by jonah lehrer
I found it at the airport Powell's a couple months ago & read the intro. the library has it, but everyone else wants to read it as well, so I can't renew it.
it's super interesting - I'm often reading and thinking 'whaaat!?' at first I thought it was something about making smart decisions, being logical, etc. nah, it's about neuroscience. and how the emotional thoughts work together with the logical thoughts to make decisions.
I hope I can finish it up tomorrow!

not joining facebook

2010-04-08T21:05:00.000-07:00

why did I think getting a job was a good idea?
I told lindsey that I learned my lesson & it won't happen again.
at least it's only temporary.
it's good to learn from your mistakes, right?

this is the kick in the ass I needed to really work on my priorities.
my priorities do not include working for someone else.

earning a living from being a creative type is a process...
more on that later.
the day job starts at way-too-early am.

test everything

2010-03-14T21:43:00.000-07:00

test everything press is in austin, TX, and he makes entirely screenprinted collaborative zines on a specific theme. I heart screenprinting, collaborations, zines, and themes. if you want to contribute a theme for the next project, which sounds awesome, or if you're going to sxsw by chance, have a look at the flyer.

simple food

2010-03-13T23:17:00.000-08:00

a collaboration on dinner where lindsey shared her spinach soup, & I shared some pumkin walnut muffins.

some salted avocado, pinto beans with garlic, onion, cumin & cilantro, and blue corn chips.

today I made kabocha pumpkin soup with yellow curry, shallots, garlic, & topped with cilantro. didn't get a photo though. simple, but so tasty!

some more zines

2010-03-04T18:21:00.000-08:00

some examples of the lovely zine from the second workshop in fu tak building with the theme of 'people's day.' from what I understand it's the seventh day of the Chinese new year which is something like everybody's birthday. the students incorporated the prints they made into their pages & the results were really amazing and fun to see.
P.S. you can click on any of these to see a larger version.

the day before I left was the workshop at the St. James settlement. their theme was 'buildings and trees' (more songs about buildings & food?) because of their current project - ceramic buildings with plants growing from the top. they've been learning about green roofs.
the cover was a collaboration where one of the workers painted over everything except the green area in a photo, then the students took turns adding the scene.

the right side of this one is a Super Mario Brothers house or something like that. a worker was asking the student about his drawing, specifically the 'M' and 'L' on the characters, and didn't quite understand what was going on. then I asked if it was from a game and the student enthusiastically nodded his head. at the bottom, the 'MAIRO' is red & the 'LUGI' is green. so I guessed it was 'Mario & Luigi,' then saw the green spotted egg at the top, and asked if it was Yoshi's room. I win!

amazing hand drawn typography!

love the kitties & trams!

the left side is mine, a visual interpretation from a conversation I had with my friend's son.

some hk zines

2010-03-01T19:48:00.000-08:00

the first zine made at aco was using excess IKEA instruction pamplets, and with the theme 'communication.' a collaboration with Bea, Fa, Kobe, & I. the lovely cover is by Fa, which looks even better in colour, though I just have the copy.

the first workshop was fun, though we struggled to achieve proper time management. here are a few examples.

more later!

pictures of people taking pictures of people

2010-02-25T20:15:00.001-08:00

in Macau.

workshop photos

2010-02-24T14:47:00.000-08:00

the zine workshops in Fu Tak building were in Fa's studio and included her block printing lesson.

the third workshop was in the St. James Settlement, and it was so interesting, because they work with disabled people. most of the adult students have Dawn's syndrome, and one has autism. the workers were all sooooo nice. in the upper right of this photo are a few of the workers - Vincent, Karpo, and Chris. in the bottom left is Bee, who helped me by translating.

I'm only sleeping

2010-02-23T21:01:00.000-08:00

these pictures are making me sleepy.

zine workshops

2010-02-18T06:54:00.001-08:00

hi, I'm in Hong Kong!
tomorrow & saturday I'm doing zine workshops, and Karden (fa) is doing lino cut workshops. these workshops actually filled to 15 people per class in two days! then monday there is another zine workshop at a community center nearby. then flying home. whoa, it feels like it was a quick trip!

rarrr

2010-01-16T23:36:00.001-08:00

today I stuffed little red packets with valentine's candy for new year's. because Chinese new year's is on valentine's day this year so it seemed to be the appropriate type of candy.
fairly soon I'm heading over to Hong Kong and I'm super excited. it will be amazing to experience the new year over there. it's gonna be a tiger year. I think that means we'll fight to be able to work at what we love. we'll be unpredictable. and helpful.
speaking of helpful, I get to stay in a flat in Wan Chai, next door to Klubb studio, where I'm teaching some zine workshops. thanks to a residency called Art & Culture Outreach 藝鴶 & Dawei Charitable Foundation Limited 達微慈善基金有限公司 (which largely supports the operation of ACO). I'm so curious about how Hong Kong people will respond to the idea of creating something not for profit or with an intention to market something. I hope to participate in many other mini projects/collaborations there.

welcome, 2010

2009-12-31T19:13:00.000-08:00

a more productive year - one where we will meet amazing people & seek to understand them, be patient about things worth waiting for, become more valuable, continue learning, and seeing the world - is almost here.

here are the remainder of the found interview postcards as well.

are you working on yours?

2009-12-27T22:37:00.000-08:00

it's not like interviewing yourself, because you didn't make up the questions.
from a series of 10 postcards with found interview questions, responses from archived emails I sent, and an image of something I made.
more to follow. (click to view the larger size)

found interview postcards

2009-12-22T22:14:00.001-08:00

the first two from a series of 10 postcards with found interview questions, responses from archived emails I sent, and an image of something I made.
more to follow.

klack magazine design

2009-12-16T18:37:00.000-08:00

here are a few samples from the magazine layout I was working on. it turns out it was easier for my friend to do the design there in Hong Kong instead of moving big files back & forth via the internet. and, well, work is hard to come by there also.
I did make the logo for them, learn a bunch of Cantonese, and have fun. cutting the titles from paper looks nice, but takes so long!
I'm excited to see what the finished product will look like. in a month or two it should be all printed up.

mmm, food...

2009-11-25T23:29:00.000-08:00

I've been experimenting with food a lot recently so I don't get bored. I guess all I want to eat is Japanese food which is no surprise.

onigiri & sake nigiri...obviously I don't know how to cut sashimi correctly at all.

anko (red bean paste) mochi with kinako (roasted soy flour), mmm! still need to practice at this.

kimpira (burdock root and carrot) chinese style (I added gingko nuts & baby bok choy because I had some...)

the way I eat ice cream: green tea ice cream, anko (sweet red bean paste), corn flakes, and jelly!

yakisoba with brussels sprouts... it was good! but I like brussels sprouts.

autumn skies

2009-11-25T23:23:00.000-08:00

some pictures of sunny portland skies this month:

it's first thursday in portland

2009-11-04T19:53:00.000-08:00

here's the write up for the IPRC opening of my show, 'this is US' and Nicole's work:

Join us on First Thursday in November as we welcome longtime IPRC'ers alissa johnson and Nicole Georges. alissa's "this is US (wish you were here)" features lovely textile illustrations of insular areas (or US territories outside of the States) relating to themes of space, identity, and the future! American culture and changes due to technology are some ideas explored in the zine of the same title. Local luminary Nicole Georges will also show her latest work revolving around the animals she knows and has known.
Thursday, Nov 5th, 6-8pm
@the IPRC
917 SW Oak #218
Free and open to the public

a deep breath

2009-11-02T17:42:00.000-08:00

I've spent the last couple months researching away for a fellowship that a friend recommended I apply to. I saw it as an opportunity to get funded to travel and make one of my creative ideas happen with some international influence.

I feel like I could be wasting time in a fantasy world, talking with friends online that I haven't met in real life, instead of working on this - but that is real life. they're real people. writing proposals for cultural arts funding seems like more of a fantasy to me because the people I'm writing for want a cold impersonal strategy for my intentions. they seem more lifeless than the other people... and definitely less interested.

I want to give up all the time.
then I tell myself, 'you're almost done, why give up now?'
then I look at my checklist of what's left and want to give up again.
I would hope to be a person who doesn't give up on anything. who always follows through. it's a loyalty thing.
but I realize sometimes you have to let go of the extra things in life that aren't contributing to making you feel alive.
it's not that it's too hard, or that I can't focus, or that I think I have bad ideas.
it's more that this idea doesn't seem suited to what they are looking for. the way I want to make this idea happen won't make them happy.

so maybe I should stop wasting everyone's time right now and give up?

I've always struggled with planning ahead and I realize to do this type of proposal you really need to plan ahead. to start maybe a year ahead of time.
even if I had done that, it would still be an incredible challenge.

I want to focus on developing my strengths instead of struggling to make my weaknesses look decent.
I just want to be lazy sometimes and not keep up this facade of being a scholarly type. I've never been that.
I want to have time to do the things I'm good at and enjoy and not feel guilty for it.

I give up.
but.
I don't give up on the things I actually care about.
I give up so I can care more about those things.

autumn happened

2009-10-06T12:39:00.001-07:00

i'm so distracted by all kinds of awesome going on. so many exhibitions, movies, & lectures that i want to be at. super nice sunny cool days motivate me to get out of the house and off the internet. i'm overwhelmed with applying for travel visas, to artist residencies, and doing personal and design work. i'm going to take a deep breath and go outside. do you want to go with me?

klack

2009-09-09T01:07:00.001-07:00

this is the chinese logo for my current project - a new HK magazine called klack. it was fun to work on this with my art director (bee pang) & i'm really happy with how it looks. she mentioned it looks like chinese calligraphy (which is a huge influence for me) but i wasn't even thinking about calligraphy when i started playing with the films.
this character 咔 is the sound of a camera shutter in cantonese - klack!

茶

2009-08-18T20:26:00.000-07:00

so I like tea...
sometimes I feel like I have so much stuff & feel the need to somehow document it. maybe I'll document all my possessions one day, but today I started with tea, because recently I've acquired even more neat tea. average days I'll drink at least a few cups of tea. I like other beverages also.
to be honest I don't have a lot of stuff. but I prolly have more tea & hello kitty things than the average person. I'll save hello kitty for another day.

here's the looseleaf. they are: nettle, jasmine pearls, licorice, roiboos chai, lemon balm, herba matte, 'good morning,' spearmint & chamomile from my garden, and white earl grey. plus I always have fresh ginger on hand that I use for tea & cooking.

then there's the kind of tea that comes from the asian markets. mmmm.
there's this funny bullion cube type that I got in astragali and 'gan mao char' which is also herbal (I call it mao cha), looseleaf jasmine green tea, thai 'poop tea' that helps when I eat bread, gingko green teabags, bags of loose cleansing/detox type tea with only chinese writing, tongue depressors of astragali root (huong qi), then cane & imperatae which is basically packets of sugar.

and then boring teabags. mostly for on the go.
peppermint, jasmine, licorice, ginger, chamomile, and 'good eyes' which is from an asian market also I'm sure.
that's all! so come over and have some tea anytime.
oh. or some Stumptown coffee? I have that as well.

japanese community

2009-08-15T23:31:00.000-07:00

today i spent about half the day in the international district of seattle. the last time i visited this hilly little japanese garden it was winter & i didn't realize it's a community garden. there's rad little structures & lots of fruit trees, herbs, and veggies growing.

friday the 14th

2009-08-12T23:06:00.000-07:00

why is friday the 13th bad again? there are all these things about american culture that it seems no one questions. but no one really knows where it comes from.

friday night is my opening/zine release at Nancy in Seattle from 6-9. i'll be there and will give you a high five if you ride a bike there. or if you didn't i'll still be nice to you. i'm driving because i'm coming from portland and bringing lots of fun awesome stuff. like the beach. duh.
i have been preparing by listening to a lot of chinese r&b and hip hop. as well as thai music from the 60s. rad.

oh yeah so i have this contest idea: it's kind of what we did as kids with hard boiled eggs or like a pencil fight but with coconuts. but do you think they'll break? maybe we'll have to open them by smashing them onto the pavement.

八月三日

2009-08-05T15:28:00.000-07:00

it's been a while... but you can all thank greg for my inspiration to finally participate in 3 on the 3rd again. if the influence isn't kinda obvious i reread some clutch comics last week. plus i've been reading more comics than usual post zine symposium.
ps: go see helen jo's (and other artists') work at grass hut friday night!

well thought out impulse

2009-08-03T20:42:00.000-07:00

fubonn is my favourite. it feels like a short visit to asia and is so close to my place. it's actually the closest grocery store.
this time i got some enoki mushrooms because they look awesome, like mushroom versions of miyazaki's kodomo, and i felt inspired to draw them. i wish i liked to eat mushrooms so i had more excuse to have them around.
then this vermicelli...i already have some of this, but the rooster-dragon illustration is so funny/awesome, and it was only .35 cents.

i want to be swimming

2009-07-28T21:23:00.000-07:00

taking a break at the beach while working on the weekend.
back when it was still a little chilly out.

unfortunately my entire expired slide film east coast portraits roll did not turn out. at all. i think the people who handle film these days don't remember what it is. super sad about that as it's not often i get to see that side of the country. the digital photos were an okay substitution though not aged and with an orange tint.

portland has been really hot this week. today i checked the outside temp at 8pm and it was 41C. somehow i've been getting lots of work done anyway. deadlines suck. even kind of fake ones.

書道

2009-07-20T13:46:00.000-07:00

this artist, soga takuji, had a show in brooklyn that i missed seeing. i researched his work anyway because it's working with sho-do (japanese calligraphy) & i've had a project in mind about calligraphy for a while. from what i can see in the little sample pictures his work is really nice. he's super young & i expect him to become a stronger artist and more known.
his other images actually have japanese calligraphy - this one reminds me of cody hudson's work some. i love the idea of handwritten text of the states forming the japanese flag...this idea of the connection between the two countries is something i think about a lot. (i could counter this piece with writing the japanese wards into an american flag...)

paw

2009-07-20T11:38:00.000-07:00

my favourite of the art window installations in downcity providence, by Benton Moss and Alyssa Spry, curated by PAW or 'providence art windows.'
a nice idea. providence is a nice little creative town.

ただいま

2009-07-17T00:17:00.000-07:00

fun typography/signage from

providence &

nyc

thanks!

2009-07-03T17:54:00.001-07:00

from the bike project i did last week.
i made velotines last year intending to leave love letters for bikes and finally did that as my personal closing ceremony to pedalpalooza.
it's so true - there is safety in numbers when cycling.

2009-07-01T13:39:00.000-07:00

okay. what i'm doing now: procrastinating!
some more projects to finish up before going out of town to work on more projects!
and seeing friends & family will be awesome.
what i did over the weekend: hanging out with my neice & nephew.
they taught me that when you don't like what you hear to keep repeating, "what did you say!?" until you're left alone and that throwing rocks into the river is very meditative.

bamboo treehouse

2009-06-30T23:08:00.000-07:00

back in march i got super sick (so dumb) and had all these crazy creative things going on while i was stuck in bed. one of them was drawing my future home.

i heart IPRC

2009-06-22T14:11:00.001-07:00

this friday night, there is a group show benefiting the Independent Publishing Resource Center opening at one of my other favourite Portland places, Grass Hut Art Market!
i'm gonna stop by and i hope to see your crazy face there supporting the awesomeness of two of the awesomest places in portlandia. awesome! hah...

a sneak

2009-06-18T11:58:00.000-07:00

just a sampling from my future show in seattle at NANCY!
i'm working on a secret webpage with the details.
it's called 'this is US (wish you were here)" and the opening is august 14th. see ya there!

dekochari

2009-06-12T15:38:00.000-07:00

crazy!

i love bikes & i love japan. these decorated bikes are intense but so interesting. i imagine this could catch on in portland any day now with pedalpalooza starting yesterday!

flavour essence

2009-05-28T22:57:00.000-07:00

purchased because of packaging:

the typography is amazing. it looks like 'lolo' but i suspect it says 'wai wai' in thai. (thai is on my list of languages to learn since seeing 'tears of the black tiger')

found this awesomeness at SCRAP.

click

2009-05-20T23:36:00.000-07:00

today i saw photos by the gao brothers that made me really happy.

in september i'll be designing the layout for a photography magazine called "KLACK"

it's the initial issue funded by a grant from the Hong Kong art council. i'm super excited to work on this project from portland with my friend bee, as well as ki, hin, and mister lin in HK.

i hope to be taking more photos now that the sun has come out, i'm thinking about photography as fine art for this project, as well as watching beautiful & colourful films.

right now i just feel like there's so much work to do for the exhibition in august!

balance

2009-04-30T15:00:00.000-07:00

this TED video is great. I read Amy Tan's books when i was in high school and maybe that's why i can relate to her point of view so much.

leaning

2009-04-27T23:05:00.000-07:00

staying busy keeps me happy

bulk pants

2009-04-08T20:10:00.000-07:00

i'm one of those people who will occasionally (i mean often) buy food i don't need because of the packaging design (see upper left: fried sardines & mackerel). and rather than starting another project i'm going to mention those happenings here for more excuses to post blogs.
so i had these awesome stickers from bullfight and all this bulk food in boring plastic bags. then i reorganized my cupboard. ta da! pretty.
ps: i'm out of soy sauce

exploring

2009-03-24T22:40:00.000-07:00

these pinecones are awesome. they're the kind with papery insect wing-like things attached to the seeds inside. if you throw them up they swirl around when they're falling. it's magic.

springtime

2009-03-20T19:42:00.000-07:00

春分の日!
化いただきます
after painting these letters last night, i realized that together with the last painting, it translates as "i accept/receive change."
and today is the first day of spring! finally!
i'm thankful for the new season and the change in the weather coming.

chachacha

2009-03-11T19:06:00.000-07:00

i wanted a big change. i got a few. maybe i don't need to move to another country now? but it still sounds so fun. now that i punched that super nasty infection in the proverbial glasses i'll be researching travel.

next week

2009-03-07T17:13:00.000-08:00

i'm going to schedule in the important stuff

deer internet

2009-02-23T20:01:00.001-08:00

i feel more productive without your distraction. but still i miss you at times.

washing cassette

2009-02-07T22:04:00.000-08:00

this reminds me of the sonic youth album art for washing machine but that wasn't at all intentional. hah.

late even for lunar new year

2009-02-05T18:20:00.000-08:00

"Our ability to overcome fear is perhaps the greatest skill we can acquire...Most of us deal with fear by falling back on the familiar and the safe. But if we do this, we are not allowed to turn round and say our lives are dull. If we are going to avoid losing our souls, we have to overcome the fear."

How to be a graphic designer, without losing your soul by Adrian Shaughnessy

gargamel and friends

2009-01-06T23:10:00.000-08:00

i ripped off the ylighting ad because i saw a different version in dwell magazine and wanted to make my own.

i want to see you get your toy nerd on at the grass hut opening on friday.

the tail of the rat

2008-12-29T09:30:00.000-08:00

i've been organizing & consolidating some information from various scattered scraps of paper. it seems like the proper time of year to do this. i feel like 2009 is going to be even more awesome than 2008. more intense. the year of things happening.
a while ago i got "getting things done" on cd but i haven't finished listening to it.

in autumn

2008-12-17T16:36:00.000-08:00

i still haven't finished the roll of film that i was using when we took this last minute field trip to the pumpkin patch.

for some reason i started writing about what was happening while on my last road trip. but then i stopped. maybe the second half was just more beautiful sunsets and walking and relaxing. this is what i wrote about the first half:
tonight we talked to a sushi chef after eating - he told us he was teaching his 7yr old son japanese & he would study his homework to learn english better.
(we listened to neil young)
i dreamed about daniel johnston working as a fancy grocery store clerk. i would stop there so i got to hear any random comments he would announce to the store.
& then we drove to canada.
i rode a bike in country #5
after eating yummy inexpensive pizza, i noticed one of the employees had gone next door to a produce market for ingredients. i thought about how awesome that was & how that wouldn't ever happen at a chain in the states.

organizing

2008-11-25T21:56:00.000-08:00

clutter is a failure of design, not an attribute of information.
visual problems should not be fixed by reducing content.
instead, fix the design.
-edward tufte

the other austrian

2008-11-25T01:15:00.000-08:00

worrying solves nothing

this year i've read a lot about design and stefan has the most interesting things to say. i'm super inspired & challenged by the way he runs his business.

tour de glace

2008-11-21T13:37:00.000-08:00

phew! just under a week ago the ice cream zine was completed in time for the zine exchange. there's a very small quantity of zines available at this time. check grass hut if you're in portland - they're rad! and hopefully i'll get a few sent over to nancy in seattle soon. or send me a note right quick and i can get you one where you're at.
it was a super-duper fun project to work on thanks to the radness of the contributors.
in fact they're so rad this is who they are:
reiko (or lakin the kiiiiiii) who is one of my most favouritest artists & musicians.
miss laura cat local artist & musician.
beatrix pang hong kong artist & good friend.
awesome photographer carmen
ack! is a drool-face
justin 'scrappers' morrison, my mentor of sorts at the grass hut; a brand new father.
awesome soon to be graduated, married, and moved to portland artist will who somehow found time to make an original piece.
patricia is a rad screen printer from brasil
& patrick is a rad artist from italia
noah animator friend
the ashley of awesomeness
& this guy isaac who i don't even know!

ic chat

2008-11-13T14:25:00.000-08:00

Joseph: my brain feels like I got it in a full nelson
Alissa: just half nelson for me
Annie: i am in a double nelson
Alissa: hah
Joseph is trying to picture that?!?!
Alissa: nate must have willie nelson
Joseph: hahaha
Joseph: gee willies
Nathan: whatchoo talkin about Willie!?
Annie: box car willie
Alissa: hah..there's a hot chip song i was referencing there. with the presupposition that no one would get it.
Nathan: I like Hot Chips with Cheese
Nathan: and Salsa
Nathan: but I've never heard of the band
Alissa: hot chip is actually an ice cream flavour
Alissa: in my imagination
Nathan: hmm
Alissa: but nachos sounds good as well
Nathan: like cinnamon and chocolate?
Alissa: like cinnamon hots?
Alissa: or something like that
Nathan: that would be good
Joseph: you should call ben and jerry right away
Joseph: this is serious
Alissa: oh man...i don't like american ice cream much
Alissa: but yeah...do you have their number. it would be cool if the band could help market that
Nathan: I think if I was going to make an ice cream flavor I'd have to make sure that there was a good chocolate, peanuts, and banana
Nathan: but with some hot fudge
Alissa: banana split ice cream
Alissa: i was thinking about that the other day..it must exist
Nathan: no
Nathan: it's not the same
Nathan: they have it
Nathan: but it's not the same
Alissa: too much banana?
Alissa: oh some whipped cream in there
Nathan: well, the texture is the key
Alissa: it always is
Nathan: and i'm not sure you could do it well and then package it and sell it
Nathan: it would need to be fresh
Joseph: I do not have a number... Jerry has a restraining order out against me
Alissa: did you suggest the veggie curry ice cream with nan cone flavour?
Nathan vomits in his mouth
Annie: that would have done it
Alissa: oops sorry
Joseph: oh god let out man don't suffer thought it alone!
Alissa: i thought that might be good..but not for everyone of course. i love spicy.
Alissa: i want to try white pepper ice cream
Joseph: that sounds interesting

**the zine is almost done!!**

in working order

2008-11-05T21:29:00.000-08:00

(for three on the third)

happy eday

2008-11-04T21:57:00.001-08:00

i was trying to post my drawlings for 3 on the 3rd. but they're partially about how my computer wouldn't turn on. and now that it's on it won't recognize the scanner. so i'll work on it another time. just wanted to say: yes i voted (not for the old white guy). and. i was going to watch the best movie ever... and the dvd player on my laptop is not working either. because it will only start up in safe boot. the other part of my comic is about how i'm optimistic and have been so productive lately. listening to tons of bmsr. the cover of the ice cream zine is finished. it will be on flickr...you know...later. and the contributions are all amazing. several more to collect that i'm reely looking forward to.

アイスクリム font

2008-10-26T11:06:00.000-07:00

inspired by mike perry and working on the ice cream zine. the alphabet part was done quickly (without overthinking at all - awesome) and i'm not happy with several of the letters. it was a fun exercise anyway. the bendy straw and double scoop are my favourites.

little boxes

2008-10-05T22:10:00.000-07:00

rothkography

2008-10-02T13:22:00.000-07:00

this is a funny photo contest that's right up my alley. i always forget how fun coudal is. duh.

thursday

2008-09-28T21:18:00.000-07:00

thursday there is an opening at pony club gallery where i'll have two painting things in the group show called darks, lights, & colours. the idea is you only use black, white, & one colour. it was a nice challenge & i'm interested to see what everyone else came up with. pony club is at 625 NW Everett St., #105 Portland, OR 97209 & the opening is oct. 2nd from 6-10. it would be fun to see you there. if you're as busy as i am no hard feelings if you can't make it. the gallery is open sometimes tuesday through sunday noon to 7 or something & the show is up all month. you can see mine on flickr but it's not the same as real life. i guarantee you.

swoop swoop, rock rock

2008-09-22T22:06:00.000-07:00

i've been interested in business for a while now and am finally learning more about how business works. and how it doesn't work. i hope as a tiny business owner, to run the business responsibly, as in sustainably. i like to make things, but i don't like to buy things, so that helps. whenever possible i use & print on materials that would otherwise be thrown out or recycled. i've been doing that since i started arting.
it's been awesome to intern at grass hut, and i've already learned a lot from justin, he uses old house paint on scrap wood for his work. it's also inspiring to be in such a creative environment.
i recently made a friend who just moved here from hong kong and was amazed at how resourceful portland is compared with what she had heard about the states. it really is different here.
i just found that the documentary the corporation is online for viewing - it's amazing. it shows that current corporations can be compared with psychopaths. watch it.
happy autumn. the times they are a'changin'

seasonal

2008-09-18T09:43:00.000-07:00

mmmm, this looks like a tasty zine exchange if anyone wants to quickly throw together an amazing small edition with hand printed covers. (via little paper planes; via danny) what a good excuse to really work on my ice cream zine. i'm also supposed to be working on some sort of show happening in seattle next spring. it's time to transform into a print-making machine.

cars are dinosaurs

2008-09-15T18:46:00.000-07:00

one of the many reasons bikes are more fun.

too many mixes

2008-09-04T09:11:00.000-07:00

this is my beach boys cover art. in addition to the states, this year i've rode a bike in japan, the netherlands, france, and canada. there is a beautiful landscape to be seen by bike just about anywhere.

three on the third comic.
mixes are...still not quite caught up. but better.

hmm hmm hmm scarfy weather on it's way

2008-08-28T17:56:00.000-07:00

making things is nice. and vacations are nice.
it's been a few months since i've left the country, so off i go for summer's last hurrah. but just to the neighbour's.

looking for awesome

2008-08-26T08:56:00.000-07:00

awesome

zine symposium rocked as usual.
seattle's boss level collective is fun.

2008-08-20T09:52:00.000-07:00

kuma's umbrella house & yokoland are inspiring me lately.
among other things.

what would i do without the day job...

2008-08-14T12:23:00.000-07:00

me: can i take forever off?
the boss: no. but you can clock out early today.

summmmer

2008-08-05T17:41:00.000-07:00