The Photography of Stephanie Yu

Another artist I had the privilege of meeting at the DR 96 Gallery show was the fabulous Stephanie Yu.  Stephanie is a talented photographer and frugal fashionista.  All images courtesy of Stephanie.   Thanks for letting me share your work, Stephanie!

 

Installations "Just Hair" and "caucASIAN Eyes" exploring Asian American identity

Collaboration: Monsters and MISfitted

I had the pleasure of meeting the Monsters and MISfitted through the art show I participated in recently.  The Monsters collaborated with MISfitted to create some sweet bows.  I like that the Monsters are versatile . . . one day you may see them on bows, the next day you may see them on buildings in your city.  They're a bit elusive so they don't keep a website but check out MISfitted's Etsy store for fun and quirky handmade gifts this holiday season.  You can also catch her at Unique LA this weekend.   
      

The Monsters wait . . .

Monster mail!

Mini Monster canvas added to my mini gallery.

Monster bows . . . perhaps they will go to some cool little girls named A and C when the girls get older.  They'll be the coolest kids around.

Bottle cap bows: unique, quirky, with that handmade touch!

A Weekend of Observing

Pumpkin Creations

Pictured are the fruits of my labor post pumpkin hacking last week: pie and bread pudding!     

Have a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!

I recall writing last year that my family and I planned to go out for Thanksgiving because it was not the best time of the year to cook--for anyone.  I'm happy to report that this year is different.  Let's just say I've had a lot of time on my hands . . . and I've been working more to cook from scratch and eat less processed and pre-made foods.  In all seriousness, I've been grateful for having the space and time to enjoy cooking.  Ah, there are many things and people I'm grateful for this year.  I must take some time this weekend to reflect on all that I'm grateful for and to. 

So back to the food--this year I've brined a turkey, made cranberry sauce from scratch, steamed a whole pumpkin for pie and soup, and might try making a pie crust from scratch.  It's been a fun and busy process.  I will share some afters next week but here are some befores:

 
Have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving!

(Oh, and I just noticed that this blog has turned 1.  Nice.  I'm glad I kept at it :)

Drawing Beneath the Skin

Some of you know that I took a life drawing class a few years ago while still living in Orange County.  It was called "Drawing Beneath the Skin" and it lasted for six weeks during the summer.

Ah, I have fond memories of this class.  This class helped me reawaken my passion for making.  I would post obnoxiously ecstatic Facebook updates after this class.  I would lay out all my drawings in the living room for Monday night show-and-tell with my roommate, who was such a good sport and would give me positive feedback while looking at sketches of naked bodies.  Some even told me I looked happier and smiled more.

If you have ever taken a life drawing class you know that it is hard work!  Drawing the human body requires skill and a thorough understanding of anatomy (including specific muscles, bones, joints, ligaments, etc.).  We were given anatomy packets each week, and used a real human skeleton to help us understand the framework of the body.  I have a lot of respect for fine artists who draw and paint the human body.

I don't think life drawing is my forte but I'm so glad I took the class.  There were some key lessons I learned during the six weeks that will stay with me for a lifetime.

1. Discipline.  My instructor was excellent.  He could tell by my sketch marks where I got frustrated and moved on, and where I couldn't make a decision and got stuck.  He encouraged me to follow through with my lines and keep working at points where I got stuck.  I learned over the course of the class how to stay focused with my sketches and not give up.

2. Passion.  There were moments where I entered my own world while drawing.  I forgot where I was, I forgot there were other people around me, and I stopped paying attention to how much time had passed, and it was just me, the paper, and my nub of charcoal.  My instructor even told me one time that he could visibly see me in the zone, and I thought it was such interesting feedback to hear from another person.  I'm at this point in my life where I'm trying to figure out what I'm really passionate about so it's helpful to think back on these times where I just got into the zone.

3. Style.  I'm learning more and more what defines my artistic style.  My most successful drawings were our quick one minute gesture drawings where the model would change positions after a minute and we had to capture the form rather than every detail.  The instructor pointed out my strong contour lines and angles.  Hence, this is probably why I am drawn to printmaking rather than detailed drawings and paintings.

Another side note that I thought was interesting was that my instructor described my drawing style as "nervous and chaotic," which I thought was funny because I don't think I come off that way in person (although I can get nervous sometimes).  I just think it's funny that I'm such a calm and mellow person in real life who has such a crazy drawing style.  Perhaps it's a subconscious way to express my hidden self?

 

Rainy LA day

Today was a nice, restful day.  I went to church in the morning, and came home to enjoy a cup of hot tea and Cranford on Masterpiece Theater.  It was the best.   

How did you spend your Sunday? 

Extending hospitality

Here's some context to yesterday's enigmatic post: I had just come home from a good friend's mother's funeral and I guess I had these thoughts and emotions running through me.  She passed away after a long battle with cancer.   

My friend's mom was an awesome woman.  I'm so blessed to have known her and I'm really grateful that I've had a chance to get to know the families of my good friends, and that they've been able to connect with my family.  There's just a deeper understanding you gain about people when you get to know their families. 

Some of the thoughts shared about my friend's mom at her funeral were in regard to her hospitable spirit and care for others.  I've definitely been a recipient of her hospitality and care.  In college she gave me a pair of really warm socks and a bottle of floral-scented lotion for Christmas.  I still wear the socks around the house when it gets cold.  And more recently I had the rare opportunity to see her at her home a week before her passing.  Even in her very weakened state, she asked if I'd been offered something to eat.  I also noticed how decorated the house looked for Halloween and the fall season.

The priest who presided over the funeral likened my friend's mom to Martha in the Bible.  Martha was a close friend of Jesus' and one of those women who never stopped working to keep the house in order.  She was like the friend who would let you crash at her house whenever you were in town, and one of those people who kept extra toothbrushes and toiletries around for guests just in case (I have some friends like that, and my old roommate and I have housed our many traveling friends--it's great to have friends who feed you and let you crash on their couch).  She was the kind of woman who would cook lots of good food for lots of people and open up her home to anyone in the community.  Her home was a hub for the community to come gather and connect.

There's just something so subtle yet artful in being able to welcome people into your home, offer a warm meal or a cool drink, and pass on a spirit of hospitality and care.  I'm grateful for this woman, and the many other friends, mentors, and family members who have not only shown me their hospitality and care, but have taught me how to pass these things onto others.    

Seasons of life

I thought about this quote from the Bible today.  Much of the words are so mysterious and puzzling to me, but at the same time they make so much sense.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. ^2345678
-From the Bible in Ecclesiastes

And I can't fully explain it but this song has been connected to my thoughts about the Ecclesiastes quote, and my current feelings of late.

 

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New title and layout

I've decided to change the title of this blog, and the layout.  I think I like the changes.

Have any Blogger users tried the new Dynamic layouts?  They look really nice but not so sure I'm ready for the fanciness just yet.

Do you see the circles?

Recap

The art show I took part in this past weekend was a success!  It was a grassroots effort to bring people together through art and it worked.  Thank you again to all my friends and family for supporting me and offering your encouragement.  Many thanks to Ivan and Francisco for having the vision and the resources to provide a space for developing artists!  Keep art alive!

It was also a big step for me to actually take part in a show.  Starting this blog was a big step in beginning to share my work with others, and actually participating in a show was another step in putting myself out there as an artist.  It's always a risk to share what you make with others because your work is so connected to who you are . . . but I'm glad I did it.

I had a lot of work displayed (some created in my '20s, and some created recently) and the variety was helpful in helping me figure out what type of medium and style works for me.  My strongest pieces were my cards and the work that received the most feedback.  The more and more I think about it, I think I want to learn about the art of printmaking.  It just seems to work for me.  And I have always made cards for people as a way to connect with others--and I have consistently heard people tell me that they keep my cards, even after 15 years!

Another exciting piece to the night was receiving feedback from an actual person from the indie L.A. DIY/craft scene.  She saw my printed vintage time cards and told me they would sell well at events like the Downtown LA Art Walk and Unique LA.  I'm not quite sure at this point if I should pursue a career in card making/stationary but it was such affirming feedback--that people enjoy the things that I feel represent me the best and that I take the most joy in making.

And speaking of Unique LA, I definitely want to check it out.  Let me know if you want to go with me.

Cultural Milieu

New work I started on found wood (am I coming out of my floral fixation?) / Jeremyville at Tender Greens in Santa Monica / Yogurtland + Hello Kitty

Margaret Kilgallen

I like things that are handmade and I like to see people's hand in the world, anywhere in the world; it doesn't matter to me where it is. And in my own work, I do everything by hand. I don't project or use anything mechanical, because even though I do spend a lot of time trying to perfect my line work and my hand, my hand will always be imperfect because it's human. And I think it's the part that's off that's interesting, that even if I'm doing really big letters and I spend a lot of time going over the line and over the line and trying to make it straight, I'll never be able to make it straight. From a distance it might look straight, but when you get close up, you can always see the line waver. And I think that's where the beauty is.

You're invited

Is it possible to fall in love with a park?

This place is one of my favorite spots in the city.  Thank you M and Sunset Magazine for the introduction.

I took some time to meditate, pray, and spend time with God here this past weekend and it was good.  I felt so full and rejuvenated.  Not to sound overly sentimental but there were all these cheery yellow flowers bordering a flight of stairs and I felt like they were old friends welcoming me to sit down and enjoy the sun and fresh air.  Ha, I sound like an English Romantic poet!
 
I would love to come here for a picnic sometime.  If you are reading this post, hit me up so we can plan a fun picnic.  I want to enjoy this park with human friends too.

Home

I just wanted to share some pictures of my new home in L.A. 

A very nice surprise: My plants have been growing twice their size here in L.A.

I've also been enjoying our version of fall here in So Cal.
I found some magnolia leaves and created a small fall arrangement to complement the pumpkins.

My friend, L, an inspiring home chef who is both intuitive and practical in her approach to cooking posted a recipe on cooking with pumpkins here so I took the opportunity to experiment with my pumpkins before they went bad.

My pumpkin seeds are a honeyed curry version.

I also made this salad with roasted pumpkin, broccoli, walnuts, and pomegranate seeds with a light curry mayo dressing (gotta love my current hippie bent towards cooking) but if I were to do it again, I would roast the broccoli and maybe add bacon and shallots (and take out the walnuts and pomegranate seeds).  It was a pretty good salad though.

On another note, for my Korean readers--do your parents forage?  My parents seem to find things in the forest or at local parks that most Americans don't eat or use but are more common in Korea.  Their latest find was mistletoe (I think) for tea.  I think it's supposed to lower your blood pressure.  Hehe, it's nice to know where MY foraging tendencies come from.