Tiny Stories of TinyPeople
the best of days 21-24 of 30 days of vancouver.
👋🏼 Hello, reader.
30 Days of Vancouver is my daily drawing challenge to explore different parts of Vancouver (Canada) and draw all the tiny people I find. Today is Day 25.
My primary goals with this challenge were -
✍🏼 to re-prioritize drawing in my creative schedule
👀 to explore this new part of the world that I now call home
💦 to make a splash?
📹 to record more audio/video content
Last week, I went viral on TikTok. If you’re the kind of person who has a TikTok account, check out my work. If not, don’t worry. I will cross-post select videos and gifs on this newsletter as well.
I spoke on the 🎙 Science Friction podcast, part of Radio National (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). I described a catalytic moment in a stand-up comedy club in Chicago, leading to the realization that -
“I wanted to work towards something I would be excited to fail at.”
In the conversation, I share my journey balancing engineering studies and creative interests and the big leap I took from scientific research to full-time art and writing. Hello to all the new readers who have joined me from Australia! 👋🏼
At the Vancouver Public Library
He looked to his right, then to his left. Then he fished the small magnifying glass out of his shirt pocket and held it up before him. This happened when I was halfway through drawing him, and, at first, I did not know what he was doing. Then I noticed the glass move from left to right, line by line, as he leaned forward.
We live inside our own bubbles, often immune to the experiences of others. But other people exist.
“Other people exist.” - I said this to Amit Varma in our lengthy conversation on Ep 260 of the Seen/Unseen podcast.
Listen for the full experience, or read this post I made to further articulate my thoughts, with references to Flatland (a sci-fi novella written nearly 150 years ago) and one of my favourite books of 2021 - The Order of Time by quantum-physicist Carlo Rovelli.
In David Lam Park
I spied volunteers picking up trash. A couple of teenagers were being led by an older person to help them spot trash and separate it appropriately for disposal.
Along the sea-wall
If you have spent any time in Vancouver, you may have realized who really runs this town - the geese that live along the sea wall. You do not mess with the goose-mafia.
They poop everywhere, paying no respect to real estate prices. They cross the streets unfazed by approaching vehicles, unmindful of the green traffic signal. They don’t even care for little humans, flapping wings at any young British Columbian child that tries to be friendly.
And lastly, they do not appreciate being drawn. If you draw them, they will stare at you, then call out to other gang members. Together they will squawk and flap their wings until you leave. This has happened to me on two separate occasions in different parts of the city.
In David Lam Park
I saw a child regale his parents with worldly insights. Later, he went to pick some flowers.
This is the final week of 30 Days of Vancouver, and I have many giveaways planned this week and next for the SneakyArt Insiders who have supported me through this project. For a chance to get SneakyArt in your mail, grab this offer to become an Insider!
If you like what you read, share the SneakyArt Post with a friend who might enjoy it!
Dear reader, thank you for your time and attention. I appreciate having a space in your inbox.
Oh...my...goodness! We had goose mafia in Indianapolis too! No respect for the Biotech researcher who is late and trying to get into the parking lot, they will just puff up and plant the whole crowd in the middle of the driveway! I was disturbed to learn that people had released domestic geese at a local reservoir here in San Diego. They are just as arrogant as the Canadian Honkers, and people actually love them! It must be Stockholm Syndrome.