An unexpected gift of parenthood
a sneaky art drop
Dear reader,
As Rohan grows, his amazement and curiosity and enthusiasm infects our minds too. It is an unexpected gift of parenthood — a chance to re-live the pure joy of being alive, to shed our accumulated layers of cynicism and jadedness, to cleanse the doors of perception and see the world as it (perhaps) truly is.
Today’s post is a Sneaky Art Drop, a thing of few words but many lines, from my world to yours.
Under a grey sky of Vancouver spring, I looked to the north in the company of seagulls and ferry operators. Back at the studio afterward, I reinterpreted the ink drawing as a larger painting with acrylic gouache.
In the linocut journey, I am re-imagining my carvings as stamps, symbols, and icons. If the art is not a singular product, is there any aura at all? Icons can have many meanings, and symbols grow richer with context and usage. So, what is this art that lives this way?
This week, I bow to Mary Oliver and Ursula K Le Guin for sending many beautiful words my way.
Saturday was Canadian Independent Bookstore Day. I designed tote-bags for my favourite bookstore in Vancouver - Nooroongji Books.
To commemorate the day, I sat outside the store with an array of linocut pieces, showing book-buyers different ways to interpret them - as patterns on their totes, as stamps in their books, or as pieces of tiny art for their homes.
I also signed a few books!
I have two upcoming workshops in Vancouver and New York.
🗽 [Sat 02 May] - Only ONE seat left in my workshop in Central Park, Big Apple. Grab it!
🇨🇦 [Sat 30 May] - At Vancouver Sketch Weekend, I am leading a workshop about building a 5-minute drawing habit that brings creativity and curiosity into your everyday life. Grab a seat here, and feel free to share with any friends living in the Vancouver area.
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It's just the best to have someone or something upend all the pessimism you didn't realize was settling on your head like so much dust. The b.e.s.t.
Hello, I love your drawings of the bridge and find the watercolor one particularly beautiful, and it become very different of your usual designs ;) I finally bought your book, found it from a UK online seller; I must now climb in it in english, not allways easy , so I will go by little pieces one by one !
I do receive your posts for your next course, but really not able now for it, though I'm trying to return to draw with others ways (and some like SDB you know ;) and yes, I remember how everything is new and incredible with a small guy who discovers all the world, it's a very kind and precious period to appreciate ;) (mine is now 28, and things are so,so much different...) enjoy your days !