Struggling! Aughhhhh!!!

Struggling! Aughhhhh!!!


I am writing to help myself figure something out.

Recently I have been struggling with myself. I am finding myself incredibly boring and driving myself (and probably others) a little crazy. The situation is a bit alarmingly sad. Less than ten minutes ago, I just googled “how to be more interesting.” My goodness.

I’ve enjoyed photography for a while, but I don’t feel much like taking pictures these days. Sometimes it’s because I can hardly keep my eyes open and my mind on what I am supposed to be doing. Other times it’s because I feel so frustrated that my pictures are starting to look so boring. I don’t even want to print and frame them for my walls anymore. Gasp.

For my very incredible job, I get to travel all over Taiwan (and sometimes to other countries), and I appreciate very much that part about my life, but other than work, I have nothing else to think or to talk about. So I guess my life is not boring. Rather, *I* am boring.

Perhaps with the travel features somewhat under control and the basics of photography more or less in my grasp, I could use some new goals.

So if that’s the problem, what’s the solution?

Well, I don’t think I should do anything with the travel features since I just got the hang of them. But for photography, perhaps I can look for different ways of expression. Also, I would really like to read and get together with friends more and go back to studying sketching and woodblock printing. Yes, my new goals. Well, old goals that I am once again revisiting maybe.

Ah, now I can sleep. Good night!


(below are sketches from...a long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...)

Lukang's Longshan Temple 鹿港龍山寺 on my wall?

Longshan Temple, Lukang

Longshan Temple in Lukang, Changhua (鹿港龍山寺) was first built in 1653 and moved to its current location in 1786. It's recognized by the Taiwan government as a class 1 historical site. It feels like a low-key, beautiful place and I really like it.

After six years, I still have yet to produce a woodblock print or collage big enough to put on the living room wall. Recently I put Pearl there, but such a small dog on a big wall...she looked lonely. So what do you think of this HDR photo I took at Longshan Temple? I think I may need to crop the sides a little bit.

The Chinese theme kind of goes with my Meinong paper umbrellas there in the corner, no? Blue sign - blue couch. Brown doorway/columns - wooden floor.

Hm, I need a tall plant on the left, behind the end table.

Wow, I am actually not thinking about work for once. I guess two days of sleep allows a person to do that.

Roooroo 什倆漉餅行

福祿壽

綠紅豆糕

mung bean and azuki bean cake

古早糖

古早碗

old fashioned candies in a chipped antique bowl

chef

什倆漉餅行

Roooroo's nicely designed pastry boutique

水印木刻版畫轉印在帆布上

I like!

woodblock prints reprinted onto canvas

二哥玉珍齋 什倆漉餅行 Roooroo

http://www.roooroo.com.tw/

彰化縣鹿港鎮親民路188號

+886 4 777 7688

188 Qinmin Road, Lukang, Changhua

(they also have locations in Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung)

Though tucked into a side street with a good amount of car traffic going through, I liked the feeling of this shop. They sell delicate traditional Taiwanese desserts perhaps the way a Kyoto shop would sell theirs. There's lots of space, lots of light and design here, which is a nice change. They have some new renditions of old flavors, all presented quite nicely. A good place to buy tasty and good looking souvenirs for friends and family.

Special thanks to Mr Kenny Huang 黃一栩 for allowing us into his kitchen and shop.

Christmas present 聖誕節禮物

Having grown up in the States and then having moved back to Asia, Christmas was the time of year that took a lot of adjusting to. The spirit of Christmas here is not so much a time for family to get together, nor a time to spend lots of effort picking out those perfect gifts for family and friends. It's mostly a couple of busy nights for restaurants and an excuse for marketers to launch another campaign. So Christmas for my family has evolved to something kind of in between - we spend time together if we've got time, find gifts for each other if we plan to see each other. In other words, "out of sight, out of mind" is tolerated, and celebrating the holiday is optional. But we give each other things throughout the year and have a feast every time we meet for quality time anyway, so it's really Christmas all year long.

The above is my excuse for doing only one present this year. Before I say who or what, please examine the present in the picture. I wrapped it myself. In fact, I made the wrapping paper too. It is one of my woodblock prints. Yes, thank you very much. It's a great way to reuse artwork in progress destined for the recycling bin. What is inside the box is still a secret. Well, it's also something I made. The answer shall be revealed after Mama opens it.

Ho ho ho! Off to Tokyo I go!

Canon Kiss X3
EF 35mm f1.4 USM
Aperture