cher journal: #metime

Nine months ago, I last wrote on this blog.

There were many times I wanted to write on this blog, but then I stopped myself. I thought to myself, “there are better and useful things I can do with this time” and went on doing other “less useless” things.

I guess this well depicts my life. My life has been so busy with things that nine months just flew by. But right now I am pretty exhausted form checking one thing off the list after another. To be honest, I stumbled upon a “graphic designer’s block” and got super frustrated with myself. I attempted to move onto the next most important on my exhaustive to-do list but realized that I need a break. I need #metime

Today I visited the Arts District before heading to church. I visited a stationary-esque store and saw that the store sold two of my journals from the past. I guess the owner is Korean haha. Anyways, the store contained snippets of things I appreciate—children’s books, cook books, kitchenware (not just any but cute and chic ones), gardening stuff, etc. It was so refreshing for my I-appreciate-pretty-things-soul to just look around. Oh I guess this weekend in general was like that for me. It was a good weekend.

Art and Design. When it comes to these two things, I always feel insecure. I have a problem of introducing myself as an artist.. or a designer. I feel as though I am either neither.. or a sad mix of both (again there’s this insecure tone). It’s an on-going discussion/argument within myself, so it might not make sense, but let me try.

I think there is meaning to art. There’s significance or some purpose behind everything. So basically, as long as there is meaning, it is art. No aesthetics involved.

When it comes to design though, I think there needs to be functionality and approval from the majority. I don’t know the details of art history (which I wish I did because I actually enjoy learning about history), but Bauhaus kinda prompted the movement for functional design et cetera. So for design, as long as it’s functional and well-approved, it’s good design (methinks). It does not require some deep meaning behind it.

But this is just me speaking. I actually had a good discussion/banter with a good friend of mine since middle school, an art history major at a liberal art college (oops), whether a cover of this book we saw at a bookstore in Korea was “good design” or not. I said it wasn’t a good design because it wasn’t pretty. Anyone, even people without the “artistic eye”, would’ve said it was ugly. However she called me out for calling things “pretty” and “not pretty”. Bleh, let me correct myself. It was not aesthetically pleasing.

Anyways, I speak of aesthetics because.. I think ultimately, I just enjoy and appreciate “pretty” things. I don’t know if my doodles and such necessarily have deep meanings behind it. So maybe I am not an artist. But my designs are not always functional either. Neither are they innovative. I think ultimately, I just appreciate “pretty things” and produce them. This is why I don’t know if I can call myself an artist or a designer. I am just.. yeah.

Besides this artistic turmoil (?) within me, like I mentioned above, this weekend was a good weekend for me. I went to an art event on Friday evening called Paradigm Café, checked out art, listened to some new music, ate cookies, drank tea latte (haha not coffee), and was inspired. Also today, ate vegan food (my favorite), had a good conversation, and again, was inspired.

Conclusion: I need more #metime. No more excuse of “I don’t have time”. Hopefully this little haven of mine in the virtual world will keep record of my #metimes.

Here are some snapshots from my artful weekend: