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Witch’s broom
Amongst the many branches I ran through the chipper last month, I found one that I set aside. It was the perfect shape my my hand and a good length to become a handle for something. After the jichinsai, the bamboo altar was dismantled and tossed on the burn pile. Before burning, I took a…
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I made the most beautiful post box
The other day, Tod got a call from the water company. They had noticed that we had a new service at a different address and wanted to know where to send the bills and put the meter reading slips. Clearly, it was time to mount a mailbox somewhere at 555. But we don’t have a…
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Ishida Tetsuo and the Bird-Tailed Chisel
In the long-ago time when Edo was founded, there was a stone carver called Ishida Tetsuo. He came from a long line of quarrymen who lived on the Boso Peninsula, where stone was pulled from the mountains and turned into building blocks for the new capital city. He apprenticed with his father, who had left…
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Repurposing illustrations
I have a few clients who come back to me regularly(ish) for illustration and design work. I was excited yesterday to get a mail from one of them, asking if I had time right away to do some work on a short deadline for a corporate video animation. When we were discussing the details of…
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MaurArmature
As often happens, Maura decided to help me at my desk this morning. But today, his assistance created a beautiful composition on top of the armatures I was exploring. Thanks, Maura. You’re a good boy.
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Interpretive Sumi
Abstracted and meditational drawings I made this week based on photos of the charred beams of 555 Hiratsuka.
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Processing
Processing shock and loss takes many forms. For me, physicality is key. I need to be present in the charred space, exploring at the scene. I bear witness. I feel it intensely. And then I start to draw or write to release it. I went up to 555 this morning and climbed over into the…
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COVID-19 status posters: quarantine, isolation, all clear
These graphical posters are easy-to-read alerts for your neighbors, delivery people, and others who may come to your door while you are under quarantine or isolation. Or let everyone know that you are healthy and safe to approach. What’s the difference between quarantine and isolation? Quarantine means you have been in contact with someone with…
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Half self
Decided to try a self-portrait in the mirror this morning. It’s been a while since I’ve really focussed on drawing myself with realism. See that slightly startled expression? It’s me looking in the mirror carefully reproducing every bump, wrinkle and flap I see. I’m wondering wtf is up with the extra chins? They weren’t there…
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Neko-bouzu
At Wara Coffee, I saw a sweet cat version of the Japanese weather charm, teru-teru bouzu. So I sketched it. Naomi gave me good marks: 大変よくできました.
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