Painting Over Old School Photos

I found these old school photos in a drawer, along with some acetate paper (why it was there is a mystery - there were also split pins, which I haven't used since middle school) and I thought I would try painting over them. I mostly just did some splodgy shapes, but I think it's pretty interesting to mess with a really old image like this.

Here's the original photo:

Diary: Toast & Tidying

Well, in the past week or so I've hardly been doing much except watching lots of SHINee concert videos and tidying/decluttering things. I've also been eating a lot of toast. For some reason I have a constant toast craving at the moment. I'm not going to question it.

I've been trying to make sure I go for long enough walks, because a lot of the time I forget to go outside or move my body more than three inches ever, so I gotta make myself do it regularly. It always feels good and is nice and calm, so there's no reason not to.

I also really like tidying and organising and I kinda want to do it all the time. If you need me to come round your house and organise/declutter stuff for you, I'm ready. I'll do it. Bonus points if you have cake waiting for me when I get there.

5 Things That Make Me Happy Right Now

Here's a list of some things that I'm appreciating a lot right now, just because I think it's good to note them, and it's handy to have these lists for future reference. Here are some things that always bring me sparks of joy, for whatever reason.

1. SHINee - A-Yo

This song is so encouraging and sweet. It's the kind of thing that I know will spur me on when I'm happy, and will comfort me and cheer me up when I'm not. It hits that perfect tone. I love it.

2. Clicker games

They're kind of mindless and endless, and they can definitely get tedious and addictive, but I really like clicker games for when I just can't get in the mood to play one particular, more-involved game, or when I just can't decide on one activity to stick with. It's nice to be able to do something quick and easy to occupy some time. Right now I'm enjoying Clicker Heroes and AdVenture Capitalist.

3. Keeping a casual notebook

Now, this may sound a really obvious one because I use notebooks and sketchbooks and diaries all the time, but here I specifically mean keeping a notebook for notes. Just whatever you need to write down. It feels good to have a place to memos, thoughts, reminders, and any random thing you think of. I like to know that I have a record of any random TV shows I've seen something about and want to watch at some point in the future, and I like to note down some language stuff so I can look back on a word later. Stuff like that. If I have a place to put ideas and plans, I'm more likely to come up with those ideas and plans more often. I also use sticky notes, but they're more temporary, so it's nice to have a notebook for more long term stuff.

4. Taking time and effort with food

I think it's way too easy to eat hurriedly and without much preparation a lot of the time, especially if you're like me and often very suddenly realise you're really hungry. I definitely notice it makes me feel really comfortable and calm when I make sure to pay more attention to when and what I'm eating, and really take the time to give myself food that I love and enjoy. Give food enough time and importance to be the best experience possible as often as you can.

5. Wholesome fun online

I like to go through some particular subreddits for some truly heart-warming content. Lots of pure and sweet jokes that always put a smile on my face. Favourites currently include: /r/sneks, /r/totallynotrobots, and /r/wholesomememes.

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So those are my five happy things right now. Please tell me about all the things that make you feel similar warm, fuzzy feelings. Thank you! :o)

Pokémon Is Good (Still)

I have posted about the Pokémon Sun and Moon anime on this blog before, but I had to revisit the topic because there are just too many perfect visuals (see above doughnut image) and fun jokes throughout every episode. It's just too beautiful, and charming, and great in every way.

I love all the peripheral characters so much, and all the fun antics, and the willingness Satoshi (Ash) seems to have to do everyone's errands all the time.

He's always so excited, and it's inspiring and lovely. Thanks, you starry-eyed kid.

Also: pancakes. Episode 13 has a pancake focus, and it is the best.

Please look at these precious pancakes. They are central to the plot, and delivered by a strong, confident Raichu who is ready to take on the world (via pancakes).

Glorious.

Magazine Collages: Dogs & Teacups

I made some more collages, featuring some dogs and lots of flowers. Those are two excellent things that exist in the world. I congratulate both of them for being here.

I also made a small representation of myself (and many other people, I'm sure) after cruelly chopping off a woman's head because I liked her outfit and wanted to draw a new head (and some be-socked feet) for it.

A truly accurate image that represents me wholly. Please send a selection of dogs, flowers, and tea in my direction. Thank you.

Bunnies, Why?

For some reason, in the past year or so, bunnies have become a major motif in my drawing and painting. They arrived swiftly and have stuck around ever since. There is something uniquely comforting about them, I think. They are so round and lumpy and simple. They are symbolic of every kind of feeling. They feel malleable and always represent the exact nuance in tone of whatever they say or think, somehow. I don't know.

I draw cats much of the time to be surly, or grumpy, or, well, catty. It's not that the cats I draw always stick to those forms of feeling and expression, but sometimes something just feels like it makes the most sense coming from a cat. When I draw dogs they are often there to be supportive, or carefree, or just very happy and excited. Bunnies feel more complex and I use them more for statements that might be said with some confusion, or malaise, or delight, or trepidation, or hope.

The bunnies somehow bring with them a sense of wonder. I love them.

SHINee Collages

I know, I know, it's another SHINee post. Well, I can't resist posting about them and expressing my love for them as often as possible, so I thought what better way to do so than to make some sweet and lovely collages?

The magazine elements this time are from some Christmas editions of Good Housekeeping and a copy of Ideal Homes Magazine. I have to say, I love looking at all the beautiful, cosy rooms in Ideal Homes. All the flowers and neat furniture and cute storage solutions make me feel super inspired.

I love how these collages turned out. I think pairing SHINee with lots of flowers makes a lot of sense. I feel a bit bad for not making collages just for Key and Taemin, but I guess that means I'll just have to make some more SHINee collages later on for them.

Until then, here's Jonghyun amidst some brownies.