In late February, I gave birth to my precious daughter, Lily. Since then I've enjoyed roughly 8 weeks of mommyhood and 6 weeks of maternity leave from my nonprofit job. As if life hadn't been whizzing by already, time is really flying now that Lily is here. Since becoming a mom, I naturally have noticed a difference in the way I think about art and life. I have put together some reflections on how life has changed for me:

1. You can't always work when the passion strikes
Many art students graduate from school, find a job, then struggle to make time for their art. Suddenly they have no studio to paint in, no teachers assigning work, no deadlines, and no peer support to continue making their art. Now, picture having a full-time job, and having a little baby who requires constant care. This means you will have to operate on less sleep while having more chores than you ever thought possible thanks to the baby pooping, spitting up, needing baths, going to doctor's appointments, and a whole other list of new tasks. Really, you can't realistically fathom this until it's happening to you, but I would say you can count on your baby needing something from you (ie food, diaper, clothing change) almost 1-2 hours, even at night sometimes. So, obviously, even if a new idea for a project enters your head, you can't always act on it the moment you actually want to. It will take real discipline to get to it when you actually have the time. You will have to learn to create the time, demand the time, and then maximize the time like nobody's business. You will have to forgive yourself for taking a little bit of a hiatus to figure out your new normal, but you have to stay committed in your head that you are a long-term artist, and sometimes long-term artists need a temporary break. 

2. The passion may strike more often, or less often
Now, with a new baby you will start to see things differently, which may cause you to want to make more art. This new life and perspective may spark your creative side, where you want to start drawing, scrapbooking, sewing, sculpting like never before. On the contrary, you may also find that you might want to make less art. Life has become more demanding in all directions, so why force yourself to make art on top of everything else that needs to get done? Again, be kind to yourself, but remind yourself that you are a long-term artist and make a plan about how you will continue to seek out art exhibitions, opportunities and creative time after you've had some time to adjust to your new life. Even if you're not so much of a sketchbook person, keep a sketchbook so you can sketch or write down quick ideas for the future. You might get to them sooner than you think.
 
3. Inspiration is found in new places
As I mentioned in a previous blog, I now find children's books and illustrations so inspiring. Many of the classics are true artistic masterpieces, so you may find your art being influenced by them. Then again, as I watch my baby grow, it makes me think about life, nature, and family, among other things. I am thinking about the life spans of insects, animal and human instincts, evolution, the existence of a higher power, the state of the world, and what the future holds. My brain is focusing on different things, so my next art piece will reflect a new state of mind. It's exciting to be transformed this way, but it also feels a little new and foreign. Just embrace whatever inspiration you get and go ahead and act on it.

4. You want to make a different kind of art
With all these new sources of inspiration, the demands on your time, and all the cleaning that you find yourself doing, the type of art you want to make may change. For me, instead of making my usual time-consuming, labor-intensive installations, I now feel like making simple drawings with pen and paper, or maybe even doing some photography and photo-collage. Those art forms are easier to start and stop than the type of installation art I normally do, faster to complete, and less messy. I have always also enjoyed writing, so resuming my blog is sort of like a casual form of art.

5. You want to de-clutter
All artists know that we sometimes struggle with mild to severe hoarding. The "studio" in my house has mostly been a room where I stash potential art materials such as boxes and bags of newspaper, magazines, rope, fabrics, paint swatches, discarded wood, cardboard, broken furniture and whatever old knick-knacks that for some reason seemed meaningful or interesting enough to save. Now that I have a baby, I am determined to finally go up there and trash or recycle most of it. I'm of the mindset now that the fewer things I have, the better. I don't need much; the baby doesn't need much; what's most important now is a healthy routine and a healthy place to live. Everything else just gets in the way.

6. You try to think of ways to get your kid involved
Now that you have a baby, before you make any move, one question comes up: what am I going to do with the baby? You will ask this question at every turn--when you want to wash the dishes, when you want to take a shower, when you want to go for a run, and when you want to make art. Some parents decide to involve their children in their art projects. One of my favorites is Queenie Liao who crafts scenes with her sleeping baby using blankets and other props:

Then there was also the mom who makes paper dresses with her daughter, and also proves that blogging is an art form:

And Mica Angela Hendricks who collaborates with her daughter on drawings.

All of these artist moms are making beautiful art with their kids, and making memories!

7. You also try to think of ways to get away from your kid
Even though many people out there are creating amazing things with their kids, you still may be trying to figure out how to work on the types of projects you used to make or were planning on pursuing. In that case, it's time to make your needs known to your spouse, family, friends, and babysitter so they can help you have the time and space to have some quality solo creative time.

8. You may want to quit your day job
If you haven't figured it out by now, babies need a lot of your time. You also need to take care of your relationships with your spouse, friends, and family. That means there may be less time for yourself and your art. Even if you don't actually want to quit your day job, it is a good idea for you to evaluate how your very valuable time and talents are spent. 

When I was pregnant, I was sick every day for about 5 months, struggled with insomnia for about 6 months, worked a full time job where I was barely managing the time to eat a protein bar for lunch, served on the board of a marketing association, and participated in a few art opportunities and exhibitions. While I have always considered myself a high-achiever with diverse interests and good time management skills, I finally had to admit to myself I was doing too much when my husband told me I looked like a train wreck. What good are you to anybody when you're stretched too thin? How are you enjoying life? How are far can you go? Supposedly Warren Buffett spends 80% of his day reading and avoids the frantic work environment of the common worker. While not everyone can shape their lives like this and still make ends meet, it does remind you that there are different ways to live your life. I do think it is essential for artists to live a lifestyle that is stimulating, not draining, so it may be time to stop for a second and re-examine how you spend your energy and what you really want out of life.

9. You want to go to museums more
Having a baby means you're at home a lot. During my six-week maternity leave I barely left the house. While it's nice and necessary to spend time at home with your new baby, you will have the urge to get out occasionally, and you should. You will start appreciating the times when you could go wherever you wanted, and you will reminisce about going downtown or even to the store with relative ease. As an artist, you will have the desire to visit museums, with or without the baby. You'll want to seek out the beautiful things in life and nature. You will want to browse art books and websites. And you should. Take the baby and make it happen, or get a babysitter and go.

10. You read more
As I mentioned earlier, you will find yourself at home a lot with your baby, especially during the early weeks. While this may mean increased time spent in front of the TV, you will naturally find yourself reading more as well. Despite your best efforts, you will read mommy books and mommy websites. While I was pregnant, my sister very thoughtfully sent me Chicken Soup for the New Mom Soul. I had never read those Chicken Soup books before, but this one is very good with lots of real-life short stories by moms. A friend also recommended the Scary Mommy blog to me, which is filled with excellent information, advice and funny stories. All of this is good to keep your sanity and feel normal about being a mom. Then of course, you will be reading the children's books to your baby. I am hoping all this reading will lead to more trips to the library and more intellectual and artistic reading, which hopefully will eventually make me the next Warren Buffett, except I'll be an artist-style Warren Buffett.

Life overall has changed for the better since the arrival of the little baby. I am slowly getting acclimated to the juggle of working and mothering and being an artist, but I'm excited to see what is next and how I can make life as purposeful and artful as possible. Any other artist moms out there, feel free to leave a comment!

As you may have noticed, my blogging and art production have decreased some over the past several months. That is largely due to the fact that I am expecting my first baby on March 16, so my mental and physical energy levels have been quite up and down. It's a pretty major undertaking, creating a human life!

Still, I have remained fairly active in participating in shows, making new art, and seeking opportunities throughout my pregnancy. Some artistic updates: I created a nomination for the Baker Artist Awards and also applied for the Sondheim prize. Both opportunities grant monetary prizes and shows to Baltimore area artists. If you're a Baltimorean, I strongly recommend checking out the incredible websites and exhibitions that display the work of our local artists. If you're a Baltimore artist, I strongly recommend you enter these competitions every year!

In other news, I have found that one of the most enjoyable things about being pregnant is revisiting my favorite children's books. I remember being a particularly huge fan of Eric Carle, Dr. Seuss and Shel Silverstein.

First of all, I remember loving Eric Carle's illustrations. I actually remember watching a video about his creative process in one of my elementary school classes, showing how he used tissue paper to create the art. I looked at The Very Hungry Caterpillar recently with my now artistically trained eye, and loved how he used different sized pages and cut-out holes to bring the story to life. His shapes, colors, patterns, composition and creativity are an inspiration to me now.

Dr. Seuss was another serious favorite of mine. I read many of his books as a child--I loved his writing, rhyming and fun drawings. Green Eggs and Ham was my absolute favorite book when I first learned to read. I also loved The Lorax very much once I discovered it. It left a lasting impact on how I view the earth and the environment. Dr. Seuss will always be special to me because he had such a fun, rhythmic, and approachably powerful way of story telling. His illustrations were also so imaginative and unique. What a genius!

A little later in my childhood I was introduced to Shel Silverstein's Where the Sidewalk Ends. I remember reading the poems in the book and loving all of them. I went to my local library recently and checked out a few Shel Silverstein books, including A Light in the Attic and the relatively newly published Runny Babbit. Reading his poems now, I may love his work more than ever. Some of his poems are hilarious and fun, but many others are beautifully sad, uplifting, and touching, all while being simple and easy to read. His drawings are no-frills, but always very fitting with the witty poems he creates. My husband and I are working on writing some poems and making some Silverstein-style drawings to create a book for our daughter. We are no experts, but at least Silverstein sets an unpretentious example that is fun to imitate.

As a child, I always wanted to be a children's book author and illustrator. Looking at these books now, I see them as real artistic masterpieces. As I continue exploring paper-making and collage, I believe you will see some of Carle's, Seuss', and Silverstein's influences in my work. I am looking forward to discovering new children's books, sharing them with my daughter, and gaining new inspiration on combining words and images. 

Reflecting on 2013, it has been quite the year artistically, professionally, and personally. As some of my art pieces convey, time really does fly by, with dates becoming blurry and tangled.

Artistically, I am so grateful for the wealth of opportunities that came my way this year. I participated in 5 art shows, an all-time high for me in one year, including my first solo show in the good ol' town of Baltimore. I also had the opportunity to teach not one, but two art workshops this year, which I had never done before. Another first: I did my very own gallery talk at the Notre Dame of Maryland University where I explained my artwork and inspirations. What a thrilling year of creating new work, getting to know new venues, and meeting new people.

Professionally, I continued my work at Maryland New Directions, and earned the honor of Innovator of the Year for creating Connections Friday, a learning and networking event for low-income job seekers in Baltimore. I also served as Vice President of Communications on the Board for the Baltimore Chapter of the American Marketing Association, another great experience where I met wonderful people and learned so much.

Personally, I met some wonderfully supportive, creative individuals. My friend Mary helped me learn about public art, blogging, and sharing creativity with others. I met Susan from Mesh Baltimore who opened my eyes to new ways of collaborating and learning from others in the community. Knowing that there are people like this in Baltimore makes me all the more grateful to live here!

On one last personal note, I enjoyed traveling to some familiar places to me this year: Colorado and Florida. It is always so nice to spend time with loved ones and also get some more perspective and inspiration for future art projects!

All in all, when I take a moment and look back, it really was a great year.

As far as New Year's Resolutions go, I hope to continue making new work, participating in more shows, and sharing my art and creative knowledge more frequently and with more people. I also want to stay in touch with all the fabulous art makers and art lovers I met over the years in the Baltimore area. Lastly, one of my more concrete goals is to explore Etsy more and try selling a few things there.

How was your 2013? What would you like to accomplish in 2014?

Recently I discovered Cher's new video for "Woman's World" and recognized something familiar in the very first second. See it for yourself:

Does her newspaper wig remind you of anything?

Cher's wig is exactly like my 2012 piece Yesterday's News. She just put it on her head! While of course her wig got my attention, the media is making a pretty big deal out of it too. Some articles are saying her "wig game" is back. One online article said, "...Cher came back with a vengeance, rocking what may be one of the greatest looks we have ever seen on the icon — a wig made out of newspaper shreddings." I of course like the wig... I just wish she would have called me instead of having someone else make it. I'm definitely not saying anyone plagiarized my piece, I'm just saying I could have made that for you, Cher!

Any other celebrities or performers out there looking to make a wig come-back, contact me. I'll think of something for you.

Yesterday's News is on view at the Notre Dame of Maryland University, now through November 22.

My new exhibition, Basics, is now on view at the Notre Dame of Maryland University. Thanks to everyone who came to the opening; it was so nice to have such support from friends from all over Baltimore.

This exhibition features a mix of older and newer works, with some that have never been seen outside a classroom or studio. I will also have my first-ever Gallery Talk on November 13 at noon, so please spread the word and attend!

Tomorrow I will be installing my new show, Basics, at the Notre Dame of Maryland University. Preparing for this show has been a lot of work, and there is still more to do! Last night I found myself browsing the internet for last minute ideas on how I might want to hang my most recent paper works. Take a look at some of my favorite finds!

The above piece is a collaborative installation created by students at the University of Toledo. For my work, I am always searching for ideas on how to present paper art without simply gluing it all down as a collage. I love the floating elements here, the light, the colors, and the different size circles coming together. Well done, students!

I have also been thinking about using pins to float paper off the wall, and found good examples of that being done effectively in the works of Hope Hilton.

I enjoy Hilton's installations for her use of simplified, symbolic shapes, and her way of grouping and spreading out the shapes to create feelings of crowdedness, isolation, sameness, and organic change. The way these pieces float alone from the wall also gives the sense isolation and tension, suspended in mid-air by one vulnerable pin. Many of my installations use grouping and repetition as well, though the shapes I create are more varied in color, shapes and texture. It is intriguing to see Hilton's way of working, though, with clean, consistent laser-cut shapes and colors.

An artist that demonstrates color and texture quite well is Britt Bass. I found her work by google-searching paper sculpture, and was very inspired by her beautiful installations, full of movement and found materials.

I like to work on a large scale as well, often with found materials, so this work is very exciting to me. It looks like this is a very young artist too, graduating with her BFA in 2011, so I am extra impressed!

Another artist who is using found materials and making incredible large-scale installations is Abhidnya Ghuge. It seems she's been working with paper plates quite a bit, creating installations that cling to the wall in certain places but also hang from the ceiling in others. I am love the colors, shapes and depth she creates by transforming and amassing plates of different colors and patterns. I enjoy that she is creating actual new environments in some of her work, not just art on a wall.

Who are some of your favorite artists?

If you're on this site, you probably know I am an artist, but I also work at a nonprofit, Maryland New Directions (MND). At MND, we help low-income adults make positive changes in their lives through employment. I first began working there 3 years ago, looking for a decent full-time job where 1) I could make a difference 2) stay in Baltimore and 3) still make my art. It has been a good fit over the years, and I am proud to say the job has held up to my expectations.

I believe everyone deserves the chance to earn a comfortable living and enjoy what they do. That is what most people want, myself included. At this organization, I have witnessed many individuals gain not only jobs, but confidence, self-esteem, happiness, and security. Our clients sing our praises and share their success stories with us every day. I am extremely proud to work here, as I love this city and want to be a part of the positive change in our communities. About 25% of Baltimore City residents live in poverty. That is not good enough for us as staff, and we work very hard to help break the cycle of joblessness and poverty.

Since starting work here, I have learned a ton about nonprofits and what it takes to run them. Our job-readiness services are free to those in need, but it does take blood, sweat, tears, and ultimately funding to have a lasting impact on the lives of others. Part of my job is to make sure we have enough funding to keep our organization running, and this year we have launched a campaign inviting people from the community to give to our cause. Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a village to change a village.

Please donate to this campaign. Your gift will help others discover their talents and interests and earn income for themselves.

It has been quite the summer. Some highlights:

I did another class at Mesh Baltimore, one of my very favorite groups in Baltimore, where people gather to share knowledge and skills with each other. I taught about making art from recycled materials- it was a blast as usual and students got to take some scrap materials off my hands!

Also this summer, I enjoyed having my first show in Frederick, Westmaryginiasylvanington. As the name of the show suggests, this was a regional exhibition featuring artists within a 50 mile radius of Frederick. Andrea Pollan was an excellent juror and speaker for the show, and Adam Farcus from Hood College did a fantastic job of putting it all together. I really loved the art from the rest of the artists, so it was great experience!

I also finally installed in a new, stable mailbox for #TakeASketchLeaveASketch at Leakin Park at Gwynns Falls Trail. People have been leaving sketches, too! Check my page to see the updates on that.

Another highlight of the summer was visiting my home state Colorado. We went at the end of August before the big rains hit. The flooding is mind-blowing, by the way. For those not familiar with the Colorado climate, it is generally dry throughout the state, even desert-like in many areas. Heavy rainfall is not common at all, and I literally cannot believe my eyes seeing how much water landed over the state. I think this article does a good job explaining how unusual this type of weather is.

Anyway, while we we visiting, some attractions like the Royal Gorge were closed due to wildfires since there has been a severe drought until just recently. But,we did get to see many other areas of the state that are quite beautiful. I particularly enjoyed going to Seven Falls, which has always been within minutes of where I have lived, but I had no memories of actually being there before.

Though my hometown of Colorado Springs was spared the worst of the flooding, I learned from my parents recently that many trails have been washed out by rain, and Seven Falls actually did flood. Anyway, I recommend that everyone visits Colorado, it is a beautiful state with a lot to offer, and, despite the extreme weather, most days are so nice there.

Another thing I really enjoyed this summer was participating in some flash mobs. My friend Mary is doing awesome things as a blogger and an artist (see blog here), so I decided to participate in her Human Rainbow flash mob and Sidewalk Chalk flash mob. Both were at the awesome Federal Hill Park in Baltimore.

I love Mary's projects because they're always fun, bring people together, and I get to see Mary, who is such a positive, joyful, creative leader.

Well, that's it for now. As far as news goes, I will my first solo show in Baltimore this fall at the Notre Dame of Maryland University from October 21 to November 22. I am very excited about that and am currently working on some new projects for it. Also, make sure you visit my #TakeASketchLeaveASketch page to see the latest sketches.

How was your summer?

Well, July was quite a busy month personally, professionally, and artistically, so I'm glad I am able to find the time today to blog! As you may have noticed, last weekend I had the privilege of teaching a workshop at Mesh Baltimore on how to make art out of recycled materials. As an artist and experimenter myself, I wouldn't say there are any "rules" to making art out of recycled materials, but I have made a lot of recycled art and can share some of my thoughts and insights with others. So, here is some information I put together for anyone wanting to create new things out of the objects around them. By the way, you can see plenty of my own work out of recycled materials by visiting my Man webpage and Handmade Paper webpage.

Suggested Materials: Newspaper, cardboard, plastic bags, junkmail, found objects (twigs, leaves, bottle caps, trash, broken jewelry, nails, screws), discarded/second-hand frames, any kind of grid material, found board

Suggested Supplies: hole punch, scissors, glue (acid-free paste, gorilla glue, acrylic medium), needle and thread, string, yarn, epoxy.

Suggested Processes: collage (layering 2D objects on a backing), assemblage (sculpture or 3D installation comprised of found objects), sewing, crocheting, weaving

Design principles: repetition, contrast, texture, value (light and dark), scale, composition

How to approach your piece: Always make it fun—experiment and make a lot! Art is a practice, so spend some time getting your ideas out, learning your materials, and learning the things you like to do. Are you patient and can spend hours on a piece, or do you like to work spontaneous and fast? After time, you may want to think harder about what ideas, themes and meanings you can express. Consider the following: What is the meaning, association, of my materials? How can I use their inherent properties (color, texture, normal use/context) to make a statement? Examples of themes: irony, past, present, future, humor, culture.

Tips:

- Research and study handmade objects and processes. Collage is not the only thing you can do with recycled materials. Get inspiration from how quilts, rugs, furniture, paper, pinatas are made.

- Think about what you can do with your hands already. Tie knots, braid, crochet, knit, origami, woodworking. How can you apply your skills to the materials?

- Think outside the box: twist, cut, shred, harden, glue, connect, fold, crumple, dangle... art is often about verbs.

- Think about the objects (trash, papers, bottles, etc.) that accumulate in your life. What do these things say about you? About society? About today?

- Repetition can be a strong and easy way to give your piece more conviction.

- If you're using printed materials, what does the text or images say? Is it important? How can you highlight that?

- Think about presentation. How will you display it?

Ideas often come from looking at other things. Check out these links or do your own research to get inspiration:

El Anatsui, artist
Indo, window display artists
Mary England, artist and blogger
Kyle Bean, artist
How to make handmade paper
How to make a pinata

So, there you have it! What kind of art have you made out of recycled materials?

As an artist and a citizen of the world, I think it is so helpful and important to think deeply about people and places. When it comes to my own person and my own places, I think I am pretty unique. Ethnically, I am 50% Korean, 50% American white blend (German, Irish, and I'm not so sure what else but probably western European). I was born in Japan but grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I moved to Baltimore when I was 18. I married a nice, young Serbian man when I was 23, with the wedding itself consisting of multiple layers of people and places.

I've been lucky enough to travel to many US cities and states, as well as some foreign countries like Japan, Serbia, Korea, Italy and Canada. Just by living in the US and having my own foreign relatives, I've met plenty of people from around the country and the world. So, as you can see, I have a lot of different people and places to think about.

Maryland has been on my mind a lot lately--its place in the world, and my place in it. If it isn't obvious already, I love Baltimore with a passion. I love the community and the way people collaborate at a grassroots level. I love how people call it "Smalltimore", because everyone seems connected, and it's true. I love how we are who we are, and we're not that simple. I especially love the nonprofit scene, including Maryland New Directions where I work, and Mesh Baltimore, where I often go to learn, meet people, and even teach! I of course love the art scene, the creative people here and the opportunities. I think that the citizens of Baltimore really are responsible for what happens here, and that's powerful. It is a great place to be right now!

I must admit, however, that I have not spent too much time exploring the rest of Maryland, or the region. Recently, though, I have been prompted more and more to find out who exactly we are in this area. MAP recently put out a call for artists to explore the contemporary cultural climate of mid-Atlantic region of Maryland, Pennsylvania and Delaware. I applied for that show, and am waiting to hear back. Also, Hood College in Frederick, which I have never visited by the way, put out a call for artists living within 50 miles of Frederick, which includes Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and DC. Happily, I will be participating in that show later this month. I realize by now, I am certainly a part of this region, but I also wonder, do I understand us as a region yet? What is the culture here? How would I describe it?

I recently started finding out a little bit more about Maryland. The state itself certainly feels small to me, but also vibrant and important. When it comes to land area, Maryland ranks 42nd in the country, yet its population is ranked 19th, with a population density of 596 people per square mile. That makes it the 5th most population-dense state in the country. To put that in perspective, the US has an average population density of 89 people per square mile, Colorado with 49, Serbia with 241, and Japan with 873. Wow! Maybe that is why it feels like we all know each other and we're all doing a lot--we're really packed in here!  As basic as population density and area are, they really have an impact on a citizen's entire life experience.

I was starting to think that not just Baltimore, but maybe all of Maryland, is small, mighty and connected. This suspicion was validated when I invited Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot to visit and speak at Maryland New Directions. To my extreme delight, he accepted my invitation, and yesterday was the big day of his visit! To think that he oversees the finances of our entire state, lives in Takoma Park, works in Annapolis, but can come up to Baltimore so easily made me realize how truly closely-knit we are. Even though there are a lot of us here, everyone is within reach; that's not just a nice thing about living in Maryland, that's why we're special!

Even though we may be closely-knit, collaborative and hard-working, I know we're more complex than that. We're also an old and diverse state, with many traditions, tensions and behaviors that make us who we are. All of this makes it hard to describe our culture here in Maryland and the mid-Atlantic region. How would you describe us?