It seems we must constantly flick the crap off of our orbit. We can’t extinguish them, they seem to always come back. At least learn to make space for the other non-craps to come in, and stay longer. “Crap-Orbiting Saturn” drawn in 2015? Eacavated and finished writing 5/6/2024. So much crap swirling in my mind. Every day is a training to cultivate the muscle and dexterity to flick them OFF! . . . . . #newskoolmom #indexcardart #saturn #funny #singlepanel #cartoon #commentoftheday #mindovermatter #mindmastery #simpledrawing #deardiary
Creative outlet comes in many forms, and often the best when it is in a tangible form (like writing or drawing, something that can be recorded in a moment in time)! The fact that my son wrote and drew this on the back of a “homework” his big sister made, to keep him busy and happy, taking the time away from her real, big, high school homework load📚warm my heart. Some may call it a scribble but I call it art. The whole experience and emotions recorded on a piece of blank paper. And the experience it brought out for me to have come across it, to appreciate it, to better understand my kids even when I’m away from them. . . . . #newskoolmom #thisisart #doodle #momlife #coparenting #heartwarming #homework #littlebrotherbigsister
A story of my son who is 7 currently. Mixed emotions of joy, delight, pride, and a bit of yuck and guilt on how he makes and made so many paper airplanes the past month. It’s delightful he learned the skill from his friend and/but he keeps taking my computer paper to fold and fly, fold and fly, and fold and fly. There must be something here about seeing him practice play so freely without thinking about how much “good paper he’s wasting” or if the airplane was not folded perfectly or even correctly. Every flight is different and fun. He show it in O!’s ans and Ahhh!s and it is infectious. But ya know, whadda am I supposed to DO with 3 shopping bags full of these creations!!!??? Who knows, if all this leads to him building a super-galactic-sonic-wings-of-mycelium-steel airplane of the future. 🛸 . . . . . #paperairplanes #newskoolmom #practice #play #diary #diaryofamom #greetingcardart
Maybe the mundane is (mostly) magical, even when it tastes like 💩. I had this talk tonight with young women at a gallery opening. “Do you manifest?” One asked. I answered how I feel like “manifesting”may just be another term for working hard to achieve your goals, and am sort of disappointed in having lost the sense of magic in that word. But then the other girl said she’d like to consider, then, that everything is magical. And I get it. In a way it is. Even the fact that I had the conversation with these strangers tonight over a little cocktail that had more tequila than I expected. Woo hoo, I made it to post before midnight! #mundaneismagical #manifestation #magick #shithappens #newskoolmom #gratitude #ťhoughtoftheday #greetingcard
Sometimes it takes 100 balloons and other times a single flower. What lifts you up, right now? What “worked”a year ago, last month, or even yesterday, an hour ago… may not work for you right now, and that’s okay. It’s a practice in asking yourself this question. For me it is. Sometimes, or a lot of times, the answer may be “I don’t know” and maybe that means “what lifts me up”is the acceptance of not knowing. . . . . . #deardiary #greetingcardarr #whatliftsyou #newskoolmom #messageoftheday #greetingscard #compassion Keep questioning
Froze in deep emotions once again. Managed to wake up and go to in n out. Ate as I watched the people all around. The employees especially, it seemed they were celebrating someone maybe getting married or something. Managed to drop off a race car, the red folder, and a book for my kids at their dad’s. Managed to give kisses goodnight to my boy and a big hug to my girl. Pretty amazing I can go into their house. Pretty amazing they are all healthy. Managed to work on this greeting card on the inside for a few hours before going to bed. Went out today to see how to share the drawing and loved this photo. Decided not to share the inside as I’m not happy with it in the end. Not what I expected but better than I imagined. Baby steps. . . . . . #babysteps #messageforyou #newskoolmom #greetingcardart #simpledrawing #sprouts #diary #deardiary
Grief sneaks up on you with its sharp side, but can also bring you closer to tenderness. I wanna start posting more of these simple drawings on greeting cards now, as I realized everything I make I like to make as a gift for someone. And also, oil painting takes time and space when I’m not with my kids and there are so much I wanna express and say in a short time! Wanna continue this drawing and writing as a daily practice. I’ve said that many times before and failed to keep it going for long but I’ll say it again. Grief can come out super sharp, stab you, hook you, spin you around making you feel like you’re in quicksand. 🌪️ And it also has the side that feels cozy, if you can imagine it as a beanbag chair that you can lean into. 🛋️ . . . . . #greetingcard #cartoon #simpledrawing #dailydrawing #newskoolmom #grief #heartbrake #mentalhealth #messageforyou
I’ve been staying home with my son who has had a cold for the past 2 days. I had a dream where I was forced to pilot a small airplane with my son in the back and my ex next to me (on the “driver’s seat”) gone unconscious, and was hit by a hurricane or a tornado. I was feeling wtf, I didn’t sign up to be on this plane or pilot it but here I am having to navigate it all. Somehow, deep within, I knew I was going to save us all. When I told this story to my daughter, she said, “Mommy, that’s the story of your life!” Hahaha, touché. Just wanted to ramble here. I feel I am close to crumbling a lot of the times having to juggle many things (often feeling like all on my own, for everything, though I do believe I am supported by some higher powers). I don’t want to fit into the “single mama” genre who has to work 3 jobs to support her family with welfare and it angers me I have become the cliche. But then again at the same time I know I am powerful enough to create a better future for all of us. And am grateful for my health and the relationship the kids, their dad and I have, which comes from the conscious commitment to creating that health. I sold a painting today and it made me feel very good. It makes me so happy to be able to share my work, even just my words, to feel I am contributing something to the world. Thank you for listening. If you are feeling meh, or stuck in life, or get struck by sadness or despair, even when 30 minutes ago you were laughing with your friend, know that you are not alone and we are always changing, and what comes down will always go up. O, and if you resonate with my offerings, I’d love your support in any form (sharing, commenting, high-fiving). Prints like the one above the piano are in my shop at the 🔗 in bio. Ok there goes my marketing pitch, but I really put my heart and soul into my work and my elementary school students felt the healing powers in each one. And aren’t kids supposed to be very honest and susceptible? 😜 . . . . . #surrendered #giclee #coparenting #mentalhealthawareness #newskoolmom #sickday #myson
This is my story. If it resonates holler, and help me spread the love. The world needs tons of it. I appreciate any contribution whether through purchasing my prints or paintings, workshops, sharing about what I do, inviting me on to your next event, design, art, or human-connecting project, or just saying hi or having play dates with me and/or with kids 🪩✨ Thank you for all those who are a part of my life. I meditated on what song speaks of my life right now and this song by deBarge came about🤣 (and oops wrong song by Corona chosen as BGM) I haven’t heard this song in so long and had to look up the lyrics but yup, feels about right! @voyagelamag article here: https://voyagela.com/interview/community-highlights-meet-shizuka-kusayanagi-of-art-for-all-ages . . . . . #artforallages #newskoolmom #voyagela #mystory #creativeinla #beakid #artistinterview #artistmom #artist #beinghuman
It’s been a minute. I spent most of my day battling my mind (once again) on my ass scrolling and thinking and not action-ing much. I have been frustrated not being able to be productive, distracted, frustrated in the little time I have before picking up my child from school, blaming myself for not being able to be that person who wakes up at 4am and start painting etc. Anyways, tonight around 10:10 I laughed out loud because I have also been mad at myself for possibly having lost my flipper (faux tooth) that I recently got to fill my 3rd tooth I had lost in the past 4 years… I looked in all the pockets, in the car compartments, bags and bags inside the bags… and I almost gave up when… after repeating in my head “Where is my flipper???” as I was moving stacks of paper on my dusty desk, I find a receipt. On it, the restaurant’s name read “FLIPPER’S.” I had a good laugh. “You are so funny Universe,” I said out loud, and then what do I find next to the receipt? The flipper that got away! And came back in just that timing. And then I had this phrase pop in that said “The Universe is on your side. Always. Keep going! (The “always” part I may have made it up. I don’t remember anymore. But anypoo it sounds right). So I took a rando index card I found in a box and wrote that down - on what looks like The Eye and a Saturn and a perfect stage for my pinky flipperoo to get some shiny spotlight on. #indexcardaday #diary #flipper #foundit #universeisonyourside #keepgoing #quoteoftheday #funnynotfunny #newskoolmom
About yesterday 06.24.23, finished drawing today, 06.25.23. This morning my son cried again not wanting to go to camp because he didn’t want me to pick him up. I promised I would be on time and asked to give me another chance. Of course he said no. Hah, the lesson I need to learn again and again. I cried yesterday morning for a bit. Today I didn’t and managed to get him out of the house without his sister’s help. I will pick him up on time today. I will pick him up on time tomorrow. I will pick him up on time always. . . . . . #lifelessons #parenting #childteachingparent #bondingtime #parentchild #coparenting #singleparents #newskoolmom #indexcard #indexcardart #cartoon #comic #singlepanel #diary #drawing #illustration #comicillustration #simpledrawing #havingkids #drawingoftheday
This one is for celebrating old memories and life. I dug up this index card from 2014, drawn after traveling to Paris with my ex and my daughter, who was 6 then, the age of her little brother now. My life has changed so much since our divorce five years ago. I haven’t traveled much and am grateful for the times we had to discover new places, tastes, and cultures, and mostly to feel what I dreamed it would feel like to be a family. I really got to experience this through the French family, sharing food and wine at the same table and spending Christmas holidays and summer vacations together in the countryside. Of course, there were little dramas here and there, but looking back, I really cherish all those moments. This drawing is also dedicated to my French family and uncle, a Paris resident, that passed a few days ago. He would have smiled at this drawing and probably added a clever funny comment. My kids and their dad have been in France this summer and got to spend time with him, and give support to grandma, his dear sister. RIP Uncle Pierre-Guy, I will always remember you as a lanky gentleman in the kitchen shucking oysters, offering a tray of appetizers, being a cozy family member who spoke English, showing me stacks of art you used to deal, and being a zen male figure among all the women of the family. Also - RIP to the Parisian icon Jane Birkin, who passed today too, whose art and interviews that revealed her personality always lit my heart🤍 . . . . . . #simpledrawing #indexcardart #memories #paris #rip #pigeons #feelings #diary #cartoon #singlepanel #iloveparis #ilovefrance #funny #comic #newskoolmom #indexcarddrawing #parisians #ripjanebirkin #rip #oldmemories #rememberinglife
Everything is a feeling. Everybody has his or her own at different moments of their lives: day, hour, minute. We put words on the feelings, and sometimes we feel like we have to "fix it," but feelings are blobs, clouds, and sometimes very messy knotted monsters, not a Rubix cube. I was tired but forced myself to draw or write anything, and☝️ came out. I suppose drawing or writing is a record of talking to myself out loud (without disturbing anyone!) that captures how I was feeling in that moment. Sharing that is trusting that we (the Royal We!) all speak the same language, the universal language of "feeling," and the thought makes me feel tenderness for humanity. . . . . . #indexcard #indexcardart #newskoolmom #drawingaday #drawingadaychallenge #thoughtoftheday #comic #singlepanel #cartoon #singlepanelcartoon #feelings #beinghuman #simpledrawing #cartoon
Date Diary by NSM (who knows how long it continues but let’s see). Life can bring delightful moments when you let go and just have fun. A reminder for the times when living feels like swimming in tar, may they visit me never or almost never. . . . . . #indexcard #indexcardart #newskoolmom #drawingaday #drawingadaychallenge #thoughtoftheday #comic #singlepanel #cartoon #singlepanelcartoon #feelings #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #singleparent #singlemom #selflove #lifelesson #datediaries #lacma #urbanlight #ladatenight #donuts #fullmoonnight
I started studying ESL at age 10 and became sufficiently fluent in English by age 13 and was writing better than I do now at age 16. Now at age 41, as a mom to 2 different gen kids, I am learning and struggling to keep up with the Next Generation English. Next Generation American English I suppose. Or is it Los Angeles also? . . . . . #indexcard #indexcardart #newskoolmom #drawingaday #drawingadaychallenge #thoughtoftheday #comic #singlepanel #cartoon #singlepanelcartoon #diary #illustrateddiary #genz #genalpha #gerenationgap #millenial #english #funny #momoftwo #americanenglish
I forced myself to draw something, anything (!!), before midnight. And this came out. Drawn 11:47pm 7.1.23. I’m practicing putting my work out there no matter how imperfect or silly, daily. It’s also a recorded diary of sorts. And through it, maybe I am looking to connect with more people. I miss my kids and friends. And I’m grateful I have grate ones. These posts are like one of those balloons I’m sending out into the 🕳️🛸🌬️. . . . . . #indexcard #indexcardart #newskoolmom #drawingaday #drawingadaychallenge #thoughtoftheday #comic #singlepanel #cartoon #singlepanelcartoon #diary #illustrateddiary #balloons #spreadlove #nightdrawing #helloworld
Here is an oldie but goodie drawn 11.26.2017 Who else grieves for your family member’s rolled up, dead rat-ish, worn socks lying around the house? . . . . . #indexcard #indexcardart #newskoolmom #drawingaday #drawingadaychallenge #thoughtoftheday #comic #singlepanel #cartoon #singlepanelcartoon #haha #funny #funnynotfunny #momslife #socks #motherhood #notmariekondo #familylife
How I treat fear & doubt as if I treat a scared little blob of a 6 yr-old version of me (or so I try, as best as I can)… Do you do the same? I see the 2 versions of me, in me, and life seems to be a lesson in learning how to talk to, and even love, that part of oneself that’s annoying, but also kind of endearing. A part of ourselves that’s like a little child having tantrums that just needs to be seen and hugged. . . . . . #indexcard #indexcardart #newskoolmom #drawingaday #drawingadaychallenge #thoughtoftheday #comic #singlepanel #cartoon #singlepanelcartoon #feelings #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #singleparent #singlemom #fear #doubt #selflove #compassion #lifelesson #growthmindset #innerchild #innerchildhealing
Small wins on the days the DOOM SETS once again! Grrr! Thank you friends for being there. Thank you for the Roomba talk @oitama . . . . . #indexcard #indexcardart #newskoolmom #drawingaday #drawingadaychallenge #thoughtoftheday #comic #singlepanel #cartoon #singlepanelcartoon #feelings #mentalhealthawareness #doomandgloom #singleparent #singlemom #funnynotfunny #smallwins #sleepingallday
This is also a bit of a cheat but I found it appropriate to post next to the Father’s Day post. Drawn 5.10.2011 wow! My daughter was not even 3 and my son was what we call “in outer space” then! 🛸✨ Don’t you think #everydayismothersday !? I think I would have been a multi million+++ dollar net worth executive if “being a mom” was a position in a company with a corresponding salary for work well done and devoted. I bet many moms would be. Just maybe getting a promotion and demotion every alternating day! 🤣 . . . . . #indexcard #indexcardart #newskoolmom #drawingaday #drawingadaychallenge #thoughtoftheday #comic #singlepanel #cartoon #singlepanelcartoon #feelings #mothersday #singleparent #singlemom #happymothersday #momlife #funny
I didn’t post this on Father’s Day because I thought (and still think it is) meh but I didn’t make a new drawing yesterday nor today and so I am posting it today to “make it count” into my 21-day drawing challenge, ok? This Father’s Day was a bit triggering for me when I saw many “whole” families with the dad in the pic. I did wish my ex, his dad, his brother who is a dad, my dad, and some other dad friends I have in my life Happy Father’s Day. But yea. On text. The void. But it’s okay. Drawn 6.18.23 . . . . . #indexcard #indexcardart #newskoolmom #drawingaday #drawingadaychallenge #thoughtoftheday #comic #singlepanel #cartoon #singlepanelcartoon #feelings #fathersday #singleparent #singlemom #father #family #dad
Burn, burned, burnt, repeat. Like the forest wildfire that regenerates growth. . . . . . #thoughtoftheday #drawingoftheday #indexcardaday #indexcardart #drawing #inkonpaper #simpledrawing #cartoon #comic #singlepanel #growth #growthmindset #wildfire #regenerative #metamorphosis #singleparent #coparenting #fire #burnbabyburn #newskoolmom #21daychallenge
I have decided to consciously create an armor against the dark thoughts that creep in. Sometimes I just want to crumble and I do. There is an ongoing inner battle and I’m tired of it. For example… I don’t know how or if I’m going to keep living in LA near my kids for long. I will make it happen somehow because I love them and I do have what it takes. But I want to live not just survive. I will create the life that I want. Etc etc. Just thought to share if anyone’s going through the same battles. Also, anyone got a job for me? I do graphic design and can teach art and am great with people and kids! . . . . . #indexcard #indexcardart #newskoolmom #drawingaday #drawingadaychallenge #thoughtoftheday #comic #singlepanel #cartoon #singlepanelcartoon #feelings #innerbattle #mentalhealth #gettingreal #mindvsheart #singleparent #singlemomlife #coparenting #conundrum #beinghuman #choosinglove
Just stupid stuff. Again, no reason why but I picked 3 shapes and 3 types of food that would be unsatisfying as an all-you-can-eat menu. 🐽 Please add what you come up with in comments! . . . . . #indexcard #indexcardart #newskoolmom #drawingaday #drawingadaychallenge #thoughtoftheday #comic #singlepanel #cartoon #singlepanelcartoon #haha #funny #unsatisfying #allyoucaneat #foodplay
Cheat*Alert* It’s Day 2(3)? of 21 days of Drawing Challenge and I hadn’t made a new drawing. I did “make it” by midnight last night and posting it this morning. Ha! The question that arose at 11:55pm: How come we see so many birds but rarely see their corpses? Do they die and get eaten or decompose right away? I didn’t think deeply and had sweet dreams. . . . . . #indexcardaday #comic #cartoon #diary #thoughtoftheday #21dayschallenge #newskoolmom #flipclock
Just doodling on the night of 6-16-23 giving myself a homework of describing myself using S and D as the starting alphabets for no reason. A way to practice creativity maybe, instead of opening the kitchen cupboard at bedtime, once again 🐿️💨🤗 . . . . . #practicecreativity #doodle #nightdrawing #singleparent #singlemoms #coparent #singlepanel #comic #indexcard #indexcardart #funny #funnynotfunny #wordplay #adjectives #tmi #gettingpersonal #newskoolmom
Why I wanna be a bird. They just seem to fly through the clouds without wondering what kind of bird they want to be, if their nest looks better than the bird next door, what to eat for dinner, where to rest their wings for the weekend, how often they should visit their parents, and all the other “should’s” and “what if’s” and in stead chirp when they chirp and fly when they fly and be a bird being a bird. Also, I always see birds in a pair. Do you? Drawing 1-30-23 Caption 6-17-23 . . . . . #indexcard #indexcardart #newskoolmom #drawingaday #drawingadaychallenge #thoughtoftheday #noworries #worries #mentalhealth #comic #singlepanel #cartoon #singlepanelcartoon #imabird
In 5th grade when asked, “If reincarnated, what animal do you want to be?” my answer was “a shell living deep down at the bottom of the ocean.” I wonder if I were a bit depressed then lol. But I always had an affinity towards pearls and they are showing up in my paintings now @illustrated_by_shizuk The way pearls are created by 🦪 as a defense mechanism from irritants having entered into the body… If oysters and mussels were artists they create something beautiful as as a result of having processed stress and pain, to stay as their healthy, authentic self. And I don’t mean “artists” in a literal sense. We are all artists pushing through discomfort and creating life every moment. #pearlisahealedwound #comfortableintheuncomfortable . . . . . . #aboutapearl #pearl #oysterpearl #beinganartist #discomfortisgrowth #healinginprogress #artistway #beingartist #makingart #beinghuman #arttherapy #indexcard #indexcardaday #illustrator #painter #indexcardart #singlepanel #cartoon #comic #simpledrawing #thoughtoftheday #newskoolmom
I’m on a mission to create illustrations every day for 21 days. Who wants to hold me accountable? MICRODOSE THE MAGIC WITHIN YOU (See previous post for detailed explanation) Original drawing Watercolor on shikishi calligraphy card-stock paper 9.8 x 10.6 inches $68 . . . . . #watercolordrawing #artforsalebyartist #artforsale #inspiration #inspirationquotes #microdose #microdosemagic #mushroomlover #magicmushroomart #mushroomartworks #mushroomart #newskoolmom #shikishi #feelgood #feelbetter #mentalhealth #mentalhealthsupport
Hello how are you today? Drawn 1-30-2023 Felt yesterday 5-25-2023 . . . . . #howareyou #sluggish #slug #notfeelingit #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters #reflections #indexcard #indexcardart #comic #cartoon #singlepanel #simpledrawing #newskoolmom
A reminder for HARD TIMES. . . . . . #thistooshallpass #hardtimes #hardtimesquotes #singlepanel #cartoon #comic #indexcardart #indexcard #funny #funnynotfunny #newskoolmom #quoteoftheday #keepgoing💪
Evolution 1.2.3. Drawn 04.19.12 Revisited 05.02.23 1. Stuff & Hide. 2. Shed & Break. 3. Strip & Be. . . . . . #innerwork #healing #healingjourney #spiritualjourney #reflections #visualpoem #comic #cartoon #singlepanel #simpledrawing #newskoolmom
Sometimes fear takes over me It doesn’t look like much But I’m kicking and screaming inside Drawn 1.31.23 . . . . #youmatter #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthmatters #bekind #fear #worry #anxiety #cartoon #singlepanel #drawing #blackandwhitedrawing #comic #mentalhealthcomics #indexcard #callafriend #newskoolmom
WORDS FLOW THOUGHTS FLOAT Original drawing, sumi ink on hanshi calligraphy paper 13” x 9.5” paper framed inside a 14” x 11” mat $70 (Gold frame not included for sale but the standard size mat fits standard size frames) 💭I have multiple versions of the same drawing, all slightly different from each other in the stroke quality. This is how calligraphy is practiced: the same character is repeatedly drawn, over and over, in an attempt to master what is traditionally considered beautiful, neat, or spirit-provoking. I’m taking a playful approach to the practice, as that is all I know. 🍥Suminagashi marbling workshop coming soon @illustrated_by_shizuk ✨ . . . . . #calligraphy #contemporarycalligraphy #inkdrawing #textbasedart #inkonpaper #japanesecalligraphy #newskool #words #thoughts #framedart #originaldrawing #artforsalebyartist #quoteoftheday #inkonpaper #practice #singlepanel #cartoon #newskoolmom
GROW IDEAS FROM YOUR HEART Original drawing, sumi ink on cardstock calligraphy paper 9.8 x 10.6 in $85 #calligraphy #contemporarycalligraphy #inkdrawing #textbasedart #inkonpaper #japanesecalligraphy #newskool #shikishi #artforsalebyartist #inkonpaper #newskoolmom #quotesdaily #heart #idea #ideas #originaldrawing
YOU ARE A BADASS EVEN ON THE DAYS YOU FEEL LIKE SHIT 🔴(pinky finger print promise) Original drawing, sumi ink on cardstock calligraphy paper 10.6 x 9.8 in (SOLD) #calligraphy #contemporarycalligraphy #inkdrawing #textbasedart #inkonpaper #japanesecalligraphy #newskool #shikishi #artforsalebyartist #inkonpaper #newskoolmom
YAY FOR WE! Original drawing, sumi ink on cardstock calligraphy paper 10.6 x 9.8 in $65 . . . . . #calligraphy #contemporarycalligraphy #inkdrawing #textbasedart #inkonpaper #japanesecalligraphy #newskool #shikishi #artforsalebyartist #yay #beinghuman #newskoolmom
Mood Test Are they fighting or dancing? Take deep breaths if you see them as fighting, and maybe do a little boogie. PS Don’t they look like Marge Simpson? . . 10.6 x 9.8 inches Sumi ink on cardstock calligraphy paper for sale . . . . . #calligraphicart #haha #inkblot #sumiink #shikishi #contemporarycalligraphy #drawing #fightingordancing #margesimpson #artforsalebyartist #newskool #newskoolmom
time flies age crawls held in the space of now - Shizuka Kusayanagi 🤍 Hope you are having a kind moment to you and the people you touch. ❤️ Grateful to welcome myself into (and be welcomed by) a “new” family of 6 with my ex and his partner and to have spent a peaceful, delicious, loving Christmas Eve all together. I could not have imagined this a year ago when I was still grieving the “traditional family” tradition. I dove into the NOW (aka LOVE) and crawled out realizing there is no tradition, my kids have a great second home, we are all just trying to do the best we can, no one ever came to “get me” except for myself, and have been holding hands with that part of myself 👧🏻 with kind words and huge warm hugs (on million repeats, because she’s stubborn but I love her so). So that just about sums up my healing journey as a divorced parent of two, folks! 🤣 I am aware that this kind of labeling holds a stigma and may create stories that I did not intend to be interpreted, but o well you damn and beautiful WORDS❣️ Thank you for anyone reading this and crossed paths with me. Sending you much love and light into the year 2023! ✨✨✨✨✨ . . . . . #now #timeflies #lovenow #healing #healingjourney #spiritualjourney #reflections #poemoftheday #quoteoftheday #chooselove #visualpoem #indexcard #newtraditions #familytraditions #separatebuttogether #coparenting #newskoolmom
A diary of having a math-loving 5 year-old, drawn 12.13.22. My daughter asked a lot of interesting questions when she was his age too, so many I wish I had captured. One of them was: “Why does President Obama wear the same clothes every day?” (She was born in 2008.) ☺️ This guy though, loves numbers and mathematics among other things sports and games and we all think he could be an astronaut. Or someone who would save earth and humanity by discovering something we cannot perceive to predict. 🤯 I am amazed but am sometimes annoyed as I do not take joy or have the capacity in solving math equations, especially on top of my head. And it’s only additions, subtractions and multiplications for now. 🤗 Anybody know someone like him? . . . . . #diary #drawing #singlepanel #funny #cartoon #motherhood #mathlover #numbers #futureastronaut #momslife #boymom #indexcard #newskoolmom #mathematician
Some choose fear and others faith. (Drawn possibly in 2004) . . Side note: this drawing is part of an installation I made for a show in 2010 titled Irrelevant: Local Emerging Asian Artists Who Don’t Make Artwork About Being Asian, at Arario Gallery Chelsea in NY. I realized I continue to do so, as I make work about being human. . . . . . #indexcard #leapoffaith #faith #justjump #safetynet #drawing #indexcarddrawing #endoftheearth #blackandwhitedrawing #diary #doodle #cartoon #singlepanel #newskoolmom #drawingjournal #beinghuman
My “Dream House” 10 years ago (Drawn 4.10.2012) I must have been channeling a mollusk 🐌🦪 🐚 as I do resonate with them no kidding 🤣 . . . . . #dreambig #dreamhouse #mollusk #snailhouse #ammonite #diary #journaling #indexcard #drawing #simpledrawing #housesketch #drawingwithkids #newskoolmom #imagination
How old is love, mama? My five year old asked, in my journal entry I found last night, the date of which I could no longer find, but sometime this year in these fleeting moments that also feel eternal 🤍 . . . . . #aboutlove #whatislove #poem #poetry #motherhood #mademyday #questions #indexcard #newskoolmom #love
MOTHERHOOD Pl. 7 The Switch (Drawn 7.11.2011, my first daughter was a toddler and my son existing “only in space” lol) You know that inner switch that turns on when you are a caretaker of any person or creature. In a way it’s easier to light that switch ON for others than yourself. But when you turn ON the switch for yourself the room is already bright and it’s easier to light up the whole room by turning on others. And OFF doesn’t mean a dismal shut off to the abyss, it just means rest and pause. I drew these MOTHERHOOD series when I was a full-time mom to my then-toddling daughter, with this lament at times, “When can I EVER turn this motherhood OFF sometimes?!”Because it’s intense, I know, it’s day and night that seem to blur into more days and nights. I want to tell myself then, “Do whatever it takes to keep the switch on for YOUR OWN ROOM first! And INSTALL A DIMMER switch when taking care of others 🤗 Maybe all you got to squeeze out of yourself one night is a flickering candlelight, and that’s A-ok, who wants a halogen lamp all day all night anyways!? . . . . . #indexcard #reflections #motherhood #artistmom #textbasedart #diary #singlepanel #caretaker #newskoolmom #simpledrawing #lettertomyyoungerself #beinghuman
I AM EXACTLY AT THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME I meant but you get it. 👅 (Drawn 4.19.2022) A reminder, no matter how hard the days, that you are moving through every moment, and life is always welcoming you with open arms. . . . . . #mantra #singlepanel #textbasedart #indexcard #simpledrawing #indexcardart #ladders #journey #rightplacerighttime #newskoolmom #lifepath #dearyou
I was looking at my son Yuma jumping up onto the monkey bars just out of his reach, grabbing the bar, and making it to the other side with such focused attention. He “did it 5 times” he would say, proudly, to a girl whose feet could touch the ground and showed how easy it was for her. Yuma kept trying over and over again to jump up to grab the bar to BEGIN the hold, hang and swing. Soon he wasn’t able to grab the first bar anymore as his whole body must have gotten tired, including his slippery hands. Still he insisted on trying, without my help, over and over again, and his big sister and I let him. This is the drawing I came up with, inspired by this story. Drawn 11.27.2022 . . . . . #monkeybars #keepgoing #motherhood #artistmom #singlepanel #drawing #simpledrawing #reflectionstories #textbasedart #indexcard #perspectives #youareabadass #newskoolmom
(Drawn 9.17.2011) It took me 29 years, 6 months, and a day to kill a fly with the palm of my hand. To acknowledge, express and/or record accomplishments, no matter how silly or small it maybe, can light and lighten you up. Why not do it every day? . . . . . #smallaccomplishments #smallsteps #patontheback #selflove #courage #indexcard #diary #newskoolmom #youaredoinggreat #nevertoolate
Celebrate the kid & the kid in you every day 🐽 . . . . . #grateful #beakid #innerchild #letsplay #solodance #smallthings #performer #bellylaugh #thankful #newskoolmom
Just CREATE for now. (Drawn in 2011 and its message echoes into the now in 2022.) . . . . . #createnow #makeart #draw #drawing #indexcard #newskoolmom #keepgoing #now #dailypractice #artist #creators #trusttheprocess
Did you know that the visible tip of iceberg is called hummock and the part submerged in water is called bummock? No wonder the mind is like an iceberg, and we all have opinions. . . . . . #thoughtoftheday #icebergs #indexcard #drawing #subconsciousmind #opinionsarelikeassholes #lines #patterns #art #contemporaryart #haha #newskoolmom
Reminder every day as many times a day: Thoughts, like clouds, are not you. You are the space in between the clouds. . . . . . #indexcardart #reminder #thoughts #clouds #youarenotyourthoughts #mentalhealth #textbasedart #healing #words #newskoolmom
A RAINBOW PLAYBALL IN BLACK AND WHITE with a not-so-great-working pen 💬But why? Just because. (Drawn 11.14.22 6:04pm in the car during daughter’s dance class with son next to me doing games on my phone) I am amazed that a ball can give hours and hours of fun (especially to my 5 yr old son, with or without his pals or mama) and of course the rainbow color adds a bounce of magic to it all. . . . . . #newskoolmom #drawing #justforfun #blackandwhitedrawing #indexcard #singlepanel #cartoon #justbecause #womenartists #artistmom
Today’s self-congratulatory reflection 🎉 . . . . . #makingart #metime #choosenow #justdraw #indexcard #newskoolmom #beingaparent #motherhood #yayme
This guy loves numbers so much that while I was preparing dinner, he started counting out loud every page in a big thick red recipe book #howtocookeverything by @markbittman - 1046 pages total. If I hadn’t stopped him to eat dinner at page 979, he probably would have kept reading out loud, beyond the cover up to #Onefimity … . . . . #mathnerd #thisisfive #beyondinfinity #joyofparenting #countingnumbers #indexcard #newskoolmom #singlepanel #cartoon #infinityandbeyond #newdimension
My girl just got promoted to go to high school this coming September. We had been spending a lot of mommy-daughter time the past week, before she took off for a long trip with her dad and brother. Teenage years fascinate me. Through my daughter I see the little me that feels small yet big, scattered yet grounded, an evolving creature shedding skin, camouflaging, and growing an ever-growing nose (lol)!! It takes patience, mindfulness, and courage to respond (vs react) to this creature both from a bird’s-eye-view and a place of love and compassion. I could easily dismiss her teenage laments (which can be hilariously ridiculous), but I remember very clearly staring at my face in the mirror when I was her age (13) struggling to accept all the parts I was even “grossed out” by. After 40 years on earth, of course I have come to accept them, or at least most of them, and the rest I forget, ha! Take your time my wild creature, as you may already know, it’s not just your nose that is growing, but so are your experiences, perspectives, and sense of self. Let’s see how you feel about your nose in 20 years! 😆 PS This index card photo taken on her desk with scribbles. . . . . . #motherdaughter #teendaughter #motherhood #raisingteens #growingpains #coparentinglife #growthmindset #teenageangst #theworldisyouroyster #newskoolmom #diary #cartoon #indexcardaday
It took me 40 years to realize and live by who I really am. Most of us are programmed by society and culture we grow up in to live “as we should”. I went along it with too - good school, good wife, good mother, etc. - having become a pro at self-deception, and self-sabotage, big time. Not that I was always depressed or bitter; I have been surrounded by love and knew how to be kind and loving, but was never able to truly, unconditionally, honor and love myself. (I know, I still cringe a little bit by the sound of so many “love’s” in one sentence, but anypoo…) BANG! The divorce hit me, and out came the pouring out of emotions of all kinds, a concoction of guilt, grief, anger, fear… like thick tar of puss and blood oozing out of my body, covered in layers and layers of scabs formed, peeled, licked and picked on, the process of which had been repeated over and over again, in my own super unhealthy yet curiously entertaining practice. 😂 After that I saw my whole self more clearly - the good, the bad and the real ugly - and have come to allow myself to heal, in my own space, in my own time. I’ve learned to treat myself the same way I would if my young child had a scraped knee. Acknowledge the pain, give a hug, a kiss on the boo-boo and a magical prayer for the pain to fly away. Metaphorically speaking, that is ;) And that’s like having wings to fly. PS Reach out to me if you would like to know healing methods/materials that really helped me. . . . . . #newskoolmom #singlemom #healing #痛いの痛いの飛んでけー #metamorphosis #lettinggo #coparenting #divorcerecovery #selfawakening #selflove #spiritualjourney #innerchild
I got a black eye from a kitchen mishap. Daughter: Mommy, you look like you got punched in the face! Me: Well, I sure feel like I did sometimes. Daughter: Mommy…. (implying don’t be like that) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . This got me thinking. My face doesn’t hurt, but what if my pain inside was externalized physically outside. Not just me but everyone’s. I know to a degree this actually happens. Getting paralyzed or grey hair, diseases from stress etc. but what if it was just manifested outside without the physical pain? Maybe the world would be too full of unhealthy (or monstrous!) looking people. But would we be kinder to each other if we could see the person’s suffering on the surface? . . . . #blackandblue #justathought #mentalhealth #physicalhealth #simpledrawing #whatifs #indexcardaday #newskoolmom #growingpains #divorcesucks #punchedintheface
Diary of the day. Going through emotions. 3 days ago my daughter surpassed my height. My son is getting better and better at puzzles and can even shuffle cards. Still. The Beatles are irritating me - why do they sound so carefree?! #emotioncommotion #rainyday #7stagesofgrief #anger #vent #indexcardaday #newskoolmom #imangry
How do we really see? . . . . #indexcardaday #simpledrawing #thoughtoftheday #feelings #newskoolmom #indexcardseries #singlepanel #wordless #comic
It’s been a while since I posted anything so here is a little spontaneous jam sesh a day or two before Halloween. A reminder to just have fun without judgement, without perfecting, to pick up an instrument in stead of a phone (and filming the “play” moment doesn’t count ;p)!! #halloweentheme #improv #familysesh #newskoolmom #justplay
My life as a single LA #newskoolmom morning edition. Seems like I turned into a slug. The air is salty, rocks are rollin, but the love for my kids are growing me some super limbs. . . . #singlemomdiaries #momlife #indexcardart #indexcardseries #singlemomlife #lamom #indexcard #singlepanel #morningroutine #feelingsluggish #lovestrong #superpowers #funnynotfunny #comic #livinginla
CA$H IS BUT A FANC¥ PAPER (An imagined quote to have been made by a 4 year-old, spelled out by his mama.) PS I tried to get my $5 back. I lost. It’s interesting to talk about the value of money in ways your kids understand, depending on their age and character. I have always been the type to save the best part of my meal to last, slowly savor a piece of cake (with my brother scooping up the last piece in my dismay at times). My daughter I am not sure is the same type... The money she earns from house chores and babysitting seems to shoot straight into her shopping a day later lol. I am confident she will learn as she grows, and I’d like to think having 2 working parents boosts her ability to recognize the value of $ earned, spent, cut up but tells a story ;) . . . #teachingthevalueofmoney #valueofmoney #parenthood #5dollars #coparenting #4yearold #moneymatters #fancypaper #newskoolmom #funnynotfunny #indexcardart
There is a world you wait to see, there is a world you dive to touch. . . . . . #poemoftheday #beachdiaries #divein #waitandsee #newword #pencildrawing #indexcardart #newskoolmom #growthmindset #seaurchinlikestar #travelingreece
I am a fallen star * Dive deep * Scoop me up with your bare hands * I dare you * Catch me if you can * * * 7-31-2021 . . . . . #catchmeifyoucan #indexcarddrawing #newskoolmom #seaurchins #pencildrawing #ioniansea #beachdiaries #fallenstar #poemoftheday
I scratch your back, you scratch mine. Thinking of the Japanese proverb 「魚心あれば水心」similar to the above translated, but which literally means “if you have a fish heart you get a water heart.” PS Working on top of drawings I already did as I forgot to bring blank index cards to my trip. . . . . . #indexcarddrawing #indexcardseries #newskoolmom #sculpturedrawing #sweetnothings #iscratchyourbackyouscratchmine #youscratchmybackillscratchyours #illscratchyourbackifyouscratchmine #proverbs #魚心あれば水心 #lovers #friendship #pencildrawing #singlepanel
Some tears are best kept hidden, and others shared. I am on a trip to the most beautiful place on earth, with the sea exactly like the colors of the glass “evil eye.” You feel far away from any evil here though, in fact I feel cleansed from any dark thoughts or memories, that evaporate in the hot sun, with cool calm waters inviting me to jump into, like the big open arms of a mama. I jump in with big smiles. I am reborn again. Thank you for this special trip my dearest friend @maro_bizarro 🤍For sharing big laughs and sometimes, tears that turn into smiles. . . . #newskoolmom #tearsshared #tearshidden #indexcard #indexcardseries #tears #bittersweet #singlepanel #bythesea #friendship #healingsea # #summeringreece
It only happens (I hope) very rarely when you get scolded at, as an adult. Especially as a parent, with your kid right next to you seeing you being yelled at by another adult for totally fair reasons. Well, it happened today. And yes I felt bad, apologized, learned my lesson and made peace of the situation. Exactly the 😬 situation. And hey my kid was more than all right ;) . . . . . #newskoolmom #badmom #freewheeling #badassmom #thankyoudaughter #guiltyascharged #noropes #mybad #indexcard #indexcardseries #diaryofamom #singlepanel #funnynotfunny
Happy Father’s Day to the father of our children / ex-husband who has given me 2 fierce dragons and an opportunity to come back even fiercer out of the ashes. Respectfully, Another Mother of Dragons. PS I didn’t mean to sound so bitter but funny rather. Success!? #happyfathersday2021 #fatherofdragons #motherofdragons #outoftheashes #optimismiskey #staypositive #whatmyextaughtme #glasshalffull #indexcardart #funnynotfunny #singlepanel #newskoolmom #coparenting #mentalhealthcommunity #justlaugh