New Year's Resolution

Everyone comes up with resolutions which I presonally find a bit humerous-Shouldn't we always be looking towards self improvement? However I understand it often slips our minds to do so and with the turning of the year it seems to be a reminder from father time. With everyone else reminding themselves to reflect it makes me think- "Oh maybe I should too".  So here ya have it. Professional, personal, trivial and introspective towards grandeur. Mine run the gambit but all towards a "greater" me.

1. More adventures-Both big and small with everything from travel to trying new food.
2. More spontenaity-  right in line with #1. I love a good plan but sometimes it's also wonderful to strip it down a bit. Perhaps bullet points....
3. More self reflection through meditation, writting etc and try to takle more of the big world ethos issues that no one seems to answer ever.
4. Learn German- I'm working on it and as long as there's progress I'm happy.
5. Find mroe creative dishes; perhaps with less meat- I don't know if I want to one day eliminate all meat or just some meat but I certaintly shouldn't be AS dependent upon it as I am.
6. Enter more art competitions- perhaps at least 1 a month.
7. Stick to my work out!- I know, how cliche' but I've always done yoga and I've started kettle bell. Both are very enjoyable so I'd like to get more regular.
8. Finish this damn novel. It's a work in progress but I get distracted from actually ya know- writting.
9.Think more of our(Danny, pups & myself) happi
ness and less of the outsiders , influences or effects because in the end it's us and we have a dream.
10. Stress less and no drama.
11. Learn more about wine- which means more sampling . You can't sell or make a product without knowing it's in's & out's.
12. Regularly create new art work and promote, promote, promote! My exposure and sales have risen but they're not done.

There ya have it. My 12 steps of improvement and exploration as a human for the upcoming year. So, what are yours?

Yamato Shrine Sale

Growing up as a little girl I LOVED going to antique stores with my Grandmother. I know I was the odd 8 year old eyeing old photos, books, clothes, knick knacks and evening furniture. Anything unique really. It was like they drew me in and transported you to another time and place. Literal living history that deserved to be preserved and passed on; not thrown into a junk drawer. I thought to my young self- I must try to preserves little snippets of history and hopefully others will too. Like I said... I was a little odd.

AND that hasn't changed..... Now in my mid -20's and in Japan I went to my first Shrine Sale. I'm assuming some are at actual shrines but this one however was not. I know very misleading. I went to one of the largest- Yamato. I'd equally like to go to the smaller ones in the future because even though the mass amount of vendors is nice it can also be overwhelming quantity of product and descent amount of repeats. That being said there were  a lot of wonderful items and interesting treasures to be found. In reality there were a few specific items I was on the hunt for and perhaps anything else that would catch my eye. You can haggle but that's assuming either you speak Japanese, they speak English( or admit it) or a bit of both.

In the end I walked away with : a Japanese book (of who knows what- I can't read it), 2 family portraits (black & white with traditional garb), 2 sake cups, 1 sake decanter, a mini wooden horse (because we arrived in the year of the horse), 5 little ceramic plates with hand drawn imagery, 4 mini wooden kokeshi dolls, a woodblock print that's at least 40 years old from the styling and a lightweight kimono - ALL for roughly $80 . So yes I'd say it's a successful


day. Why does any of this matter to the artist. Simple. I believe in preserving the past and giving value to the items that once meant something to someone. They have a story of its one time owner. In a way if someone doesn't give it value it's like that part of history is forgotten or erased from the outside world. In my art I talk about preserving nature in it's purity. This is just another nostalgic aspect of me and my loves.

To a Far off Land

This year for holiday leave we knew that going to the states was not going to be a possibility due to when it fell and the length. So instead where shall we go? Well there were a few criteria points. 1) beautiful landscapes 2)a true cultural experience and adventure 3) bang for our buck and 4) to NOT see loads of other Americans or military families on leave(just want to escape on a vacation). There are loads of wonderful options out there but in the end we chose : NEPAL!

Nepal is between India and China (just south of Tibet). It has never officially been ocupied though it has switched from a monoarchy to a state of democratic rule. Nepal not only hosts 8 of the 10 tallest mountains in the world but also hosts elephant polo. It has an incredibly diverse culture and extrodinarily welcoming people. They use the Nepali Rupee and the dominant language is Nepali (though there are various dialects depending on the region). The country is predominanty Hindu and Buddhist. Siddhartha's birthplace is actually in Nepal. Cows are considered holy not only becuase of Hinduism but it's the "country's animal". Tigers, bears, snow leopards, crocodiles and more.

They all roam free and there's a variety of landscapes from mountains to jungles to grasslands. They're a proud, friendly people with a colorful culture and beautiful landscape filled with adventure all of which we are so incredibly enthralled to be a part of !

Curious about all that we'll see? Here's our itinerary:
Day 1: Welcome to Kathmandu w/ a welcome dinner
Day 2: Kathmandu Valley Sightseeing . We'll visit Pashupatinath, Bouddhanath, Monkey Temple & Kathmandu Durbar Square.
Day 3: Go to Sundarijal and hike to Chisopani
Day 4: Hike to Nargakot
Day5: Morning sunrise at Nargakot and then off to Chitwan National Wildlife Reserve. We spend the night in the park.
Day 6: Explore Chitwan and the elephants there. Then off to Pokhara and boat in the lake.
Day 7: Go to Sarangkot for sunrise above the clouds. The afternoon in Pokhara Vallery and return to Kathmandu by evening for our last night and a farewell dinner.

We are VERY excited so stay tuned for photos in about 2 months :D

All I Want For Christmas....

     All is want for Christmas is....nothing. Well sorta. This year we are doing something different. We are requesting that all those who would typically get us gifts don't. INSTEAD please give to one of the four charities we have chosen (links & info below).

Why this change? Well there's 4 brief reasons really:

1) We don't need/want anything
              
2)Anything we need/want I would like to proudly say we're able to take care of
              
3) There are kids, adults and animals in the world who have nothing and desperately need our help in various forms. THEY deserve this.
             
 4) Christmas is NOT about giving/receiving material stuff. It SHOULD be about spending time and enjoying the spirit of Christmas so instead of buying into the commercialism enjoy the festivities and give to someone who needs it.

     So we have carefully looked through many organizations and selected 4. To us these 4 touch upon general inate rights and liberties everyone deserves. If you participate in this please donate to at least 1 of THESE 4 ....NOT a random one of your choosing in our honor. We chose these 4 for specific reasons.

1)ASPCA ( https://www.aspca.org/donate )
Every animal deserves to be loved and the BEST critters come from shelters like the ones these guys operate. We chose them because they rescue animals, give shelter critters training, love and new homes plus they fight for the environment (a little planet we call home ) and animal rights.
              
2)Pencil of Promise ( http://pencilsofpromise.org/ )
Every child deserves an education regardless of location, religion, gender, sex, politics, finances, etc. We chose Pencil of Promise because they create schools all around the world, provide books, resources and train teachers. They may just be a drop in a pool of a worldwide problem but they put their heart and soul into education which is a step in the right direction.

3) Water ( http://water.org/ )
In America we take clean, drinkable water for granted and don't think twice before consuming tap water . Sadly though in many countries this is not the case and "clean"   is far from it. Water is an organization that helps provide clean water to communities around the world through wells, filtration and more.

4)International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission
( https://iglhrc.org/content/support )
 EVERYONE deserves the right to love WHOMEVER they want regardless of whether they are a man or woman without being persecuted verbally or physically. Each country is on their own crusade for this cause but it's a world wide issue. We need to spread love and equality of love. International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission fights for  just that.

Final 2 minor notes: 1) We chose these organizations for a reason and they are all near and dear to us. I know there's a lot of great organizations out there or perhaps these aren't your favorite. Well please don't suggest your own instead because we chose THESE organizations . 2) We are still cool with birthday items so please don't forget Danny's Birthday! His birthday may be close to Christmas but NO it's not the same (unless he's Jesus and then I've seriously been out of the loop lol) so no, one does not count for the other :)

Happy Holidays...to come!

26: A Year in Review

26. I am no longer "mid 20's" and on the demographics I am gauranteed in the next bracket. This year I celebrated my birthday as I best could with my other half in a land further off than this far off land. The idea was peace and indulgence. So after a normal morning and wonderful walk with the pups I went off to the spa  where I recieve a fantastic experience! A 2 hour herbal body massage and a free facial to boot. Not only did it feel fantastic but she was able to get the knots of out my shoulders! Those of you who have known me long know what a big deal this is and she is literally the ONLY massuse that has ever been able to. After my relaxation I picked up my favorite Indian food from my favorite Indian place (Delicious) and went home to the pups where I was able to indulge in yummy food, yummy wine, yummy ice cream and fun tv. A perfect time.

So what have I been up to during the year of 25? A lot actually. Lets see .... Paul Mitchell was put on pause so we could move to Japan! Moving in itself was long, tiring and a bit of a headache but all 4 of us are happily in Japan in one piece and learned some pointers along the way. We have traveled to many places in central Japan including Tokyo, Chiba, Fuji, Jogashima and more. We've seen sumo, flower carpet, winter illumination and river boating. I can't even list all the new food we've tried. The pups have gone hiking all over and even to an aquarium! I've had quiet and interesting year with a spouse organization (those of you who know understand what I'm talking about ) and may I say...never...never again. That being said though I've made some incredible friends and found deep seated loyalty. Traveled to South Korea and saw the wall amongst many other things. Surprisingly fell in love with Seoul- like a Asian Chicago. Visited Singapore which I can only refer to as the Vegas of Asia as they like to charge extra for everything. However we did hike in rainforest, went to the most southern point of mainland Asia, fed giraffes and elephants, rode and elephant and had breakfast with an orangutan . Hiked Mt. Fuji at night to see the sunrise. Have gotten accustomed to rolling earthquakes and typhoons.  Visited Kirin Brewery. Also not only have I been quadrupling my Ardent Prints business online and at bazaars I've been teaching both at the school and private art lessons Looking at where we will go next for our shore tour but no official word yet. Looking into schools to finish cosmetology and it's looking good. Oh and we're planning a really awesome trip for this winter but more to come of that later. Oh and my hair is not blonde for now, symmetrical and growing out .

Thank you to all those who sent well wishes, my incredible family, my playful pups and my wonderful husband . I look forward to what 26 is brewing to have in store.

Fall Bazaar in Review

     Wowsers ! What an interesting bazaar it turned out to be. To set the stage I had increased my inventory including smaller items, stocked the cards and appropriately priced items adjusting for the cut that organization take. I was ready! On the downside one of the largest ships from base was pulling into a close port so it seemed like 1/2 the wives associated with that ship were gone! Oh and then there was the typhoon that kept creeping in causing the bazaar to be shut very early on Sunday.
     Interestingly enough I actually did very well. I can only attribute it to my work, the vairety and the better vendor spot. Even then though it was a pleasant surprise. My profits actually went up by 20% compared to the last bazaar even though in total the bazaar was open 5 less hours than the last event. Makes me wish we could have stayed open longer and makes me wonder the possibilities had more people been around. That being said I will gratefully take it.
    Along with that since the 2nd day was cut so short I offered a limited time deal for my Etsy page , (Ardent Prints) with a "Typhoon Sale" so that all those who missed out because of the storm could still purchase items at a better deal. The great thing is that this offer actually worked.
     Overall I'd say it was a great success. Now the debate is on as to whether I should participate in the spring one. Why a debate you may ask? Well we SHOULD, (key word should) be PCS'ing in the spring meaning our packout could far very close to the spring bazaar. Luckily I have time to decide.

New Gadget

     You may have great product or great adventures but what good does it do if the photo itself cannot convey it. Instead of robbing ourselves in the isolation of the iPhone's capabilities we decide it was time to grow up and purchase a grown up camera. Say hello to our new gadget.

    It's a Nikon D5200 with an 18-55 mm lens. Along with our purchase price the strap, charger, SD card and bag were all included. There's various settings, zoom, focus, effects, a flip screen, additional flash ability and more.
We've spent some time playing around with the features and it's abilities though to be honest we've only scratched the surface. There's plenty of research to read up on especially for upcoming adventures.

     Needless to say we are very excited with our new gadget and all the incredible photos yet to come. Make sure to stay tuned as the pics start streaming in.

Fernweh

Fernweh is the longing for far off places. It's a bit like the opposite of homesickness. Between fernweh and our deep desire for once in a lifetime adventures it's no surprise that we hiked Mt. Fuji. It was a long arduous journey overnight but provide an incredible sunrise view and spectacular artistic inspiration. Just to let you know the nitty-gritty of what we went through here is some statistics along with our own.

~Mt Fuji is one of Japan's 3 Holy Mountains. 

~It's a strato-volcanoe. 

~Last erupted 1707-08. 

~Tallest mountain of Japan with the summit at 3, 776 m (12, 389 ft). 

~Average day ascent is 6-8 hours. Average night hike is 7-9 hours.

 Ours was 8!

~Average descent time is 4-6 hours. We descended in 3 hours. 

~Official hiking season is only June - September pending weather. We hiked August 16th/17th.

~You can receive "stamps" on your Fuji walking but there's a special one for doing a "sunrise" hike. 

~Snow stays on the mountain ALL year round. It was between 30-40 degrees Fahrenheit when we summited. 

~Seeing the sunrise from the top of Japan is considered the "best" way to hike Fuji. Sun rose for us at 5:06 am. 

~Approximately 300,000 people climb Mt Fuji yearly.

Some Foreign Inspiration

Wowsers! June FLEW by. Oy! But to be fair half of my June I was out of the country. This travel provided some incredible experiences and amazing, inspirational opportunities. First I went to Korea, (Seoul specifically) for a week and then I went to Singapore for just under a week.

Let me just say Seoul, South Korea ( or the Republic of Korea as they refer to it) was a very pleasant surprise. I, admittedly, was ignorant as to what to expect about South Korea besides the DMZ and Korean BBQ but there's SO much more. There are a plethora of art galleries all of which hold their ground within art world standards. There are more coffee shops than you can shake a stick at and there is so much culture that they are eager to share esp if you venture away from touristy areas and are one of the few foreigners present. Inspiration wise... let me start with the DMZ. It was a very bizarre and surreal experience because a shrouded land straight from a dystopian novel lies just across a barbed wire fence that appears about as formidable as a property line fence. The lands between the countries appears so incredibly calm and peaceful. There's even people who have picnics and the area between has so much wildlife that have reclaimed it. And yet there is so much turmoil hidden. It's like an ultimate calm before the storm, that second before the gun fires in a cross country race, the climax before the drop in a roller coaster. It was interesting and awwing but a little uneasy. I want to incorporate this tense/peaceful feeling in some work I just need to figure out exactly how. The other thing that I think was inspiring were some of the color choices in the palaces. They were SO bright! Almost like neon colors and intricate patterns and yet it somehow boldly worked without being too obnoxious.

As I said my next trip was Singapore. It was an interesting land of contrast: jungle and wildlife vs exploited tourism. Obviously if you know me you know I prefer the former and thus the inspiration for this trip. We saw an incredible amount of animals up close and personal from animal feedings to wild ones while hiking. Not only did I get to see the anatomy and their movement but I think they showed their personalities a bit too. That's something that I'd like to convey. Not just a beautiful elephant but an intelligent, kind elephant. Not only a troop of baboons but a playful family that mirrors our own. Along with the animals I saw so many flowers. Too many to count and photograph but I did managed to get a few shots. Flowers are a tricky thing because they have finite edges but their folds, and lines are so delicate there is more implication that definition . I walked away with some fantastic references.

Travel provides insight and I really doubt I will ever get enough travel. There's so much beauty to see and culture to embrace.... yet so little time to do so. I don't want to miss out so don't plan on seeing me slow down anytime soon.

My Temp Studio Space

     As promised you shall take a peak at what I call my studio space. Let me preface this with 2 things . First this is a "temp" studio space since we rent there are obviously limitations and things that I would change if it was ours to do so. Secondly is "If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind then what is an empty desk a sign of?" I completely agree with Einstein and as you will be able to see from my desk my mind is not empty! I thought about trying to make it pristine and perfect....but that's SO not me so why the ruse? Nope. Instead you get the creative chaos.

     I do live in a creative chaos. Ideas strike all the time so my sketchbook is always on hand and my mind runs in fifty different directions never staying one task more than a few hours at a time in the studio. This makes it so that I want access to my supplies at any time and hopefully they end up back in their home. Equally important to the accessibility is the inspiration. Even though this is not a show room all the elements represent my interest and style. It's good to surround yourself with the image you wish to create.
     I love my little window to view the mountains in the distance and the window behind me looks upon our garden. Or I can watch the dogs run amuck from either. No I don't have a standard chair... I have a yoga ball. Two reasons: 1) I stand most of the time I work. I know this is probably not best for the longevity of my back and shoulders so I am looking which brings me to 2) I am VERY picky about my chair-to-be. One day I'll find it. Also maybe you've noticed there is no printing press. But how? I'm an illustrator focusing in print making! I hand burnish all of my work so yes do appreciate the care and time that goes into each one. I would like to eventually have a printing press but they are ridiculously expensive so right now hand burnishing works just fine.
    The best part of my studio are my 2 helpers. Bently rarely leaves my side but maybe to check in as to where his brother is. Fredrik's loyalty is to that of the sunspot . Wherever that is that's where he is but he will check in occasionally. I hope you've enjoyed a look into where the work is created. Visit ArdentPrints to see some finished products.

Updates

'Ello all! So I wanted to just briefly provide some quick updates. I finally got  all of the items that did not sell updated and loaded onto Etsy. Which with the newly warm days and the fact that I am now listing my items in English, French, Dutch, German, Portuguese, Italian, and Spanish for those speakers looking at Etsy in their countries it takes a bit while longer. I've been adamant to promote via Facebook and every page I can muster within there along with Twitter. It's a had a positive results; more like, favorites and followers...now just sales.

     I have worked on some wedding decor items which I really loved . In fact, loved enough to where I plan to come up with some very simple, staple wedding related items to offer with of course custom being a VERY strong option. I'm also looking into business cards in a  simple, blunt, classically minimal straightforward manner. I plan definitively to make postcards and greeting cards as those were phenomenal sellers. The question is whether to hand illustrate all of it or make a stamp. I'm acquiring materials for a variety of magnets as well. Make art practical for the practical people needing to get rid of the coin in their pockets.

     I have been added to the list for the next bazaar in October; October 4 & 5th to be exact. It has already made me start to think of what to make and what will sell. Christmas is a must and I certainly plan to theme many of the cards in that general direction. The idea of a Christmas woodland family is being tossed around my cerebral currently but sketches still need to be worked out.

     Finally my studio space is almost back to where it was. We've been so busy it's taken longer than expected to put things back in order after the bazaar. Though as soon as I do ( a week or 2) there will be photos and a post so keep an eye out. For now though check out new items on Etsy. https://www.etsy.com/shop/ArdentPrints?ref=search_shop_redirect

Yokosuka Bazaar

     This past weekend , (April 12th & April 13th) was the Yokosuka Bazaar. It's essentially a massive flea market on base giving individuals the chance to buy Japanese items and small business items without leaving base. It was a great opportunity to get Ardent Prints out there to the Yokosuka Base public, sell some work and make connections. In the end I am really glad that I did take part in it. Overall it was a success as I made more money than I ever have in the same amount of days at a farmer's market and it was right on par with the sales from a RAW art show. There were of course lessons learned. The booth spot was determined based upon requests and when you signed up. Since I barely squeaked in my spot was fine but there were other spots that definitely had a higher volume of traffic. The next large bazaar I will sign on right away and I know where I want to request as I was scoping out the spaces. I'm looking into making magnets in a huge variety including mini themed series. The Japanese birds, Mt. Fuji pieces, travel images and cherry blossoms went like hot cakes. Obviously I will continue those but I will make more too. Also will make more fox related cards and wolf items as I saw enough interest in that. Cards were a huge seller as were the buttons but I'd like to make more pin-on. It was a great sale and the little guy competing against the knock-off giants of bazaar capitalism made away with a great weekend and will be back. All items not sold will be listed on www.etsy.com/shop/ArdentPrints .

Japanese Art

     It's been far too long and thus I apologize... again. I feel like I'm always doing that. Busy busy busy....commissioned pieces, custom works, stationary, hair, culture. So much. Jus the same I wanted to take a moment to write specifically about some Japanese art. Nothing to crazy or modern...we'll get to that later. For now just some crafty and historical creativity.
     Japanese art has always had a bit of a special spot in my heart because Japan was the origin spot for woodblock printmaking. Many know of the wave print but there are so many others. So many clean lined, subtle, crisp prints. These I draw inspiration from and most certainly deserve their due.
      We recently took part in a cultural event and were able to take part in many other arts and crafts. We were able t do Japanese calligraphy. Delicate, flowing writing that is deceivingly difficult.
      There is of course origami, which can also be difficult. It seems simple. You fold paper and it forms an object. A pretty little craft. However you can fumble your fingers and some shapes have an insurmountable quantity of folds, unfolds, folds and final folds. I think it's much easier when you can have someone walk you through it. We stated with the tulip because it's one of the easiest but by the end moved on to a koi fish.

     I may not always think of these activities in the same bubble as Picasso or Warhol, however they do have their place. I can appreciate the tedious detail, time and seemingly effortless appearance. They are beautiful, enjoyable and creatively challenging. It's nice to have participated in this event by such welcoming people.

Say Hello to Hiro Nakamura!

      Beep Beep! Move over! We got our own little Japanese car. Almost all cars in Japan are on the smaller side, (especially compared to America) partially due to the narrow streets and no need for a high powered speedy engine. We were debating about a car and whether we would honestly need it. Some things persuaded us a little but the biggest thing was hiking. When you take dogs on the train they must be in  a carrier. That's fine but I really didn't want to have to lug around a carrier on the hike or rent a locker there. And what if Danny is gone and I want to go hike with the pups? Am I seriously supposed to lug 2 dogs in carriers, and a hiking bag onto a train before the hard work of the trail? I think not! So hiking with the dogs was the biggest persuasion. We purchased a 2000 Honda Capa. It's a periwinkle silver, has lots of storage, good on gas and there's a dvd player. Oh and it has a name. We named our other car too. It was Pepper... as in Pepper Pots because of my love for Tony Stark and Danny wanted it to have a girl name. This car of course needed a Japanese name so I fell back to a favorite of mine from a beloved show. Our car is Hiro Nakamura ! ( From the TV series Heroes.) Danny is insisting to call it Nakamura because he says Hiro sounds like "hero". I'll call it Hiro. Needless to say we are enjoying the drive and we're excited for the adventures this little guy's gona take us to.

My Illustrated Life...in Japan

     My Illustrated Life continues! Even though my posts have been sporadic things are finally getting in order for this massive move. There are abundant updates to be made. We found a rental house and met our lovely neighbors. We've settled into our traditional but updated Japanese home along with learning how to operate all of it's gadgets. We are in the process of getting a cute little Japanese car. It's a periwinkle little cube lookin thing and this is the one place that doesn't stand out as odd. We've been celebrating the New Year like the locals and immersing ourselves in all that we can.
     Ardent Prints has been full force too! It's still fully running on Etsy and the updates are almost fully completed. There's new business cards on the way and "Goodnight Fox" is adorning the cover. I figured why not represent my art with my art. Soon to come as well is full scale choreographed marketing that all matches such as stamps, packaging, etc. Like I said all in an overhaul. I've completed a custom piece of work for the Sharrow's and their little "Rowboat" to decorate their nursery. While in Japan I'm using my talent and education to help the next generation and pay it forward to the art world as I am now offering art lessons. As I am more than qualified with education and experience this is a great opportunity for all involved. I can't wait foster creativity and expand the world's knowledge of Ardent Prints. Thank you for those giving me the opportunity to inspire and encourage.