Now

4.29.2024

Captain’s log on what I am doing with my free time. See here to learn about ‘now’ pages.

April 2024

Life with two very young children is good, but does not allow for much time / energy to pursue skills and projects. Nontheless I will try to honor my family and also spend my time well. I have also decided this month that I can only pursue two ‘learning’ topics at the same time. Those for me will be the Japanese langage and drawing skills. And then of course later in the month I started making a video game with Godot. And yes, not much time for any of those things. Also, sleep is important to having energy for creative tasks and learning.

Books: Tech-Wise Family, Culture Making by Andy Crouch, Shuna’s Journey, Raising Emotionally Strong Boys, Wild Things: The art of nurturing boys
Games: Pokemon Shield, Hollow Knight, Pokemon Fool’s Gold

March 2024

Continued the Stage 1 Mini Course pilot. Really good stuff included here. It has helped me get back to a regular habit of sketching. Did a little bit of 3D.

Books: Tech-Wise Family, Christianity and Liberalism, Bakuman Vol. 1, ‘Sketching from the Imagination: Storytelling’, Knights of Sidonia Vol. 13-15
Games: Pokemon Shield, Ooblets
Movie: The Boy and the Heron

February 2024

Started going through Tom Fox’s Clothed Characters Drawing Course. Had a great conversation with Sasha Hollock. Thinking a lot about art tools. Going to try to start waking up a bit early to have a consistent drawing time. Overhauled some parts of the website. Joined Tim Mcburnie’s Line & Color Academy Stage 1 Mini Course pilot.

Books: Pursuing Peace, A Little Book on the Christian Life, How to Keep House While Drowning, Culture Making by Andy Crouch, What Does It Mean to Fear the Lord?, Tech-Wise Family, Christianity and Liberalism
Games: Control

January 2024

Started tracking my art practice by work output rather than time. Refreshing my influence list on the about page. New profile picture on about page. I am also thinking that I will try to stick to digital art rather than using physical mediums. This has many obvious benefits, especially for someone like me who will be traveling a lot and also has minimal desk space that needs to be multi-purpose use. Got back into 3D modeling towards the end of the month.

Books: Peak, Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka Vol. 1, Pursuing Peace, Thoughts for Young Men by J. C. Ryle, Naruto Vol. 12-17, Shaman King Vol. 1-3, A Little Book on the Christian Life
Games: LOL: Wild Rift, Tales of Symphonia

2023 Highlights

• January vacation with my wife
• Playing legos with my son and cuddling with my daughter
• Leaving my day job to pursue missionary work in Japan
• Enjoying 3D modeling for the first time with Blockbench
• Axe throwing night with the guys
• Running a CBR+PNK ttrpg oneshot
• In person visits from two former missionary couples
• Playing Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
• My son getting ear tubes (helped fight recurring infection)
• Realizing it is not attainable to learn electric guitar
• Winning with Warwick on LOL: Wild Rift

See all of 2023 here.

2022 Highlights

• Dates with my wife and playtime with my kids
• Graduating from CIU with a M.A. in Intercultural Studies
• Leveling up my art - including 75+ hours tracked actually drawing
• Illustrating gifts for friends and family
• Meeting artists Andy J. Pizza and Ahmed Aldoori
• Interviewing artist Holly Leonard
• Seeing Anomalie & Bad Snacks perform live
• The Columbus Art Meetup & Veritas Art Club
• Running a PBP ttrpg (Cairn w/ Undying Sands) with friends
• Running a one-shot ttrpg (Waking of Willowby Hall) with friends
• Finishing the COUNTER/Weight ttrpg series by Friends at the Table
• Using my blot.im website (the one you are currently reading)
• Playing board games on Board Game Arena
• Starting to learn electric guitar (~15 hours tracked)

See all of 2022 here.