Procrastinating (still)

May 12, 2024

Made considerable progress on my mini letterpress prototype, will need a week or more to finish the prototype for friends to test. Just sparked up a few cool ideas recently about products that I can potentially collaborate with friends even after I move back to Canada, will do some prototypes and discuss with friends in coming weeks.

Still procrastinating and still haven’t started looking for plane tickets and housing for my upcoming return to Canada this summer. And my mom started nagging me recently questioning why I’m moving back, even though we have been discussing this since summer 2022 and have reached the decision together as a family.

Oh God, please continue to guide my steps forward and help me see You and follow You in peace. 🙏🏻

Sketch… Sunday Service

May 12, 2024

Procrastination

May 5, 2024

Besides joining a short Chinese book-binding workshop on Friday evening, I had kept myself busy this past week designing a small letterpress kit. I thought of an ingenious way of doing the traditional movable type. Should be able complete a functional prototype for friends to test in coming weeks!

The deadline I set for myself to return to Canada is roughly 2 months away. Still haven’t started looking for plane tickets and housing, but I have started notifying my Canadian friends so that they can keep an eye out for me. I also haven’t started clearing out my apartment yet, needed to do that before I leave HK so that my sister can arrange renovations and move in afterwards.

I certainly have started feeling the stress from the upcoming big move, but I have an annoying habit of putting everything off to the very last minute. Will I ever learn not to procrastinate?!

Sketch… Sunday Service

May 5, 2024

Full-size DEXTER v2.0

Apr 28, 2024

Major accomplishment this past week was completing the full-size DEXTER v2.0 at the studio. He is measuring at 57cm in height. The biggest part took over 13 hours to print, and it took a couple of nights of overnight printing (and reprinting) to complete all the parts! Should also note that I was sick at home on Monday and Tuesday and had to rely on my colleague to physically remove the printed parts from the print bed before I continue printing the next parts. I anticipate being able to do the same remotely after I move back to Canada provided there’s no major hiccups with the printers.

Tried fixing the studio’s laser cutter again for a few days, but the effort was futile. I decided to do without it for now.

Jointed a nature photography workshop to experiment with macro photography of bugs. The workshop allowed the borrowing of a relatively high end camera and lens. Without prior experience with the camera system, I was able to take some stunning photos of the tiny insect world during a morning trip to a nature conservatory area today. It was a nice break away from my regular Sunday church routine. Inundated with nature and admiring the marvelous creations of God, this morning’s trip felt like a different kind of worship.

DEXTER 2.0 Sculpture

Apr 21, 2024

One of my greatest accomplishments this past week was finishing the design and printing of DEXTER 2.0 up to scale 5x. Had been running the 3D printers night and day, both at home and at studio, for a couple of weeks. There was a moment of satisfaction that I hadn’t experienced for a long time after I rearranged the printed DEXTERS into an interesting art installation. The final print for scale 10x is still in progress, need to wait for new filaments to be delivered first.

For my calligraphy work, I had finally collected all the characters for the Hundred Surnames (百家姓) in clerical script. Have started writing out the characters in seal script at home this afternoon already. Time is very tight to complete all the writings I had planned to do before moving back to Canada in the summer. Add oil! 💪🏻

Organizing the Studio

Apr 14, 2024

Continued my endless work of cleaning and organizing the studio this past week. Helped my studio’s ex-neighbour to 3D print some props for an exhibition he’ll be helping out in May. I also decided to upgrade the studio’s mascot – DEXTER. In the process, I tried to reverse engineer and 3D print LEGO bricks. While I experimented with scaling up the 3D printed bricks, I found out that doubling the size of LEGO bricks made it compatible with the Duplo system, what an epiphany!

Reason why I’m upgrading DEXTER and experimenting with LEGO bricks is to design and develop an organization system of boxes and furnitures that can help facilitate my organization work. Corrugated cardboard boxes are essential in packing and organizing, but they come in all shapes and sizes and there doesn’t seem to be any standard to follow. While trying to design a more systematic approach of organizing stuff in the studio, I got sidetracked by the story of the many city scavengers who had been helping collect recyclables including cardboard boxes that everyone easily throws out. Made an effort to visit an exhibition about them after church today. The many scavengers, mostly elders and women, tirelessly collect the recyclables day in and day out in return for minimal pay (maybe below a dollar for 5kg of cardboard boxes). To me, they are truly the unsung eco heroes of our city! May God reward them for their hard work. 🙏🏻

Sketch… Sunday Service

Apr 14, 2024

Studio Cleanup

Apr 7, 2024

The studio’s laser cutter stopped functioning a few weeks back. It just so happens that a couple of artist friends came seeking help for their recent projects that involves laser cutting/engraving. After a few days of troubleshooting the laser with no avail, I decided to buy a cheaper and lower power laser to help my friends with their projects in the meantime.

The new unenclosed laser engraver required a large table surface, making room for it triggered an avalanche of cleanup work in the studio. It took more than a week of work and, after the cleanup, it’s now much closer to a functioning design studio that I had initially dreamed up to be! The cleaned up space will hopefully facilitate the projects I planned to complete in Q2 before moving back to Canada in the summer.

Another highlight this past week was picking up my first ever Guangcai artwork from a recent short-term course. The result looked great and I now have another masterpiece to be displayed in the studio! 😬

Sketch… Sunday Service

Apr 7, 2024
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