When you look at the moon...

It's Friday night as I'm writing this. An hour earlier, I attended the celebratory party of the new TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) graduates of the school that I studied at. Initially, I declined the invitation because I knew that I was going to be busy, but since my friend convinced me, I decided to go. I stayed a bit for a beer and a chat, then went back home.

It was alright. I felt happy to see familiar faces and talk to the graduates as well.

Yet somehow, I feel 'this feeling' again.

One of my followers on Instagram once shared a post with a quote that said, "Art is a form of expressing longing" (by Janie Paul). It's been on my mind since walking back home.

Oh, let me share a bit about the drawing above. It translates to: "The moon is beautiful, isn't it?".

In Japan, where people tend to say things indirectly, this is a way to say "I love you". Although there's no proof, legends say that this came from a time when Natsume Souseki (a famous novelist from the 19th century) used to work as an English teacher. When his student used the direct translation for "I love you", he supposedly said, "Japanese people do not say things like that."

The girl in the drawing is a character from a Japanese comic called Himawari-san ('Miss Sunflower'). She loves reading books and is the beautiful former owner of a bookshop called the Sunflower Bookery. It's a wholesome story with yuri undertones. Yuri means 'lily', a representation of romantic love between women in Japanese media).

It's time for me to draw now, so I'll catch you again later!

Talk to you again soon,

Rose

"Bosom friends"

Long. time. no. see!!!

First off, I got hired by a language school here in Prague. But before that, I was busy studying and doing some teaching practice for the course, looking for a flat, looking for what I needed in the flat such as cooking pots, etc., and looking for a job -- it was a rollercoaster ride for sure!

Thankfully I feel a bit settled now, so lately I've teaching English as my day job. I really have to manage my budget well, but I'm grateful that I'm able to enjoy some things here. For instance, I live close to a park, so it feels really nice to take my morning walks there and reconnect with nature.

Well, the goal is to stay here for one year, absorb as much artistic inspiration as I can and create art while supporting myself through teaching, and see if I like it.

Lately, I've also been feeling inspired and have been drawing more consistently.

Like this Edwardian-era inspired drawing (see above), which I call "Bosom Friends". Haha.

I guess it's working^^.

Aside from Portrait of a Lady on Fire, you also into gay art inspired by other historical periods? Let me know!

"What Things?"

Long time no see!

I don't know where to start. These past couple of months, I've just been just worrying.

As an artist, I've always wanted to see the art of the European masters in person. I know that it's going to take me some time to take them in, so a short vacation definitely won't be enough; not to mention that traveling there from Hawaii can be very costly.

So as a solution that one of my close friends suggested, I could get certified in a TEFL program in Prague, teach English while staying there and also work on my art. I'll still have my online tutoring side gig as a back-up, just in case.

Which is what I'm doing right now!

Currently, it has been a very hectic few weeks. I'm focusing on finding solutions and reminding myself, as cheesy as it sounds, to trust in the universe, to reach out and ask for help, and to believe in myself. After all, worrying so much only got me a headache. :')

Back to the comic! The title was inspired by a dialogue in the movie Call Me by Your Name. It's the scene where Elio and Oliver stop by a statue in a town square. Elio talks about the history behind the statue, to which Oliver praises him:

Oliver: "Well, you seem to know more than anyone else around here.

Elio: "Well, if you only knew how little I really know about the things that matter."

Oliver: "What things that matter?"

Elio: "You know what things."

Enjoy!

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Much love,

Rose