finalphoenix

One Year into Piano

I started piano about a year ago now, probably a little over, but I am not counting too closely. I have a beautiful Roland piano in white (not my first choice, black was sold out but now that I have had it for so long, I can’t imagine it being any other color).

Calligraphy – Latin Practice

I have been following a lot of the “dark academia” instagrams lately and they post a lot of good quotes that I have been using. I started a new style with a lot of flourishes this week. Flourishes are quite scary. Ink: WatercolorNib: Brand new Nikko GPaper: Vellum

Colds in Post-COVID China

I am sick writing this. I got a cold, from my SO who also had a cold earlier this week. We’ve been sick with colds (I suspect that they are the dreaded Air Conditioner Colds, a popular theory that if you run your AC at night you will get sick) precisely twice since lockdown endedContinue reading “Colds in Post-COVID China”

Thank You Card

I ran a hackathon at work this past week and wanted to thank our guest judges with something rather pretty, and I always love the Postman Knock’s tutorials on cards and did my best to copy by hand the illustrations. I definitely got in over my. head with this one, but I thought it turnedContinue reading “Thank You Card”

Trip Report: Dunhuang

Escaping Qinghai was a feat in itself, arriving at the airport on our way to Dunhuang (a desert city only 90 minutes north of Xining) our passport numbers were wrong and the woman refused to correct them. Upon landing, we were yanked off the plane early, as the only two foreigners, or as they politelyContinue reading “Trip Report: Dunhuang”

Trip Report: Qinghai

Day 1: Xining When we disembarked in the windy capitol of Xining after a long flight out of Shanghai, my coworker greeted us with a smile and as we stepped away from the sliding glass doors he explained to me in simple terms that we were unwanted due to our passport. The driver had anContinue reading “Trip Report: Qinghai”

Calligraphy – Shakespeare

I have been following all those Dark Academia blogs on tumblr and instagram lately and saw this quote and really liked it. The lettering is done in Magnolia Style which is quite dramatic with many flourishes, but I feel like it deserves more than it got. I put in an order for some Iron GallContinue reading “Calligraphy – Shakespeare”

Jing’an Temple

An American Abroad Part II – The Pandemic

I’ve given a few interviews about the pandemic as an expat abroad, mostly from podcasters and political activists who hope that getting some word across from China would change local policy. I really wasn’t sure what they wanted from me, the Chinese response to the pandemic was scattershot at best and there is no oneContinue reading “An American Abroad Part II – The Pandemic”

Calligraphy – Sartre

Nib: Nikko GInk: Sumi Ink