a year of transitions
dear stranger-friends,
happy almost new year! in this mysterious window between christmas and new years, I've been watching harry potter, playing stardew valley, and learning about human design (more below).
I also repeated a yearly ritual: making a year-in-review film, which I started in 2020. I wanted to share it with you, here:
2022 in 4 minutes, a film
the year I stopped living the nomadic life, settled in Istanbul, furnished an apartment, adopted a dog, and went on a roadtrip.
I'll be honest, half of this video (July onwards) is mostly clips of Luna. if you told me in 2021 that I'd adopt a dog, I'd laugh and tell you no way -- no man has ever tied me down, so no dog will either. but what I see in this video is the slow journey of me making a home, through these rooted relationships: with people, animals, and places.
support my work: artist subscriptions
after a year's hiatus, I'm restarting my artist subscription program as a way in which you can support my work, and I can share more, and deeper things with you -- little art gifts, creative guidance, 1:1 connection, a 15% discount to creative courses, and my infinite gratitude.
in this digital world of sharing creations, ideas, and thoughts - with no agent, gatekeeper, or media company in between us; no concrete validation or reward, your attention and support is truly what nourishes my world. your support gives me the stability and freedom to focus my energy on creating. thank you!
(and what happened the year before this one?)
in my memory, 2021 was a terrible year. I spent it in 6 countries, living out of two backpacks, in a terrible relationship. but. I look back on these collected moments with appreciation for its starkness, and the beauty of solitude.
recently
I birthed a new website: house on the webs!
after nearly a whole year of procrastination/constipation, I built this website (on squarespace) in 3 days. it's nowhere near perfect (or "complete") but it's at least it's breathing. giving this course/project its own vessel does feels a bit like I'm propogating myself into another jar; but it's awesome, because my jungle is so tangled, and now I'm already feeling MUCH lighter.
I drew a zine about sleep.
I wanted to do a deep dive into my rituals, as is my tendency during autumn/winter, when my favorite thing is to light a candle in the early morning, while it's still dark, and write. I decided to start with sleep -- as the foundational ritual; the basis to everything -- and making a 10 page illustrated zine about it seemed fun. this was both a creatively frustrating and meditative experience, as my first digital zine. when possibilities are endless, limitations are useful. you can download it here.
inspiration log: what's been inspiring me lately
playing all the time: stardew valley
my brother introduced me to this game, and it's super soothing and almost boring in a way that keeps me coming back. the premise of it is just that you build your own farm, plant crops, raise animals, go on quests. I was so impressed and inspired when I found out that it was a one-person project: the developer did everything from writing, illustrating, animation, development, and music. I see game creation in my future, and maybe a reflection on the business lessons I'm learning from farming...
obsessed with learning about: human design
multiple friends have introduced me to human design, but it took me over two years before I got into it this last two weeks, and as a result, experiencing a total shift in how I'm seeing my life (especially work) through my strategy. here's a youtube channel with good primary introductions, these audio lectures by the founder. I also like these two videos, specifically for projectors building businesses. (can you guess what I am?)
watching over again: harry potter, 1-7.
as a child, I used to reread harry potter every year, the entire series, every summer while waiting for a new book to come out. watching the films is not nearly as satisfying, but weather appropriate. I still am falling asleep on day 3 of movie 1.
listening to: matarsak, by erfan tahmasbi
I love the intimacy of this song. I've been on a contemporary iranian music binge, and remember, again, how farsi is one of those languages I will definitely learn, one day - if nothing else, for its power of poetry.
more connections:
dear kening
submit any ongoing question hear - about the creative life, or otherwise, and I'll write you a proper reply.
guide.notes
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I'm wishing you a peaceful
ending & beginning of
this circular journey
around the sun.
kening