guide.notes 27 | your greatest potential
dear wanderer friends,
today I woke up to an rainy istanbul ten degrees colder than yesterday. after last week's amnesia, this week I stretched out the days like a piece of taffy candy -- staying up till 1am, waking up before 7am, working a little too intensely, too haphazardly, running towards a list of ambitious daily deadlines.
sometimes, I feel like the act of creation is really just being a plumber of my psyche. all I'm doing is unclogging the flow, giving it form, allowing it to be seen. the alternative is -- a suffocating creative constipation, a slow building anxiety, my ideas, imaginations, and dreams dying a painful un-death...
I create -- in order to feel like a lush garden inside; in order to feel alive.
what motivates me, what lights a fire under me, every morning -- is that feeling of expanding my own potential -- that which is limited only by the elasticity of my imagination and beliefs.
many years ago, I used to think that "reaching my potential" involved reaching external markers of success -- book deals, contracts, awards and recognitions, invitations from prestigious places.
but, then I deprogrammed myself.
I realized that potential is not something you "reach." it is not climbing a ladder, or checking off a box.
your greatest potential isn't linear, but radial.
it feels more like working with chi, with magic, with the creative force that wants to live, to dance, to move. it is allowing a universe to expand, within you.
potential is made up of dreams and visions; the psychic energy of the universe. the most important thing is that you define exactly what it means, and how it feels to you, personally, -- as you experience its expansion.
so what do you do?
you listen to its whims and longings. you take care of it, everyday. you follow it to wherever it wants to lead.
explorations this week
the new magic of AI vs. the old magic of artists
this week, I explored AI generative art tools - while working with my partner on building a custom art shop (to be shared, soon!) -- and grappled with what it means to have a relationship with AI, as an artist. the summary: it's like wielding a magical, high tech wand.
The new magic of AI vs. the old magic of artists — kening zhu
a brief, existential exploration on being an artist in the age of AI — and why AI magic does not diminish your artist magic
why etsy is disempowering for artists
I spent some time exploring Etsy (I used to have a shop there, in 2017), and poked around at my vague discomfort with this convienent platform -- isn't it a great solution to the problem of ART + MONEY? for me, the answer is no. as always, my opinions are extremely personal and subjective...
why I think etsy is disempowering for artists — kening zhu
what feels like a shiny, all-in-one solution for artists to make money — comes at a cost.
creations this week
out of the rabbit hole
actually, this painting I created on Oct 23, day 1 of scorpio season - a gift for my younger brother's birthday. as a child, I gave him a pink rabbit that we played with, together, for years. here is me imagining her, giving her life, in a magical dimension.
out of the rabbit hole — kening zhu
a gift for my brother’s birthday
istanbul travel deck
I started the beginnings of a big new visual project -- a travel deck capturing my favorite places in Istanbul. I drew the first 3 cards this week. more on this in a later letter.
ortaköy | istanbul travel deck, card no. 1 — kening zhu
the beginning of a travel deck for istanbul
moda park | istanbul travel deck, card no. 2 — kening zhu
a long, open waterfront park on the asia side of Istanbul
hagia sophia | istanbul travel deck, card no. 3 — kening zhu
if I had to choose one touristy place to visit in istanbul, it would be this.
what's inspired me this week
reading/listening to: the covenant of water by Abraham Verghese an epic multi-generational saga about an indian family in the 1900s. I don't normally like to listen to fiction, but this audiobook is 20 something hours long, and I enjoy listening to it while cooking. so far, it's historically rich, sensorially decadent, and emotionally layered.
playing around in: midjourney generative art I only tip toed into midjourney - mostly it's my partner K creating images, but I do think I'll dive deeper into it, and begin to discern how (and when) it fits into my workflow. read my existential reflections on using midjourney as an artist, here.
baking: this triple chocolate layer cake by sally's baking addiction. I made this cake for K, using only 3/4 cups of sugar, which was the perfect amount for me, but not enough for him. turkish sweets, shall we say, are very sweet.
...
I'm wishing you a soft, slow, serene week, my friends.
next week, I'll look forward to sharing with you the AI art print shop we're building together -- a website-world I'm creating today, called LAZYART.
sending you a slice of not-too-sweet chocolate cake,
kening
this is guide.notes no 27, a weekly letter on the labor of love that is nurturing your creative practice, digital ecosystems, and entreprenurial ventures -- on the internet wild.