Start to read start softly
Hmm…How to start?
I’ve been feeling…feeling that it’s time to find a better way to share other dimensions of my work as an artist, so here I am.
Posting my work and a few snapshots of my life on the grid feels constraining, I couldn’t manage to tell stories in the way I wish I could. Things and emotions become flat. I absolutely admire those who can, also accept that I am not a great player in this game.
My work and life are tightly coiled together, however, I felt I was consciously separating the two, and it turned out to be telling only half part of the narrative, a limb is missing.
Thanks to my boyfriend, Tchane, for asking me the questions:
Why don’t you do blogs? Why don’t you start letting people read you?
Right, why not?
Hence, here, I will share moments of my creative journey, fragments of my life, writings, etc. It’s a virtual diary. I am starting without any expectations of how it should look because I know it will be constantly evolving and changing. I am just going to discover it as I go.
Recently, I spent a week in a chalet in Val-de-Chaise, it’s a small village next to Annecy, France. It’s not a norm for me to do this kind of vacation, meaning staying in one place and relaxing there. I grew up in the capital with a mum whose leisure is more about gathering family and friends for afternoon tea than going into the wild and getting dirty. She loves taking nature in small doses. She drives to the north coast seaside or YangMing mountain, she stays there for half a day before driving back home.
As the trip was approaching, I found myself feeling a little nervous about how I would spend my time there. I packed 3 books, 2 sketch pads, some colour pencils and oil pastels, as well as my laptop.
First we arrived at Annecy
the bottom of Annecy Lake is easily to be seen
Val-de-Chaise, 50min on Bus Y51 away from Annecy.
the nearest supermarket from our chalet is 45 minutes on foot.
We did twice that grocery trip.
We filled our days with morning walks, afternoon walks, midday walks, walks at golden hour, and walks in the dark after dinner. Time was always enough, for staring, for standing, on the humid grass, and looking for which bird is singing.
Spending time to prepare a meal is just as wonderful as stumbling upon a house looking like the village believes in the existence of fairies.
One afternoon, all three of us stepped our feet on a random tracking route.
The roads to put our feet on were narrow, the hand was holding tightly the stick I found the same morning. Sweat dripping, it was 12 or so degrees, I had three layers of clothes on me. We crossed a small river and passed through some areas fully covered by big leaves.
In the end, we realised we couldn’t make it to the finish line before sunset so we headed back. Climbing down was more challenging, luckily I had two men willing to protect a newbie who just bought her first-ever pair of hiking boots last year.
It can’t be more rewarding than sitting by the fire after a hike while replay the greens, the fresh air in mind.
Sunrises
led us to our second-last-times in Val-de-Chaise
the second last time waiting for Y51
the second last badminton game
the second last brunch at the chalet
The journey back home always feels much longer, so I amused myself by drawing down observations. I like to do this while waiting, extending the time my eyes lay on something, someone.
I made tchane draw me, I found out my nose is a piece of melting cheese and I have countable eyebrow hair in his eyes.
while giving the mountains the last glance, I thanked them for hosting us.
Thank you for reading!
Feel free to drop a message down below,
it would be so lovely to start a conversation with you.