A shapeshifting space

From Tokyo to Phnom Penh

Thank you to those who’ve ordered prints from my online shop. It means so much to imagine my art finding a place in your home! To those who just so happen to be looking for Japanese-bird-and-plant-themed art to decorate your walls, you’re in the right place. :)

Like these egrets, I’m also mid-flight as I write this post—though my wings are made of metal and economy class. I’m en route from Tokyo to Phnom Penh! In this in-between season, I’ve been wondering how Drawing to See might evolve along with me. I’ve even considered pausing altogether. So much will be in flux and I’m sure most days I’ll feel overstimulated—new country, new culture, new job. But the more I reflect, the more I realize that’s why I want to continue this substack.

The Italian Architect Carlo Scarpa was famous for saying, “I draw because I want to see.” This quote has guided me throughout my 20s, and it’s what inspired the title of my substack. Making art—whether it’s drawing, sculpting, or designing—helps me slow down and wake up to the world around me. It nudges me to look harder at my relationship with my ecological community and cultivate care. Art-making also keeps me playful, curious, and imaginative—qualities that feel essential not only for my work as an artist, but also for living resiliently and regeneratively on our changing planet.

Still, I know myself. Without a community to share with, I’ll lose determination. So I’ve decided to keep sharing here, just as I have these past couple of years. This space helps me stay accountable—to keep making, to keep connecting, to keep dreaming up creative goals, even when I have no idea what I’m doing... Kotsu-kotsu, one of my favorite Japanese onomatopoeias, comes to mind. It’s the “sound” of making small, daily efforts towards a bigger objective. It’s the rhythm I want to embrace with my art-making in the coming year.

All that said, I also want to give myself space to let Drawing to See evolve organically in response to my new environment. For now, I hope to share monthly “postcard” glimpses into my life and creative practice in Phnom Penh. I’m brainstorming projects that are small enough to fit into daily life and eventually grow into a cohesive body of work over time. I was inspired by Art & Nature’s post on incremental art, and I’m curious to see where this slow, steady rhythm might lead.

Most of what I post will remain free. If you’re a paid subscriber, or ever choose the paid tier in the future, I’ll continue to share extra content like downloadable wallpapers and other small goodies that I create as I go. Thank you to those who have continued to support me throughout all the evolutions of Drawing to See. Your encouragement keeps me going!

I’m curious to hear from you: What creative practices or habits have you carried with you through seasons of change? What projects are you currently working on, kotsu-kotsu—or little by little? Or what habits and activities help you pay closer attention to your environment? I’d love to hear your thoughts!