Blurring the Boundaries
The vibrant culture of minorities, cross-culture inspirations, wonder women joining forces.
Welcome to the third volume of Morning Pages, a newsletter sharing inspirations at the intersection of culture and identity, creative experiments, and studio updates.
In early 2018, when I was in search of a change in life, my desire for self-expression grew stronger. I wanted to dedicate more time to painting and making things with my hands. I was not able to leave a full-time job because of visa restrictions. So I began working with a coach to get clarity on the vision and cultivate my creative passion.
Then I discovered my inner mentor: Stéphanie Ledoux.
Stéphanie Ledoux, Artist
Stéphanie Ledoux (@steph.ledoux) is a French artist and a passionate traveler full of curiosity. She travels to distant countries, discovering people and other cultures. Asia is Stéphanies's favorite part of the world. She's traveled to Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia, China, India, and most recently Papua New Guinea.
Drawing people's faces is the best way for her to communicate with them. In her travels, she has collected more than 60 travel diaries, which are a source of inspiration for her amazing works. While drawing, she interviews her models to learn about their lives and traditions, and then enjoys their reaction when she shows them the drawing.
I don't agree when people say I'm lucky. After four of the happiest months I've spent in travel, I've been working alone in my studio for eight months. It also takes courage to step out of your comfort zone and into an unknown place.
And like any independent job, this job is just as unstable financially. But the truth is, every day I feel like I've achieved something by being able to combine my two passions and doing a job that I now enjoy."
— Stéphanie Ledoux
Growing up in China, I did lots of folk dancing, from Tibetian(藏), Mongolian(蒙), Bai(白), Dai(傣), to Yi(彝). I‘ve always loved the vibrant culture of these ethnicities, especially their clothing, music, and dancing. Since I moved to the US, I've been searching for creative ways to amplify the culture of these ethnic minorities.
I discovered Stéphanie Ledoux and her work when I was intentionally looking for creative inspirations from Asian ethnic minorities. Her portraiture was expressive and soulful. What's more brilliant, she collaborated with a textile artist to bring the vibrant culture to a new dimension. Her work enlightened me with endless possibilities and fresh ideas.
Inspired by Stéphanie's work, I became curious about textile design and jewelry making. I took workshops from my favorite local jewelry designer Margaret Elizabeth (@margaretelizabethjewelry) and learned about weaving techniques from Lindsey (@hellohydrangea). Through this process I made many gifts for my friends, family, and coworkers. Below are some mini weaving inspired by the coastal colors of Maine.
For the past two years, I've been dedicated my spare time to advance my portrait and figurative drawing skills. I did live figurative drawing for 3 hours each week consistently for two years in a drawing studio in SF. I also learned head drawing from artist Oliver Sin (@oliversin). Showing my work with the world led me to some exciting opportunities, such as co-hosting a live figure drawing salon with San Francisco Ballet and exhibiting my ink paintings in Cologne, Germany.
Many people ask me: "How do you cultivate your passion while having a full-time job?" In my opinion, it's all about finding that inner mentor and then showing up consistently. Here are some introspective questions to consider:
Who do you aspire to become?
How might you create a bliss station for your passion?
How might you remove the barriers that prevent you from showing up?
What could be a reward for your effort?
State of the Studio
September 30 Wednesday 5:00 PST, I'll be speaking with a panel of wonderful women design leaders about gender equality, diversity, and design leadership. This event is hosted by the Amazing Design People List, a non-profit organization that connects design professionals through mentorship. Look forward to seeing you there!
Creative Sparks
Mother Tongue — Short Film
A second-generation Chinese American daughter struggles to communicate with her mother who lost English due to Alzheimer's. Without words, she finally finds the connection to her mother as well as to her own roots.
Mother Tongue is directed by Eris Qian. In her own words: "Mother Tongue was written to reflect on the cultural and generational gaps in Asian American communities, infused with my own experience interacting with my grandmother who doesn’t speak Mandarin and has been living with Alzheimer’s for 15 years. I’d like to explore how to communicate the incommunicable and celebrate the beauty of the Chinese language through imagery, poetry, and music."
The story of Mother Tongue immediately resonates with me. My grandfather also lives with Alzheimer's and no longer recognizes the family. If you're also interested in watching this film, check out its website and attend the screening in CAAMFEST this weekend.
Beyond Thoughts
I would like to be remembered as someone who used whatever talent she had to do her work to the very best of her ability.
— Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Thank you for reading this volume of Morning Pages. All views in this newsletter are my own. If you’re enjoying this newsletter and want to express your appreciation, spread the word and support the studio for the price of a cup of ☕️.
Yuan Studio is a space that explores the intersections of global cultures and identities. Currently, the studio is incubating a series of creative projects, such as Morning Pages, as well as offering coaching for people of color to harness the power of their creativity & leadership potentials. You can reach out on Twitter and LinkedIn.