I watched the first episode of a new Bob Ross inspired painting show called “Keeping the Bob Ross Dream Alive.” I grew up watching Bob Ross. The bushy-haired, soft-spoken painter passed away back in 1995, yet he remains relevant. I often see teens come into my library wearing Bob Ross “Happy Trees” t-shirts. In fact,…
Author: Chris Kincaid
The Sleep Deprived Otaku
Sleep deprivation affects everyone at some point. I often find myself staying up far past what I should as I watch an engaging anime. Even a single night of messed up sleep has mental and physical consequences, especially as we age. Twenty-somethings to 30-somethings have the best ability to bounce back after poor sleep. Teens…
5 Steps to Living an Iki Life
I attempted to define iki already. The shorthand definition of iki is “refined, sophisticated.” Of course, refinement today has different connotations than during the Edo Period. Living an iki life doesn’t mean you have to sip wine while watching opera. Unless that is your thing. But why would you want to live an iki life…
The Great Pause of 2020
Pandemics strike about once every 100 years, just beyond the memory of most people. The last happened in 1918, and I know of only one person who remembered it. She was around 2 years old at the time. However, most of the media focus is on the economic fallout and the death numbers. While important,…
What is Iki?
Iki was an ideal that dated to the Edo period of Japan. It’s a bit hard to define with any precision. Generally, it was defined as refinement and sophistication. Although it could also be considered as urban and plucky stylishness (Graham, 2014). In this famous work, “‘Iki no Kozo,” Kuki Shuzo attempted to define iki…
3D Print Your Own Anime Figures
Why buy anime figures when you can make your own? 3D printers have dropped in price, so I decided to buy one to experiment with. I used it to make print blocks so I can play around with making my own ukiyo-e and other prints. My workflow involved drawing the design with ink, scanning it,…