Hi my name
is Job and I'm a twenty-something Filipino-Canadian currently teaching and living
in South Korea.
- How long have you been journaling for, and how did your love for art journaling all begin?
I’ve been journaling for quite a while but it was often done for school and not for personal reasons. I basically started art journaling and daily journaling about a year ago, July 2015 to be exact. I remember going into this amazing store in Vancouver and seeing the Midori Traveler’s notebook for the first time and thinking “What is that? I think I need one”. I immediately started researching all about traveler’s notebooks and even watched one of your YouTube videos while trying to gather more info about it. At the beginning, I mainly used my traveler’s notebook as a planner but it slowly transformed into a daily journal where I write about my day’s events.
- In what ways, would you say, has journaling helped you?
Journaling has helped me in such a large way. I initially started journaling during a very formative time of my life. I was about to finish my degree and I was nearing a new and scary chapter of my life, which was post-grad life. My journal was a place where I could write about my fears and worries about the future, while also serving as a place to record the amazing changes that have occurred, and are occurring in my life. Coincidently, shortly after I started daily journaling, I also decided to move halfway across the world to Korea and start my career in a foreign land. My journal has honestly captured such an incredible time in my life and it has helped me grow so much creatively and personally.
It sounds so cheesy, but everyday life events inspire me so
much. It might be the fact that I live in rural Korea and everything around me
is vastly different to the life I’ve lived in Canada. The culture, the traditions, and the little
things, (like the look of unpaved roads, the smell of the beach and design of
the milk cartons) have aggregated to create such a rich and intense experience
for me. My experiences here have been so
quirky and different that it’s hard not to write or journal about it. My friends and family inspire me to create as
well. They are quite supportive and they
continuously provide me with feedback on things I could improve on.
- Who are some people that motivate or inspire you creatively?
I was searching videos on YouTube
one day and stumbled on an interview with Aaron Draplin, a graphic and logo
designer, and one of the cofounders of the Field Notes Company. He’s such a charismatic person and his
passion for design has definitely inspired me when I feel too lazy to create
something or to journal. At this point,
I think I’ve watched and listened to every video or radio show about him and I
always take something away from it. The journaling and calligraphy community on Instagram is quite remarkable and I often find myself looking through my Instagram feed and quickly locking my phone to start journaling and creating. Everyone on that platform is so creative and I feel so inspired to create after a quick peek at everyone’s current posts.
I’ve had my Midori Traveler’s Notebook for a little over a
year now. I was drawn to the Midori Traveler’s Notebook because it's a totally
customizable system. The ability to
change the types of inserts that go inside the notebook was the biggest selling
point. Like I said earlier, I purchased
my Midori so I could use it as an agenda.
I used to swear by the hardcover Moleskine agendas, but I hated the fact
that I could no longer use the agenda after that year. In addition, I always loved the look of worn
in leather, so I wanted a leather notebook or agenda that could change and age
with me. The Midori Traveler’s Notebook
basically fulfills my criteria for the perfect notebook due to it’s reusability
and it’s ability to age and change with its user.
- How are you currently using your Midori Traveler's Notebook, and how is it set up?
I use a regular-sized traveler’s notebook as both an agenda and daily journal, and it’s part of my everyday carry. In that notebook, I keep a monthly calendar insert which serves as a catch all agenda for work and personal events and a blank or grid insert which contains my daily journal. Since I try to journal everyday, my journal acts as a makeshift art journal and brain dump depending on the day. I do have multiple traveler’s notebooks in the regular size, so I try to rotate the notebooks so they all get some use. When they are not in use, these traveler’s notebooks hold completed inserts as well as my collage notebook and reading journal. I also have a passport-sized traveler’s notebook, which acts as a bullet journal, and holds all of my tasks for the day. I recently started bullet journaling so I’m still trying to figure out a set up that works for me.
As for traveling, I usually bring a regular-sized traveler’s notebook (usually my black one) and I swap out the inserts so it only holds one insert for journaling, a kraft folder to hold pamphlets, itineraries and tickets, and lastly a zipper pocket to hold my passport and other documents. I’ve used this set up various times during travels, and I find that it keeps me quite organized.
- Do you carry your Traveler's Notebook around often, or is it kept mainly at home?
I try to bring my regular-sized traveler’s notebook
everywhere I go. Although it’s quite
large, if I have a backpack with me, I will almost always bring my traveler’s
notebook with me since it holds important information that I refer to on a
regular basis (like transit times, various schedules and reminders).
- Which Midori Traveler's Notebook color is your favorite?
My favourite notebook is definitely my black traveler’s
notebook. It was my first traveler’s notebook and I love black leather
goods. This particular notebook is so
dinged and scratched up and it just reminds me so much of my various travels
and adventures.
- How and when did you get into your calligraphy hobby?
I started learning calligraphy around the time that I bought
my first fountain pen, which was also around the same time I purchased my first
traveler’s notebook. I was looking for a
hobby that I could do to de-stress and decompress after a long day at school. It honestly was the opposite of that because
I got so frustrated when I started learning calligraphy. I wanted to see
results right away but that obviously wasn’t the case. I quickly ditched pointed pen/dip pen
calligraphy and opted for brush calligraphy and I found myself enjoying brush
calligraphy more. Now I try to practice
both types of calligraphy. I’m not great
at it but I’m learning and that’s what counts.
- Is there a particular time of day that you find yourself journaling or creating more than others?
I love mornings, but there isn’t any time to journal in the
morning for me, unless it’s during the weekend.
Most of the time I journal in the evening and it’s a great way to
reflect on the day.
- What are some of your favorite art supplies that you're currently enjoying?
I’m loving clear stamps at the moment. I recently received my first clear stamp set
(it’s a Recollections Alpha set) in a care package from my family. I’ve always loved rubber stamps but clear
stamps allow you to see exactly where you’re stamping on the page.
- What are your go-to pens at the moment?
I’m a fountain pen enthusiast so I generally reach for a
fountain pen when I’m writing something down.
My current favourite is probably my TWSBI Eco in black since it’s such a
smooth writing pen. When I’m not writing
with a fountain pen, I like to reach for the Muji 0.38 pen for writing and the Pigma
Micron 01 pen for drawing and lettering.
I love The T.I.ME Stationery store in Seoul. It’s run by Seong Joon Shin, a fellow
traveler’s notebook user and mini celebrity in the traveler’s notebook scene in
Korea. His store is probably the next
best thing to the Traveler’s Factory store in Nakameguro, Japan. Back in Vancouver, I love the Paper Ya store
for its quirky stationery selection and The Regional Assembly of Text
stationery store for vintage themed stationery.
I’ve always wanted to visit the Baum Kuchen store in Los Angeles, but
alas I’ll have to settle for their wonderful online shop.
- Your favorite color?
Black. I know it’s
technically not a colour, but I love black and how simple it is. Whether it is for clothes, leather goods,
ink, or electronic devices, I think black just looks so sleek, classy and
timeless.
- Favorite food?
This is probably the most difficult question since I’m such a
foodie and love many different types of food.
If I had to narrow it down though, it would be DimSum, Filipino-style barbeque
and ice cream. It’s just too difficult
to choose one.
- What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
I’m a guy! Since I haven’t shown my face or a photo of
myself, many people think I’m a female.
I guess there just aren’t that males within the crafting and journaling
community, so people assume that I’m female.
Although few, there are many great male journalers, and traveler’s
notebook enthusiasts like Seong Joon Shin (@seong.joon.shin), Harry (@harry.ix),
Juan Estey (@juanestey), Miguel (@acupandpages), and of course Patrick Ng
(@patrickng).
- What advice, tip, or suggestion would you give for anyone looking to start their own path in art journaling or creative works?
As Nike puts it, just do it! I feel like everyone has
answered this question similarly one way or another, but I think it’s
true. Although we may have voices in the
back of our head saying otherwise, just going out and starting an art journal
or new creative endeavor is the best way to dismiss those fears and
anxieties. Sure you won’t be perfect at
it in the beginning, but just like any other skill, you will learn and become
better.
- Other than art journaling, what are some of your
other hobbies and interests?
I love photography, more specifically film photography. Although it’s difficult, and at times expensive,
I find so much more satisfaction in taking time to frame shots with a film
camera than haphazardly taking hundreds of photos on a digital camera. Don’t get me wrong though, I love digital
photography, and you can always find me attached to my Fujifilm X-T1 digital
camera when I’m not using my Canon AE-1 film camera.
**********
Job, thank you so much for sharing your art journalings and creative works with us! Such a pleasure.
And for all you wonderful readers looking to connect, you can find more of Job's journalings and creativity here:
INSTAGRAM: @jobsjournal
BLOG: jobsjournal.org
YOUTUBE: Job's Journal
**Click here for more journal inspirations and past guests on The Journal Diaries.**
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