“I live in Diamond Heights, a quiet, foggy, hilly neighborhood in San Francisco. I’m a Bay Area native — I grew up in Berkeley, went to high school in SF, and have lived here since college. I’m pretty deeply rooted in the Bay Area; it’s hard to imagine living anywhere else. One of the reasons I was excited to live in Diamond Heights specifically was the fog. I just love San Francisco’s dreary, overcast weather. It’s so dramatic and quiet.”

“I’m pretty sensitive to my environment (sounds, smells, temperatures), and I’ve found that I’m calmer and happier when I’m “turning the volume down” on all kinds of sensory inputs. For instance, I’ve switched to mostly fragrance-free home and body products, I wear noise-cancelling headphones all day long, and I try to keep my spaces pretty tidy.

In my creative practice, I try to create the kind of visual stimuli that I want to be surrounded by. The all-white palette allows me to create pattern and texture with just light and shadow alone, which feels soothing to me. I aim to create work that makes people feel centered, quiet, and focused. I want my work to feel like a respite from an overstimulating world.”

“I use a variety of techniques, like pleating, rolling, incising, and folding. I typically create one “unit” — an incised flap, a pleated strip, or a rolled-up cone, for instance — and then repeat it dozens or hundreds of times to create a larger pattern. I often try to balance geometric and organic elements in my work.”

“I learned that I can work late into the night if I’m making art, but my ability to write emails, proposals, or do any critical thinking expires around 5pm. So I try to start my workday with administrative computer tasks, and then shift to studio work in the late afternoon or evening. For some jobs, it’s useful to be online at the same time as your clients and vendors, but I’ve found that for getting into the zone and making art, I’m most focused and engaged if I stagger my studio time so that I’m working after everyone else’s business hours have ended.”

“I recently did a salon-style gallery wall titled “Halfway to the Stars.” This collection of 13 framed paper sculptures explores some of the many facets of California’s rich cultural history. Hidden amongst the abstract shapes and patterns are recognizable landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge, Coit Tower, the Transamerica Pyramid, and the California poppy.

Less obvious motifs and symbols include Ohlone shellmounds, to honor the unceded Indigenous territory we currently occupy. The pink triangle, for San Francisco’s history of LGBTQ and AIDS activism. Railroad tracks, to recognize the labor of Chinese immigrants who built much of the state’s early infrastructure. And rows of crops, to acknowledge the Latinx farmworkers who grow our food. As a Bay Area native, I felt it was an opportunity for me to share some history that newcomers might not be familiar with.”

“Learn how to document your work and process! Invest in a real camera (used or refurbished is fine), watch an online tutorial on how to use Adobe Lightroom to edit photos, set up a basic portfolio website, and create dedicated social media accounts for your artwork. Having some basic photography skills and a clean, professional-looking portfolio will help you put your best foot forward.”

“The 2-in-1 Tee  for now, but that’s only until the Mainstay Shirt  becomes available. (It’s pre-order only at the moment). I love a nice, crisp button-down.”

“Noise-cancelling headphones: I’m sensitive to noise, so I wear them all day long. Buttered toast: it’s the most perfect food; you can’t change my mind. And ume plum vinegar: it vastly improves salads, raw veggies, and avocado toast. I order it by the case because I go through it so quickly. And I decant it into a squeeze bottle for easy access.”

“I’ve roped a bunch of my loved ones into being long-distance accountability buddies. My sister and I have a standing weekly date where we get on the phone for 2-3 hours and do all the things we’ve been putting off all week — responding to personal emails, opening mail, reorganizing a spice rack, folding laundry, applying for things, etc. We have a system! We say what our goals are, we set a timer for 25 minutes, and then work silently on our respective projects while still on the phone. When the timer goes off, we take a quick break to chat, and then we repeat a few more times until we either finish the task(s) or tap out. I do long-distance work dates like this with a handful of my friends, and it’s worked out so well. It makes these tasks just fly by, and I’m more disciplined when I have a friend keeping me honest.”

“I love watching TV. And I definitely don’t feel any guilt about it. My all-time favorite is Succession; the writing is wickedly funny. It’s the only show I truly enjoy re-watching. I love an edgy thriller (Industry, Black Mirror), fictional crime shows (The Night Of, Mindhunter), creepy documentaries (Wild Wild Country, The Vow, The Night Killer, The Inventor — though you if you’re interested in Theranos, you should read Bad Blood instead), the occasional comedy (Broad City), and more reality shows than you might expect (Queer Eye, Alone, Glow Up, Married at First Sight). Like a lot of people, I had an intense Game of Thrones phase (though the writing was worthless in seasons 7 and 8).”