![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/w_b-vong.com_mess_of_memories1.jpg\" "\\"w_b-vong.com_mess_of_memories\\"")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u2026Season 5 Finale\u2026well, this one\u00a0ends sooner than I\u2019d thought\u2026thanks to everyone who have followed along over the years.\u00a0 This time I truly feel that it\u2019s time to hang things up\u2026try and forget about this \u201ctheme\u201d and begin a new one, or perhaps just do nothing at all.\u00a0 I\u2019m an artist that never really kept\u00a0up a sketchbook, this\u00a0journal was about as close as it comes to random glimpses into what makes me tick.\u00a0 And small, controlled\u00a0glimpses to be sure\u2026 All it takes is one true \u201cfan\u201d to make it all worth it right?\u00a0\u00a0 The reason why we scribble marks down on paper, or trade hours of our lives on something creative that will never even be equal to the heating bill.\u00a0 For a long time I thought it was worth it, even if\u00a0it was just simply for me\u2013a catharsis or\u00a0cheap therapy.\u00a0 These days, I just don\u2019t know anymore\u2026\u00a0 One thing I have to tell myself is, don\u2019t be sad that things end, just be happy that they even happened at all.<\/span><\/p>\n …I’ve always been interested in\u00a0drawing people.\u00a0 When I was in art school I really enjoyed live figure drawing and thought perhaps I could make a serious run at being a gallery represented artist that did chiaroscuro drawings that recalled the nice tones and linework of the great artists in the past.\u00a0 …However when I graduated, real life didn’t turn out as I’d imagined, and I\u00a0never realized that time bubble effect\u00a0that college has on a person.\u00a0 Throughout high school and college, photography was a keen interest as well, seeing as how\u00a0the compositional skills needed to produce drawings and paintings naturally translate to the camera eye.\u00a0 Years ago many of us totally embraced digital photography and image making in the computer.\u00a0 It was quite liberating to not have to be stuck in the darkroom or pay vast sums of money for essentially mistakes and errors.\u00a0 I was one of the few in my neck of the woods and age group to carry a camera around everywhere.\u00a0 I didn’t shoot as reckless as I do now, but it was nice to have a tool to document all the cool things we did when we would hang out, cut school, or just be alive.<\/span><\/p>\n Most of the drawings and artwork from my early days of this theme involved me just walking up to\u00a0random\u00a0people\u00a0and ask to take their picture.\u00a0 Complete strangers that were pretty or interesting.\u00a0 I would then translate that low fi digital image into a piece of art using the tools that I had available, namely my eye and mind.\u00a0 Many people always ask me, “Why do you only draw girls?”\u00a0 I don’t really see it that way, at least not totally.\u00a0 While some people see a female form, I see the subject merely as a vehicle to carry the\u00a0visual play\u00a0of chiaroscuro, light and dark and mark making.\u00a0 Not too many people can see beyond the initial pretty facade and realize that it takes a different type of scratching on the paper to render the texture of jeans as opposed to the sheen of hair or other material.\u00a0 As far as the subject matter, yes, I think I basically took an interest and ran with it.\u00a0 Again, I’m a Lao (Asian) kid that grew up in America, and while it would be nice to be accepted in the world of “fine art” and post modern abstract paintings, I can’t deny my diet of comics, anime, and other popular culture.\u00a0 Those art forms are very graphic and deliberate and that’s probably where my stylistic decision came from.<\/span><\/p>\n As the years went on, more strangers, friends, and random folk were added to my archive.\u00a0 Drawings\u00a0from photos turned back into photos.\u00a0 Photos of drawings.\u00a0 Pictures of pictures.\u00a0 This was the play on the theme.\u00a0 However, looking back there’s still so much to do and room to grow, such is the path of an artist.\u00a0 At some point, any creative person will review their old stuff and just be apalled at what they thought was once good.\u00a0 I’ve suffered from that many times in my life.\u00a0 In digging through my stacks of drawings and image folders the other day, I realized…I’m…not…that…good.\u00a0 And I’m not even talking about the drawing ability part…I’m talking about being a good person.\u00a0 It’s quite humbling and horrible at the same time realizing what a jerk\u00a0I was\u00a0to a certain someone…\u00a0 So that’s one of the reasons why it’s time to put this theme in the back of my mind, perhaps revisit it later, while I\u00a0maybe pick up\u00a0painting or poetry again, or some other diversion to take me from these so-called problems.<\/span><\/p>\n Since my website\/journal has been going on for some time now, I’m sure people think that most of the works are commisions or based on photos that other people take.\u00a0 No,\u00a0it’s pretty much me, my passion\u00a0alone.\u00a0 After all it isn’t the pushing of the button that makes the image and marker in time, it is the pushing of yourself to live your life, to create something, or to tell that certain someone you care for them.\u00a0 It is my art, it is the way I go about things, it is the way I share with the world some useless skill (in the grand scheme of things) that perhaps maybe, just maybe makes someone smile.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u2026Season 5 Finale\u2026well, this one\u00a0ends sooner than I\u2019d thought\u2026thanks to everyone who have followed along over the years.\u00a0 This time I truly feel that it\u2019s time to hang things up\u2026try and forget about this \u201ctheme\u201d and begin a new one, or perhaps just do nothing at all.\u00a0 I\u2019m an artist that never really kept\u00a0up a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10891,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[3,151,260],"tags":[164,26],"class_list":{"0":"post-2955","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"hentry","7":"category-art","8":"category-photography","9":"category-writing","10":"tag-164","11":"tag-drawing","13":"post-with-thumbnail","14":"post-with-thumbnail-large"},"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/0002.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pelE0-LF","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":6978,"url":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/figure-drawing-atlanta-artists-center-6\/","url_meta":{"origin":2955,"position":0},"title":"Figure Drawing – 4-20-2011 – Atlanta Artists Center","author":"Boon.Vong","date":"April 20, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Notes: Some quick sketches from tonight's figure drawing session.\u00a0 Not really a class, but just time to sit and draw, reevaluate where you are in life.\u00a0 I don't know how to do PHP coding, I don't know marketing strategies, I don't know a bunch of things that you can put\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Art"","block_context":{"text":"Art","link":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/category\/art\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/w_b-vong_com_figure_drawing_4-20_1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2562,"url":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/new-orleans-photos-ir-and-black-and-white\/","url_meta":{"origin":2955,"position":1},"title":"New Orleans: IR and Black and White","author":"Boon.Vong","date":"August 26, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 \u00a0 Technical Notes: Got a hang somewhat of processing the SD14 RAW files for false color\u00a0infrared\u00a0photos.\u00a0 All these random images are just from my photo walks or bike rides through New Orleans with the Sigma sans IR filter, which is turning out to be a heck of a little\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Photography"","block_context":{"text":"Photography","link":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/category\/photography\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/bvong_pix_nola_ir_01.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/bvong_pix_nola_ir_01.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/bvong_pix_nola_ir_01.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":101828,"url":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/lao-new-year-2025-riverdale-ga\/","url_meta":{"origin":2955,"position":2},"title":"Lao New Year 2025 – Riverdale, GA","author":"Boon.Vong","date":"April 18, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"~ Lao New Year \u223d Wat Lao Buddhamoongcoon \ufe35\u203f\ufe35\u203f\u0b68\u2740\u0b67\u203f\ufe35\u203f\ufe35 Riverdale, GA\u00a0 |\u00a0 Sunday, April 13, 2025 It was a fun day in Riverdale.\u00a0 Thanks to Bre, Thomas, and others for the collab photo coverage.\u00a0 Today I brought the big 200mm lens, and some other ancient camera technology!! Sadly the 1\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Lao Culture"","block_context":{"text":"Lao Culture","link":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/category\/lao-culture\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Lao-New-Year-Riverdale-GA-2025-04-13-002-Boon-Vong.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Lao-New-Year-Riverdale-GA-2025-04-13-002-Boon-Vong.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Lao-New-Year-Riverdale-GA-2025-04-13-002-Boon-Vong.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Lao-New-Year-Riverdale-GA-2025-04-13-002-Boon-Vong.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Lao-New-Year-Riverdale-GA-2025-04-13-002-Boon-Vong.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":124847,"url":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/digital-harinezumi-portraits-and-memories\/","url_meta":{"origin":2955,"position":3},"title":"Digital Harinezumi (Japanese Toy Camera) Portraits and Memories","author":"Boon.Vong","date":"December 20, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Digital Harinezumi Portraits and Memories Hello everyone, with all the renewed interest in lo-fi digital imaging tech (especially with the Kodak Charmera) I thought I would finally \"dust off\" our old digital Harinezumi photos from about 2011ish and post them here.\u00a0 So crazy how that many years can pass in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Gear and Resources"","block_context":{"text":"Gear and 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3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15399,"url":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/nikon-1-and-diy-slider\/","url_meta":{"origin":2955,"position":4},"title":"Nikon 1 and DIY Slider","author":"Boon.Vong","date":"March 5, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Custom Built \"DIY\" Slider for video.","rel":"","context":"In "Design"","block_context":{"text":"Design","link":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/category\/design\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/w_b-vong.com_pix_slider_01.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/w_b-vong.com_pix_slider_01.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/w_b-vong.com_pix_slider_01.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":40468,"url":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/viltrox-led-light-for-portraits\/","url_meta":{"origin":2955,"position":5},"title":"Viltrox LED Light for Portraits","author":"Boon.Vong","date":"February 14, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"I've had a couple of these ~$35 LED lights in my bag for a few years now, but never thought to do a post about them.\u00a0 Back many years ago, when we made\/converted a ceiling light into a panel, it was a novel and simple idea, but the technology has\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Photography"","block_context":{"text":"Photography","link":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/category\/photography\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/viltrox_12a_b-vong.com_.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/viltrox_12a_b-vong.com_.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/viltrox_12a_b-vong.com_.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/viltrox_12a_b-vong.com_.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 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Photography<\/a> Writing<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"\u2026Season 5 Finale\u2026well, this one\u00a0ends sooner than I\u2019d thought\u2026thanks to everyone who have followed along over the years.\u00a0 This time I truly feel that it\u2019s time to hang things up\u2026try and forget about this \u201ctheme\u201d and begin a new one, or perhaps just do nothing at all.\u00a0 I\u2019m an artist that never really kept\u00a0up a…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2955","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2955"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2955\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10891"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2955"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2955"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.b-vong.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2955"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}