7 things I loved this April

Daily to do lists, biographies of poets, and a special May shop discount

Welcome to SEE YOU—a companion for artists, thinkers, and analog lovers with ideas, inspiration, and reflections on living an intentional creative life.

Today I’ve got seven monthly mentions and recommendations for your creative practice. Make sure to scroll to the end to see my shop announcements + receive a special discount!

1. Cherry blossoms

April was not my favorite month. Spring can be so emotionally overwhelming (especially when you write a confessional piece on AI! Thank you for the lovely responses—y’all are truly the best).

The gloominess made the cherry blossoms feel extra special this year, out in full force after the harsh winter. I somehow made it to Central Park twice to see both yoshino and kanzan varietals. Yoshinos bloom on the east side of the reservoir in early April, then the kanzan on the west in mid- to late April.

Yoshino (white and light pink), kanzan (deep pink)

In looking for a poem to pair with these ephemeral flowers, I found “Cherry Blossoms” by Toi Derricotte. The full poem is here, but here is my favorite line:

All around us
the blossoms
flurry down
whispering,

Be patient
you have an ancient beauty.

2. Mnemosyne Daily Notebook

Every few months I feel a NEED to overhaul my planning system. This year I’ve been planning in my Hobonichi Weeks, but it started getting too cramped in there.

Adding this Mnemosyne A6 Daily Notebook has been my gamechanger this April. I have room to write my to-dos at a granular level and space to write affirmations or jot notes on the other side. The spiral binding makes it easy to keep this pad out on my desk all day. My routine as of late is to plan my week on Sunday in the Weeks, then plan each morning in the Mnemosyne!

3. Collecting Korean slang

Korean Neologisms Vol. 2 & Vol. 1

My most popular zine when I sell at in-person markets is Korean Neologisms Volume 1. This zine is a collection of Korean slang, internet lingo, and new words that even native speakers can’t keep track of! You absolutely don’t have to understand Korean to get this zine—it’s a chance to appreciate societal trends and novelty through the lens of new words.

I had a lot of fun translating and illustrating new words for Korean Neologisms Volume 2, which is now in my shop. If you’re considering buying it online, scroll to the end for a special promo code!

4. Painting outside

In “Finding my way back to drawing”, I mentioned that drawing is my way to be outside. April and May are some of the best months to draw and paint outside—not too hot or cold, with an abundance of color! There’s a reason the plein air painter community chose April to do their daily painting challenge (#pleinairpril).

I am not anywhere near a daily grind, but I’ve been trying to paint outdoors once a week. Here’s one painting, done in an abandoned Stillman and Birn sketchbook. I forgot how much quality paper can completely transform the painting process!

5. A nonlinear biography on Audre Lorde

I have been slowly reading and savoring Alexis Pauline Gumbs’ biography of Audre Lorde, titled Survival is a Promise. Alexis Gumbs weaves in so much rich research and concepts into this retelling of Audre Lorde’s life.

It would be a frustrating read if you are expecting a chronological history like a typical biography, but it’s an amazingly insightful read if you want your brain cracked apart, and to possibly live more like Lorde and hear her spirit!

6. Saved by the beauty of the world

Director Sasha Waters introduces new documentary at IFC Center, April 2026

In my thirteen years of living in NYC I have never been to art house movie theater IFC Center. Oh how I've sinned! I rectified my wrongdoings a few nights ago to catch the premiere for Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World.

This documentary on notoriously private poet Mary Oliver comes out via American Masters PBS in August, and you can watch the trailer here. I promise it is worth watching—full of gorgeous 16mm nature cinematography, celebrities like Stephen Colbert tearing up while reading timeless poetry, and filmmaker and longtime friend John Waters providing irreverent commentary on Mary’s life.

7. Ambient writing music

I am always in search of good background music to play while writing, journaling, or doing any task that requires deep thought. No lyrics, of course! My current favorites are Fumio Miyashita’s White Morning and this morning pages Spotify playlist. What do you listen to while you make art or write? Feel free to share in the comments.

Preorders open for Summer Practice

From now through May 15, you can preorder Summer Practice at its lowest price. This seasonal companion zine contains journal prompts, practices, and reflections to accompany you through July-September 2026.

I do preorders so that I know how many copies to order! This also means I can ship them out quicker—preorder folks will receive their zines before July. So many of you have been loving Spring Practice and sending me photos (see below!) I hope these zines can be a part of your summer as well 😎

May celebratory promo!

I’m doing two art markets in May, so I’ve added a few new products to my shop (like the stickers above!) To celebrate, I’m offering the following promotions through next week, May 7 11:59 PM EST:

$5 off any order over $15 with code MAYDAY

For SEE YOU paid subscribers based in the USA, you can stack the above promo code with one week only free shipping on orders over $15! Add your secret promo code found in the footer of your email (the one that usually gives you 10% off any order).

Thank you for your readership and support, truly. Your attention is precious and I am so grateful you have chosen to give your attention to SEE YOU! May you be wise with the attentional seeds you sow this May 🌱