Several months back our family sat down and watched a TV programme on nori (roasted seaweed) on NHK World. Aside from learning about two types of nori and the manufacturing process, we were also introduced to the idea of accommodating nori into western dishes. Sometime last month, my sister and I tried to recreate the recipe we saw on the show—we didn't record it so we had to go on with memory alone. It's not exactly the same recipe, unfortunately—at least I think so—however we find it rather delicious anyway. Also, I wanted to put a spin on the obvious way of putting nori almost as a decorative element to food, as I have seen in all the cooking videos on Youtube. You might not think there is a difference between this method and the way you'd sprinkle the nori on top, but really it creates a huge difference in taste.
Ingredients
200 gr fettucinne (or pasta of your choice)
1/2 small onion
1 tbsp. olive oil
2-3 cups milk
1/2 tbsp. flour
3 champignons, sliced
2 sheets nori
3 tbsp. parmesan cheese
sausages, optional
salt and pepper, to taste
First of all, of course, boil your fettucinne until it is al dente
While you boil the pasta, dice the onion and cut up the mushrooms
Heat the olive oil in a pan and add in the onion, stir until the onion softens
Turn the heat down to medium, pour half of the milk and stir lightly
Add the flour into the milk and mix well
Once it thickens, add more milk little by little while stirring
Add the cheese and mix well, let it simmer until it dissolves, stir occasionally
Add the champignons, let it soften while stirring occasionally
Rip the nori sheets into little pieces into the mixture
Stir to mix well
Add the salt and pepper to taste (and sausages, if you want)
召し上がれ！
Tips: Keep the fire small so as to keep the milk from breaking. Be careful not to burn the onion! Control the density and thickness of the mixture by adding milk or flour. You can add cream to help it thicken beautifully. You can use other kinds of cheese, of course, but parmesan works best due to its consistency—though I used edam and it works fine. You don't have to fry your sausages first, if you want to add them. Stirring the pan occasionally prevents the mixture from sticking to the pan. You can add more nori for a stronger taste of the seaweed. Lass euch schmecken!
Hey there, art fanatics! How you feeling today? Hope you're well 'cause I've got some great news: it's time for another edition of Illustrators Arise! Woohoo! In case you're unfamiliar with it, it is where I introduce my favourite illustrators from all over the world every month through an interview so you guys can read along and get to know them too. This year I'd like to interview all Indonesian illustrators and it's only fitting that we start with an incredibly talented young artist who has done so much early in her career. Give it up for Renata Owen! I first found her at PopCon ASIA then later on at KACF last year, and her work has captivated me since. She now lives in Surabaya—soon to be married—and spends her spare time watching fashion shows and browsing Pinterest.
Hello, Renata! Let’s start with when you first started drawing and why you keep at it?
Hello Bivi! I remember I first started drawing (and addicted to it) when I was around 5-6 years old. My grandpa came from his vacation and brought me a lot of mechanic pencils. I was so addicted because of the pencils! :D
It went on as a hobby. I drew at school, doodled on my textbook, redrawing images from comic book in holiday, join drawing extracurricular at school, etc. I just love doing it. Who knows then drawing could be my profession until now! I see you studied Visual Communication Design at Universitas Ciputra. What did you think of the experience? How different do you think would your life have been if you hadn’t taken that major?
I chose that major because it was the closest major to what I love to do. I learned a lot of design thinking and concept. I think that influence how I do my illustrations. If I didn't take that major, maybe I had no idea at all about the creative industry. I had to observe all the information by myself, and of course I didn't get the chance to meet my best friends there :D
What materials do you usually use?
I usually use pencil and paper for sketching, and color the sketch digitally in Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop for some editing. Sometimes I like to just practice my "creating-sense" with mixed media art (pencil, lace, ribbon, flower petals, pearls, etc.)
Let’s get the obvious out of the way: your illustrations are laden with decorative elements and intricate motifs. Where from do you usually draw inspirations for them? How did you develop this style?
I don't know if I have a certain visual style, I just like to draw what I like to see. I like to see beautiful things with detailed ornaments, intricate shapes, that don't really exist in our everyday life, or even in our era. We seldom see flowers, girls in pretty dresses and hair pieces, beautiful birds, butterflies and other flying creatures. It's like pouring the world of my own into artworks. If I have to categorise my visual style to some era-influence, it would be something in between art nouveau and psychedelic. However, it is just a visual style which can be developed and changed, nobody ever knows.
Aside from your signature digital illustrations, I see you sometimes accommodate real life objects into your work. What inspired you to do this and what have you learned from this method so far?
Actually that's a practice to me. I do mixed media art to practice my sense of art. I found different sensation working on traditional mixed media, compared with drawing digitally. It's like a therapy to the soul too :)
You’ve worked with a lot of fashion designers! How did this start and what do you think of the experience? Would you ever launch your own brand? I always wanted to work in fashion industry (of course, I am a girl) and lucky, people also think that my illustrations fit that industry. My first collaboration with fashion designer was in 2014, I was introduced by a friend. I think it's a great chance to learn fitting myself with the industry since I didn't take any fashion-related course before. I take every collaboration as a new opportunity to learn and to achieve something bigger in the future. I still don't know whether I would have my own brand. For now I still want to explore more in illustration. I might want to illustrate for another industry too (maybe music, film, who knows!). “The Nonsense Tail” is such a visually intricate book with beautiful content. Is book illustration one of the things you’re passionate about? Would you be interested to write/publish another one?
Thank you! Yes, publishing a book is like giving birth to a child! It takes long time in the making, hard to produce, but it feels so good once it came out. Yes, my new book will come up this year in local bookstore. It's a junior novel, a collaboration with Clara Ng as the author, called Dru and Tale of The Five Kingdoms.
You have accomplished so much at such a young age! Is there something you want to do but haven’t done yet?
Trust me, I haven't done that much. There are still a lot of things I haven't tried. A lot of kids that do so much better than me out there, I want to feel useful to the society, but I still haven't figured out how.
What does the future look like for Renata Owen?
I would see myself as a better artist, I want to be an international artist, as well as being a good wife and mother to my future family (haha cliché!). Hopefully I can find my own way to help people.
What kind of advice would you give all the newbie illustrators out there (including myself)?
Keep practicing, keep creating art, keep posting your art on social media or online portfolio website. Never stop doing what you like.
A little note from me
There is certainly a sophisticated, almost psychedelic feel to Renata's illustrations. Her intricate motifs seem to take us to a dream world, where everything is subject for interpretation and deciphering. Her use of soft, pastel colours creates a sharp contrast with her complex works of imagery and lines. But her illustrations offer a certain relaxing effect. It is very clear that she has an apt for high fashion and modern art, judging by the way her works are more than meets the eye. What I find most desirable from her designs is the use of natural movement, resembling that of the art nouveau characteristics. Her colour palette for every piece also mirrors her talent very well. The way she draws human beings, too, is interesting, breaking them down into forms and giving them less significance, letting the viewer perceive them in various ways.
While we're still in the spirit of the new year, I'd like to invite you all to fill in a readers survey for Alive as Always. This will also be a chance for you to cash in your vote from this post, if you may be reminded. It would be of great help to me to hear your thoughts—as each and every one of yours is valuable to me—and I promise it won't take a good chunk of your time. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has come to visit this past year and everyone who has stuck around even from before then. This blog would never be the same without you guys! Please let me know if there is any trouble with it and thank you for your time!
Welcome to 2016! Can you believe it's already this year by now? Honestly, I cannot remember much about what happened throughout 2015. Life still seems surreal and how the year started and how it ended were completely different from one another; it makes me feel like it's been longer than a year and also like time hasn't moved on at all. Strange, isn't it? There has been tons of positive development but also some...well, let's just say I can't cope with the current situation just yet. Without further ado.
JANUARY
The year started out amazingly with my determination to blog in a more organised way and draw every outfit that I wear on this blog. My first attempts were done using Copic sketch and drawing pens. It was also the start of my mural chasing days, which you will evidently see throughout this recap. Fran inspired me with her "Let's Go Out!" videos so much that I shot, edited and uploaded a video myself. It was an interesting experience to sit somewhere and observe then draw on sight. Absolutely refreshing! It was the month I got to meet a "fan" of mine too—named Gratjia, who has an amazing apt for drawing. I felt so honoured to see her reaction upon meeting me.
FEBRUARY
February was a little quieter than its predecessor. The month started out with mural chasing again. Then I started looking into learning the art of batik. Luckily, one of my stepmom's old high school friends has a clothing line based in the art form, so I started learning from her. Boy, it wasn't as easy as it looked. This month my sister's boyfriend also came to visit—he actually lives in Australia—and we hung out as a family. Towards the end of the month, I finally attended my first ever Fashion Week—although it wasn't what I imagined it would be. This also marks the beginning of my freelance career, as I started accepting commissions professionally in February.
MARCH
It was environment awareness month on the blog! This was the month I first interviewed one of Indonesia's ethical fashion designers, Ms. Sancaya Rini of Kanagoods. It was really insightful and I learnt about the batik conundrum, which has always itched at the back of my mind. By pure coincidence, I also got to tend their booth during Pop Up Market. Halfway through the month, I got overwhelmed with the outfit illustration idea and abandoned it. The second half of the month was spent in Surabaya, when I went to visit my grandparents by myself. It has been a while since I last boarded a train on my own. It was really fun! I don't know how I missed all these beautiful natural sceneries before. It was a chance to slow down and enjoy the little things in life.
APRIL
The month kicked off with yet another video upload on my Youtube channel. The theme this month was literature so I was all up for it. It was actually also the month I got reunited with my Germany gang because Edwin came home for good! Woohoo! Also, I got to see Cynthia again after months of no contact. She was really hard to get a hold of. Looking back, I feel like she's come so far from this point and I cannot be more proud of her. I almost couldn't believe this was less than a year ago, seeing how different and happier she is now. Well, let me cut that short before I start to cry.
MAY
When Daria of Kittenhood asked me to guest post on her blog two months prior, I could hardly contain it all to myself. But I managed to do so enough to give you a surprise at the start of this month. This was the month I first had my Indonesian Childhood Games Handbook for sale—over a year after I finished it. I'm so glad many people seemed to enjoy it! You can still buy it now, if you're interested by the way. I managed to get reunited with Ervina as well this month—after 3 years of not seeing each other. Although we promised to see each other again afterwards, we didn't manage to before she went back to Germany. At the end of the month, my family went to Semarang to attend my cousin's wedding. I took advantage of the time to explore the town and snap some shots.
JUNE
June has always been packed with birthdays for me. In my family, at least three people were born on this month consecutively. Naturally, we celebrated once and for all. It was also the month of reunion, apparently, as I got to meet up with my high school friend Vanessa again—after how many years has it been?—in which I took her mural chasing, of course. It was also the month I got to hang out with my old Germany gang, as our friend came back home for the holiday. Fun time all around! June was a proud month for me too, as I managed to get sponsored for the first time by Anjolee! And—let me tell you—it was quite a generous pay and in keeping with my principles. Absolutely perfect!
JULY
For the past 5 years, July means Firu's birthday for me. And, although, we cannot see each other on the day this year, I spent it with his family while Galuh came home for the holiday. This month I also took some time off the blog to visit my grandparents for the holiday, so a coupleguest-bloggers came to fill in for me. Thanks, guys! In the spirit of Eid al-Fitr, I wrote a post on hijab and religion in general. Looking back now, I guess it was influenced by many women in my life who suddenly decided to cover up. The month was beautifully concluded by my first ever LINE Sticker set going on sale. I planned for it to be on the market on our anniversary, but I miscalculated some things. Oh well, at least it was only a little bit late. Part two coming soon!
AUGUST
How is it that August is always the most eventful time of year for me? First of all, I got to meet a long-lost underclassman of mine at PopCon ASIA. It was also the first time I met Mei of Big Dreamer. I also got sponsored for the second time; this time by Aisle Style UK. A week later, I met up with my old friend Divina and new friend Tasha. We had a little outfit photoshoot and it was tons of fun! This month was prominent because I officially finished my Tuberculosis treatment! It was a call for celebration and I couldn't be happier! I also got to hang out one more time with Firu's family while Galuh was still in town—this time his older sister also came. Lastly, Divina and I had this wonderful idea to stage a swap photoshoot, which was really fun since we have completely different styles. I'm still waiting on the video from her though...
SEPTEMBER
T'was the month to start over. September started out straight away with orientation week at my campus. It felt almost embarrassing to begin again now but, well, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. Part of that O-week was a self-initiated social project by each class. I wasn't the only one with a new beginning: Gina also started a new life. She flew to Japan to get her master's degree. I'm so sad to let her go, but we keep in touch everyday so it feels like she never left. Thankfully, I got to hang out with Uli a lot this month. We went looking for a farewell gift for Gina and to Brightspot Market later on this month, where I bought a lovely birthday dress for myself.
OCTOBER
When October rolls around, as usual, I turned to my birthday list and see which items I could check off—then show what I can on the blog. So I put up the Indonesian books I read throughout the year early in the month. It was also around the time I finally managed to get used to uni life in Indonesia, which is assignment-packed, as opposed to my previous experience. However, luckily, on my birthday, we went on a field trip and had basically some time off. Also, of course I posted another birthday list. Lastly, this was the month I finally set up a Patreon page. It would mean a lot to me if you'd consider pledging.
NOVEMBER
November started out with many happy things in the mail, most especially a lovely peter pan collar from Klara. The month was spent trying to style it a couple times, including to an abstract painting exhibition by one of my lecturers. It was also quite a stressful month with midterm going on, but I managed to pull through quite brilliantly—if I may say so myself. At the end of it, I decided to treat myself to the Arts and Coffee Festival with my best friend Uli. There I met many talented people, bought amazing artworks and drank decent coffee. It was a well-deserved ending to a hard-packed month.
DECEMBER
Phew! December was the most hectic month of them all! It started out with Artvolution, an event on my campus, of which I became a committee member. Not only did I have to go home later than usual, I also had to skip class and miss a whole lot. But it was a lot of fun and a valuable experience. Right after, like academical suicide, I decided to join a handlettering workshop taught by Sherchle, neglecting my assignments in the process. But I enjoyed it all the same and gained some new insights and friends. Afterwards, thankfully, came the Christmas holiday, so I was able to share my body story which required a great deal of thinking and self-reflecting. The year ended with changes on the blog starting this year.
When I wrote my 2013 annual recap, I said it was about goodbyes. Then 2014 was like a flurry of dreams. Funnily enough, last year was about a whole lot of beginnings. It was also a flurry of firsts: first time meeting a "fan", first time drawing batik, first time riding on a train in Indonesia by myself, first time selling my work, first time getting sponsored, first time meeting an online friend, first time being a committee member of an event and first time joining a workshop. This was the year I realised that I made the right decision coming back. But I also cannot shake the feeling that I didn't. But, I feel like, this was finally the year I was unapologetically being myself—femininity, quirks and all. Let's go to the score board:
Finally monetise the blog and improve my networking ✓✓
Go to Japan, one way or another
Draw everyday (if not possible, at least once every week) ✓
Keep strong on being in a long-distance relationship with Firu ♥ ✓
Be open to changes (and keep a positive attitude) ✓✓
This is the year I can finally say: yes, I have earned money of my own! And also that I'm finally considered a professional blogger and illustrator—though still new and small. Sadly, it was not the year I would finally go to Japan. But I had to be real, that wasn't on the top of my priority list. Also, to be honest, I don't know if I drew everyday or every week. But I was stuck to my desk a lot this year, working on an illustration or two. The LDR status is still on, of course. Almost every night I dream that we would see each other again, but even when we don't, my feelings won't change. Lastly, the "changes" thing. Well, I don't know if I have done so, but I have embraced every opportunity that comes my way and tried to keep working toward my dreams. It has allowed many amazing things to happen to me and improvements to grip me. Now, as for next year:
Live your life according to your principles (no more excuses!)
Do more, talk less and plan more effectively
Spread kindness to everyone you meet (as best you can!)
Be a loving partner to Firu and keep strong in our LDR ♥
Never forget the important things
Maybe 2016 will finally be the year I become an adult. What do YOU want to achieve this year?
Tips: Keep the fire small so as to keep the milk from breaking. Be careful not to burn the onion! Control the density and thickness of the mixture by adding milk or flour. You can add cream to help it thicken beautifully. You can use other kinds of cheese, of course, but parmesan works best due to its consistency—though I used edam and it works fine. You don't have to fry your sausages first, if you want to add them. Stirring the pan occasionally prevents the mixture from sticking to the pan. You can add more nori for a stronger taste of the seaweed. Lass euch schmecken!
