old blog - Rayna Lo

May 9, 2022

Stickermule Custom T-Shirt Review with my Ollie Character Design

This post is sponsored by Stickermule. As always, all ideas and opinions are entirely my own. Hi! Cat mom here! My fur baby Ollie--who I adopted on March 2021 from Marblehead Animal Shelter--has brought so much love and joy into my

November 20, 2021

Divine Intervention – The Commission that brought me back to myself and helped me heal

Art, Traditional Chinese Calligraphy, Chinese Culture

By ivanlo

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Divine timing. This commission request came to me at such a particular time in my life. I was going through a painful breakup and also mourning the loss of my mom. The abject pain from the compounded grief was paralyzing.

November 14, 2021

Before I say yes to a creative job, I ask myself these simple questions.

Tips and Advice

By ivanlo

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Woman owned business, Minority owned business, Rayna Lo Art, Support Independent artists, Support living artists, Support small arts businesses, Support independent art businesses, POC small business, BIPOC small businesses to support, Women of color small business, AAPI small business, AAPI creative small business, AAPI artist, Asian entrepreneurs, Taiwanese American small business, Freelance artist, Local Greater Boston artist, Local New England artist business, People of color arts business, Young Asian American Pacific Islander small business owner, ACE NextGen small business owner, Local small arts business, POC art business, Women of color arts business, Asian American small arts business, Asian hustle network, Simple strategies for artist, Simple questions to ask before taking on new work, Considerations before agreeing to new freelance work, Creative business strategies, When to say no to a creative project, Artist business life

I used to think that I had to say yes to every project, especially as an artist that’s just starting out. This mindset definitely comes from my upbringing where my Asian immigrant parents would share stories of how they had

November 3, 2021

Thoughts on the Social Media Rat Race – The Illusion, The Fleeting Validation, and the Trap of Chasing Followers and Likes

Tips and Advice, Current Events

By ivanlo

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Woman owned business, Minority owned business, Support artists, Support small business, Rayna Lo Art, Support Independent artists, Support living artists, How to support artists, Support small arts businesses, Support independent art businesses, POC small business, BIPOC small businesses to support, Women of color small business, AAPI small business, AAPI creative small business, AAPI artist, Asian entrepreneurs, Taiwanese American small business, Freelance artist, Visual artist, Independent art freelancers, Artist small business life, Asian arts vendor, Asian branding identity for small business, Local Greater Boston artist, Local New England artist business, People of color arts business, Young Asian American Pacific Islander small business owner, ACE NextGen small business owner, Asian female Taiwanese artist entrepreneur, Branding for small Asian creative businesses, How to amplify local artists, Local small arts business, POC art business, Women of color arts business, Asian American small arts business, Asian hustle network, Artist creative content creator, Visual art engagement, Massachusetts artist, Massartist, Watertown artist, Greater Boston artist, Artist thoughts on social media, Social media toxicity to artists, Facebook and Instagram down, Social media platform dangers, Pitfalls of social media, Fleeting validation of social media, Stop chasing followers and likes, Social media meaningless metrics, Social dilemma documentary

Instagram and Facebook went down for almost a full day at the beginning of October. If you have a business or want to start a business, this is the clearest sign that we should not be putting all our eggs

October 12, 2021

How to Look at Chinese Calligraphy if You Don’t Know What the Character Means

Art, Traditional Chinese Calligraphy, Chinese Culture

By ivanlo

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Take a good minute to focus on the artwork. Look from top to bottom and side to side. Try to look at the artwork as is and suspend any judgment. Move your eyes along the ink strokes and observe the

October 7, 2021

What to Consider when Setting yourself up as a Vendor for an Art Market

Art, Tips and Advice

By ivanlo

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Congratulations! You get to sell your artwork as a vendor at a market and/or fair! Okay, now what? This is an exciting opportunity to put your products out there and here are some tips to help you create a successful

August 27, 2021

Five Simple Questions to Ask if You Don’t Know How to Articulate Your Art

Tips and Advice

By ivanlo

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You artwork may not always speak for itself. In this case, it’s helpful to clearly articulate why you created it and how you did it. Know that your audience may never fully understand your art as their art experience can

Reasons to Draw – Simple Ways For Me to Connect with Myself and Rest my Weary Mind by Rayna Lo

June 21, 2021

My Reasons for Drawing – Simple Ways For Me to Connect with Myself and Rest my Weary Mind

Illustration, Tips and Advice

By ivanlo

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The past few months have been really busy and I am taking some much-needed time to reconnect with myself. June is a little slower with school being over and people enjoying a much-needed summer vacation, especially coming out of a

May 25, 2021

Beam Therapeutics Panel Discussion for AAPI Heritage Month – Going Back to My Pharma Community to Talk About Our API Experience

Social Justice, Current Events

By ivanlo

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Rayna Lo Art, Asian American Pacific Islander heritage month, Taiwanese culture, Rayna Lo blog, Beam Therapeutics, Rhoshan pharmaceuticals, Finch Therapeutics, Alexion, AAPI Heritage Month, API month, Asian heritage month, What being API means to us, What being Asian means to us, What does Asian culture mean, What does Asian culture entail, The Asian experience in life sciences, The Asian experience in biotech, South Asian experience, Indian culture, Sri Lankan culture, Korean culture, Panelist discussion on Asian culture, Asian culture perspectives within the pharmaceutical industry, Asian cultural perspectives, Asians in pharma, Asians in biotech, Asian community in pharmaceuticals, Asian community in life sciences industry, Asian diversity in pharmaceutical industry, The wealth of knowledge Asians bring to the industry, Asian food and Asian culture, Our food is our love language to the world, How to learn more about the Asian community, How to be an ally to the Asian community, How to understand privilege, Diversity and inclusion, How to talk about the Asian experience, How to speak up about the Asian experience

Today, I had the honor of being a panelist to talk about the AAPI experience. Thank you to Beam for creating a safe and open space to discuss our unique experiences. Also, thank you for allowing me to teach a

May 20, 2021

A Trip to Japan Without Leaving our Home – Iwakura Sushi Kaiseki with Washoku Renaissance

Food

By ivanlo

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Support small business, Support BIPOC businesses, Rayna Lo Art, Japanese culture, Menu design artwork, Menu illustrations, Washoku renaissance, Japanese food in Boston, Japanese cuisine, Private dinner experience at home, Chef comes to your home, Unique Japanese food experience in Greater Boston, Japanese food experience, Rare finds in Boston, Unique dining experience ideas, Special dining experience, Bringing the restaurant experience home, Event celebration ideas, Shogun feast appetizers, Omakase, Kaiseki, Chawanmushi with Maine uni, New England lobster, Miyazaki wagyu A5, Yakimono, Gohan, Mushimono, Wanmono, Hassun, Nigiri sushi, Massachusetts Oysters, Fatty tuna toro, Japanese squid, Ikura, Smoked tuna, Scallop, Ora king salmon, Dashi yuzu soup, Spicy miso vinegar, Sushi, Matcha truffle, Food reviews, Calligraphy art with food, Chinese calligraphy food art, Japanese calligraphy with food art, Spoon calligraphy, Keiko’s sweets, Birthday celebration, Support AAPI small business, Support API business, Support Asian small businesses, Asian Pacific Islander heritage month, Chinese culture, Taiwanese culture

Back in March of 2021, I started planning a celebration for my partner’s birthday that is in May. March 2021 was still in the midst of the pandemic and we were unsure of when vaccines would be available to the

Protect Our Elders Sticker for Boston Chinatown by Rayna Lo

April 6, 2021

Fight Anti-Asian Hate Fundraiser for Boston Chinatown – Protest Violence by Funding Asian Organizations!

Social Justice, Illustration

By ivanlo

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Support Asian businesses, Rayna Lo Art, Cabbage the tiger, Bear Mindful, Support Chinatown, Support Chinatowns, Support Asian artists, Support Asians, Celebrate Asian culture, Celebrate Asians, Recognize Asian contributions and achievements, Love us like you love our food, Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, Fundraiser for charity, Fundraiser to support Asian communities, Fight anti-asian hate, Fight Asian racism, Fight AAPI hate, Protect our elders, Protect Asian communities, Protect Asian women, Fund underserved Asian communities, Dismantle white supremacy, Asian Americans for civil rights and equality, Anti racism education, Stop Asian hate, Stop AAPI hate, Stop racism against Asians, Fight for Asians, Model minority myth, Artists supporting a good cause, Artists with a purpose, Artists doing good, Art for good, Art with a purpose, Art with a soul, Art with heart, Art with passion, Art with a commitment to serve, Art that serves, Art that gives back, Artists that give back, Artists supporting Asian organizations, Artists creating products for charity, Artists that donate to charity, Artists that support the Asian community, Artists supporting the AAPI community, Artists funding the Asian community, Artists funding underserved communities, Artists love the Asian community

Over $400 was raised for Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center!!! I am beyond grateful for everyone’s purchase of the “Protect Our Elders” sticker. 100% ($5 per sticker and all $5 was donated) of your purchase went directly to BCNC to help

March 13, 2021

Sticker Sets for Women’s Month – 100% Proceeds Donated to Abby’s House!

Social Justice, Illustration

By ivanlo

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Boston Artist, Rayna Lo Art, New England artist, Month of March celebrations, International Women’s month, Happy women’s day, Happy women’s month, Celebrate women, Women supporting women, Gender equality, Violence against women, Domestic violence, End homelessness, Women’s achievements, Give women a chance, Women’s reproductive rights, More opportunities for women, Women’s rights advocate, Support women owned businesses, Support Asian women businesses, Support AAPI women, Women’s rights movement, Women’s shelter, A safe place for women, Celebrate socioeconomic achievements of women, Raise awareness against bias, Take action for equality, Challenge gender stereotypes, Abby’s House, Women entrepreneurs, Unstoppable women, Girl power, Made by women, Boston Women’s market, Boston women’s advancement, Women’s history month, Empower women, Educate women, Inspire women, Immigrant women stories, Show up for women, Taiwanese women, Given women a chance, Boston arts

March is International Women’s Month. I think we can all agree that the world has made progress in terms of acknowledging the value women have in our society. But, the truth is, there is a lot more work that needs