This one comes with many complex feelings.
Let’s rewind to more than 30 years ago when as a 1st grader, I came home shouting, “when I grow up, I want to be an artist!” I was met with “no, artists don’t make money until after they die.” I quickly learned that any pursuit of art or creativity is frowned upon. I had a big fight over my desire to pivot to going to school for graphic design when I was graduating college. Throughout time, I’ve hid instances of me taking little art classes here and there or working on any creative project.
The funny thing is I truly believe I get my creative side from my dad. He was always the better doodler of my parents, the one with the beautiful calligraphy and penmanship, an admirer of certain art pieces and paintings. He was also a big collector of my annual homemade cards for Father’s Day and other holidays - I was finding myself needing to top whatever I made the year before, one of which inspired my Happy 爸爸 Day card. And, in recent years, I’ve asked him to help me with the phrases for my annual Chinese New Year prints. This one here was the first print I illustrated for, that was actually all of his writing that I scanned in before printing.
As an adult now with my own kids, I also do understand why my dad was so against a career path that strayed from the better known, traditional routes (though, a dietitian is also not exactly a known one). While my husband (also an artist, but with amazingly supportive parents) and I very much encourage our little ones’ creativity, I know that I’ve benefited from my parents’ hard work as business owners. My dad has shared numerous stories of having nothing, not even a good pair of shoes, as a child to the risks he’s taken in pursuit of a better life to all the hardworking days as a restaurant owner, so that I can have the cushy life that I have now.
Admittedly, when I first started selling my card or two, I didn’t mention any of it to my dad. But, increasingly, I’ve told him when I am selling at an event or tiny, tiny insights into my business. There was no better time than this recent event at the Ferry Building in SF where I grew up and where my dad and rest of my family still live, to have him come and visit. He, business owner that he’s always been, scanned the number of customers at the event, asked me how much it costs to be there, and how much I made at the end of the day… while less about my artwork, I will take it!
On this Father’s Day month, I am immensely grateful for everything, everything (!) that my dad has given me. I often wonder what my dad would be like if he had the life I have, growing up here - I always thought he would be a history teacher! Or, vice versa, how differently would I think if I had the hard life he had growing up? While some of our values and ideals are different, I have the most respect and admiration for the kind of hard work my dad has demonstrated, the grit, always putting our family first, still to this day, looking out for me and my future.