Soniei - Japanese Paintings and Art Prints » Blog

Online Business, Online Bullies

Soniei — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:34:41 +0000

Let’s face it. Owning an online business means you’re probably going to deal with online bullies. People tend to bash you more online than in real life, no matter how hard you try to please everyone. It is what it is.

Occasionally, you might get creepy online stalkers too. Fun, fun…

However, it’s all worth it when you don’t care if it’s Monday or Friday. Follow your passion anyway, even if it means getting criticized up the wazoo (a cute little word for one’s anal orifice, isn’t it?).

Seriously, you get used to the haters quick enough (possibly even quicker with therapy?) and it’s one of the best ways to get thicker skin! I’m a honey badger!

One great blog post that helps me a lot when I feel bogged down by haters is The Complete Guide to Not Giving a Fuck by Julien Smith. I really recommend you read it when you need a reminder on how to stop caring about what other people think of you.

You might also want to check out two of my other posts:

Don’t Lose Your Mind Because of a Bad eBay Buyer

How to be at Peace Around Negative People

PS… I can’t say honey badger without sharing this video – which I call the “Honey Badger Don’t Give a Shit” video by Randall (but it’s really called “The Crazy Nastyass Honey Badger”).

Where To Buy Cheap Art – High Quality, Low Prices

Soniei — Fri, 11 May 2012 18:25:07 +0000

When people are decorating their homes, this question is often asked, “Where can I buy cheap art?”

The question should really be, “Where can I get high quality art at BARGAIN prices?” One word, eBay!

Most eBay sellers are listing artwork at super low prices AND you can also buy directly from artists from around the world!

Now, I’m not just saying this because I, myself, am an artist who’s been selling on eBay since 2004 (*cough cough* *wink wink*- my art on eBay). I’m saying this because I see so many auctions go without bids, on quality artwork… for so little money!!!

It just amazes me that people don’t think of eBay when they want to decorate their house or apartment! There’s no excuse for having bare walls anymore!

Art on eBay – Buy Direct from the Artist

Art on eBay – Buy from Dealers and Resellers

What is Art?

Soniei — Wed, 02 May 2012 22:49:09 +0000

I’m a full-time artist. However, when people ask me what the definition of art is – this especially happens when I’m helping out high school students with their art projects and essays – I go totally blank. The fact is, I don’t know the answer to the question “What IS art”.

Since the first cave painting 42,000 “ish” years ago, the definition of art – and what is considered good or bad art – must have changed time and time again.

What do I personally think art IS? I think art can be almost anything. It’s when someone takes any kind of material and expresses themselves with it. It’s such a broad answer to what art is… but that’s the only answer I’ve come up with so far.

What do you think art IS? If you have another definition, I would love for you to leave a comment.

Image (above): Philip J. Fry – Art Print by mousersix (ImageKind)

Artist’s Description of Image: Philip J. Fry portrait, inspired by a similar portrait seen in Futurama Season 6, Episode 2

Good Night in Japanese – Oyasumi and Oyasuminasai

Soniei — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 17:47:27 +0000

Oyasumi

Oyasumi is a casual way of saying good night in Japanese. You would use this term when talking to close friends or family you know very well.

Oyasuminasai

Oyasuminasai is a more formal way of saying good night. You would use this term when talking to someone you don’t know very well.

If you don’t know if you should say oyasumi or oyasuminasai, use the latter just to be safe.

Image (above): Strasburg’s Night – Art Print by Igor Zenin (ImageKind)

Artist’s Description of Image: Strasbourg by night, near the famous cathedral. Moon and clouds … and the light from the windows and gleaming on the brick pavement …

Goodbye In Japanese – Sayōnara, Shitsurei Shimasu, Shitsurei Itashimasu, Bye-Bye and Ja-ne

Soniei — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 18:42:16 +0000

Formal Way of Saying Goodbye

Sayōnara
Sayōnara means goodbye in Japanese. You may note that you must hold the ō sound. Sayōnara is polite enough that you can use it for most occasions.

Shitsurei Shimasu
In business situations, Shitsurei shimasu should be used while bowing. This term translates to, “Please allow me to excuse myself”. An example of when to use this term is when speaking to colleagues.

Shitsurei Itashimasu

An even more formal way of saying goodbye is shitsurei itashimasu. All your adding is ita to shimasu. An example of when to use this term is when speaking to a president, CEO or business clients. Don’t forget to bow!

Informal / Casual Way of Saying Goodbye

In Japanese, you can also say bye bye or ja-ne to say good-bye. However, make sure you only use these when speaking to close friends. These terms could be interpreted as being rude if you use them when speaking to someone older than you, to someone who has a higher social status than you, or when you’re in a business setting. When in doubt, use one of the more formal ways of saying goodbye.

Bye Bye

Ja-ne

Good Evening in Japanese – Konban Wa

Soniei — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 03:55:15 +0000

Konban Wa

Konban wa means good evening in Japanese.

You may note that konban wa actually sounds more like komban wa. This is because the n is before a b. You might want to check out my blog post about the Japanese alphabet to learn more about this rule.

Konban wa is often misspelled as konbanwa. Konban should be separated from the wa.

Good Morning in Japanese – Ohayō and Ohayō Gozaimasu

Soniei — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 03:11:27 +0000

Ohayō

Ohayō is a casual way of saying good morning in Japanese. You would use this term when talking to close friends or family you know very well. You could also use this when speaking to someone younger than you, like children.

Ohayō Gozaimasu

Ohayō gozaimasu is a more formal way of saying good morning. You would use this term when talking to someone you don’t know very well (even family members that you don’t know well), to someone older than you, or someone in a higher rank or position than you. If you use only ohayō with these people, it might be considered rude.

When in doubt, use ohayō gozaimasu just to be safe.

How Do You Say Hello in Japanese? – Kon’nichi wa

Soniei — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 19:43:41 +0000

Kon’nichi wa

Kon’nichi wa means hello, hi or hey in Japanese. When you say it, make sure you hold the n. You can use kon’nichi wa anytime during the day, when you want to greet someone.

Kon’nichi wa is often misspelled:

konnichi wa (which is kind of OK, in my opinion)
konnichiwa (eh… wa should really be separated from the konnichi)
Konichiwa (em… please try not to spell it this way)
Konichi wa (still missing that extra n)

Red Japanese Temple, Mountains and Cherry Blossom Painting

Soniei — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 19:17:01 +0000

4:44am

It’s super early, but I can’t sleep when I have an idea for a painting.

Today, I’m working on a new 3-canvas painting (called a triptych). I haven’t done a multiple-canvas painting in a long time.

It’s going to be a Japanese mountain landscape – blue sky and rolling green hills – with a red Japanese temple and some white cherry blossom tree branches.

Weeeee!!! lol.. I’m a little hyper. Must be from this strong *ss coffee I made.

9:03am

I’m still working on the rolling hills, mountains… whatever you want to called them. I also added a rough sketch of where the Japanese temple will be.

So far, I’m really enjoying the colors of this painting. Sometimes, I’ll start a painting and what I thought would be a great color palette ends up being a puky one… (is puky or pukey, even a word? but that’s how I feel). So, at least I won’t have to “color correct” this painting later.

PS… I think I have my own vocabulary, so bear with me.

9:46am

I just want to show you that there’s a lot of little paint strokes to make the hills / mountain thingies. It takes FOREVER, but it’s well worth it! I love the look of it at the end, even though I sometimes want to curse as I’m passing my 5000th paint stroke.

And… I’m not even going to start talking about the hand cramps I get. Holy mother of #^@*.

1:26pm

One million trillion quajillion paint strokes later, and I’m finally done the mountain hills (see what I did there? ha!)

I added the top of the red Japanese temple. Super satisfied with how it came out!

To celebrate my work so far, I’m going to get my 4th cup of coffee. I’m usually a tea drinker, but I need the big guns due to my lack of sleep.

1:45pm

The nice looking blobs around the Japanese temple are going to be trees…. eventually. How I will fill in these blobs with paint, beats me. I don’t always have EVERYTHING planned out 100%. Go with the flow, baby. (I know.. I’m hip. You don’t have to tell me. Run wit da sun, biatch… … more coffee.)

4:03pm

Sneak preview of the almost finished painting. I still have to put a super duper thin layer of yellow paint on top or the hills and trees, and paint the sides of the canvas black. Then, finito! Well…. I also have to sell the painting too. Will list this one on eBay (auction starting at US $119).

10:01pm

That was a hard days work, yo. :p Time for some Zzz’s. Peace out!

Psssst… I don’t know if this painting will still be in my eBay store when you read this blog post, BUT you can always check out my art for sale (Japanese paintings and contemporary art prints).

July 1, 2010: Sales Tax Changes in Ontario, British Columbia and Nova Scotia

Soniei — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 15:07:54 +0000

Happy Canada Day!

Don’t forget to change your sales tax (if you have an account to charge GST / HST in Canada)!

Here are the changes you have to make today: July 1, 2010

Ontario: 13% HST

British Columbia: 12% HST

Nova Scotia: 15% HST

GST is still 5%.

If you have questions on how to charge sales tax in Canada / Internationally, please call GST / HST Rulings at 1-800-959-8287. They have sales tax information for your specific province / territory.

If you’re starting a new business in Canada, please visit the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) online.