I try to fill my workspace with the things I care for; they make work that much more hospitable and pleasant (especially when you’re pulling late nights after everyone else has gone home!). So since I’ve already put up that picture of the wolf, here are a few more.
This is a little corner I’ve set up with all kinds of writing utensils. The large lacquer tray’s one of the sort used at Wacha (once my favourite Japanese restaurant, it has unfortunately since closed down). On it, starting at the upper left hand corner and going clockwise: a bottle of Aurora black ink; three J-series Esterbrooks from the 1950s, and a Lamy Safari (these pens do most of the work in the office); a pad of paper (a Teachers’ Day gift from a student); a little makie paperweight from Yamada Heiando; a small gridded Rhodia pad (I love their paper); and on it, a copper yatate (portable Japanese brush-and-ink holder) from the 19th century.
This painting’s next to it:
That’s an original painting of Couch Kelp by Janet Chui, from the book A Field Guide to Surreal Botany. I haven’t got room for a couch in my cubicle, so this will have to do.
And this old hawk is hiding in a corner behind the lamp:
It’s actually an old Japanese box that has seen considerable wear, and can’t really serve as anything more than decoration. But that’s a job it does very well.
More to come, when I get around to it…