TaikoCat

Drawing a lot these past weeks. Drawing morning and night. There are more than this. Almost finished filling up my 4th sketchbook during Covid. Listening to my insides, learning, trying to turn tides. Enjoying life’s small wonderful moments. Waiting for November. Vote please vote folks. . . . #inktober2020 #drawing #doodles #identityexcavation #untanglingknots #penandink #fall #october #pentelbrushpen #pentelhybridtechnica #sakurapigmamicron #sketchbooks

Happy 8th Birthday, TaikoCat! I was thinking to celebrate in some way today with everyone but have been focusing my energy on other projects that need attention. At some later point, perhaps! Thank you for your ongoing support and enthusiasm!! I wish you all a beautiful day. If you want to help celebrate, you can - wear a mask - take care of yourself so you can care for others - vote! .... . . #taikocat #taikocatbirthday #taiko #cat See more

Hmmm... What do you see? . . . #inktober #drawingmeditation #penandink #pentelbrushpen #sakurapigmamicron #rorschach

#helpinghands #helping #support #invisiblesupport #safetynet #illcatchyou #connected #inktober #penandink #pentelbrushpen

#inktober #sleep #lovebath #selfcare #rebirth #incubation #nourishment #rest #dream #penandink #pentelbrushpen #healing #support #mentalhealthmatters

Here’s a bunch of drawings all at once. Take that #inktober ! It’s been a prolific week for me as I need to unscramble and reprogram some things in my brain. Here we go, week 33. Steady... Wishing you a good week. I told my class this today, when it gets to be all too much, remember to breathe. Lastly, please please please VOTE. . . .... #penandink #pentelbrushpen #drawingmeditation #excavation #taikocat #faces #neuralreprogramming #neuralplasticity #fightflightfreeze #breathe See more

Our first full week of our 2021 Membership Drive is coming to the close, and that means... it's time for our first Prize Draw! Congratulations goes to: ROSE CH...U! You are the winner of a new bachi bag, courtesy of our TCA Partner Taikomom Bachi Bags. Please keep an eye out for an email from our Prize Draw coordinator Toni Yagami for more information on how to claim your prize, and thank you for your support of the Taiko Community Alliance! Want a chance to win your own Taikomom bachi bag, or a t-shirt from the one and only TaikoCat (TaikoCat: Art by Yurika Chiba)? In our final prize draw, we will also be giving away $100 gift certificates to the TCA Partner of your choice, so make sure you join TCA during our 2021 Membership Drive for your chance to win visit taikocommunityalliance.org/membership to learn more and become a member today! For a full list of TCA Partners, visit the TCA Marketplace at taikocommunityalliance.org/marketplace, and tune in next Friday for our second Prize Draw of the 2021 Membership Drive.

It’s Monday again. And sitting with my sketchbook wondering what’s in my brain these days. The weekend was hard for me, harder than some others and left me thinking a lot about fear. I was thinking about a course I took this time last year about trauma and seeing how the higher level cognitive and planning areas of the brain shut down when the fear response is triggered. Fear is a response of the body to find the quickest way to safety. I am also thinking a lot these days a...bout social media, I did see that Netflix movie. I observe myself avoiding some people’s posts that I know can do this to me. I am purposefully trying to find balance with postings which might help promote safety in some who might need in these times. I don’t know how I feel about the term toxic positivity because in my world, looking at good things is so needed. I can dragged down easily at times. I can sit better in those shadows now and look at them for longer periods of time, but need to get out and feel the sunshine and laugh from time to time also. Laughter really is medicine and we all might need extra to push forward through all of this. . . . #taiko #taikocat #thebrainisamazing #continuetolearn #selfobservation #ptsd #fear #spreadlove #safety #findyoursafeplace See more

Today I went to look up exactly when TaikoCat’s birthday is. She first appeared on the corner of 7th and Taylor, face and all on October 28th, 2012! I have pondering something for her 8th birthday. The date had gotten a bit muddy for me as the original box got hit by a car in 2016 and taken away by the city to the dump. She appeared again in her second life later that year. Looking at my calendar, it amazing how fast that happened, the @japantownsj got right on it and I was painting within 2 months. Anyway, I’ll continue to ponder but at least now I know her birthday. I welcome suggestions on how we should celebrate!

Thank you Pj Hirabayashi and TaikoPeace for including my artwork! Wonderful memories of this collaboration. https://taikopeace.love/community-garden-posts/strawberry

I recently saw a friend’s old tiny red tricycle. Funny how an object can stir up so many emotions. (Me and my friend Michelle who used to visit her grandma living on my street.) . . . #tricycle #childhood #drawing #penandink #sharpiechartmarker #sakurapigmamicron #memories #imagination #natsukashii #toronto #eastyork