During Covid was I was inspired by the movie tick tick boom to push myself to follow my creative dreams and stop wasting time. I did self reflection like everyone during Covid and found my love for art was always in front of me. I read and collected manga and comic books so I pushed myself and I took online art classes for around a year. I used that to do some local art shows at comic stores. From there I transitioned my job from retail to fulfillment which helped me learn how numbers work in a business and how much units need to be sold and how that side of things worked, I had a good boss who helped teach me to be a better manager, now I manager a restaurant. After practicing art I started seeing it everywhere, I resold shoes for awhile but I could see what made stuff have value. Therese design, even packaging and I used pens so much I stumbled in to fountain pens and I’ve never left. During this time I’ve been a step parent and had my wife with me for nearly 10 years. We have our first child coming in April! My life’s been on an upward trajectory since I started focusing on what’s actually important, my YouTube name is wasted paper. I choose that name because the idea is “any page left unfilled is wasted paper and you can’t improve it critque a blank page, so you have to do something. Start somewhere and then we can improve it” Partial inspired by a phrase I heard Neil Gaimen say once. Thank you for this I’m not sure what else to say.
How did you fall down the rabbit hole of fountain pens and stationery? AKA, the moment that made you fall in love with writing tools and supplies.
I wanted to look cool at work and stand out 👀
What do you do for work? Is there any way this hobby is intermingled with your work?
Every job I have ever had I have always taken notes so that has always been consistent ha. It's never
going to change either. My memory is not strong enough on it's own lol
What else are you into that you would like to share with people to better know you?
I love manga, art (preferably black and white), and shoes. If you ever want to chat about any of these
things come find me at a show or dm me!
What words/quote would you like to share to other aspiring creatives?
Be someone that makes everybody else feel like a somebody.
What do you believe is the best starter fountain pen? Where should people
start?
Lamy safari is perfect. Teaches you proper grip, easy to swap nibs, you lean how to use a cartridge/converter and the convenience of a friction fit cap. What's not to love.
What's your go-to pen and ink combo?
Leonardo Moment Zero Grande Mother of Pearl with Elf's Cap from Robert Oster - It's a grail
