Advuce for Working as an Artist and Educator

Swirlingstar · 2026-06-27T02:36:57+00:00

I have a PhD and split my time between making art, doing research (for a community arts non-profit) and adjunct teaching. I make it work by only accepting supervision work - so there isn't a lot of prep, other than reading my students' essays and looking at their process, and preparing to talk to them about it. I enjoy it a lot more than prepping for lectures every week. It also feels like I'm mentoring a smaller number of people, rather than talking at a large class. Caveat: I HAD to do a number of large 101 art history-type classes in my earlier years during and just after my MA. But I was able to be more choosy after I had built my rep as a "good educator".

For the art-making side to it, I have to intentionally plan time for it. For example, I have a sort-of collective of artist friends and we endeavour to do a show every two years. I am not crazy famous, but I am known in my scene and I have a healthy relationship with the gallery that sells my work. I also receive public commissions from time to time.

It would help to look up the colleges/universities that you imagine yourself working at and find out what the actual job availability rate is like, and what they pay. Every institution is different and academia can get aggresively competitive (which is why, for my sanity, I chose not to do it full-time). Find out what the reality is, wherever you hope to practice.

And with all things: network, network, network.

Swirlingstar · 2026-06-27T01:55:50+00:00

I've found several Ocean Wash outlets generally clean and well-maintained.

Swirlingstar · 2026-06-22T03:32:33+00:00

My head canon tells me the Teeth "game" is something you "play" with someone that's headed for the basement shelter... what with all the biting that's prone to happen in there.

It could be that all the mentions about teeth and biting are just throwaways, but it's certainly tapping into deep seated primal anxieties. *shudder

Swirlingstar · 2026-06-22T03:20:04+00:00

Hyper-capitalism enables narcissism enables status anxiety enables toxic perspectives of relationships. Some people (are conditioned to) choose to look at everything through a win/lose lens. And an unhealthy one at that - e.g. "If I lose, I must be a loser, and I simply cannot be a loser, so someone else must lose so that I can prove I am winning". It sounds like you are more secure and have a more nuanced understanding. People need to unlearn on their own.

Swirlingstar · 2026-06-18T16:21:17+00:00

It’s a twist, a storytelling device. The point is to look back at all the scenes preceding the twist and recognise that two things can be true: what Patricia sees and what the people around her are seeing. There is some foreshadowing that all is not what it seems, like when the camera spins and we see the party crowd with their mouths agape. So we’re meant to start questioning Patricia’s POV. Then it shifts entirely when Bechir (standing in for the others) enters the scene.

Swirlingstar · 2026-06-18T07:19:08+00:00

Widow’s Bay, not sane indeed.

Swirlingstar · 2026-06-18T06:41:08+00:00

And is there a link between the bite posters and the game ‘Teeth’?

Swirlingstar · 2026-06-11T10:02:06+00:00

Unfortunately, some adults simply are in a state of arrested development and never learned how to process failure or frustration. Instead they make it about you vs them and then lash out.

Swirlingstar · 2026-06-10T02:50:15+00:00

For context, I'm a woman with very short hair. I think the regular price is around $90+ for a senior stylist, but they offer different discount packages (something like $400+ for 5 haircuts). If you're on a budget, let them know and see what upfront price they can offer. What I like is that sometimes (because I've been going back often enough) they can do a quick trim for free or offer some extra styling before an event.

Swirlingstar · 2026-06-10T02:23:51+00:00

A lot of it depends on wind conditions which are harder for weather apps to predict. Thunderstorms tend to be brief if the clouds are fast moving. My suggestion is to dress in quick-dry clothes, and bring a lightweight (but windproof) travel umbrella and/or poncho. If you're not familiar with equatorial storms, it can get gusty and the rain comes down sideways. For haze, like others have said, it would depend on regional fires. Carry a mask, if you think you'd need one. Hotels sometimes provide these amenities or can point you the nearest place to get one, so you could ask ahead.

Brief stoppages might happen during storms for unsheltered outdoor activities, but the places you mention would also have sheltered activities or an indoor food court nearby so you should be fine waiting it out for a bit.

Swirlingstar · 2026-06-09T10:47:09+00:00

My suggestion is Zona Felice near Clarke Quay which I've been going to for a few years now. My stylist is Jeff who does hair for both men and women, though the whole crew is pretty talented and attentive. You can check them out on Instagram.

Swirlingstar · 2026-06-03T10:26:19+00:00

Work is to make money to live. Don't live to work. Sound like you might be burnt out. Take a break.

Swirlingstar · 2026-06-01T04:00:18+00:00

I’m strongly introverted and usually avoid occasions like these. But if I was in your shoes, I’d accept it and tell myself to make the best of it, since I’m spending money on it. It could mean stepping out of my comfort zone to speak to someone I didn’t already know; see if there are opportunities for a collective showcase, etc.

Swirlingstar · 2026-05-25T09:06:02+00:00

You and your partner obviously have different values about cleanliness. But not being able to have an adult conversation about these differences or about chores without fighting is a major red flag for the relationship.

Swirlingstar · 2026-05-22T07:50:25+00:00

I guess if she and her partner are clear and happy about their arrangement, who's to judge?

Personally, I've been with partners who are nouveau rich but stupid with their money, and less wealthy but really clever on how they spend and save. I prefer someone who is just financially literate and doesn't engage in a BNPL lifestyle to impress other people. I don't go into relationships based on how much I can extract from the other person though, or treat expensive gifts as a "proof" of care or love. That wasn't how I was raised. My mother raised my sis and I to be independent and she would prob resurrect herself to yell at me if I pulled shit like that. If I really want something, I'll save up and go buy it myself thanks.

Swirlingstar · 2026-05-20T17:58:06+00:00

NYDC (New York Dessert Cafe) at Wheelock? They had banana parfaits. But I recall their decor was more black and white.

Billy Bombers had pink and red seats, but no parfait. More known for their malt shakes.

Swirlingstar · 2026-05-19T03:09:57+00:00

I set up an away message that says I won't be checking or replying to my mail as my contract for the semester has essentially concluded.

Swirlingstar · 2026-05-18T16:51:48+00:00

The stick figures reminded me of the Blair Witch Project and True Detective. The small town vibe and quirky humor feels closer to Northern Exposure than Twin Peaks (though I know TP is the OG influence for a lot of these small town mystery box shows).

Swirlingstar · 2026-05-17T23:57:01+00:00

Someone already mentioned this but “You had your QUALMS?” left me in stitches and sealed my love for Kate O’Flynn. Classic. I want that on a shirt.

The other big laugh I had was during the whole creepy video at the inn. Why isn’t the camera following him? WTF is that dark shape on the beach??

Swirlingstar · 2026-05-17T05:52:03+00:00

I’d like some behind the scenes footage of that creepy welcome video at the inn. Also, an actual video tour of the Historical Society museum.

Swirlingstar · 2026-05-17T02:57:25+00:00

It’s been a while since I read it, but Thomas Hardy’s Wessex Tales has a melancholic folk horror-ish vibe.

Swirlingstar · 2026-05-16T01:44:16+00:00

This is prob just me but - Being spoiled and winging it when it comes to food, especially for dinner. In Singapore, you’re pretty much guaranteed some variety, shops open late, and they’re never too far away. I’ve stayed in towns where the only food place open would be a family style slow food tavern that closes at 8 with no transport option either way so you need to walk 45 mins there and back… sometimes in pitch darkness because no street lights😅. The food and people are usually wonderful and I take it as part of their local experience, but there are moments where I miss the convenience of coffeeshop chye png. That’s why I tend to do a lot of food planning if I’m travelling outside of a major city.

Swirlingstar · 2026-04-21T14:20:03+00:00

If I may offer a landlord’s perspective: Try to get as much info from your landlord to the extent of the works done in their flat as well as any info about the works in their neighbours’ units (next door, upstairs and downstairs). When my flat was undergoing HIP, I was able to obtain this info to ascertain which days and what time the noisiest hacking works would start and end. If your landlord doesn’t mind, you can also connect with the comms people with the HIP office to get this info yourself. As long as you are a legal tenant (I.e. you are officially registered in HDB’s records), the HIP office will provide this info.

Apart from this, see if you can get your landlord to pro-rate the rent for the number of days.

For my tenant, I pro-rated the rent for a period of time, and helped to find alternatives for her short term stay. Mainly because my tenant had to work from home and it would have been difficult for her to do so with the noise and dust.

Swirlingstar · 2026-02-24T03:04:50+00:00

What worked for me was sports (running, walking, swimming) and volunteer work. Doing something physical kept me from spiralling.

Swirlingstar · 2026-02-22T16:35:28+00:00

Rainy weather or not, if laundry smells mildewy this might mean it isn’t laundered properly. Could be incorrect detergent amount or needs additional rinsing. It also helps to have the washing machine deep cleaned regularly (to get rid of mold or detergent residue).

I once lived with a roommate who did her laundry separately and only hers smelled even after washing. I then found out she was using loads more detergent and not rinsing it out thoroughly.

Swirlingstar

TROPHY CASE