A Colorful Life Rewritten // Job

Having followed Job’s journey for many years, I’ve come to discover that he is far more than just a journaler. He is a storyteller, an artist, and a passionate advocate for analog creativity in an increasingly digital world. His path is infused with vibrant aesthetics, a deep love for stationery, and a dedication to sharing his creative process. Whether he’s capturing everyday moments or reflecting on his personal journey, Job’s work is a true testament to his ever-evolving artistic spirit. 
- Eunice 

BK: Beyond the journals and stationery, who is Job? Could you give us a brief snapshot of your quest and the key experiences that have shaped you into the person you are today?

Job: Beyond the journals and stationery, I believe Job is a fun-loving person who loves to create! Whether through art or everyday activities like making coffee and cooking lunch, creating is woven into everyone's life. Having grown up in a family with diverse hobbies, my mom loved to cook, my dad could sew, and my sister was always artistic, I've been surrounded by people who love to create with their hands.

Like most people, I was in tune with my creativity as a child, but as I grew older, I drifted away from art until I started journaling again in my early twenties. Purchasing a TRAVELER'S notebook before moving to South Korea from Vancouver, Canada became the biggest catalyst in my journey, signaling a new chapter in my early adulthood and career. During this time, I discovered the analog community, creative journaling, and memory keeping. The change of pace and scenery, combined with starting my first career-related job, ignited a passion for documentation and that's when JOBSJOURNAL came to life! Though many things have changed over the years, my love for creating has remained constant, evolving into documenting my life through journals, photographs, and video, all while sharing this creative process with others!

BK: A few years ago, you made the leap from teaching to pursuing a creative career full-time. What was the biggest turning point that led to this decision?

Job: I love teaching and have learned so much from my time as a teacher. The skills and experiences I gained continue to inform my day-to-day life and creative career. Though choosing to leave was difficult, I ultimately made the decision because I wanted to explore my creativity in new ways. While I enjoyed crafting creative lesson plans and classroom activities, I always wondered what it would be like to apply my creativity to design and photography. When the opportunity arose to pursue this new creative path, it was a no-brainer to dive headfirst into this new world. While I feel imposter syndrome at times, I always remind myself what I used to tell my students, "The best way to learn is by doing!"

BK: Your stationery systems seem to be a big part of your workflow. Please walk us through a typical day using them.

Job: While I'd love to say I start my mornings with journaling and reflection, coffee's grip on me is too strong! Brewing a cup of joe always takes center stage in my morning routine, followed by organizing my day in my planner. Throughout the day, I consult my PLOTTER Leather Binder, which holds both my work and personal plans. It serves as my second brain, where I can dump and store information for later reference. During lunch breaks, I enjoy quick journaling sessions in my TRAVELER'S notebook Passport Size, usually recapping the previous day's events. In the late evening, when my mind is ready to reflect and document, I turn to my TRAVELER'S notebook Regular Size for longer writing and creative journaling sessions. I collect items throughout the day (food packaging, receipts, and other small souvenirs) to help tell the story of my day!

My newest workflow addition is the POSTALCO Snap Pad in A4 Size, which I bought from the Baum Kuchen Studio soft opening. I use it as my dedicated meeting note-taking system, later transferring important and actionable items to my PLOTTER. The A4 size makes note-taking quite fun! I think the form factor and size make the Snap Pad ideal for writing and drawing diagrams!

BK: Looking back, what’s one piece of advice you’d give yourself at the start of your analog journey?

Job: I would tell myself that while discovering new tools and supplies brings excitement to the analog journey, the true magic lies in using what we have. In the past, I treated my analog tools like washi tape and stickers like precious treasures, saving certain items for some perfect moment or project that never came. Now I understand that these supplies and stationery aren't meant to remain hidden away in a drawer, but rather they're waiting to become part of our stories. When we weave our favorite stationery into our daily lives, we honor their purpose and transform them into something meaningful and new. Stop hoarding your stash and start using your stash!

BK: With your creative work spanning your job, YouTube, and Patreon, how do you balance these different roles, and in what ways do they feed into each other?

Job: I love how different aspects of my creativity are activated in my job and in my personal creative pursuits. My job requires me to look at creativity through a set of brand guidelines, which may seem limiting to others, but I think it forces me to think more critically about my design choices and workflow decisions. With YouTube, I get to activate my creativity through a cinematic lens. Creating videos is very different from making static graphics, and it's fun learning about different filming and editing techniques. With Patreon, I am able to be unabashedly myself and explore design, photography, and videos that pique my interest. My patrons, whom I lovingly call Eggies, are fully supportive of my creations, whether that's from sticker printables to videos that stem from my interests. Through these three different roles, I'm able to exercise my creative brain in different ways, which ultimately helps me grow as a creative and as a person.

BK: Your aesthetic is so vibrant and fun - has that always been your style, or has it evolved over time?

Job: In university, I strictly wore black and white and embraced a minimalist aesthetic. While this served my ideologies at the time, I've since moved to the opposite end of the spectrum and fully embraced color. Life itself is so full of color, and I realized that avoiding color in my clothing and belongings had become a metaphor for limiting joy in my life. Now I actively incorporate color into my work. It's like declaring to the universe that I give myself permission to be happy and find joy in everyday life. Though not all my journal pages and designs overflow with color, I maintain a fun and easygoing vibe in my work because that's the kind of art and design I want to see more of in the world!

BK: What’s the most unusual or unexpected place you’ve found inspiration?

Job: It may sound cliché, but inspiration truly is everywhere! I love food, and I find food and drink packaging incredibly inspiring. Something as humble as a fruit sticker or drink container can spark creativity through its color palette or fun graphics. Throughout history, even a simple soup can has become a muse for art icons like Andy Warhol, proving that the everyday items we interact with often inspire us the most!

BK: Beyond journaling, what’s another passion that brings you joy and helps you feel grounded?

Job: I love photography and taking photos is a part of my daily life. Whether I'm capturing day-to-day life with my phone camera, or shooting product photography with my beloved Fujifilm camera for work, taking photographs is embedded into my daily life. One of my goals this year was to return to shooting more analog photography and using my film cameras to exercise intentionality in my photographs. Slowing down and framing a shot with a film camera is quite meditative, and I hope I can find opportunities to incorporate more of this style of shooting in my life.

BK: How has your artistic work changed the way you see yourself?

Job: Having struggled with self-image for many years, my artistic work has helped me realize I am more than my physical appearance. I am my journal pages, I am my doodles, I am my writing, I am my photography, and I am my creations. Though it may sound abstract, seeing myself expressed through different mediums has helped me embrace all aspects of myself, even those I still find challenging to love. As I continue creating, I hope to not only refine my craft but also grow into someone who can love themselves and others more deeply.

BK: If you could preserve one message in your journals for future generations to find, what would it say?

Job: My journal pages from the past five years chronicle my journey of switching careers in my late twenties and early thirties. Making this significant life change and wholeheartedly embracing a creative career path was one of my biggest life decisions. It not only transformed my career but also led to an international move. If I could preserve one message from these journals, I would keep the entries that boldly declare: it's never too late to start something new, whether that's a hobby, activity, or career path! There's no deadline or timeline that dictates when we need to complete certain life moments and milestones, so just enjoy the ride and take fun opportunities when they arise. I feel incredibly privileged to pursue my creative passion in both my work and personal life, and I remain forever grateful for taking that leap of faith into this new path!

Where to find Job: 

Instagram: @jobsjournal
Youtube: @jobsjournal
Patreon: Jobsjournal

Bk Artifacts Featured: 

• Traveler's Notebook // Regular
• Traveler's Notebook // Passport
• Postalco Snap Pad Binder // A4
• [TRC] 030 // Brass Clip