September 2025 Newsletter

From Dan, Your Friend and Researcher

Dear Friends,

This month’s newsletter is a little different! Instead of a recap of my day-to-day, I’m focusing on something I’m very excited to share: my Art History papers. But first, let me show you a bit of fun I had with Lego.

I was introduced to BrickLink this month, a site where you can source individual Lego parts or sets from resellers. With a little imagination (and some lucky finds), I built Annie and Daisy as Lego figures (photo). I’m looking forward to experimenting more with hair, clothes, and accessories for future versions!

Now onto the main focus: my Art History papers.
Below is a list of Art History papers I’ve made, listed in order of creation. Newest papers will be found at the bottom, and I’ve been getting better at making them. Though, they all cover vastly different topics, so please feel free to choose any that interest you!

As they are Art History papers, don’t hesitate to look at the photos first—if anything grabs you, the surrounding text will be on topic. They’re formatted in two columns: read the left column first, then the right. And sometimes there are special features like interviews or afterwords, so keep an eye out.

Have fun, and thanks for engaging with my interests! These topics are hand-selected because they have a lot of meaning to me, some I’ve thought about for years, and others I’ve adopted into my own creative passions. I’m really glad you’ve considered giving them a shot.

Friends With You — This paper covers an art collective you may not have heard about, but one that has brought a lot of joy to me. Friends With You is a duo that spreads positivity and bright colors through everything from plushies to massive walkable installations. Their story is rich, playful, and deeply intentional. I wrote about them because their unique use of color and their animistic approach to art has shaped how I think about my own creative work. Their philosophy has stuck with me, and this paper was my way of celebrating that influence.

From Dada Collages to AI Art — In this paper, I compare dadaism, which was a purposeful and cohesive “anti-art” movement, to the much newer rise of AI art. While AI art often feels disruptive without any unifying purpose, I explore how its possibilities could go beyond controversy. I wrote this paper because I wanted to reflect on alternative uses of AI art, not just the arguments around it. It matters to me because I see how art movements can echo each other, and I believe that even in disruption, there’s a chance to create meaning.

Mannequins — This paper is all about mannequins: how they are displayed, reused, salvaged, or even transformed into unsettling art. To me, mannequins aren’t just props in a store—they’re fashion buddies and muses, depending on the context. I love this topic because mannequins play a role in my own life: they show up in my stories, and they’re essential for my sewing projects. Writing this paper let me tie together their cultural history with my personal connection to them.

Slow Art — This paper explores art that takes time: art that is slow to make, slow to experience, or slow to perform. I created a full breakdown of different forms of slow art, showing how time itself becomes part of the artistic process. This topic is personally meaningful because I try to approach art this way myself: slowly and fully, without distraction. Writing this paper was both a research project and a personal reminder to put down my phone and give art my undivided attention.

Monoline — This paper focuses on an art style built on uniform line width. What began as a limitation became a practical tool for animation and later a nostalgic, recognizable style in contemporary art. I wrote about monoline because it has become my own primary drawing style over the past two years. This paper let me trace its history while also reflecting on why I find it so freeing and enjoyable. It’s part research, part love letter to the way I’ve been drawing lately.

And finally, a teaser: my next paper will be on PS1 low-poly graphics. It’s not my last Art History paper, but after that, I may be switching gears into Human Psychology. Stay tuned!

That’s September! I hope you’ll take some time to read the papers and maybe even share which ones spoke to you. More importantly, I encourage you to dive deep into your own passions—whether art, hobbies, or ideas you’ve carried with you for years. Exploring them fully is worth it.

See you next time!