Cross-Circle-Field Drawing

This pencil sketch entitled Cross Circle Field was drawn by me in December of last year. I want to dedicate myself to producing Christian art. There can be no more iconic symbol of Christianity than the Cross. Please enjoy viewing the artwork. God bless. AL.

New Portfolio Site on Folio HD

Sorry for the long period of silence. Going through a transition period.

Please refer to the following for a portfolio site:

http://lee_design_studio.foliohd.com/

God bless you.

AL

Ripples of the Cross Drawing done at Retreat

Going on Retreat for Spiritual Formation

I just went on retreat for my spiritual formation course at the Catholic Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre in Mississauga.

It was a good 3 days. The most memorable moment is when one of the professors shared something very personal to the group of us students. It made me realize that the professors are human too and I felt closer to them. It encourages me to open up to them more and be frank and honest to them about my limitations.

The Credit River was fast-flowing yesterday. And I stared at the water so long, that when I looked up at the opposite shore, it seemed like the land was moving in the opposite direction to the water flow.

I am not sure what this meant spiritually. Perhaps, water- being associated with the Holy Spirit like the waters of Baptism- is an element that is supple yet powerful. It can carve into the landscape and erode rocks. It is essential to supporting life.

Water was also the symbol of tai chi- which I studied for a time. We were always trying to be like water. Maybe for my Christian walk, the same holds true. Be soft and gentle yet strong. Let me support and pursue life-giving activities. May my words speak life and gentleness to those that spiritually thirst. How do I do this? By giving them the words of Jesus who said that he was "living water."

By always pointing the way to Jesus Christ.

I also sketched 2 drawings. One which I would like to call "the Ripples of the Cross". The other was an interior sketch of the chapel space. I played the electronic piano in the chapel there as well.

Humility . . .a lesson.

I have recently learned a lesson about humility . . .

I had worked pretty hard on an assignment for one of my courses in seminary for 1 week straight, staying late at the library every night.

The previous Saturday, I crashed; slept for 12 hours straight during the day after my evening sleep time.

On Sunday, I dragged myself through the motions of going to church and crashed on the couch of my fiance's for a while in the late afternoon, early evening.

Slept for the better part of Monday after cancelling my meeting with my Spiritual Director and then managed to rouse myself from my slumber to finish reading 3 books/periodicals for my assignment due later that night at midnight. Got it posted at 10:30 pm and I thought . . . surely this is an A+ assignment. But . . .

I got a B+ instead.

To be honest, I was disappointed but I realized there was a lesson in this. I had gotten used to high grades at Humber for the Revit course. And even though I did work, I had not worked nearly as intensely as I had for this assignment at seminary.

I guess the stakes are higher in grad school. The expectations for scholarly excellence higher.

I have to approach it with a consistent effort of running a marathon, not a sprint race.

And really examine why I want the high grades. Is it a matter of pride? Had I gotten proud of my academic achievements and rested on my laurels without bettering myself from a time management and work ethic point of view?

I had worked hard, but now was the time to not only work hard but also smart as well.

Also, to accept with humility what God ordains for me to receive grade-wise.

God bless,

AL

My Revit Courses at Humber

I did very well in my Revit BIM courses at Humber College in Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada. I got a 98% in the Introduction Course, 97% in the Intermediate Course and 100% in the Advanced Course. I am not out of the woods yet since I have to take the Autodesk Certification exam. To Jesus Christ be the glory. It is truly God's favour that has allowed me to score so high. Please continue to pray for me regarding preparations for the exam. Special thanks go to my notetakers: PS, SL and AW who helped me. And a special thanks to my professor, ZK, who showed mercy in the grading schemes.

I attended my new accepted student orientation today at Tyndale University College and Seminary in North York, Ontario, Canada. I got a chance to meet with faculty and students. It was a good time. I will be starting my Masters of Divinity studies in Spiritual Formation in 1 week. Please pray for God to prepare my heart, mind, body and soul for the experience. There is a retreat for one of my courses that is mandatory. I plan to pray and meditate on God's grace, mercy and provision.

I want to take a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Associate exam. It is important for me to take this in order to show my commitment to sustainability in the Architecture-Engineering-Construction (AEC) profession.

I am trying for the Ayn Rand Atlas Shrugged essay writing competition. I am approaching it from the perspective of a Christian apologist witnessing to Objectivist/Atheist non-believers. I hope to do a good job but my initial draft is a bit disjointed. Please pray that I would have an over-riding cohesive vision and thesis for my paper.

I am also partnering with RG for the 2014 Evolo Skyscraper Design Competition.

My 4 projects are still ongoing. I have set them aside in the interim.

I have an audit to attend to. Please, please pray that I would have a favourable outcome.

Overcoming Discouragement

The recruiter did not reply to my email inquiry or telephone call for a follow up. Maybe I will just leave it be for the moment.

I also received a letter that I did not get selected for a scholarship. My friend did get selected so I am happy for him.

I am discouraged about being able to pay the tuition for seminary. I received the OSAP package in the mail to send supporting documents but it seemed really complicated.

I have yet to register for my seminary courses.

There is a BBQ tomorrow for accepted students at Tyndale seminary. I signed up but I have not gone to sleep yet.

I have been reading a book by Joel Osteen and watching his sermons online as well as sermons by his father, John Osteen, David Jeremiah and Charles Stanley. I even watched a bit of Joyce Meyer. I like all of them.

The old 70's sermon by John Osteen was about overcoming discouragement. He mentioned about a palm tree that was able to withstand a hurricane because it can be blown over and still remain rooted in the ground. When the wind stops blowing, the palm rights itself back to the vertical position again.

The bamboo is China's symbol of weathering adversity as well because it can bend with a force and not break.

How to be like a palm tree? How to be like a bamboo?

By attaching oneself like a branch to the vine which is Jesus and bearing much (spiritual) fruit.

Jesus pushed through his tribulations despite adversity and discouragement. He was betrayed, denied and falsely accused. However, he persevered. He was given his greatest test which was the cross and he passed it and was raised back to life from the dead by God.

If you are experiencing adversity and discouragement, root yourself in the Rock of Salvation which is Jesus Christ through faithful prayer and Bible reading. Talk with a pastor, Christian counsellor, elder or mentor and get wisdom about the situation you are in by gleaning from them.

God bless you and keep you.

AL

Opportunity knocks

I handed in my Advanced Revit BIM course analytique assignment. It wasn't too bad doing it but it was time consuming. I will be worth a bonus 5% of the term's marks. I need all the help I can get because I messed up on the phasing part of the exam. I did OK on the design options though.

I have an interview on Friday with a recruiter for an interior architecture position. They require Revit.

If you want to see my portfolios on Behance, navigate to . . .

http://www.behance.net/gallery/Revit-Renderings-Albert-LH-Lee/9231961

http://www.behance.net/gallery/PORTFOLIO/2891223

Cheers and Blessings,

AL

Busy again

First,

I still have a cold.

My 3 Revit exams went well. I got a good mark in the intermediate course and my parents are going to spot me the cash to take the advanced Revit course.

I have 4 projects that I am working on in a freelance basis: 1 with a church plant, 1 for a Christian coffee shop and 2 cottages different clients.

I am on standby for X-Design Inc. The owner will contact me for piecemeal work. Still nothing yet.

Please pray that I get over this cold.

Thanks and God bless.

AL

In sickness and in health

I have a cold. Pray for me.

I have to be well enough for this Thursday to write my Revit exams. THREE of them.

Not sure what else to do but pray.

AL

Reprieve

My parents (God bless them) helped me out with the car repairs. It looks brand, spanking new. The auto body mechanic did a good job.

Anyway, I also declared a major for the Masters of Divinity program: Counseling Clinical.

I hope and pray that I can straighten out my act (lol) so that I can be of service to others who are in crisis. My life seems to be going from one crisis to the next.

Anyway, pray that all will work out.

The job with the firm's interior design job is piecemeal so I will have to get another part-time job.

Please pray for me.

God bless.

AL

An accident

I got into a car accident today. I glanced off the rear right side of another stopped car. Damaged her rear tail-light. No one was injured thankfully.

I always thought that listening to worship music and having a Jesus fish on my car would be like talismans for me avoiding accidents. I guess I should be thankful that it wasn't more serious.

Please pray for me and for the other driver.

God bless you and thank you.

A mixed blessing . . .

I went to a job interview at a nice friend's Toronto interior architecture firm today. It went well. We caught up and discussed what projects were going on in the office. I mentioned about the 2 freelance projects I was working on (church plant and coffee shop).

I got the job.

It's casual part-time. He doesn't have anything at the moment but as work comes in, he will get me involved. I hope and pray to get some badly needed site experience and to take the pressure off my parents financially to help me. I am going to have to work and/or get student loans in order to pay for tuition for school(s). If I still have cash left over, I will give it to my girlfriend to help her out. She resigned from one of her food service jobs. She still has one job left. She's hopefully going to apply to some hospitals for some clerical work and get her foot in the door for a nursing job when she graduates from her college course. She will probably get paid better for the clerical hospital job then what she is currently making. And when she becomes a registered practical nurse  . . . well then!

The Montreal architect is consulting legal to determine if it is illegal for her to ask me to do work and not pay me for 6 months. I hope it is alright. I would like to work with her. She's struggling with a risky business venture of doing shipping container homes. But she's cast her net wide in terms of target market so something should hopefully pan out for all her efforts and risk-taking. I would like to help her if I can in whatever humble means possible. Even if it is only drafting working drawings and developing construction details. Truth is, I think she's nice and I want to make the trip out to Montreal to meet with her pay dividends. I did have to pay for a parking ticket and replace my alternator of my car when I got back to Toronto. Good thing I had CAA roadside assistance. My car broke down at my girlfriend's place. I had to get it towed to Canadian Tire.

Pray for me . .. I have a Revit exam on Thursday.

Good night.

A Victory

I got accepted into Tyndale Seminary and University's Master of Divinity program. I have yet to declare a major. Hallellujah!

On another bright side, the Montreal female architect decided to have me help her out with doing shipping container drawings. I guess she changed her mind.

As far as the church plant project goes, I decided to bite the bullet and do the measurements of the commercial building basement space for them. I am going to do a Revit BIM model of the existing space and maybe when the interior designer has something, I can add her design to the model.

The ESL Bible study pastor and I went to the Land Registry office in downtown Toronto in order to hunt for a reference plan/survey of his home. He wanted a sample so that he knew what to get for prospective properties/sites for locating the Christian cafe. I really want a survey before I begin any design work on the project but I might have to do some marketing materials for fund-raising.

I missed the 2nd Revit exam for the Intermediate course due to a dental emergency. It is still being resolved but I no longer experience any pain.

I really hope that I qualify for the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) for Fall when I study at Tyndale.

I am also applying to architectural firms right now.

God bless,

AL

Marking Time

I lost my job.

I have not been working for the past 8 months. Just trying to reassess myself and where my career is headed. I have attended numerous interviews and job application reviews but nothing has materialized. A little frustrated.

I have decided to change my tack. I prayed one night in my apartment and felt God's leading for me to study in seminary/Bible college. I have concentrated my efforts to that end. In the Fall, I plan to study a Masters in Divinity for the time being with a Masters in Architecture potentially after that. Beyond that, I don't know. It's all God's Will.

The female architect friend in Montreal said that she doesn't have a position for me. She is just looking for draftsmen at present, not designers, and can't pay right away until the sale of the container residence prefab building comes through or there are investors. It seems risky.

A church plant project fell through for me. There is a rival designer that nabbed the project. She had closer (familial) ties to the decision maker.

On the plus side, I have a Christian cafe design project currently in the works for a young pastor who teaches English as a Second Language Bible study. I didn't accept any payment for it because I wanted to be given as much latitude as possible. My Christian friend says that I should insist on being paid but I don't know. This is God's work and there are more important things than getting rich off it.

I also have been taking Revit courses at a local Toronto community college. Doing OK in them. The instructor is a nice guy; funny and knowledgeable.

Well, pray for me. I have to discern God's will for my life and right now funds are extremely tight.

God bless you all.

AL

An update . . .

Just wanted to update the blog to mention that I went to Ottawa and Montreal 2 weeks ago for the long weekend (Labour Day). I saw many things . . . the Aviation Museum (where I took a helicopter tour of downtown Ottawa and Hull), the Canadian War Museum, the National Gallery of Art and the Canadian Museum of Civilization, across the river in Hull, Quebec. I met with the Associate Director of the Masters of ArcIhitecture program at Carleton University and she gave me a few tips on the portfolio (present it less like a technical document with 1 image per page and more like a creative composition). I also met her two young pre-teen daughters who were thinking of going into architecture like their mother. One girl said that she can always find her way back to her mother's office in campus. They were funny. Always playing. The Assoc. Director said that the students were on the calibre of the students she taught at RISD (Rhode Island School of Design). However, they didn't realize how good they were (in other words they were very humble). In any case, Carleton is Lise Ann Couture's alma mater. She is a partner in the New York based firm, Asymptote. I had actually applied there for a job but all they offered me was an unpaid internship. Living in New York City is expensive so I didn't go for it but it would have been nice to have worked for that office.

I also made a side trip to Montreal where I met my friend from Dalhousie. She is a female architect living there with her daughter. We discussed me doing drawings for her for her shipping container home designs.

In any case, I've got several irons in the fire.

Was able to make it out to the Art Gallery of Ontario today. Saw the Evan Perry exhibit of gigantic stretched proportion sculptures of people. They were a bit disconcerting but I had to admire their craftsmanship and lifelikeness. Did several sketches of the artwork in the Modern Wing. I also met an artist at the Tim Horton's at John and King streets. He was African Canadian and was working on an eagle emblem for a poster using cut pieces for the feathers. It was very eye-catching.

Well, all for now. Time to sleep. Church tomorrow morning.

Things are getting interesting . . .

On Monday, I spoke with the Landscape Architect who is in charge of the design department and he thinks that if I obtain my Licensed Technologist OAA stamp, that I could stamp their cabana drawings. This would translate into a promotion and pay increase (hopefully). Not sure if I am up for it but maybe I can try this as a foray into licensure as an Architect.

I registered for a Ontario Building Code Part 9 Structures course at Humber College. It is close to work although with the course being on Saturday and Sunday, I will have to purposely make a trip to Toronto's West End in order to go to class. My girlfriend says that I should not take the course and to prioritize God first (because I won't be able to go to Church). But it's only for 2 Sundays and I'll be back into the fold again. Hope that God can forgive me. Who knows, maybe the Lord will work in His ways to make me able to go to Church.

Right now, I am pursing a 2-fold path: I am going to take all the courses needed to get a Building Code Identification Number (BCIN) but I am also going to pursue Licensure as a Technologist with the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) and the Ontario Association of Applied Architectural Sciences (OAAAS).

I asked my former boss about the difference between the two designations and he wasn't aware of the Technologist designation. However, he emphasized to ask the OAA because they know everything.

The Technologist stamp is octagonal. The Architect's stamp is round/circular. The BCIN stamp is rectangular. The Engineer's stamp is circular.

The only drawback is I would have to return the stamp upon completing a term of employment with my present employer. Not sure what I would do if I wanted to practice as a sole proprietor.

Have to carry indemnity insurance once licensed. It's offered through the OAA's insurance company policy contact.

Still looking into schools for the Masters of Architecture program. New School of Architecture and Design in San Diego is attractive. So are University of Toronto, Ryerson U and Carleton U. Want to inquire more about Laurentian U's program that will become available in 2015. Still too early for that. The Dean of the new architecture program is a former Dalhousie prof of mine.

on the rebound . . .:)

The Chinese Architect and me are still on good terms but I no longer do any continuous work for him. He might be good to do odd jobs for but his office is not very busy. He still has my Sketches of Frank Gehry DVD.

Anyway, I am currently working for a pool and landscaping company. It's pretty interesting work. Drawing cabanas. We do a lot of them and have many clients. Some projects are 2 years in the making. Good people and a lunch room full of food. Yum.

Looked into the Broadly Experienced Architect program (BEA) at NCARB. This may be an option if I don't get into a Masters program. However, that would mean I would have to move down to the States. Hmmm. I lived and worked there before. In Houston and in Raleigh-Durham. However, I would like to live and work in either New York or California which happen to be 2 places that I can do the BEA, I believe. Not all states honour the program.

Still working on the cottage project. The client shelved it when the design had trouble fitting on the proposed site with all the zoning restrictions. Should have researched this beforehand. I got paid half my fee and I offered to do the working drawings for free should he need them in the future. He is considering purchasing a 3rd property (he already has 2) and living in the cottage residence. I have more time to do the Ontario Building Code references.

Composed a new song for the keyboards.

May have additional work of doing drawings for a former Dalhousie University classmate of mine. Not sure if I can handle this as well. However, I'd like to try. Haha.

Not sure what to do . . .

I am in a dilemma. My boss hired another employee to work for him. My hours at the small practice have been scaled back partly due to this and partly of my own volition that I have to dedicate more time to my church friend client's cottage project. On the good side is that the project is now a 3 storey cottage holiday home and is going to be much larger (after 4 re-designs) than anticipated. The client increased the budget as well. I also got paid more than I thought I would be receiving for the design, permit drawings and site supervision aspects of the project. We are going to enter into a contract which is Biblical. On a different note, this client and our female friend who was going to be the recipient of his organ donation were not a match. Please pray for her. I will continue to do this project. Looking at entering possible design competitions like Spark. Not sure about it though. Looking to potentially get a full-time job with a firm through a former classmate of mine who works there. Also potentially looking into a teaching position at a local community college. Potentially looking at going to California for a 1 month internship with an architect whose work I admire, Dr. Eugene Tssui of TDR Inc.

Things are looking up . . . an update on the last 2 months. Merry Xmas and Happy New Yr.

I'VE GOT A JOB. I'VE GOT MY 1ST INDEPENDENT PROJECT. HURRAY.

I was hired a month ago by a Chinese Canadian architect (CCA). He is 1 year older than me and has a start-up firm that specializes in residential and retail design. Basically, it's just him and me and the office is a 20-30 minute jaunt up the highway 404 in Toronto by highway 7. I modeled 2 things since I was hired: an eco-village mixed use development (using Sketch-Up 8) and a cellphone kiosk for a shopping mall (using AutoCAD 2009).

It gets better. My friend from church and former co-worker hired me to do architectural drawings of the 2nd floor addition to his cottage, an investment property. It is situated north of Barrie. The project will be underway in January 2012. It's an exciting time for me. My hero. He is also, incidentally donating one of his kidneys to a female church friend of ours who is experiencing health concerns. Please pray for her. And for him.

Well, looking forward to my birthday which is this Saturday. Also looking forward to Christmas which is the day after. I've invited some Bible-study group friends over for dinner o the 25th. There will be 5 of us including my girlfriend. I've got presents for everyone. Will cook a turkey the day before and reheat the day of the party. Not sure if it is wise. I just have to remember to remove the stuffing from inside the turkey to a glass dish container so that it doesn't spoil.

Well, postponing applying to grad school until Fall of 2013. It gives me time to work on the cottage project and save up some money for tuition. I figure Ontario Student Assistance Program will cover the bulk of it.

Next on the agenda: how to negotiate for fair fees for architectural work rendered.