Went on an exploration trip to Yasogol to find a spot for plein air painting.

April 16, 2025 — Went on an exploration trip to Yasogol to find a spot for plein air painting.

This time, I wasn't alone; I was accompanied by a fellow artist who loves plein air painting.

A few times before, I had looked around the area trying to find a place to paint, but failing to find anywhere that really caught my eye, I had turned back in disappointment more times than I could count.

Determined to paint here today, I explored deeper until I reached a spot I had barely managed to drive up to along the path once before.

Passing by what used to be a jjimjilbang and barely making it up in my artist friend's car, I could see an unfinished residential building, along with excavated plots and stacked retaining walls where people had intended to build houses.

After scouring the area for a more natural, pastoral landscape that both of us were looking for, we finally settled on a patch of abandoned concrete road.

Yasogol..

(Yasitgol)..

When I didn't know the origin of the place name, I had heard it was named because foxes would supposedly haunt the area. Ironically, it's not that kind of place at all; I learned that it got its name because it was where naval troops melted iron to forge weapons during the Imjin War.

I had several photos of the site until just a few days ago, but since my 256GB storage was almost full, I had to delete all but two—which I deeply regret.

Being mid-April, the spectrum of soft green hues blending with trees that hadn't yet sprouted full light-green leaves was so breathtakingly beautiful and moving that just looking at it was a gift.

As you can see in the photos, someone had done civil engineering work and built retaining walls far away from the center of the village, intending to build several rural houses before the project was abandoned.

Thanks to that, we were able to drive in with some difficulty, quickly set up our parasols and easels, and get straight to work.

You should never underestimate the blazing sun in mid-April.

Aside from your eyesight and a badly burned face, if you try to paint without a parasol outside of winter, you'll quickly drain your physical energy and find it impossible to concentrate.

That's why plein air painting is so tough.

You have to face unpredictable field conditions and weather. The challenges—wind, sunlight, temperature, heat, cold, flu, runny nose, fatigue, accessibility, travel distance, and more—are endless.

Of course, compared to past generations or masters like Monet and Van Gogh, we live in luxury, but today comes with its own unique struggles.

Especially as you grow older, breaking down physically here and there makes it all the more difficult.

Above all, the greatest hardship is the harsh reality of struggling with financial distress and debt, constantly pushed right to the brink of giving up.

..

Complaining about my life again.

What use is lamenting a reality I created because I wanted it.. (Monologue)

Anyway, a moment ago, as I was walking toward a four-leaf clover flat on the grass, stretching out its pale green leaves under the spring sun, I almost stepped on a dark green venomous snake using camouflage—the shock of which still gives me the chills.

The magic potion that soothes fatigue and hunger

ㅡ Coffee (Canned coffee)

There are many reasons why I always pack canned coffee as an absolute essential for outdoor plein air sessions, but ultimately it's because it quashes hunger and thirst while instantly melting away fatigue.

Before coffee prices went up, six cans used to cost less than 3,000 won, but at some point, they crept close to 4,000 won. It's a burden.

When I want to share them with my artist friend who loves coffee even more than I do, six cans sometimes aren't enough. On days like that, I drink less and leave more for my friend.

The funny thing is, there are days when we both end up buying six cans each. On those days, we can drink to our heart's content, but even then, my friend sometimes asks if there's any coffee left. Expecting that, I try to save a couple of cans in advance just for my friend.

Major coffee brands switching from sugar to artificial sweeteners

ㅡ Acesulfame potassium, aspartame, phenylalanine synthetic sweeteners

At some point, the ingredients in the coffee I enjoyed drinking changed. Specifically, the sweetness shifted from sugar to synthetic sweeteners, and the price went up.

After much deliberation, I switched from Let's Be, which is now loaded with synthetic sweeteners, to Georgia, which still doesn't use them.

It leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.

Even canned coffee is now packed with artificial sweeteners..

...

Lately, finding a mart that sells Georgia canned coffee even a little cheaper has become a habit.

An artist's life is harsh.

When you spend years wandering around without a single thousand-won bill, barely scraping by through loans, it's hard to escape the suffocating reality of monthly loan payments and credit card debt piling up.

It's tough.

Even so, I don't want to give up.

Living day-to-day with a tank that's hard to fill with gas, worrying about tomorrow, is no easy feat.

Still, let's see this through to the end.

Let's truly reach the artistic level I aspire to.

I realize it every single moment, but the reality of not being able to build up any savings is so bleak.

When people see me painting, they sometimes walk up and say.

.

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