Impossible and yet entirely possible
April 24th, 2009 § 13 Comments
In answer to Illustration Friday’s current theme, IMPOSSIBILITY.
I must say, I found IMPOSSIBILITY, impossible. For every idea I came up with in support of the theme my mind instantly came up with reasons why it should be disproved. So I have spent the majority of the week in the midst of a perpetual debate. Coming up with ideas, then tossing them out.
This image was born of the classic Middle-Eastern folktale of Aladdin. After all, it is an impossibility that a woman could be placed in a bottle… and yet, perfume can have that very effect, conjuring up an ex-lover, for example, with one sniff.
The art of illusion
April 22nd, 2009 § 2 Comments
Did you ever find your weekend had a theme?
Ladies and gentlemen what you see before you is a perfectly ordinary weekend, no strings, trap doors or pulleys… and yet…
It started with a good friend’s goosebumpy tale of a healer who ‘knew’ things about her even before they’d met. Followed closely by Illustration Friday posting their new topic – IMPOSSIBILITY. And then my sweet husband arriving home with a DVD about Harry Houdini. Out of the blue!
(The audience gasps)
Add to that some dubious magic tricks involving the disappearance of the last of the Easter eggs and the reappearance of the empty foil wrappers and there you have it. The illusionist spirit of the 1800′s is apparently alive and well in the sleepy suburbs of Sydney!
(Deafening applause)
If you love this era, I highly recommend The Prestige directed by Christopher Nolan. It’s a brilliant film. The sets, costumes and actors are breathtaking. Well, who doesn’t like Scarlett Johansson!
Images | The fantastic posters in this post were discovered in the Library of Congress – digital collection
Fleeting thoughts
April 17th, 2009 § 9 Comments
My first Illustration Friday submission is for the theme, FLEETING and since I’ve managed to get it in so late in the week I think it is a particularly apt description of it’s time on the Illustration Friday current topic page.
I love the ethereal quality of Dandelion seeds as they are lifted by a breeze and felt it was the perfect analogy for fleeting thoughts or memories. I guess it equally covers the brief life of a Dandelion clock, particularly when there are children around.
Not-so-humble Dandelions
April 16th, 2009 § 2 Comments
Whilst roaming through the lush valleys of the internet I happened across some wayside beauties. Who doesn’t have a soft spot for Dandelion clocks?! Some of the images I found show a completely different side to this humble weeds personality – we’re talking ethereal, glamorous, intricate, explosive, a real ‘look at me’ character.
I found these beautiful shots in the wonderful world of Flickr amongst 108,974 photographs of Dandelions. Sorry, how many? Yep, 108,974 shots. Oh how I love Flickr, what did we ever do without it!?
Images | 16.05.10 Last of the Summer Wine, Bethan | Akira, Art-Z | You Went Your Own Way, Ashley Adcox | Dandelion takes a bath, Slavina |
Cold Feet
April 14th, 2009 § 4 Comments
I really struggled with this theme. I just couldn’t seem to settle on a point of view that resonated with me.
I would get an idea that would be beautiful and new and shiny and… somehow, while I slept, it would simple POP! My creative bubble would burst and I would be back at square one, with zilch, nadda, zip… you get the picture!
I imagined Anne Lamott shaking her head and urging me to plunge in any way, come what may. I mean, after all, that is the point of Words and Pictures, right?!
And then it hit me with the sheer ridiculous irony of it all.
This is my ‘Cold Feet’. It happens often, the muse simply walks out and slams the door. I’m left feeling desolate, like a complete creative phony with loads of experience but not a glimmer of a useful thought. Sigh!
But at least these days, I understand it. I don’t love it, but I get it. It’s true, facing up to your fears does diminish them and make them a tad more realistic. A little more molehill and a little less mountain. That and comparing notes with other creative people is also helpful. It is so important not to feel alone.
A while back I found a brilliant book, The Blank Canvas: Inviting the Muse, that I now keep close at hand for slaying the dark monster of doubt. It’s full of poignant quotes from incredible artists that make me feel instantly normal and very humble in all my creative anguish. It helps me stop whinging and get on with it, I’m sure Anne would love it.
(This post is in honour of the very empowering author, Anne Lamott and is part of Pip’s ‘Words and Pictures’ meme. You can find more ‘Cold Feet’ here. Image Credit: ‘Bubbles’ by Jeff Kubina.)
The Easter Bunny and other bizarre phenomena
April 10th, 2009 § 2 Comments
I never really understood where the Easter Bunny came from, until today.
Apparently the Easter Bunny lays those eggs! Ouch! The whole Easter Bunny thing was dreamt up because of a case of mistaken identity. It seems that Hares ‘nest’ at ground-level and so do Plovers. So when Plover nests were found in Spring with eggs in them, it was assumed that hares must lay eggs in the Spring. After all, Hares act completely bonkers in Spring anyway, so it stands to reason, right?!
Sheesh! Talk about tenuous! Still, I love all the fertility rites of Spring around the Equinox and who am I to question the unfathomable stamina of the Easter Bunny.
Now that I know, I will of course endeavour to be kind and find respectably private places in the garden for eggs to be ‘laid’ … but alas, my poppets are so young, I may be forced to erect large, flashing, neon arrows instead.
Happy Easter!
