Geisha hierarchy
May 7th, 2009 § 11 Comments
This weeks theme for Illustration Friday is HIERARCHY.
I’ve always been fascinated by the complex traditions and social hierarchies of old Japan. And I’ve always wondered how raw human emotion could exist under layers of rules, traditions and control.
What do you do with feelings of disappointment, adoration, unrequited love and intense rivalry? Are they extinguished or do they grow quietly beneath layers of carefully folded paper and hours of ceremony until one day they explode with all the breathtaking brilliance of New Years Eve.
Geishas and grails
May 6th, 2009 § 4 Comments
Today my creative space is flooded with ink, yummy paper and gorgeous geishas.
I’m experimenting with illustration styles. Tidy ink, sketchy pencil, splatty textures, foldy collage… they’re all getting a look-in. I’m searching for one that is relaxing in the making, meditative even, as well as delivering a fab result… aka the Holy Grail of illustration styles. I wonder how long it’ll take. Maybe I’ll find it and a day later an epiphany will have me pack in illustration altogether and start throwing pots. Or maybe I’ll start throwing pots, cups and plates before I find it. I suspect the later would be more likely, despite the fact that I’m a complete passivist.
If you’d like a peek into more creative spaces, Kootoyoo is the place to go. Thanks Kirsty.
Gentle Rain
May 4th, 2009 § 3 Comments
When I was little I remember my Mum bravely standing at the window, knees trembling, in order to show me that she wasn’t afraid of storms. She did a great job. I absolutely love the rain and all the drama of a good crackling storm. Recently it was our turn to parade the bravery, luckily Mark’s explanation sealed the deal…
Thunder is just a bunch of clouds, in an awfully big hurry, accidently bumping into each other. If you listen very hard through the wind and the rain you might hear them saying…”Oh dear, I’m terribly sorry!”, “Oh, pardon me!”, “Sorry about that!”
He, too, did a great job. When it starts to rain, my eldest can’t wait to show me the clouds ‘running around on the sky’ and together we press our noses against the glass, hoping to catch a glimpse of a flash or maybe a fork. But best of all, there’s not a trembling knee in sight.
This post is dedicated to my Mum and all wonderful Mums with much love and thanks. ‘Words and Pictures’ is a fun meme by the lovely Pip. You can find more ‘Rainy Day’ reads here.
A date with a Dervish
May 2nd, 2009 § 3 Comments
OK, so here’s my plan. I’m off, I’m running away. It’s been a very long week and I haven’t had a holiday in ages, possibly years. I have a fantastic place in mind, Constantinople. No, not Istanbul, Constantinople.
The first thing I’ll do when I get there is explore the bustling alleys of the city. I’ll stop to watch women making grape syrup just as their mothers have for two hundred years. I’ll haggle with passion in the bazaar, and catch my breath watching the deft strokes of the street barber’s blades.
I’ll gaze in wonder at the perfect symmetry of the Blue Mosque, witness the devotional spinning of the Whirling Dervishes and feel all my stresses float away in the restorative waters of the hammam.
And then on the balcony of an Ottoman house with minaret studded views of the city, I’ll feast. First Almond soup flavoured with grated coconut and pomegranate. Then a meze of Manyas cheese, breads, dates and apricots from the marketplace, and lemon cookies. Followed by Mutanjene: diced lamb with shallots, dried apricots, red raisins, vinegar, honey and almonds baked in an earthenware casserole. And to finish, fresh fruit and sherbets flavored with rosehips and tamarind.
And when the feast is over, I’ll sail on the silvery waters of the Bospherous and watch the moon rise.
I know it seems like a lot to do in one day, but time is very flexible in Constantinople.
And when it’s time to leave, my bag loaded with rose flavoured Locum, I’ll fly home… by magic carpet.
Images |The wonderful images of Constantinople in this post are from the Library of Congress Photochrom Print Collection which shows Europe and the Middle East as they appeared in the Early 1900s. The richly colored images look like photographs but are actually ink-based photolithographs.
Theatre, anytime, anywhere
May 1st, 2009 § 2 Comments
My memories of New York are vivid and this is one that still makes me grin. Mark and I were riding the subway on a sleepy Sunday, alone in our carriage, when three old guys got on chatting and chuckling.
We didn’t pay them much attention until they burst into a spontaneous a capella number. Oh, you never heard anything as brilliant as these guys! Beautifully rich harmonies that made your heart swell.
They weren’t busking. They weren’t doing it for audience appreciation. They were just practising. And we were lucky enough to be there. What a gift!
This weeks Illustration Friday topic, THEATRE, had me thinking that some of the best ‘theatre’ doesn’t need a theatre. In fact it’s very spontaneity is what’s so thrilling about it. It can happen anytime, anywhere and if you’re lucky you’ll be there too.
