Inn of the Wandering Dragon

Last night I had the opportunity to attend a performance of Cirque's new show: AmaLuna. I have written about other Cirque du Soleil performances that I have seen, along with Cavalia (which shares a similar flare). I have gushed in the past about how beautiful the shows are, with the fantastic costumes, music and acrobatics. AmaLuna is no exception and this show contains some truly beautiful and memorable performances - but that is not what I am writing about tonight.

You see, I attended the show with a good friend and her kids. We both agree that this is an experience to be enjoyed and remembered.  Thinking back to attending theatrical productions with my parents as a kid - such as Cats, and a gorgeous puppet production of the Hobbit -  I remember how entranced and amazed I was by it all. The live music, the costumes, the stage elements... I fell in love with all of it - because to me all of it was real.

I am not talking about just a child's vivid imagination here, with which a good production becomes a means of escape into fantastic worlds (although that is pretty amazing in it's own way). As illustrated by the child sitting next to me "Wow! He is really strong to do that" (refering to an acrobat climbing a pole with only his hands - and every single back, chest and core muscle the human body contains). This is not the CGI or animation you see in TV shows and movies. This is real people performing and showing us what kind of amazing and incredible things the human body can do. This is real costumes created, sewn and used to convey characters in colour and flow of movement.  This is live music being played right in front of you with the sheer joy of the musicians who are creating it as you feel the vibrations move through you. Someone - many someones - made all of this!

Just to be clear I am not knocking the film and tv industry here. It takes a lot of people a huge amount of time and work to make what we see on the screen and I think they are a collection of amazing artists. What I am saying is that what they create is still removed from us. It is a projection on the screen.

In comparison live theater is a truly viceral escape into another world - a very real, very magical physical world of which we are all a part. You feel it. You smell it. It is in our face, a  reminder that we can step away from the computer screens and the tvs and that we can create and experience something incredible.

I thought I would post this as a follow up to a previous blog post. I had started a sketch of a henna style dragon and I wasn't sure where to go with it. As it turns out, I left the paper and went to a wrap around design on a flameless candle instead. I am quite pleased with how it turned out overall, although I think I may try using henna on further candles instead of paint simply for ease of laying down the lines.

I recently had the chance to check out the new show at the Glenbow Museum

I came across a fun set of short videos by one Rick Mereki, you can find them here. He has put together these little montages of shots from around the world focusing on 3 different themes: Move, Eat and Learn. I am still smiling from watching them and it's no wonder why. They show not only a diverse array of cultures and places, but they also show the joy that comes from taking part in these activities. We move, exploring new places near and far. We learn, trying out new activities and ideas. We eat, and enjoy the community connecting over mealtime traditions. They are simple concepts yet if explored they enrich us as individuals.

Different forms of stunt riding and trick riding make for lively and entertaining episodes.

The horses all have a large stage to move around in without leads or ropes. They interact with the people but they also have the room to play and be themselves without having every move choreographed.

My mother and I attended the production of Cavalia not that long ago. For anyone who does not know what it is, it is a live performance showcasing the bond that has existed between humans and horses over the centuries. They have blended equestrian arts and theater arts in a format that is similar to a Cirque du Soliel show - which is no coincidence since one of the directors had previously worked with Cirque. However the show stands well on its own merit and has drawn a huge amount of praise from horse and art enthusiasts alike. I freely admit, I am not familiar with all of the forms of horsemanship demonstrated here and I could not tell you how well a particular movement was executed or what level of skill was required. However, I can say that the show fully embraces that combination of fancy and fantasy that every horse lover has indulged in at some point in their lives (and some have even experienced it) - that dream of the freedom and companionship that arises when a horse and rider not only understand each other, but also bond on a level of real partnership.

Yes I was finally able to get out and take in a play last week - the fabulous Nevermore, by Catalyst Theater. Based on the life of Edgar Allen Poe, the show weaves in imagery and verses from across Poe's poems and stories. It is a playful and macabre exploration of his life with speculation on where his inspirations came from. The stage design was simple and effective and it allowed the costumes and the acting to really stand out in all their glory. At times graceful and whimsical, at times frantic like a puppet desperate to cut the strings that bind, this version of Poe keeps coming back to the idea that we cannot deny what we really are.

A week has passed since I returned from the Spring Fling and it already feels like another world away.

I enjoyed myself thoroughly and amassed a small pile of notes, handouts and photos that I am now starting to go through, well not the photos just yet. I left my camera behind by mistake so I am patiently waiting for it to arrive in the mail. You see, sleep at this kind of event is minimal at best so some things had to wait until the brain is less fuzzy in order to really sink in! But with rest I can now go through and start to apply these tips and ideas to my own practice.

Practice is exactly what I need! I have been both humbled and inspired by the artists at this event. So I will work in my sketchbook, and on whatever bare skin I can. I have ideas for cards, gift boxes, candles and other paraphernalia. I can copy what I see well enough but I now have hopes of developing a style of body art I can confidently call my own. I know that I can do better with this medium and that is what I aim to do.

I am starting to get excited about this, in two days I will be flying to California to meet amazing henna artists and have the chance to learn a thing or two from them. I have as much 'blank canvas' as I can offer since I have refrained from decorating myself. I have figured out what to pack - in my head anyway, I still need to complete the physical packing. Of course I will be taking my camera and extra batteries along with my sketchbook. Everything else (henna wise)will be provided. :)
This will be the first time in a long time that I have taken a trip by myself and I really hope that it will be as refreshing and invigorating as I have imagined... After the craziness of the past year I truly feel I need it!

Back in November / December I re-arranged most of my art supplies in anticipation of my friends arrival for the holidays. The idea was to keep stuff out of sight and out of reach for a certain busy toddler and the plan worked well. In fact it is still working a little too well since I am having issues finding materials and items!
So tonight the plan is to re-arrange things back to some semblance of usability...
Maybe then I can get some printing done.

This happens to be one of my favorite motifs although I'm not completely sure why. It was some relaxing practice for carving the speedy cut. This stuff cuts like butter, I would not attempt this image in regular lino at this stage of the game as that stuff is much harder in comparison.

There is also the issue getting used to the ink, how much ink on the block is too much and how much is not enough. You may be surprised to find that the block looks like it has good coverage only to find out it doesn't. The resulting image can be patchy and broken up.

Haha, groan I know (at least to me since the technique is relief printmaking and I am getting some relief... I'll stop now). :)


Yesterday I bought a new brayer, not exactly in time for the christmas cards I wanted to make but it just means I will have it ready for the next round. I decided to play with a block of speedycut (or something like that) and this is what I have come up with: (pls ignore the camera flash)

And after mucking around with some pastels, this is roughly the direction I want to take it in:

It is one of my "singing gargoyles" from my trip to Toulouse a couple years ago. It has been a long time since I worked with multiple colour registration so this should be a fun project to play with. I shall keep you posted!

The flash has washed it out a bit but yes, the stain on my arm is much lighter than the stain on my hand. Why? Because where the skin is thicker (ie. callouses etc) it absorbs more dye from the henna.

This design was created by a very talented lady in the states who goes by the online name of Mountain Mehndi. She first posted it back in the spring with a joke about the sun seeming to have stage fright. I have always loved it and I finally decided to try it for myself. I figured it is appropriate considering the sun seems to be getting ready for a long winter's nap!

I would like to try variations of this with different seasonal elements at some point. I just have to work out how those elements will flow with the whole design.

And to clarify - these pictures taken last night show the henna design wth the paste still on the skin.

A friend of mine has been taking drawing classes part time at the art college. She has been checking in with me on a very regular basis, looking for advice and opinions. Thank goodness her instructors give decent outlines in their handouts because some days I have to read through that to get an understanding of what question she is asking. But I will say one thing, she is better than she thinks she is!

The latest class is unlike anything I have ever taken, it is actually designed to improve your skills for actual illustrative / design work. And believe me - it's not easy! I find it fascinating though, to check out her assignments. In fact, if I had the time (which I don't) I would seriously consider signing up for the class in September. But, be that as it may helping my friend has given me a few ideas to practice in the sketchbook.

My background is pretty much the opposite. In fact I can recall certain instructors who actively discouraged "realistic" art and illustration. In truth I honestly think the program I went through was seriously lacking in terms of key foundations. As a result I do not think my art is as strong as it could have been if those foundations were in place. What is my basis for this statement? Consider Klimt, Picasso, Dali, or any of those we consider masters. They had a grounding, a foundation in crafting realistic illusions. And when you truly understand the rules of how illusion works, you can more successfully bend those rules to express your vision.

Well my friends are getting everything ready for the release of their first album. They have launched a page on mypace which includes a few tracks from the upcomming CD. Have a listen, there is some beautiful layering of instrumental, vocals and some sampling.
Today they aired an interview with a local radio station in Toulouse to promote their hard work. I have yet to hear how that went. Prior to the interview the proverbial butterflies were fluttering fast and furious! They were debating whether or not to perform live on air. I am excited for them and I really hope everything went well.

To check out the music, go to http://www.myspace.com/lesondelarose

Last month I signed up for a couple of themed ATC swaps, then other stuff happened and I basically forgot about them until this weekend. What had seemed like such an intriging idea at the time is definately less than stellar now. Trying to create something that I am satisfied with when I am not in any way interested in doing it is a big challenge to say the least! But I made the commitment and therefore I must follow through.

The first swap is due next week, the second is still 3 weeks away so I burned the midnight oil to complete the required cards for the first. I did not take any pictures of the new cards bacause in truth I'm just not crazy about how they turned out. Compositionaly, they are good. Design and excecution are sound. Visually they are pretty, and fit well with the theme. Technically they are good overall and I know the people on the receiving end of the swap are going to enjoy them. But they do not have my heart invested in them and so I do not think they are good enough for me.

They are in the mail on the way to the swap host who will in turn send them on to new homes. Personally, I am ready to forget them and move on. Hopefully the cards for the next swap will turn out better.