Friday, January 15, 2016

Fashioning My Cyber Microcosm: A Secret Code Carved.

The past week was a strange mixture of elation and a touch of melancholy; I spent the last 10 days accompanying my husband on one of his training workshops out of town which was held in Phoenix AZ, in an attempt to allow myself to "get out more" for the new year. I was listening obsessively to Pagan Poetry by Björk that it turned into my unofficial theme song.


I took the opportunity to plan the weekend with one of my friends I met while living in Holbrook; we packed as much into the weekend as humanly possible-- we took a tour at Taliesin West, watched a piano duel, tasted a cheese platter, went to the zoo, rode a camel, fed giraffes, experienced a "4D" theater, shopped at the mall, and I tasted sushi for the very first time. Actually, there were a lot of firsts this past weekend, now that I think about it... You see how tiny the rock I lived under was? It gets even smaller, trust me.

The spider rolls were my favorite

That's right, up until the past weekend I had never tasted sushi or anything like it at all. To be frank, the idea of sushi sounded repulsive-- raw fish? Kinda crazy, I thought. However, seeing as I am forcing myself out of the proverbial box, I said to hell with regression.
I have never been so totally wrong about something in my entire life; it was, without a shadow of a doubt, the single most exquisite dining experience I have ever had. The explosion of flavors and sensations were borderline intoxicating.
And I used chopsticks... awkward, but certainly new and refreshing for me!
It's funny to have such an experience in a place that was slightly commercial, heh. Regardless, I certainly can't wait for the next time I have sushi again!

At the zoo, I took the opportunity to get up and close to the large animals; again, up until that point I have never even seen a horse up close.


So, they were offering camel rides... I heard the familiar voice that told me that they're all dangerous, and that's why I've never tried going up to animals unless there was several hundred feet or reinforced glass between us. I ignored that voice again and rode the camel. It was surreal.


The giraffes were ready for snack time, so we did that too; I would have never guessed that a giraffe's tongue is almost dry-ish and spiky, like a cats. I was guessing it was more similar to a dogs, slobbery and slimy. It took several snacks to get a few good shots because it kept nabbing it from my hands rather quickly, hah-- what a tongue!

After the weekend with my friend, I settled into the next hotel with my husband and that is when I found out Bowie had past; it set a rather melancholy mood for the next couple days, as he was an inspiration to us all. I stewed a bit in that gloom and grabbed my sketch pad, and began to draw...




There are few things that inspire art like loss does... it sounds like such a cruel reality. I'd like to think it is through the creation of art after loss that we as artists carry the memory of those we respected and appreciated during their life.
In one of his last videos, Blackstar, there was a scene of the floating headless skeleton drifting towards an eclipsed star-- I kept thinking, and thinking about it after the news.


I don't know why I decided to reattach the head... I simply felt like I needed to after the news. Progress stopped Wednesday after deciding I needed to give it an india ink and watercolor wash for the background, while adding the finishing touch to it-- all which required masking fluid, which I didn't/don't have a designated brush for yet...
I do have plans to finally go shopping for more supplies tomorrow-- I'll need it all for the watercolor class I signed up for coming up the week after next, heh.

There is definitive change coming in 2016, and it is felt indirectly through the passing of some of our greatest and most beloved icons. Though is saddens me to see them go under the nemesis cancer, it is a reminder to continue living life with little apprehension, and a surplus of passion. Death doesn't care about tomorrow's and some other times.

19 comments:

  1. Art or writing is a good way to deal with feelings! You are a very talented artist and should keep up with it!

    I love animals but I don't eat sushi, although my boyfriend loves it. I don't like cooked fish, so raw fish isn't going to happen. Ha ha.

    Bowie was a great loss!

    I love that outfit so much! The layers, the lacy tasselled robe, the purple flowers on the hat! Swoons!

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    1. Why thank you! I'm not a very seasoned hand at drawing, so I'm super critical of my handiwork lol. Still, it's oh so nice to be doing something so explorative.

      It's remarkably bland on its own-- reminds me of tofu almost, but has the most subtle ocean taste. I guess I expected it to be hearty considering the pungent nature of the fish market lol. Really weird.

      Thank you! I was really fond of all the outfits during my trip... but this one was the only one that I took shots of lol.

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  2. Your drawing of the skeleton is really nice and I like what you wore to the zoo. I agree with what you said. Life is too short and I think with Bowie's passing it reminded us all. Here's to eating more sushi and enjoying life!

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    1. Thank you! I hope to finish it before too long, been on a pretty savage drawing streak. Indeed, he burned brightly; we took for granted that he too was mortal.

      Here's to never willfully surrendering to banality again, and never settling for a small dose of wasabi while we're at it too! Hah!

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  3. I love that skelly doodle, excellent work. It saddens me to hear about both Bowie and Rickman dying of cancer. :( Many great artists leave us too soon.

    It's awesome that you finally tried sushi! I like to think of myself as a sushi connoisseur, only because I've eaten so much of it in the last decade that I should be morbidly obese by now lol. I actually don't like the raw fish sushi that much. I've never understood the attraction, it just tastes very plain to me, I'm more into the specialty rolls that are jam packed with multiple ingredients, my hands down favorite being a good dynamite or black dragon roll.

    I love to see you out and about, your outfit looks fab, and I look forward to reading about your adventures!

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    1. It makes me that much more scared of cancer-- not even the great ones are not immune to its clutches :(

      One of the reasons I have become such a fast fan of it is because I can eat copious amounts of it and not get sick. Since the removal of my gallbladder, I still have trouble digesting fats of any kind... so sushi being fairly light on all kinds of fats means I am allowed to over indulge lol. I think I like the more complex sushi rolls too!

      I am quite happy to be out and about, though it's hell on my energy levels lol

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  4. It looks a fun trip. I will be in Sedona Arizona next month. I can't wait!

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    1. It was quite a weekend!
      I haven't visited Sedona strictly speaking, but have driven through several times and each time it was still super gorgeous to pass by. I hope you have a lot of fun!

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  5. Oh, I was thinking the same thing when I read about Alan Rickman's passing last week; With the icons of our youth gone, are we ought to finally 'grow up' too? Is it some kind of a sign of change? Meh...It's kind of a silly thought, I guess...:) Anyway, I'm glad, that you feel so inspired, that drawing is great. ^^

    I love sushi for it's subtleness, for the taste of raw fish is not at all intrusive. Fruit sushi is even better. I see you also tried wasabi and ginger, how did you like those? :)

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    1. Not silly at all! The realization that we're all getting older is quite profound.

      It really isn't bold at all by itself-- quite shocking!
      Fruit sushi sounds stupendous, I really must investigate this immediately.

      The ginger was super super tasty, then again I like anything pickled, heh!
      The wasabis spice is certainly odd-- I kept thinking it would tickle my throat, but it goes straight up your nose. Lol really fascinating.

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  6. I've been all about the seared garlic salmon nigiri lately. Get in my belly.

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    1. That sounds and looks amazing!
      It's crazy how sushi lodged itself tight into my cravings after only one night of eating it.

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  7. I love the picture with the giraffe's tongue lol!

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    1. That one was all about the snacks-- reached well beyond the point to have them, hehe. I wasn't intentionally trying to hold back, I was just timid about being so close to it lol.

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  8. I love your drawing, Madame MM - and I'm very excited you've signed up for the watercolour class!

    I don't mind sushi but I've only tried a few things. I need to go with someone experienced who can point me in the right menu direction, because I think it would be easy for me to hate it should I try the wrong one. ;)

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  9. Well, now that you said it... It is strange that we can get so much inspiration from a loss, sometimes seems we can only do art when we are sad / alone with our feelings...

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  10. I like the idea of trying to get out more in the new year. I have been cooped up for many months. It's just hard when there is no money.

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  11. Maybe I should try sushi as well :O I'm not so fond of that idea but maybe it's good as you say!

    I love your skeleton sketch! Such skills!

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