Weigh Anchor, Ye' Yellow-Livered Dogs!

"Captain...Captain Jess Macaw!"

Considering the illustration, and the conversation I was just having with my cousin, I will take this time say that Johnny Depp looked better in Pirates of the Carribean than, like...ever. I never found him that attractive until then. But, whoo! Jack Sparrow is delectable-looking.

Anyway, here's my contribution to the fun that is Illustration Friday. Hope you enjoy, and I hope that life is extremely great for you.

Artists' Emergency Kit

Filling Life with Expression


In the past, I always felt that it was too much trouble to get out the paints and brushes, or go to the computer and mouse away until an image appeared. But I've recently discovered a much less complicated way to add expression and creativity to everyday. An Artists Emergency Kit! It's a simple idea, really.

Get yourself a box, an unused litter box, an empty UPS box...whatever. Throw in a bunch of cool stuff, the art supplies you like that are easily accessable and can be stored in your bedroom. I would suggest the following:

-blank ATC's (cardstock or paper 2.5 x 3.5 inches)

-assortment of colored pencils (can be held in a zip-lock bag)

-a couple of brushes (they can be rolled together and wrapped in a rubber band)

-an empty plastic cup (for water for the brushes)

-pencil sharpeners

-erasers

-drawing or sketching paper

-plastic trading card sheets (the same kind used for Ugiyoh cards can be used to hold your ATC's

-plastic sheet protectors

-a 3-ring binder

-envelopes

-a list of ongoing mail art calls

-a date book

One you have gathered your materials, then put them in your box. Place the box in a safe place in your room, preferably right next to your bed. In between your night time rituals and the onset of dreams, spend some time expressing whatever you have o say. No holds barred. Once you have finished, put your finished product into a sheet protector, date it, and add it to your binder. This could be a great alternative to journaling, or just a quick way to fill your life with some relief after a long or difficult day.

Adding little things like this to your day can make each one a little easier to get through and give you more to look forward to.

Winding Down

Although it seems to have just started, this school year is almost over and gone. My little babies from my first year here will be moving on to middle schools near and far. It's nice that they are maturing and becoming little adults and everything. But I still miss the cute little short people I saw when I first started working here. The slow dissipation of those precious little people into these new elongated versions of those same individuals is one reason I love my job- to witness human metamorphosis. From the moment they set foot in Pre-K, their childhood begins a slow, beautiful descent. It begins to crumble away with every second, and give way to the adult they will become.

It's tear-jerking yet inspiring to see students moving on closer and closer towards the real world, and to know that I helped them to accomplish the great things that they will do in life. In all truth, how can it get much better than this? Teaching is perhaps one of the greatst, most life-altering professions there is, not only for the students, but for the teachers as well.

I Haiku! How about you?

Today is a good day for a haiku. It's easy to write your own. Just follow the loosely followed guidelines based on the traditional Japanese form.


Here's the traditional form

5 syllables

7 syllables

5 syllables


The entire poem was to immortalize something called an "aha!" moment. An "aha" moment is a moment of advanced understanding catalysed by the observation of some actual, spontaneous image. Oh! Did I mention that traditional haiku are written in Japanese? This may or may not make writing the traditional form more complex for you.

Well, since it's first glory days however, the format for creating haiku has changed dramatically. Not only has haiku come to be expressed in numerous languages, but the actual format has limbered to create a new kind og haiku.

short line

medium line

short line


Much easier? Try it and see for yourself. If yue like, send me what you come up with! Or even post them as comments. I sure hope to get a nice response!

Ash Flowers

Yesterday, I wrote a friend who lives in Japan about the Virginia Tech horror. She wrote back today with info that Mayor Icchi Ito (Mayor of Nagasaki) was murdered. A crime boss killed him, point-blank, in the back. Mayor Ito was 61.

We were both feeling a bit down, gloomy. So, I tried to point out something hopeful...

from the most horrific ruins
and the most slaughter-filled graves
grow the most necessary flowers

Never are people more caring, more courteous, never are people unnaturally, yet geuinely concerned and empathetic as they are following a tragedy like this. In a garden bursting with blooms, flowers aren't as necessary as they are in a graveyard or an abandoned house. The creeping presence of beauty into the conceptual exhibition of evil is so unnatural- yet it is. The presence of good within creation is enough proof for me that there is a good Creator. The pressence of good in creation is enough- even when I can't see it.

An Unexpected Goodbye

So much has happened since my last post, most notably, my friend, Jaci, lost her struggle with cancer. She died on the 15th of February. I didn't find out until the 28th.

They way I found out was because I couldn't get a hold of her via telephone, so I called her sister. She broke it to me very well, and I took it well at first. But I soon broke down in tears over the phone, and even the next day, at work. I am really having a time with this.

This weekend, I found the last letter she ever wrote to me. It was so nice just to hold something that she had touched, a page of delicate letters she had carefully written with her own hands. I think I will make a painting with it. She was very much into scrapbooking and was quite an artist herself. I think that this should be a very constructive project.

I can hardly believe how long it has really been since I posted here. It's become a habit to think, "I should really post something in my blog," and then doing something else. I plan to get back into the swing of posting frequently (no less than three times per week, God willing). I'm also going to work on my image resolution difficulties. A lot of my graphics have looked pretty cool in the past. But the later posts looked kind of shoddy. I'm not altogether certain as to why, but I would like to find out. But tonight, I am extremely tired. Sadness can do that to you.

Until my next post, please keep searching your life for its most pleasant pieces. Then, celebrate them.

Beauty

"Yes, we are very different. But I will love you with all of my heart. I'll love you as if you were the sun."

Beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder. But I think that beauty can be found in just about everything. Even garbage can appear attractive if viewed in the right light. Really! For some reason I found a bunch of garbage pictures on yotophoto, and I was suprised at the prettiness in such ugly things.

Perhaps if we try seeing all of life this way, our days will be much sweeter.