02 NOV 2018
It's today! Dia de los Muertos! I love this part of my culture. Ofrendas, remembering the dead. All of it. It's great.
National Geographic has a great article about the Day of the Dead:
Top Ten Things to Know about The Day of Dead. Gives you all the basics.
I try and spend a few moments to remember my Dada (not a misspelling. I called my grandparents on my father's side Nana and Dada) and other relatives on my Dad's side, including my Uncle Joey. On my mother's side this year I remember my grandmother. What's odd though is I usually focus on male family members, not so much the female members.
In other news, I don't like to vague-book, but I am really excited about an upcoming partnership opportunity. I hope it turns into something wonderful. Thanks mom! She's the one who made the initial connection. That's all the news for now, but once something solid happens I'll be sure to share the news!
Picture for today is Catrina, the original calavera that started it all, part of the Classic Skeleton Art of José Guadalupe Posada.
28 OCT 17
So I have decided on my next project. It's a story I wrote a while ago, called "It's a Trap!" I pulled it down from Wattpad, where it's been for a while, and I'm going to rewrite it, with an aim for more imagery and maybe a little more background integration. The story has some grammar issues with it that I've never fixed, and that is the first thing for me to change. I'm also going to throw in a small sketch or two.
If you've already read the story on Wattpad, you'll be able to see the growth and progression of the story from it's first draft to its final version. The story started out as sort of a western, hopefully that feel comes across at the beginning. I may try to return it to that original western feel.
Here's a piece from the story now, no clue on what the final version will look like though, so don't fall in love with it yet!
"You bastard!" Black Char snarled as he got up off the ground. He staggered back from the trio and prepared to fight. Jagged Edge still had that horrid knife in his hand. Black Char could see the rough, serrated edge of the blade, covered with his blood. Well, Jagged Edge indeed, he thought. The blade had an oily sheen to it as well. Must be something magical about it. Char had to be careful with this bunch. They were trickier than he thought. He put his hand to his lower back and felt the tear in his clothes.
Murg smirked. "Bastard. Yeah, I'll give you that one. But mind your tongue and remember who is in charge. Now let's go get a sword or two."***
Besides writing, I've also been practicing some of my photography skills. I am not good at low light photos, so I decided to see what I could about that. I went to a haunted house and was allowed to go through it and take pictures.
Here is one I am happy with for the post picture:
Some techniques I worked with to get around the lack of auto-focus (it doesn't work in low light) were using lit objects (like the exit sign at the end of the hall) to manually adjust focus, also using a monopod to try and maintain a steady image, and trying to use occasional lighting (strobes, flickering lights, a door opening such as with the picture above) when possible to set a dark picture.
Although a bit early, I'd like to wish everyone a Happy Halloween and other 'dark' celebrations. I've read about different traditions from around the world, such as All Saint's Day, Dia de Los Muertos, etc... It's amazing to me the many ways that people have for dealing with the shortening of the days and the lengthening of the nights.
01 OCT 17 What would Halloween be like in a world full of death and desperation like The Walking Dead? Would people still want to celebrate? Would the traditions of Halloween mean more or less if loved ones could come back, albeit as brainless flesh-eating monsters? What would the costumes look like? These are the types of questions that keep authors up at night.
My personal take on it, which I may work into a story sometime in the future, is that, much like Halloween today is an amalgam of superstitions and traditions from around the world, the future in a post-apocalyptic world with real dead walking around would see a mixing of old traditions and new. Sort of like El Dia De Los Muertos with a side of 'let's do things that keep them rested and in the ground'. Maybe a group of people figure out a way to keep restless spirits 'resting' and these practices spread around the world as an annual holiday tradition with some purpose. I could see dressing as outlandish dead, putting some sort of gifts on graves, to bribe the bodies to stay underground. Maybe too when people die, teeth are automatically removed when possible. That way there is no worry about getting bit. Who knows. Still have much to think on this idea. Some of the stories I plan on telling will be set in a world where death is not absolute.
I had a great idea while I was running today (which means I'm limping now lol)! Those endorphins 'jogged' something loose in my brain. Can't really reveal the idea though, it's still in its infancy, but it has to do with one of my main characters, his relationship to the dwarves, and dwarven culture in general. It will help define both the dwarves and my main character quite a bit, making them more unique in my world. Looking forward to writing again. I have to go running more often, see what other ideas spring forth!
Three pictures for today. Two of them are mine, one is from the mighty Internet. The first is a black and white pic, a root that looks like a 3. I like taking the occasional black and white. Some things just look better like that. The other one that is mine is a Dia de Los Muertos gato (or Halloween Day of the Dead Cat, as my daughter said)! Bought it and it will go on the Christmas tree this year. The last pic, not mine, is a cat with a hat!
14 MAY 17
As it winds closer to the end of another school year, I'm looking forward to writing some more. The lazy days of Summer mean swimming and writing and enjoying family. And if I can find time for writing, then the next thing to do is art. I love to doodle or sketch stuff but I never seem to find the time. My mom has sketches galore saved from when I was a kid.
The easiest type of art for me is photography. I love capturing images. Anything drawn by hand seems to take forever for me and I want to do it on the computer so I can change it any way I want.
Anyways, enough of that, here is some art for today gathered from various places along with some thoughts by me. None of this artwork is mine unless it is so marked. Enjoy, and any comments are welcome.
I love pictures of fancy and fantasy, they make my heart smile. This picture of a happy wolf/dog/plant thing is awesome. Makes me think of warm spring days encouraging the plants to grow.
I also like dark artwork, both in actual darkness and in subject matter. A lovely young lady walking hand in hand with Death makes me wonder what she did to deserve such treatment or is that what awaits each one of us, a long, slow walk with Death into the sunset? Black and whites and water-washed colours both spark my interest when done well. The watercolour to the right makes me think of the soliloquy in MacBeth.
"Let me see. (takes the skull) Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio, a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy. He hath borne me on his back a thousand times, and now, how abhorred in my imagination it is! My gorge rises at it. Here hung those lips that I have kissed I know not how oft. —Where be your gibes now? Your gambols? Your songs? Your flashes of merriment that were wont to set the table on a roar? Not one now to mock your own grinning? Quite chapfallen? Now get you to my lady’s chamber and tell her, let her paint an inch thick, to this favor she must come. Make her laugh at that.—Prithee, Horatio, tell me one thing."
This one is mine, playing around with my camera, a small ceramic skull and lighting. :) I love Dia De Los Muertos. I used this for a Halloween announcement one year. The light in the eyes and nose are from the lamp I placed it on.
Art tied to stories are my favorite pieces. The picture above was inspired by Michael Moorcock's Elric series. The main character is an albino.
I will publish one day a collection of my short stories accompanied by artwork inspired by the stories. Pen and paper sketches most likely.
One of the easiest ways for me to get out of writer's block is to take a picture and just run with whatever it brings to mind. These last two pictures, of the sad robot and the little girl at the base of a tree lead me to many wonderful places! I can't imagine what the robot would be sad about, but then I look closer and see a hole where a human's heart would be. Is there something precious that is there for a robot?
And this little lady at the base of that magnificent tree. What lies beyond the waters? Are those moons seen through the branches or some sort of immense glowing fruit in the tree above her? What is she leaving behind? All sorts of wonderful questions to answer through writing!
Today is Mother's Day, and I can't go without saying Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there. Hm, I haven't written any stories inspired by mothers, although my story Legacy featured a very prominent mother. Well, Happy Mother's Day!! Hope your sons and daughters treat you well!
