Sometimes these things take longer than I expect they will but now I can show you the latest illustration from the annals of my unwritten story. If it's any help at all, I'll also mention the pictures are in no particular order. You may remember the boat from 'Turbulence' - this is before that :). For the time being this one will be the last of them as I'm planning to get serious about a different story - one with a girl but no dog and no dragons either. Well, in actuality there is a dragon in the story I'm thinking of, but rather than being a smallish, curious dragon like one of these, he's a much larger and more ferocious member of his species. Don't worry, you'll see the pictures as they develop and likely a picture or two of Crow as well. He starts to feel neglected if I wait too long between portraits.
Now we're in those last days of the year leading to the shortest one - in this hemisphere anyway. I don't know about you, but I always feel much more relaxed once it's all over and we can begin looking forward to longer days and shorter nights even if it is freezing cold outside.
I won't bother mentioning the bad news of the past week or so (call me a coward if you like), but the good news I read a few days ago is that the Masai people of Tanzania won't have to move off their land after all. I was shocked to read a few weeks ago that the that the Tanzanian government had reintroduced plans to forcibly relocate 40,000 pastoralists to make way for a luxury hunting and safari company based in the United Arab Emirates. Unbelievable. We can only hope that the next step will be to give the Masai permanent rights to their land.
We are a strange species, but one that's capable of extraordinarily beautiful achievements too.
Happy December
♡
I do love the fantasy world of your creation. Oh that there could be more such beauty, and rather less ugliness such as the morally degenerate 'sport' of hunting and killing for pleasure. You say we are a strange species. I can think of less complimentary adjectives.
ReplyDeleteHi Tom. I rather like to think there's something unnameable reality we can all recognize in my pictures. While there are many time I wish I were better at illustrating them it's good to know you enjoy seeing my results.
DeleteI was both baffled and outraged when I read the Tanzanian government had come up with that plan. I don't go around signing a lot of petitions, but did add my name to the Avaaz one and sent a letter too.
I can also think of less complimentary adjectives. As it is, I read too much news.
Hi Susan,
ReplyDeleteI love you painting which seems to me to be the perfect mixture of childhood innocence combined with earnest endeavour, casting off into the wonderful world of fantasy. As well I would echo Tom’s thoughts.
Best wishes
Thanks, Lindsay. Drawing and painting serve to keep me centered. I'm delighted to know you enjoy seeing these paintings.
DeleteYour dragons seem to be questioning the wisdom of her rowing out into the unknown, and the girls expression is unclear to me.....perhaps acknowledgement?
ReplyDeleteOne thing is for sure, your work inspires a lot of conjecture, at least for me.
Fine work as always.
According to the foundational concept of the unwritten story the girl is going because she has a duty to perform that is hers alone. The dog goes along because he loves her. I'm still not sure what the dragons are about.
DeleteI'm glad you like it, Mike.
I love these 'randon acts' performed in surprise in so many places, from malls, to streets, to subways all over the world. It's that element of surprise, I think, that seems to add to the joy I see in peoples' faces. I've never experienced that in person but have enjoyed many videos like this one. Thanks for sharing this very seasonal one, Susan. It adds to the holiday feeling more than any shopping!
ReplyDeleteI love your art work very much and agree with Tom's words.
I've never witnessed a 'random act' that was actually planned as an event of this nature, although it's always wonderful to experience general human kindness and good will. Thank goodness there's still much of that in the world we share. I hope your holidays are very happy ones.
DeleteYou know how glad I am my artwork pleases you and, yes, Tom's comment was most astute.
I love your girl. She has a certain earnestness to her, and I think a bit of a fear of Dragons. (The dragons, of course, know that little girls are crunchy, and taste good with Ketchup.) As for your other story, it sounds intriguing. Put all of Crow's beautiful portraits in a folio, and give it to him. Let him look though that, again, and again, and again. That might satisfy him.
ReplyDeleteBlessings and Bear hugs, susan. Best regards to Crow.
and anoher picture of crow?
She certainly has taken notice of the dragons by this point, but she's a little too concerned with getting out of the harbor before she's noticed to be worried about them.
DeleteCrow already gets a lot of enjoyment looking through his albums. he always wants more, though, and he'll get them too.
So will you :)
One other thought. Is performing culture the same as committing sociology? One has to be careful in Canada these days about such things.
ReplyDeleteBBh!
Surely the Idle No More circle dances must count as random acts of culture. They haven't been arresting them, have they? I don't get around much, but I hope not.
DeleteLovely drawing, as usual.
ReplyDeleteAnd something about these dragons, together and somewhat bemused in a strange place, does always remind me of another pair of wanderers.
Thanks, Andrew. I agree the two of them do seem to have much in common with our dear friends Adrig and Edrig. No Lady Lords in sight, thank goodness.
DeleteDragon on the left is doing a fine pole dance too. A strong tail increases the options.
DeleteMust be nice having a prehensile tail.
DeleteAgain, you chose fitting colours.
ReplyDeleteAs for the "more ferocious" dragon. Who knows he might turn out to be a cousin of Nessie and the politest dragon on this planet. :)
As for the Masai, I'd be surprised had this been the last bid from the Emirates.
Interesting an act planned so accurately would be called a random one. :)
I was trying for the low light of almost dawn effect.
DeleteWell, he's certainly going to be larger and that alone can be threatening to some. :)
They tried it twice now.
Random only to those who who were the unsuspecting audience, I guess. :)
.....a brief stop for a moment of wonder. Happy sigh. Back soon.
ReplyDeleteNice to see you, my friend.
DeleteI would love to be in the middle of a 'sing song' , they seem to pop up on the internet fairly regularly.. you might have to leave home occasionsly to see one though.. lol
ReplyDeleteThat's funny, Claire. I'm the same way. Despite the fact I live in a small city, I tend to avoid the kind of places where such jollity happens.
DeleteThat video was a wonderful way to start today. When you wrote this: I always feel much more relaxed once it's all over and we can begin looking forward to longer days and shorter nights even if it is freezing cold outside.
ReplyDeleteall I could think is that I could't agree more. I love the time off from work and the chance to see my kids, but I will breathe a sigh of relief when we turn this calendar corner.
Like the music in this video shows so well, I wish Christmas was treated in a more meaningful way. Breathing sighs of relief when the craziness ends is essential exercise for me.
DeleteAnd I was so quick to hit publish, I forgot to mention the painting. I love those small, curious dragons. Delightful!
ReplyDeleteGlad you like the picture - along with my little green dudes.
Deletethis is the sweetest little painting... the little girl looks a bit scared or those critters as she might be... they are delightful, it's all a wonderful painting and i love your framing it the way only you can do.
ReplyDeletejust stopping by to say good evening/good night. xoxox
Thanks so much, dear Linda! Hope you get to relax now Christmas is nearly over.
DeleteHaving cast off, I await to see where they got to (while hoping the dopey looking dragons didn't miss the boat, but I have a suspicion they are not nearly as dopey as they look).
ReplyDeleteGreetings of the Season to you.
There will be updates in the weeks to come, Andrew. My astute dragons have more than one way to travel - boats not necessarily among them.
DeleteAll the best to you too.