Art - It's Not Just About Drawing (Part 1)

I love to browse artwork on Deviantart.com because I am reminded, again and again, that art is not just about drawing.  There are so many beautiful and breath-taking ways to create art that I never knew existed.  Below is a sampling of some of the unique styles of art that I have discovered on Deviantart.com that are far beyond paper and pen.  

Sculptures

Sculptures, poseable or not, are abundant on Deviantart.  Wood-Splitter-Lee is by far the most talented sculptress I have ever seen on Deviantart, period.  Her fantasy animals (shown above) are colorful and majestic.  If I had the money, I would buy one of her sculptures in a heartbeat.  *sigh*  Maybe one day...

Clay Miniatures

I never knew clay could look so delicious...  All of these miniature foods, made by the incredible Fairchildart, looks good enough to eat.  They are delicate pieces of art that would look wonderful in a dollhouse.

Origami

By Mangakasma

By Origamimodulowe

And I thought folding a paper crane was difficult enough.  @_@  Origami, specifically 3-D origami, is becoming an art sensation that is bright, complex, and requires tons of paper.

Furniture

By Erez-mor

By ColeHastings

I'm especially a big fan of the awesome monster seat.  :D  These unique pieces of furniture brings a dash of fantasy into anyone's home.

Jewelry

By Create-A-Pendant

By PeregrineStudios

By YelerCrakka

I'm such a sucker when it comes to jewelry, whether it's girly or totally nerdy (the flower is beautiful, but I'm a huge fan of the Zelda ocarina rings and Pokeball bracelet).  If I had it my way, I would order every single piece of custom jewelry on Deviantart.


This post is already huge, and I have many more categories to showcase!  Looks like I'm going to need to write a follow-up blog post about art that's not drawing.  :)  Be on the lookout for the sequel, which will contain more awesome art including:
- Crochet/Felting
- Photography
- Baking
- Face paint/Special effects
- Costumes/Cosplay
- Beading
- Stuffed animals

Tokyo Jungle Guide - It's Finally Done!

I love working on big, extensive projects.  They bring on a rush of creativity and get me so excited.  I delve right into the project with a really strong beginning.  By the time I get halfway through the project, however, I start to fizzle out.  The project becomes more laborious than fun, and the end is still a long way off.  At this point, I am always sorely tempted to "take a break" from the project and start a new one.  This was the case with my Tokyo Jungle Guide.  Typically, if you want to get some tips about a video game, you can Google the title and find a lot of different fan-made guides to help you out.  When I typed in Tokyo Jungle, however, I could not find a single guide on the Internet.  I was all like:

"Now's my chance to do something no one else on the Internet has ever done before!"

So I got started on my Tokyo Jungle guide right away!  I love collecting data and organizing it, and plus, I got to play one of my favorite video games over and over.  It just didn't get any better!  But when I hit the halfway mark, I was sick and tired of Tokyo Jungle.  The thrill of the project had worn off, and since I was spending so much time playing a video game, I felt like a neglectful wife and a worthless bum.  But right-brainers are infamous for not finishing what they begin, so I was determined to complete my project before starting a new one.  I've been working on my Tokyo Jungle guide for over a month now...and it's finally done!  I'm sure only a few people will actually download and use it, but I'm proud of what I have accomplished.  Being able to finish this guide means I have what it takes to push through the pain and put out a finished project to the world, something that I've always had trouble with.  Who knows, maybe this success will be the catalyst that helps me finally finish my book.  Whatever the future may hold, behold!  My Tokyo Jungle guide!  Read it and be amazed!  :D

Oh, and the Tokyo Jungle guide will also be placed under the "Products/Services" menu, "Books & Pamphlets" sub-menu.  I hope to add more stuff there in the future!

Outer Eye, Inner Eye

I take two of my brothers to a great homeschool group called FAITH academy (you can check out their website here).  I love the kids and the classes are so in-depth.  One of the classes I sit in on is a traditional art class where the kids are taught how to sketch still-lifes.  I've taught myself a little bit of art throughout the years, but I've never received formal training, so I was intrigued by the concepts being taught.  The teacher explained that sketching everywhere you go (i.e. the library, the bus stop, etc.) helps us develop an eye for the world.  We may look at something, but do we really see it?  For example, if we're coloring a picture of a tree, we usually color the bark brown.  But if you really look at bark, it's almost never brown.  Depending on the tree, it may be a combination of gray, green, black, or white.

Image from Wikipedia

Another example of looking without seeing is whenever we think of an object (like an apple, for instance), we usually have a preconceived notion of what shape that object is.  I usually think of an apple as a round shape with two bumps on top where the stem protrudes.  But apples come in many shapes and sizes.  In order to accurately depict one, we must learn to truly sketch what we see.  The art teacher described it beautifully: he sketches to "keep [his] eyes awake."

This concept struck me because I often feel like my eyes are not awake to the world around me.  I'm a very, very aloof person.  My husband is very interested in self-defense exercises and likes to practice analyzing people around him, knowing the small signs that indicate danger.  I, on the other hand, would probably walk right past an axe murderer if he was just standing there in the grocery store.  I'm usually lost in my own thoughts, thinking of stories and stuff like that.  Even my recreational activities are very introverted.  Reading, playing video games, and writing all make me less aware of the world around me.  So this means my eyes are the complete opposite of awake.  But, then again, which eyes?

A traditional artist must exercise their outer eyes in order to successfully transfer images onto paper.  They must be able to examine and expertly portray shading, angles, and other details.  Many artists, however, like to draw things that do not exist.  They don't use their outer eyes to sketch something that they can see in front of them.  Instead, they must use their inner eyes to examine and expertly portray something that is in their heads.  For a creative person, they can develop these inner eyes to see a make-believe object or creature that is just as real to them as the objects and creatures in the real world.  For example, when I write, I have to become separated from the real world.  Everything has to fade out until I can only see and hear the world within my imagination.  This takes more effort than you might think.  The real world is always louder and more vivid than my imagination, making it difficult to do introverted activities if I don't have the proper separation (I could never write in front the TV, nope).  Even once I have separated myself from reality, it's still a lot of hard work to take the images from my mind and translate them into writing.  I'm sure the process is similarly difficult for artists who primarily draw fantasy creatures and people.  But it's all worth it.  If it wasn't for people who have exercised their inner eyes, we wouldn't have the wondrous books, movies, and images that inspire and entertain us.  Sometimes I feel a little guilty that I'm such a spacey person, but then again, I'm grateful for the gift of writing and the joy it brings to my life.  So the next time you see someone staring out a window, lost in a daydream, they may actually be working on something beautiful.  

Image by Elle124, quote from X2

Lucid Dreaming - Real Live "Inception"

I love the movie "Inception."  I think it's one of the best movies in the history of movies.  If you haven't seen it, go see it right now.  It's intense, complex, and deep.  Here's a synopsis:

"Dom Cobb is a skilled thief, the absolute best in the dangerous art of extraction, stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during the dream state, when the mind is at its most vulnerable. Cobb's rare ability has made him a coveted player in this treacherous new world of corporate espionage, but it has also made him an international fugitive and cost him everything he has ever loved. Now Cobb is being offered a chance at redemption. One last job could give him his life back but only if he can accomplish the impossible-inception. Instead of the perfect heist, Cobb and his team of specialists have to pull off the reverse: their task is not to steal an idea but to plant one. If they succeed, it could be the perfect crime. But no amount of careful planning or expertise can prepare the team for the dangerous enemy that seems to predict their every move. An enemy that only Cobb could have seen coming."

(Taken from IMDb)

The best part about watching "Inception," however, is seeing the similarities between it and lucid dreaming.  The definition of a lucid dream is "any dream in which one is aware that one is dreaming" (Wikipedia).  In gaining self-awareness, the dreamer has the potential to change, control, or construct their dreams.  Sound like hogwash?  I can attest that lucid dreaming is possible, because I have done it.

My experiences with lucid dreaming is limited but very exciting.  It started when I picked up a book called "Lucid Dreams in 30 Days: The Creative Sleep Program."  It's part philosophical and part workbook.  It explains some fascinating concepts about dream awareness and manipulation.  I don't want to make this post too long, so I'll just share one concept today: awareness.  I believe this single concept is the key to all lucid dreaming and can change the way you sleep forever, once it has been developed enough.  The book describes it perfectly:

"We'd like you to think of dreaming in much the same way you think of driving a car.  Remember all the times you've driven along the highway seemingly not paying attention at all.  All of a sudden you've looked at the road and realized that someone has been exerting judgment and control - and that someone you've recognized in a flash is you.  Dreaming works in a similar way.  You usually aren't consciously aware of your ability to control the action; but of course, right down to the exact words spoken by your dream characters, the very last brick in your dream house, and the precise number of petals on a flower in your dream garden, you alone are the author and designer of your dreams.  Realizing this fact is much like suddenly realizing that you are driving the car.  Waking up in your dreams, in other words, requires a subtle shift in attention, so that you learn to be more completely aware of what you're doing."

Some techniques for gaining awareness in your dreams is to practice recalling and recording dreams right after waking up.  Another is to ask yourself throughout the day "Am I dreaming?"  By developing a habit of consciously checking to make sure you are not dreaming, you might find yourself asking the same question in a dream, and being able to answer, "Yes."  There is a lot of information and techniques in the book that I won't get into.  Instead, I'll share with you the most exciting lucid dreaming experience I have ever had.

Up till this experience, my lucid dreaming experiences were small.  In this dream, however, I truly experienced awareness.  My anxiety often haunts me in my dreams, and in this case, a human-like demon had captured several of my brothers and was tearing into them with its sharp teeth.  I closed my eyes and thought, "This is a horrible dream!"  As soon as I thought these words, awareness flooded my mind.  "Wait a minute," I gasped.  "I'm dreaming.  I can change this right now."  So I approached the demon and said, "I'm tired of you being here.  Go away now."  The demon resisted, but I willed it to go away, and it just disappeared.  Poof!  I found myself alone, so I thought, "What now?"  I grinned and said, "I want to fly."  And I did!  I just took off into the sky like a bird.  My stomach lurched in fear and joy as I soared over the clouds.  It felt so real.  Unfortantely, I began to wake up shortly after taking flight.  There are techniques to prolong lucid dreaming, but I hadn't learned them yet.  But what a dream!

Image from luciddreaming.net

I have a lot to learn about lucid dreaming, but I've made a great start.  If I keep practicing, I can learn to banish anxiety whenever it tries to haunt my dreams.  Maybe I can even meet the characters in my book.  The possibilities are endless!  Even though I haven't experienced any true lucid dreams in a while, I have gained a certain amount of general awareness that allows me to make little tweaks and changes to my day-to-day dreams.  I'm sure I'll share more lucid dreams as I have them.  I'm sure my lucid dreams will never be as vivid (or as dangerous) as the dreams in "Inception," but the idea of creating my own dream world keeps me dreaming.  

Wasting Time

I used to hide the fact that I play Pokemon games because I was worried about what other people would think of me.  After all, Pokemon is a children's game.  Thanks to my husband, who assured me that there's nothing wrong with me playing Pokemon, I am now open with everyone about it and I'm not embarrassed anymore.  Well, most of the time...  Every once in a while, I begin to question my Pokemon hobby, especially when I am playing in a public place (like waiting at the dentist office).  The biggest thing I worry about is this: am I just wasting my time?

I've noticed that the female gender spends most of their time improving themselves in some form or fashion.  They read magazines to learn how to lose weight, decorate their houses, and bake cute desserts.  There are thousands of new ways to sew, decorate a party, grow a garden, save money, be fashionable...  The list of productive things to do never seems to end.  And the funny thing is, no matter how much a woman seems to accomplish, she never seems satisfied.  After all, there will always be new things to do.  Mind you, I believe it's always good to learn and grow, but after a long day's work, what if I just want to play Pokemon?  What if I just want to collect and raise virtual creatures on a video game?  Somehow, this seems like a bad thing to do.  I mean, if I just wanted to relax after working all day, I could at least do something like read a book or get on Facebook.  No one gets judged for doing these things, whether at a dentist office or at home.  They are more "productive", and therefore, more accepted.

But what is the reason for reading a book, or commented on Facebook, or playing a video game?  I would hope the reason is simply this: to bring happiness to the participant.  If the end goal is the same, then what does it matter what the activity is?  I remind myself that playing Pokemon makes me happy, so I have no reason to feel embarrassed or ashamed about playing it.  If cooking makes someone happy, then they should cook.  If exercising makes someone happy, then they should exercise.  If playing Pokemon makes someone happy, then they should play Pokemon.  It's good to seek improvement, but one thing anxiety has taught me is to just be happy with the person I am today.  I can do so much more with myself, but then again, I've already done so much.  Recognizing this and celebrating it is just as important as looking for the next big thing to work on.  Before anxiety, I used to base my self-worth and personal happiness off of the things I was able to accomplish (I'll write another blog post about this specifically in the future).  I was never satisfied with my progress, always worrying about not being good enough, and feeling guilty when I wasn't constantly improving myself.  Then anxiety came, and I thought my life was over.  Little did I know that anxiety would teach me so many beautiful truths that I was previously blind to.  Who knew that anxiety would lead me to true happiness and acceptance?  Today, I am happy with who I am, and there is no reason why I should feel any differently.

Is there something you like to do that brings you happiness?  Do you often feel guilty while doing it because it's not "productive"?  I'd like to challenge you to let go of that guilt and just be happy.  You are just as wonderful today as you will be tomorrow; you don't have to accomplish this or that to be worthy of happiness right now.  I know this is one of life's beautiful truths, and I hope it will eventually change your perspective on yourself like it did mine.

 

The Adult Who Reads Comic Books

I am a grown adult, and I like to read comic books.  Well, to sound less conspicuous, I might call them 'graphic novels.'  I especially enjoy manga, which are Japanese graphic novels.  In fact, my favorite book series of all time is a manga called "Fruits Basket."  I have collected all twenty-three volumes and cherish them with all my heart.

But wait, aren't comic books just for kids?  Am I implying that I enjoy books that are below my reading level?  Have I failed to mature my literacy, and recognize the imminent importance of reading "Le Adult Literature?"  I should be spending my time studying books that are worthwhile, like "The Canterbury Tales" and "Moby Dick."  Then I can show off my literacy knowledge to my peers.

The truth is, I have read and enjoyed many classic literature, including "The Canterbury Tales."  I recently finished rereading "The Secret Garden," and I'm currently reading "Heidi."  However, my favorite kind of literature is still comic books, and there are several reasons why.

1. As a right-brainer, I am very visual.  I can imagine my own images when I read text-only books, but I especially connect with comics because of their picture-based story telling.  In "Fruits Basket," the author tells the story through amazing imagery sequences that often don't need dialogue at all.  I can just feel the emotions of the characters through the image without any words whatsoever.  After all, a picture is worth a thousand words.  Like this beautiful piece by dandonfuga on Deviantart.  Nothing is said; there isn't even an explanation of what's going on, but I can just feel the emotions from this beautiful image.
2. My sense of humor is revolved around visuals, too.  There are just some funny things that cannot be expressed except through images, especially things that have no dialogue.  For example, here is a short comic from one of my favorite comic series on the Internet, Lackadaisy by tracyjb (the last panel just cracks me up!)

The last (and perhaps most important) reason I like reading comics is because they are (usually) kid friendly.  I am an adult, but that doesn't mean I have to read books that have adult content, and I'm not just talking about sex scenes.  When books are 'realistic,' that usually translates to being 'depressing.'  Cheating/abusive spouses/parents, death and illness, commentary of human suffering...  I would rather indulge in comic books that, more often than not, are based on fantastical plots, whether it's cat gangsters or kids with wings.  Comics just make me feel happy, and there is no reason why they shouldn't be considered liable reading material.  It's just another style of it, and one that I enjoy to this day.

Songs Have Color

One of the unique and strange things about me is that whenever I listen to a song, a color pops into my head. It's not a conscious thing; it just happens. The color isn't the main thought at the forefront of my brain; it's more like a backdrop, like a desktop wallpaper. At this time, there is no rhyme or reason to these colors, but to me, the color/song match-ups just make sense. Below are some examples:

"Can't Fight This Feeling Anymore" by Reo Speedwagon.

A lovely blend of pink and sky blue.

My song colors are rarely just a solid color, or even a single color. They move and flow with the music, fast or slow, depending on the beat. I'm using desktop wallpaper to give the most accurate example I can. :)

"Bad" by Michael Jackson.

Orange and red mixed.

"Poker Face" by Lady Gaga.

Black with a mix of violet.

Club songs usually have a black base to it with brighter colors that flash across the "screen." "Poker Face" consists of mainly purple, but some songs, like "You Make Me Feel" by Cobra Starship, is a cacophony of rainbow lines that flash and twirl.

"Halo" by Beyonce.

Different shades of orange.

Along with the different shades of orange, there is a touch of "sunlight" in this song.

An interesting fact about colors and classical music! Classical pieces, like from Beethoven, do not stay one color. In fact, classical music changes so quickly, it's really hard for my brain to keep track of what color it is! One day, while my dad was listening to classical music on the radio, he asked me what color it was in my head. In a matter of a few seconds, it went from navy blue, to cream with brown lines, to hot red! I believe this occurred because classical music is much more complex and sophisticated than your average song. It's kind of cool. :)

I believe I have a song/color connection because of my creative mind. What appears in your mind when you listen to music? Who knows what kind of mental images something as powerful as music can evoke.

Am I Crazy...or Creative?

I like to stay fairly up-to-date on the latest viral videos that pops up across the Internet. Recently, I saw a somewhat disturbing video of an interview with Charlie Sheen. I don't really know much about the guy except that he's an actor who does a lot of partying. My reaction to his eccentric interview was, "O-k-a-y, he's a psycho." At the same time, however, I was intrigued by some of his comments, especially relating to his unpredictable mannerisms. Below is the beginning of the interview:

Interviewer: "Your anger and your hate is coming off as erratic to people."
Sheen: "Passion. My passion. It's all passion."
Interviewer: "Okay, your passion is coming off as erratic to people."
Sheen: "Well, you borrow my brain for five seconds, and just be like ‘dude, can’t handle it, unplug this b******’. Yeah, because it just fires in a way that’s just is, um, I don’t know, maybe not from this particular terrestrial realm."
Interviewer: "I think some of those things that you're putting out there are making people think something's wrong with you. Some are saying that you're bi-polar."
Sheen: "Wow, what does that mean?"
Interviewer: "I guess that you are on two ends of the spectrum."
Sheen: "Wow, and then what? What’s the cure? Medicine? Make me like them? Not gonna happen. I’m bi-winning. I win here and I win there. Now what?"

In case you're interested in seeing the whole interview, here's a link.

So...Charlie Sheen has erratic behavior, which he calls passion. Is this a problem that needs to be solved, or is it the key to his creativity? Now I am NOT saying that it's okay to party, do drugs, and be a womanizer. What I am saying is that Sheen doesn't consider his eccentricity to be a disability. Bi-polar is seen as a bad thing to have, but Sheen declares that bi-polar, or bi-winning, is what makes him who he is. He doesn't want to be "cured," because otherwise, he wouldn't be the famous person that he is anymore.

This got me thinking about my anxiety. Naturally, anxiety is a bad thing to have. It's considered a disability, and there is medicine and other treatments for it. But then I got to thinking...what if anxiety is the price for my creativity? I have the ability to imagine and create things that "normal" people around me can't. I'm a deeply sensitive and emotional individual. Because of this, I can delve deep into my emotions and pull inspiration from them. Perhaps it also means that I am more prone to a mental disability, like anxiety.

Think of a creative person like a watermelon. The pink fruit represents the amazing stuff that the creative person can make. Art, acting, writing, dance, photography... The world would be such an immensely boring place without creative people. However, the watermelon is also dotted with black seeds. The creative person can't help but run into them as they delve into their creativity. The seeds represent a mental disability of some sort. Anxiety, bi-polar, anorexia, depression... These weaknesses are a challenge to deal with, but they don't mean that the person is "broken." It just means that with great strengths comes great weaknesses.

Here's an illustration I've made that explains this concept further. The first person is a normal, average, run-of-the-mill, respectable citizen. This is the person who has normal strengths
(i.e. keeps a decent job, maintains a good marriage, retires at a good age) and normal weaknesses (i.e. doesn't get enough sleep at night, has no patience at checkout lines, can't keep the house clean for more than five minutes). The second person, however, is someone with a mental disability, or as I like to call it, a mental weakness. They can barely - if at all - hold a job, go to college, or maintain a relationship. They always feel sad, angry, irritable, guilty, and/or miserable. Normal people just don't understand why people with a mental weakness can't just suck it up. "Crap happens," they say. "Just deal with it like us normal people." This, of course, makes the person with a mental weakness feel even more like crap. They give up trying, because apparently their best is never good enough. Eventually, they just accept themselves as a broken human being; a mistake that never should have been put in the world in the first place. Often times, suicide follows.


The next picture, however, illustrates how people with mental weaknesses should view themselves. The reason they have a mental weakness is because they have an abnormal amount of strength. They can write bestsellers! Paint masterpieces! Act until their audience is bawling like a baby! With this amount of talent, creative people could rule the world! So, naturally, there has to be opposition in all things. Because they are so intensely talented, creative people are also intensely tormented. This sucks no matter how you slice it, but at least I don't have to go through life thinking I'm a broken human being. I may have challenges, but it will be worth it in the end. Not only do I hope to publish books someday, but I also hope I can help people with the same weaknesses I have understand just what amazing people they really are. We creative people are incredible.

Think of all the amazing, creative people in history. Michael Jackson, Heath Ledger, Charles Dickens, Elvis Presley, Virginia Woolf, Harrison Ford, even Isaac Newton... All of these people had a mental weakness of some kind. Some of them, like Virginia Woolf, reached a point in their lives in which their weakness outweighed their strengths, leading to suicide. I strongly believe that it's no coincidence that both past and modern geniuses have emotional difficulties. It goes to show that nothing comes without a price. The more we understand and appreciate the creative person, the less they will have to suffer alone. It's my goal to spread this philosophy so that people like me can be truly proud of who they are, even with their weaknesses.

So, in answer to my original question, am I crazy or creative? For me and a lot of other people out in the world, we're both. :)

"She Can't Handle Her TV"

I had an interesting experience tonight while watching TV with my husband. To be exact, we were watching Netflix; we don't have cable by choice. We were watching the 7th or 8th episode of a cool show called "White Collar." Ben and I like the two main characters, but at the end of the episode, one of the good guys turned out to be the bad guy! I was stunned, and frankly, a little upset. But a show is a show, so I accepted it and was prepared to move on. In the next episode, however, it turned out that the good guy who we thought was a bad guy was still a good guy. Yay! All's well that ends well, right?

At the end of the episode, Ben turned to me and said, "See? I knew he couldn't have been the bad guy. But look at you! You were ready to accept he was a scumbag."
I wanted to get a laugh out of Ben, so I said dramataclly, "You can't become too involved with a TV show, Ben. In the end, you will only get hurt."
Ben laughed, and said something quite insightful: "Is that why you watch America's Home Videos over and over? Because it's safe?"

In that moment, I realized he was right! I do watch AFV a lot. I've watched so many episodes, I'm pretty sure I've seen every clip from the show at least ten times. In a way, I always wondered why I couldn't stop watching AFV, even when it was just another rerun, but now I know why.

I'm a very sensitive person. This is good in a lot of ways. But it also means that I'm highly affected by emotionally-triggering things, like TV shows. I know that it's all pretend. No one dies, no one gets hurt. They all go home after acting on set and live a real life. But my high imagination is very invested in pretend things. As far as my imagination is concerned, "White Collar" is real. It's this vivid imagination that helps me write books, do art, etc. And it also sends me on an emotional roller coaster during a simple TV show.

At the start of the show, I'm all like...



"I can handle this. I'm an adult; it's just a show."






After the show, even after the TV is turned off, I'm usually like...


"That was so intense. I can't believe [that terrible thing happened] or [such and such died]. I was so emotionally invested in that character and now that [this or that occurred], who knows what will happen next? No one is safe. The characters that I love could be taken away from me at any moment. Oh, the world is so cruel! Where's my husband? Don't die on me, too, honey! DON'T DIE!" *huddles under blanket*



Clearly, this is an example of how creativity is both a blessing and a curse. The fact that my husband understands why I get so weepy during shows is a great comfort, and in the end, it really is just a show. As I continue to discover, understand, and accept my weaknesses, they will have less and less power over me. And being able to laugh at myself is important, too. Are there things in your life that sometimes evoke these same kind of reactions? To this day, Ben and I watch "White Collar," and we look forward to each episode's twists and turns, ups and downs, sorrows and triumphs.