Iki . . .

It's been quite a while since I did a full-fledged photoshoot, and since I'm currently between books (for the moment), I wasn't planning on spending my weekend writing. So, I decided to dress a wig, slap on some makeup, and take some pictures;)

The concept was obviously punk-geisha. I was not making an effort to be accurate; I could do that, but I don't currently own a kimono that would be appropriate. I decided to go for the editorial end, and when I worked on the pics in post-production, they veered towards a pseudo-futuristic, Firefly-esque gritty which I kinda like;)

A note about doing a photoshoot sans photographer: don't do it. It took me three-times as long to set up, and there was a lot of dashing back and forth to look at the images and then set up the timer for the next shot. I should think about investing in a remote shutter trigger if I'm going to keep this up; it would have made things a lot easier!

If I could find a job styling photoshoots, I think that would be a blast. Where does one get a job like that, anyway?

*Iki: "cool" in the geisha dialect of Gion.

Actions Speak Louder. . .

Tomorrow, I wil be taking part in the Bloggers Day of Silence: together with over 200 other bloggers, I will not be posting on Friday in honour of what Japan has suffered and is suffering. The ladies at Utterly Engaged and Ever Ours have joined with ShelterBox to create a fundraising site called For Japan With Love. Please head over and give what you can, and share this with others! Together, we can make a difference, even with our silence!

Nagusamemasu . . .

Yes, that is a boat on top of a building.

For days now, the internet has been alive with images and videos of the terrible devastation in Japan. On Friday, in case you somehow missed it, Japan experienced an earthquake that was an 8.9 on the richter scale, and then was swamped by a powerful tsunami. There are thousands dead, most from the tsunami; there are so many bodies that the cremation facilities throughout the country (cremation being the general norm) cannot cope with the sheer numbers. Every relief organization is out there trying to help, but it is coming slowly, and many are still without the basic necessities like clean drinking water, food, and a place to sleep.

It feels like there isn't much we can do from so far away, but there is:

American Red Cross: Though the Japanese Red cross is out there, this disaster is on a scale larger than they can manage. Giving to the Disaster Relief Fund will help them out there.

GlobalGiving: Another organization that has established a fund to help relief efforts.

International Medical Corps: Already mobilzed and helping in the worst-hit areas.

Save the Children: Supports children and families that have been effected by this disaster.

There are dozens of other reputable organizations out there trying to help as well. Please consider giving to one of them. Imagine if this was your block:

We need to do all we can.

Nagusamemasu: To give (solace).

Favorite Site Tuesdays!

Owen Freeman, "Surge"

Today's favorite site is my stop for amazing artwork: Gallery Nucleus. I originally discovered it because of the fabulous Kazu Kibuishi, whose own site Bolt City links to this, as they sell some of his prints. If you haven't checked out Kibuishi's work or been introduced to Flight, check that out too!

Mike Lee, "Cloud of Fire"

The work featured in Gallery Nucleus is weird and beautiful, whimsical and often strange; many of the artists do graphic novels or work in anime, and it shows in the emotional and detailed landscapes and the fantastical characters featured in many of the works.

Mari Inukai, "Nippon Seifuku"

I am unabashedly enthusiastic about all things Japanese, and so the discovery of these artists excites me;) I have so many of these as desktop wallpaper, it's sick;)

Aaron Limonick, "Glowing Mountain City"

Mikko Kinnuenen, "Monument"

Kazu Kibuishi, "Passing Ships"

I am absolutely wild about Kibuishi's artwork. I even painted a repro of one of his covers for Flight, and it hangs in my livingroom. If you check out no other artist, check him out.

Moki, "Untitled"

Take a look at Gallery Nucleus, and the artwork and prints they have, as well as the incredible selection of books and other media. I dare you to not get lost in the site, and realize you've lost an hour wandering through evocative landscapes and beautiful panels. . . .

Tatebanko . . .

I had to go to Blick Art Supplies today to pick up airbrush supplies, and I fell prey to one of their impulse buys. Of course, their impulse buys are not like other store's impulse buys; whereas a regular store might have gum or candy near their checkout, Blick had this: a Japanese woodcut diorama you can make yourself;)

Most people who know me know of my passion for all things Japanese; I have an entire wall in my bedroom devoted to Hiroshige and Hokusai prints. Yes, that is a kimono on the wall.


So, when I saw this, I grabbed it. I then proceeded to spend the next hour and a half cutting it out and gluing it together . . .

Tatebanko is apparently the lost art of Japanese paper dioramas; the company that made this one makes several others as well, based on ukiyoe and the art of Tezuka (who created Astro Boy).

The package came with several pages of heavy card-stock, on which was printed the tabbed pieces you needed to cut out. The edges were all rounded, and there were very few fiddly bits that made cutting difficult (this made my hands happy!). Even the background of the sheets was pretty, with a purple pattern on the parts you discarded.

Each piece had tabs that got glued down to the base in numerical order; then the sides and back were glued into place. The directions were very simple, but I really only needed to reference them a few times.

The finished diorama is now sitting on my desk. I found, as with most Japanese crafts (origami as well), that the act of making it was part of the exercise and to be enjoyed as much as the finished product. It is almost a meditation in paper; you cannot rush, you must slow down. A little oasis in my day; if you find yourself regularly stressed and rushing around, I recommend
taking up the art of tatebanko;)