April 6, 2005

"Considering the Tasks"
7:07pm

A wary Frodo considers the tasks ahead of him

April 7, 2005

"The Bestial and the Noble"
8:54pm

I've been busy with my Lord of the Rings characterizations. Today, I have balanced the bestial with the noble:

Ghasty Gollum

Proud Noble

I made Aragorn's nose lean to the left like Laura's. When I saw the initial sketch was like that, I left it on purpose!

I'm not sure if I will do more of these characters. However, there's a couple of others that might entice me.

April 8, 2005

"A Caring Friend"
8:03pm

A Caring Friend

I couldn't leave the LotR series without this picture of the caring friend Sam Wise! Sam's concern for Frodo is so deeply moving. I cried when Samwise swam across the waters to catch up with Frodo, and told him ''I gave my word I wouldn't leave you, and I'm not!'' All through out Frodo's ordeals, Samwise stays true.

April 9, 2005

"Pausing on the Path"
7:28am

I feel a sense of emotional completeness about the LotR series. I think I've dealt with the most salient aspects of the hero's path. Always, the hero's path entwines with that of the initiate's path.

I had a small epiphany regarding my art. It seems to bring forth the art, I try to imagine myself in the state of the mind of the subject. For intance, for the guitarist, it is that state of first hearing the music in one's mind that seems to come forth. For Gandalf, the battle-mage, it is that sense of responsive interchallenge that is necessary for a dual, the anticipating and reacting to the fellow dualist's actions.

The Gollum figure intrigued me, as I was curious about what it would be like to enter his headspace. To him, I ascribe all the 'beastial' aspects and invoked a sense of pure greed.

Then I wanted to balance that with the noble, and Aragorn proved a perfect subject. I tried to invoke a sense of commanding sovereignity, in the sense that he is in alignment with the Power, and is a good ruler of himself.

So far, all these were capturing essential elements of the heroic path, but one thing was missing. The role of 'friendship' is an important part, and so in drawing Sam Wise, I invoked a sense of true love for one's companion.

So now the series seems complete.

What does it mean for future accomplishments? That will be an interesting corner on which to turn.

In an attempt to further motivate myself, I've sent for a "Healthy Back Bag" in which to carry art supplies. I am not one to go wild for purses. In fact, the last purse I bought was acquired over ten years ago, when we lived in Tucson. I rarely use it. I don't have many of the traditional feminine interests, such as in those vials and boxes of powder and paint for the face.

So of what use is a purse? All that I need is a debit card, some cash and a driver's ID. 'Travelling light' has been my motto. But I think of how useful it would be to always have nearby a sketch book, cheapie camera and pens and pencils. Speaking of pens, I would also like to get some of those nifty pens that Danny Gregory of Everyday Matters uses.

In addition, I wish I would of come up with the journal title HE did, "Everyday Matters". The double meaning is neat.  Meanwhile, the title I have will have to serve, at least until I come up with something better.

April 11, 2005

"Pausing on the Path II"
6:12am

Monday morning, and I sit at a cleaned up computer area. Will the cleanliness lead to clearer thoughts? It has been a mixed bag of a weekend. Some of our amusements were less than amusing. I used to pride myself on ability to interpret movie critic language, but apparently I have some catching up to do. When they warn that a movie is 'violent', this warning is QUITE understated. I, rube that I am, will keep this in mind for the future.

In brief, 'Sin City' is TERRIBLE! They can not make that much murder be stylish!!! It's ghastly, it's sickening, and maybe if there had been a sense of an actual plot, all this violence might have been plausible. But there wasn't, and the artistic effects are not enough to carry the movie. I left the theater feeling sickened.

Alas, I got more sick. Our dinner afterwards was also less than satisfying. There has been a change in how food is cooked at Outback. Even Julia noticed it, the potatoes had an extra 'bite' to them, as did the 'Aboriginal fire sauce' for the shrimp. The subsequent digestive disturbances were 'intense'. The ravaged roof of my mouth gave tell tale clue to the presence of MSG!

Two days later, my mouth still feels raw and tender. We will favor local non-chain restaurants which have dependable food in the future.

Not all of our weekend amusements went awry. Both of us had a good time at the Mensa games night, despite my stomach loudly rumbling through out the night. The Apples to Apples game Bob and Sheri mentioned on their radio show really is fun. I found Buddhist implications to the game Stack Gammon, with the 'lives' of chips as the cycle of birth-death-reincarnation to be escaped in the 'home zone'. Of course, I am a 'rarie' to have a point of view like that. However, the group solitaire game Kings in the Corner was less frustrating, and a game often ends surprisingly quickly.

On Sunday, I mostly napped and cleaned. I turned the cleaning towards my altar, as well, and gave it additional significance. Now, today I feel pleased in my more orderly environment.