Not been doing much art lately...unless this counts. Dance is an art. Middle Eastern dance is the victim of much mis-information. In the eyes of most Westerners, it's a dance of semi-naked gyrations and bellyrolls, seen only in Greek, Middle Eastern or North African restaurants or, lately, Renaissance Festivals. Women in the Middle East and North Africa often dance among themselves to entertain themselves at family celebrations or at the end of a long day to relieve tension. It is celebratory. It is feminine. It is physically challenging and has many health benefits.
I am more comfortable in my body than I have been in a long time. My belly is stretched and pouchy from having my two babies and I bare it proudly. I am a Mother.
The henna that stains my hand in this photo is a paste from a plant that grows in the Middle East and India and used to decorate hands, feet and bellies of women for Islamic holidays, weddings and pregnancies. Mehndi has become popular in the US also. I've been doing Mehndi for a while, a girl I knew in school from Pakistan gave me a tube of henna and I tried some designs with it. Now I use mylar cones to apply the paste and get very intricate designs this way.
A week ago, some friends and I met for a video/henna party and there was some left-over paste that I've been playing with...
So, here's my latest art-work!
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Europe? Ok.
| You Belong in Paris |
 You enjoy all that life has to offer, and you can appreciate the fine tastes and sites of Paris. You're the perfect person to wander the streets of Paris aimlessly, enjoying architecture and a crepe. |
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Little Drummer Boy
Here's Geordan on my doumbek! Look at him go!! I shot the video clip at the end of his drumming session so he's a little less energetic than in the photos...but you can see him in action, doums, teks and all! He really likes drumming and has learned the basic Baladi rhythm of Middle Eastern music!
That's not the only way he's growing up right now...he's ALL ready to start Early Childhood school in the Fall! No more DIAPERS!!!! We visited Mrs Frey, who will be his teacher and was his sister's, yesterday and she is so excited that he's ready!!
There are more photos, and the end result, in my Flickr!
Friday, May 26, 2006
Hydrants and Firefighters - EDM #66
When I was 6 or 7, I went to vacation bible school in Smithville. At the end of the week, there was a parade and I got to ride on top of a fire truck.
When I was 12 or 13, a girl next door used her toaster and it caused a fire that burned the kitchen of the duplex on the other side of ours. The girl's family had to move and lost some of their possessions due to smoke and water damage. There was a crack in our kitchen wall from the firefighters chopping out the burned bits with their axes. Our apartment smelled like burned plastic for a long time.
When I was going to school at DeVry (1986-88) there was an explosion at a gravel quarry near 87th street and Blue River Road near Swope Park. Someone had set fire to a trailer full of fertilizer that the quarry used to blast out gravel. When the fire company arrived, no one told them what was in the trailer and it exploded, killing six firefighters and injuring others. The blast could be heard 20 miles away and broke windows all over the area. I was in the area, staying with a friend. I heard it. There is a memorial there now.
When I lived at the car shop, Storm and I volunteered with the Red Cross Disaster Aid Teams as monitors. We would listen to a scanner for fire calls. When there was a fire in an occupied residence or more than 2 alarms called, we called the RC to send the IRV (Immediate Response Vehicle). It had blankets and coffee and relief items for firefighters and victims. One time there was a fire across the street from the shop. We went and watched the firefighters work. They are so efficient, fearless, tireless and courageous. Their lives are at risk every time they leave the station. People have so little respect for what they do, I see so many cars not pull over and stop when emergency vehicles have their lights and sirens on. What if it was their loved-ones' lives at stake? There's a new station being built near our apartment. We'll make sure they know they're appreciated!
When I was 12 or 13, a girl next door used her toaster and it caused a fire that burned the kitchen of the duplex on the other side of ours. The girl's family had to move and lost some of their possessions due to smoke and water damage. There was a crack in our kitchen wall from the firefighters chopping out the burned bits with their axes. Our apartment smelled like burned plastic for a long time.
When I was going to school at DeVry (1986-88) there was an explosion at a gravel quarry near 87th street and Blue River Road near Swope Park. Someone had set fire to a trailer full of fertilizer that the quarry used to blast out gravel. When the fire company arrived, no one told them what was in the trailer and it exploded, killing six firefighters and injuring others. The blast could be heard 20 miles away and broke windows all over the area. I was in the area, staying with a friend. I heard it. There is a memorial there now.
When I lived at the car shop, Storm and I volunteered with the Red Cross Disaster Aid Teams as monitors. We would listen to a scanner for fire calls. When there was a fire in an occupied residence or more than 2 alarms called, we called the RC to send the IRV (Immediate Response Vehicle). It had blankets and coffee and relief items for firefighters and victims. One time there was a fire across the street from the shop. We went and watched the firefighters work. They are so efficient, fearless, tireless and courageous. Their lives are at risk every time they leave the station. People have so little respect for what they do, I see so many cars not pull over and stop when emergency vehicles have their lights and sirens on. What if it was their loved-ones' lives at stake? There's a new station being built near our apartment. We'll make sure they know they're appreciated!
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Rianna Comeneci
The kids go to gymnastics at the Kansas City Gymnastics School up in Riverside. The school has trophys lining the gym walls and banners of college girls from the gym (and a boy!). There are the usual apparatus and a big foam pit for the kids to jump into at the end of their classes.
Last weekend they held their Spring Fling. It's sort of a meet for the parents to see what the kids are up to. The gymnastics version of a recital. The kids all get scores and ribbons and everyone gets a medal!
Rianna got to participate, Geordan is sitting out for a little while. She got sixth place for Beam and Bars and third for Floor! She was so good, sitting patiently with her classmates while she waited to be called! She even tried a trick on the beam that she had been afraid to do! She is very proud and so are we!!
As an extra bonus, some of the college girls were there visiting. One of them, Jennifer Naughton, did her floor exercise routine! The kids were sitting on the edge of the floor and Rianna said, "Mommy, she ran so fast and she was flying!!"
Here's video clips of the day! (Remember, no sound!)
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Sketchcrawling with Mom
Here she is drawing with me at the park. She is drawing our waterbottle. I'll post the finished drawing, too.
Dancing Princess
More videos!! Rianna wanted me to shoot her dancing at the park, so, here she is, dancing to her own singing, Rianna!
Thursday, May 04, 2006
People You Don't Know
Hi! This is my husband Ron (say "hi" Ron)("Hi!"). We've been married for almost 4 years (June 30) and together for almost 13 (June 1). I just found out this morning that he used to paint.
He works as a structural drafter for a company that builds commercial buildings, Butler Construction, in the heavy structures division. His currently working on the US Tennis Association's new building in New York to be finished before the 2007 US Open. He has previously worked on automotive conveyors, commercial office buildings and sports arenas. He was the first person to design a building in AUTOCAD at Black & Veatch, the largest engineering firm in KC. In his early design days, he renovated a number of McDonald's restaurants in the Greater KC area, including the Country Club Plaza restaurant in Seville Square. As part of the remodel, he produced the drawings from which the Seville, Spain bas-relief mural was based. I have his ink on illustration board drawing and plan to have a clean copy made to frame and hang in our house (when we get a house).
I know he drew some as a young man, that's about it.
I am currently in the process of making a batch of hand-bound books; three from typing paper for the kids (their own "Moleskines") and three from watercolor paper (one for me and one to sell). I asked him,this morning, if he would like me to make one for him. He said, "yes." "What kind of paper, typing or watercolor?" "Watercolor."
His answer surprised me, I'm not sure why. I asked if he would draw in it and he said maybe he would. I asked if he had painted before and he said he had, a long time ago. "What media?" "Watercolors, some tempera and oils."
I had no idea.
I am very pleased to know this and pleased that he wants me to make him a book.
I love him!
He works as a structural drafter for a company that builds commercial buildings, Butler Construction, in the heavy structures division. His currently working on the US Tennis Association's new building in New York to be finished before the 2007 US Open. He has previously worked on automotive conveyors, commercial office buildings and sports arenas. He was the first person to design a building in AUTOCAD at Black & Veatch, the largest engineering firm in KC. In his early design days, he renovated a number of McDonald's restaurants in the Greater KC area, including the Country Club Plaza restaurant in Seville Square. As part of the remodel, he produced the drawings from which the Seville, Spain bas-relief mural was based. I have his ink on illustration board drawing and plan to have a clean copy made to frame and hang in our house (when we get a house).
I know he drew some as a young man, that's about it.
I am currently in the process of making a batch of hand-bound books; three from typing paper for the kids (their own "Moleskines") and three from watercolor paper (one for me and one to sell). I asked him,this morning, if he would like me to make one for him. He said, "yes." "What kind of paper, typing or watercolor?" "Watercolor."
His answer surprised me, I'm not sure why. I asked if he would draw in it and he said maybe he would. I asked if he had painted before and he said he had, a long time ago. "What media?" "Watercolors, some tempera and oils."
I had no idea.
I am very pleased to know this and pleased that he wants me to make him a book.
I love him!
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Ice Princess
Here's Rianna's first time on ice skates. After about 20 minutes, she insisted on a "solo" flight!
More Video of My Kid Jumping!
Ok, I think that worked (except for the sideways part!) so here's more...
Are We On?
I'm not sure if this will work, but I have a YouTube account now and have shot some video clips of my kids (no sound, sorry). See if it works and comment! Oh, yeah, it's sideways! I'm a photographer, not a videographer, and forget you can't just flip it sideways...
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Young Illustrator in the Making
We have, from Netflix, Disney's Haunted Mansion. The kids have watched about a dozen times this week and last night, as I was cleaning from supper, Rianna got this book out and illustrated her own version of the "legend" of the haunted mansion story. Very carefully, she drew each of the scenes and told me what each drawing was of and was very excited to do it! The best way to see them is to go to the Kids' Art set, they are in the proper order there.
Monday, April 24, 2006
Bellydance!
We did it!!! We survived and danced, too! Don't we look cool!
We (Marcy, aka Christiana and me, aka Vina) made our choreographic debut yesterday with our original dance to Raquy and the Cavemen's Caravan in the Shimmyfest recital of the Maya Zahira School of Bellydance. We also danced with our intermediate class to Paul Dinletir's Raks Africa. I was in the front row, next to our teacher Amara (whose photo is in my stream!), by accident, and nailed it!!!
(Click the photo to go to Flickr and mouse over it for notes)
Saturday, April 22, 2006
"Still Life" by Dave Gray
One of my Flickr contacts is Dave Gray, his screen name is "dgray_xplane."
Dave is an artist.
His Flickr stream is a lovely place to hang out and just absorb light and beauty, photographs and paintings. Recently, he's uploaded a lot of his oil paintings.
I saw this this morning.
The composition is masterful. His whites are so full of color and light. The palette and tissue next to his easel...like he's just taking a break from his painting to make a painting.
I live within 2 miles of Thomas Hart Benton's studio/home, and the studio was left the way it was when he died, working at his easel on a painting. His palette's there and brushes and it looks like he is just taking a break and will be right back any minute to finish signing it...an unintended homage.
Click the painting to go to a larger version and his Flickr stream!
I really love this Dave!
Monday, April 17, 2006
Weekend
Well, I had a bit of a surprise when I woke up, my monitor shows blue, green and a tiny bit of red. I know it's either the vid card or the monitor (it's rebuilt). The monitor's had a problem for some time, though. Partway through the morning, it gets darker. So my photos have been a little off...I think. I try not to mess with them too much, just in case. Well, it's just time to get the new machine, finally. I've been using the kids' computer that we found, it's an old school computer with a Pentium MMX and a teeny hard-drive. I could do most things I needed to with it. I have my scanner, printer, mp3 player, an old version of Photoshop and my lickity-split Roadrunner. So we just let it limp along, trying not to fill it up, having Walgreens burn my photos to cds, not putting all my music on it, til now. When we get the new one, I'll wipe the drive on this one and give it back to the kids with a new monitor/video card.
We went to the library Saturday and the kids picked out some great books and played while I drew this scene out the window (that doesn't count as plein air, does it?). Anyway, it was lots of fun. April is poetry month and the kids and I made poetry pockets with styro desert plates and small poems to put in them. We found one by Shel Silverstien about homework that Rianna liked and made a new version about balls with the same form. She is such a creative kid, I hope no one squashes that! I plan to keep a close eye on her teachers (already do)!
We went to the library Saturday and the kids picked out some great books and played while I drew this scene out the window (that doesn't count as plein air, does it?). Anyway, it was lots of fun. April is poetry month and the kids and I made poetry pockets with styro desert plates and small poems to put in them. We found one by Shel Silverstien about homework that Rianna liked and made a new version about balls with the same form. She is such a creative kid, I hope no one squashes that! I plan to keep a close eye on her teachers (already do)!
Sunday, April 16, 2006
ShimmyFest
"Shimmyfest" Dance Recital
Sunday April 23, 2006
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Event Location: Shawnee Civic Center, 13817 Johnson Drive, Shawnee KS
Notes:
Doors open at 1 p.m.
Reception follows show.
$8 advance tickets, $10 at the door, Kids 8 to 12 $3, Kids under 8 are free
I am dancing a duet with my friend Marcy and with our class. My first performance!
Sunday April 23, 2006
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Event Location: Shawnee Civic Center, 13817 Johnson Drive, Shawnee KS
Notes:
Doors open at 1 p.m.
Reception follows show.
$8 advance tickets, $10 at the door, Kids 8 to 12 $3, Kids under 8 are free
I am dancing a duet with my friend Marcy and with our class. My first performance!
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
EDM Challenges #1 & #13
I did most of this yesterday. At home I did the phone and at the park I did my shoe. I colored in the phone this morning in the same light. In my hedgehog!
New Book
Another friend on EDM, Starr, had commented about my blog and how she was inspired by my drawing consistently and as a surprise Thank-you, she sent me Danny's book! Bless you Starr! I read it in one sleepless night and have loaned it to another friend who is an "artist-in-hiding"... for the time being!
What I'm Doing
Hi!
I've been busy lately! A friend on Everyday Matters introduced me to Wet Canvas! a couple of weeks ago and I've done two of their Weekly Drawing Events! It's a really big art community site with tons of stuff and people and I'm finding my way around it. I got back to doing some tiny little ATC-sized paintings, this time more landscape-y than what I was doing for ATCs before. This one is from a photo by WDE host Barbara last weekend of a beach in Maine. Just 2 1/2 by 3 1/2 inches! You'll have to read these posts backwards to get it all...
I've been busy lately! A friend on Everyday Matters introduced me to Wet Canvas! a couple of weeks ago and I've done two of their Weekly Drawing Events! It's a really big art community site with tons of stuff and people and I'm finding my way around it. I got back to doing some tiny little ATC-sized paintings, this time more landscape-y than what I was doing for ATCs before. This one is from a photo by WDE host Barbara last weekend of a beach in Maine. Just 2 1/2 by 3 1/2 inches! You'll have to read these posts backwards to get it all...
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