#these illustrations are just magnificient

[d1anna]

from John Martin's illustrations of John Milton's Paradise Lost

[winter-sol]

Leviathan Birthday Event Review (because why not)

I didn't want Levi's birthday to go by without a post about it. I couldn't post anything that day or the days before since I've had a lot of workload and well, I don't feel like continuing on the PC after finishing my shift ;(

So here comes the review no one asked for about the event + cards + devilgram stories! yassssss

Pop Quiz!

My rating: 6.5/10

So, the event was about Leviathan organizing his birthday party, planning what activities to do with his brothers, being discouraged in the process because he thought those activities sucked, but his brothers reassured him it was ok, they wanted to do it. They all have a good time in the end, great!

It was funny to see everyone trying his hobbies, I remember the most that scene with Lucifer and Satan decorating their Ruri-chans in ways I wish we could've seen. Levi as an otaku is usually alone with his own stuff, but seeing his brothers wanting to do the same and enjoying it was pretty cute.

Besides that, I won't lie, the event was pretty basic, but I must say, it's better than last year's, specially when it comes to the romantic scenes, this year's was pretty dokidoki inducing. At the unlockable route, there's this scene that I believe was the highlight of the event for us Levistans.

Once the two of us are together is his room, you can ask him if all he wants to do is gaming because, y'know, you could be doing other stuff. He says he wants to (god bless him) but let's you decide because he's a consent king and hear me, if you pass he'll be like

But if you say yes I swear he kisses you like 4 times and tells you the sweetest things I must have read coming from him.

No matter the option, the ending is me loving him more.

But anyway, aside from the romance, for a birthday event it was alright I guess, nothing out of the ordinary, but fine.

UR Card: "Heartbeat✩Creation Time"

Illustration: 10/10

Beautiful, magnificient, gorgeus. The drawing is just so good. When it comes to OM! illustrations, I'm pretty fine with the different styles with get to see. But this classic otome style was done so well this time I can't help appreciating it. If last year's UR (oh how to forget the cursed, bugged card) was pretty, this year's was perfect. He looks handsome and cute, classic Leviathan, but also the unlocked version is just... Ahhh, did you see him? He's drunk! And he looks so pretty like that! Like, what is he saying? is he slurring while talking otaku nonsense? is he trying to flirt and failing? We'll never know (because the devilgram story has nothing to do with it but bah, nevermind)

Overall, great card, I'm glad I got it (it was the easiest Pop Quiz UR I've ever gotten, besides his last year's which was... you know, bugged)

Devilgram Story: 5/10

I'm sorry but after Satan's birthday UR card my expectatives are way too high. That's the standard my mind has set for these kind of stories.

So in his devilgram story, Leviathan tells you about an idea he has about a manga, then puppet show, he wants to make. It's an obvious TSL inspired? (ripped-off?) story. And the plot is quite bad, for being such a cultured otaku, you'd expect better. But anyways, it's an obvious self-insert, the ending is basically he day-dreaming of confessing to you and well, Levi basically telling you he wants to grow old with you was cute, I won't lie. But the dialogue after that is quite bland, you tell him you want that as well and that's basically it? (Do we even kiss? I forgot, sorry)

So, considering it was a chance to impress us with this card that most Levistans grinded their asses for... it just wasn't impressive, there are better devilgram stories for Leviathan (I'm looking at you, "A Virtual Drive" and "Handmade Present!". Those were really good.)

SSR Card: "Devildom's Next Top Otaku"

Illustration: 8/10

The locked version is cute, yes, his eyes and the way he's holding the sheep is awww. But I guess it's nothing out of the ordinary. The unlocked one though is veeeery pretty. The starry background, the pink flower crown, and his facial expression are just. Beautiful (I wish my english was better so I could use more complex words idk). He looks like the king he is, happy on his own birthday. Nice.

Devilgram story: 8/10

Better than the UR, it finally, finally!!! uses a concept I've been daydreaming about for months: Model Levi.

Because why not!! He's part of the Seven Rulers of Hell, basically the most poweful and popular guys in the Devildom, they're all handsome as hell and the otaku rat boy is not an exception. He's unique and c'mon, otaku aesthetic is in nowadays. I like how the photoshoot ends up accommodating him, he's at ease and you can tell he ends up looking amazing. He's actually on the cover of the magazine, and while I ended up wondering if his brothers had planned the whole setup for his modeling in order to celebrate him (is it supposed to be like that? and I was too stupid to get it? hahaah), I think it was refreshing for him. I think we Levistans complain a bit about how he's underused when it comes to him being a hottie and well, at least now we've got some canon material about that ;)

My critique it's the lack of romance , I wish we could've smooched him and have more heartwarming dialogues.

Aaaand a concept we've already gotten last year: Levi pushing his boundaries when doing something new just to abandon it and be like "I'm happier with my simple life with you so I won't model anymore" (or last year's version: I won't become a pro gamer)

Like yes, it's his life, he can do whatever he wants, that's cool. Buuut, and I guess this is more subjective from my part? I just don't like how it's kinda romanticed the fact he'd give up on something because he'd rather stay at home with you. Part of me is ok with that idea because, again, it's his life, I'm pretty sure it must be uncomfortable with his social anxiety, it's fine I swear. But I also wonder if it's one of those "We'll never let these characters grow up and we'll just keep them safe cuz moneeeeyy" solmare moments. Like, yes, he's a full time otaku, but being an otaku allows him to know about sewing, music (instruments and singing), dancing, having a cosplay account, he's good with his hands, knows programming, and besides his otaku interests, he knows about the sea and... military. So yes, modeling, and the conflict it creates within him and how he's able to surpass it, fits his character. It was a good addition just to be abandoned so we'll probably never see it again.

Ah, guess it's not a big deal so nevermind. (see how i ended up being more critical about my higher ranked story of the 3? yes, that's me and my perfectionism)

But yes!! It was a good story. It was my favorite of the 3 of them, I wish the Pop Quiz would've followed this path instead.

Sooooo that's with Levi's event, if you got this far thank you!

For his birthday, I was planning on finally posting a MBTI analysis of Levi's type (INFP) and its cognitive fuctions that's been in my drafts for months but i just didn't have the time and energy to finish it. So if you're interested let me know ;)

Have a good night! And prepare for that Pirate Event! It's time for new skins!

[survivors-of-barovia]

Recently magnificient @lokuro had a birthday! And to this special occasion I wanted to illustrate her terribly beautiful poems. They are full of exquisiteness and elegency just as she is So I drew these illustrations in hope of capturing the feel of them!

[utilitycaster]

other assorted and disjointed thoughts from this episode

- I kind of love how Fjord and Jester have repeatedly had the conversation of “okay but what if we just like. ran away back to the coast” despite them having simultaneously very different approaches to morality and also a strong belief in personal obligation, ie, running back to the coast has not been an option for some time. also when it was an option and they did it, they accidentally stole a boat, became pirates, and then got kicked out of the pirate union.

- re: the above, that conversation has made me think of the poem Good Bones in this Chili’s tonight and if I had art skills I would illustrate this

- Caleb is going to end up inadvertently giving Beau an exact replica of Scanlan’s bedroom from the Magnificient Mansion isn’t he

- would love to get a Caleb conversation about Aeor feelings at some point because I joke about how all these people are searching for knowledge without really thinking about whether it’s a good idea, and a not-insignificant part of Caleb’s arc has been considering the ethical implications of arcane powers and the obligations one has

- yes my theories of what this campaign is about have gone from identity to redemption to personal obligation and honestly all three of those things are so intertwined anyway

- would love to know more about what the fuck was up with that divination circle, like, is that Aeorian or divine or what and also why

- for a multitude of reasons I am not really bothered at all by the mini at the end of the episode and am far more frightened of a ruined laboratory. Like you can kill a cursed baby-head creature...way harder to deal with pervasive and long-lived magical contamination (this is also significantly enhanced by some of the EGTW Aeor lore)

[dezdemonomania]

Vendors!

Last weekend we attended Indiana Comic Con, and I haven’t attended a con since I deleted my Facebook, so it occurred to me that I didn’t have a place to link shops that were amazing there anymore.  Voila, y’all get to check them out here.

Literary Alterations, a shop that I constantly want to buy everything at.  Literary and fandom keychains, lockets, pendants, doodads and just in general, everything that makes me want to jingle everywhere I go.

Candice Dailey Illustration, a lovely woman who recently signed a contract with Marvel, iirc, and her art is amazing.  Her Kylo Ren print almost made me buy it in spite of my loathing for that character, so good.

I have a real weakness for old-timey propaganda-esque fanart, and Punch It Graphics supplies that need in spades, holy shit.

Dark and brooding fanart of gorgeous space vehicles (and an Indiana Jones print I nearly came home with), check out Jim Mehsling’s Cartoon Caveman shop.

I buy something from Joe Corroney every time I can and this time was no exception, his fanart is amazing.  I’m getting his Leia print for myself for Christmas, because HOW CAN YOU NOT?!

I literally changed my Loki variant cosplay (in progress) because of a set of gold and green horns from Shimmering Chimera.  They are MAGNIFICIENT, I assure you.

Posh Geekery had some lovely infinity scarves that almost came home with me.  Their main shop is temporarily closed, but here’s their FB.

Okay, so since it’s spooky season, there were several shops that were INCREDIBLY MY JAM, and Hailee Smith was one of them.  Lookit her little goblins!  I can’t even!

Hubs bought some prints from Nick Minor, because there was a surprising lack of FFVII merch on offer.  Also shout out his Nier Automata prints, very nice.

Intricate and beautiful, the prints of Kris Kehasukjaren.  Nearly bought the hubs the Fairy Tail one.  And the Avatar one for funzies.  YISS.

If you need some Elder Gods up on your walls, check out Mythos Monsters. 

So many fun enamel pins at Geeky Endeavors, especially the axolotl ones and the cat ones and just...all of them. 

Leanne Huynh has adorable and lush artwork, definitely worth a follow (and she has a Patreon, toss her some love, will ya?).

Sewn by Jenn had the cutest damn food plushies I’ve ever seen, and pet neckties to die for.

MissChibiArtist had some cute spooks on offer, and a bunch of lovely other original work.  Hubs appreciated anything Aqua, so there you have it.

If you need some pixel-y goodness, stop by Triple7SP.  He does custom Perler bead art, and has some nice prints.

[rainbowtemptation-blog]

She is a brush (I know, I know im just jumping on the band wagon, but I wanted to create one because of @alegotic-fandoms , you have really inspired me, you’re an amazing artist and all of your characters are absolutely magnificient)

(Below is her info)

Mary Patina is an artist who illustrates for children's books. Along with Illustrating for children’s books she also enjoys photography. 

She is very kind and loves kids, however she does not have any of her own, as she wants to wait until she is in a committed relationship.

She and Jasmine are best friends and have been since grade 4. They enjoy going to flower festivals together and just walking in the park enjoying the scenery. 

She is not very fond of her best friend’s husband Mason, but they tolerate each other. 

Her favourite colour is blue, she feels it has a calming feature to it alongside giving you a warm feeling.

She also loves carnivals, going to every one she can. She loves the brightness and joy it brings to people. She loves the ride too, her favourite ride of all time is the ferris wheel. She loves heights, it makes her feel free and calm. 

[shopvertov-blog]

VINTAGE ICON: Tina Chow

Model, muse, designer, AIDs activist & vintage obsessive. The brightly burning flame of Tina Chow

I first encountered Tina Chow, radiant, in the Instamatics of Antonio Lopez. Swaddled in a red puffa jacket (with apparently not much underneath) or majestic in a gauzy tangerine evening dress and red lipstick. Who was this elfin Eurasian beauty who could strike such a pose? A little light Googling turned up striking Warhol Polaroids, soft black and white portraits by Herb Ritts, and the identity of the sitter: Tina Chow, model, fashion icon, wife of the iconic celeb restauranteur Michael “Mr Chow” Chow. Throughout the hedonistic glory days of the 70s and 80s, Ms Chow was the hostess with the mostes’ style – first in London, then around the world as the Mr Chow empire became global. Her marriage landed her into the elite artistic circles of her time, but that grace – that poise – was all her own.

Tina Chow (née Bettina Louise Lutz) was born in Ohio in 1950, the child of a Japanese war bride mother and a German-American father. The family moved back to Japan in 1966, where a young Tina found early modelling success as the face of Shiseido. It was in a Tokyo department store that the 21-year-old was first spotted by the fashion illustrator Antonio Lopez, who introduced her to her future husband, Michael Chow. They got married in London in 1973 and celebrated at Mr Chow’s, “where Bianca Jagger upstaged the blushing bride by arriving late with nine-year-old Tatum O’Neal, both decked out in white dresses and wide-brimmed hats and carrying walking sticks.” [1]

The newlywed Mrs Chow had a natural pizzazz for restaurant work – her exquisite taste and natural charm added a new sense of magnetism to the London celebrity hotspot. According to one contemporary report: “You went to Mr. Chow to show off, or to check out who was in town from everywhere that mattered. But what kept you coming back, night after night, year after year for almost a decade, was the aura of Tina Chow … Tina Chow, Tina Chow, Tina Chow, whispered the slaves of style in her heady wake. What’s she wearing, where’s she going, who’s she talking to? When it came to taste, she was like DiMaggio at the plate or Marilyn on a subway grate-she knew she had it, and there was nothing she could do about it.” [2]

Striking beauty and insider access to the upper echelons of the art and fashion world made Chow an obvious muse. On top of modelling in fashion campaigns, Chow sat for portraits by Cecil Beaton, Richard Avedon, Lord Snowdon, Robert Mapplethorpe, Steven Meisel, Herb Ritts, Helmut Newton and, of course, her friend Andy Warhol. Newton's remains one of the most memorable, showing her trussed up in Japanese rope bondage while her husband serves a flute of champagne. In more conventional society portraits, her refined sense of style shines through.

Chow was an ardent vintage fan. She collected haute couture pieces by Cristóbal Balenciaga, Christian Dior, Madeleine Vionnet, and in particular, Mariano Fortuny. That delicately pleated tangerine silk dress from the Instamatics? That’s the Fortuny Delphos dress, first made in 1907 and named after a classical Greek sculpture. (They are now some of the most collectable vintage items in the world.) It’s said that when Michael Chow first bought her a  jewel-pink pleated Fortuny gown, she took it apart to see how it was made, then restored it. “Doing this with other items of vintage clothing, especially her Fortuny collection, became a passion.”

In 1992, the year of Chow's tragic early death from AIDs-related complications, the Fashion Institute of Technology held an exhibition of Chow's magnificient collection. The accompanying catalogue, Flair: Fashion Collected by Tina Chow, remains a key resouce for Chow fans and fashion historians alike – after her death, the collection was auctioned off and dispersed around the globe.

Despite this penchant for pre-war couture (and eye-catching cocktail jewellery), Chow’s day-to-day style was more pared-back. She would combine luxurious star pieces won at auction with inexpensive flea market finds or prosaic white cotton t-shirts. She is said to have had the same pair of simple black cigarette pants remade for her by Kenzo each season. Chow made the opulent unfussy and the unfussy opulent, dashing Japanese minimalist aesthetics with a soupçon of American decadence; Karl Lagerfeld credits her with inventing “minimal chic”.

Though straight, Chow is something of a queer icon with her boyish dress sense and Eton crop hairstyle, said to have been clipped at a New York City barbershop. She set trends for straight women and gay men alike: writing in 1992, Maureen Orth commented that “young men in London and New York wake up, pomade their short-cropped hair, throw on her signature uniform of pressed white T, cashmere cardigan, and narrow slacks, and declare, Today I’m Tina Chow!”[3]

This queer icon status is, of course, cemented by her activism for HIV/AIDs. Chow was the first high-profile heterosexual woman known to have contracted HIV, having had an affair with the bisexual French aristocrat Kim d'Estainville in the mid-1980s (d'Estainville would die from AIDs in 1990). In her final years, she turned her back on the glamour and decadence of the London and New York social scenes (“I lost several friends to AIDS and I felt my life slipping away while I continued to party,” she told the Chicago Tribune), focusing instead on charity work, meditation and holistic healing. She moved to the rugged California coastline and began to hand-make jewllery.

Chow's first jewellery collection sold at Bergdorff’s and her pieces are now highly collectable. Reflective of her style, they are both masculine and feminine, eastern and western. She combined traditional bamboo weaving techniques (for which she employed a Japanese master craftsman) and rough, uncut healing crystals, often concealed in the design. In one of her most well-known pieces, the Kyoto Bracelet, six pieces of pieces of coarse rose quartz rattle around inside a fetishistic black bamboo bangle. Though holistic in approach, the result was far from hippy-dippy.

In an essay for Critical Flame, Cynthia Cruz argues that it wasn’t just the crystals, but the act of making that felt healing for Chow: “The act of making, and in particular, the act of making from nothing and/or from remnants or from scrap … is a phenomenal act of transformation. By using remnants as the centerpiece of a work is to invert the meaning of those objects. Chow’s inclusion of bamboo both transforms the bamboo from an invasive overgrowth into a prized possession while questioning the very idea of what it means to be Japanese.”[4]

Having spent so many years as a model, hostess, wife and muse, it’s heartening that Chow was able to find an avenue for her creative expression before she died. The tragedy is that it wouldn’t have much time to flourish.

Rosa Vertov (@VertovVertov)

[1] https://maureenorth.com/1992/04/ciao-tina/

[2] ibid.

[3] http://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people-events/article/2130316/remembering-tina-chow-style-icon-70s-and-80s

[3] https://maureenorth.com/1992/04/ciao-tina/

[4] http://criticalflame.org/tina-chows-articulate-silence/

[limejuicer1862]

Wombwell Rainbow Interviews

I am honoured and privileged that the following writers local, national and international have agreed to be interviewed by me. I gave the writers two options: an emailed list of questions or a more fluid interview via messenger.

The usual ground is covered about motivation, daily routines and work ethic, but some surprises too. Some of these poets you may know, others may be new to you. I hope you enjoy the experience as much as I do.

Andy N.

is a writer, performer, podcaster, creative writing workshop tutor and sometimes experimental musician from Manchester who also is currently co running Stretford’s always welcoming spoken word night ‘Speak easy’

He has been published in numerous books and magazines and has been performing in some form or the other since 2006 and regularly since 2008 and was also vocalist and keyboardist in the spoken word collective ‘A Means to an End’ (Can be found on facebook).

He is also the editor and chief of Spoken Label, a new spoken word based interview podcast label featuring podcasts with all kinds of writers and artists (https://spokenlabel.bandcamp.com/) and is also the co creator of ‘Reading in Bed’, a literature review podcast he does with his partner (http://readinginbed.bandcamp.com)

His official website is onewriterandhispc.blogspot.co.uk/ and he is always interested in under-taking performing / new projects. His email address is aen1mpo@yahoo.co.uk

List of Publications:

(http://onewriterandhispc.blogspot.co.uk/p/publications.html)

on Facebook (Official page)

https://www.facebook.com/andynstorytellerpoet/

on Bandcamp

https://andyn.bandcamp.com/

Ocean in a Bottle (ambient music)

on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/Ocean-in-a-bottle-802773986422467/

on bandcamp

https://oceaninabottle.bandcamp.com/

Spoken Label (spoken word podcasts)

on facebook

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1640184132900821/

on bandcamp

https://spokenlabel.bandcamp.com/

Speak Easy (Stretford’s always welcoming Spoken Word Open Mic night)

https://www.facebook.com/speakeasymanchester/

Reading in Bed (Book Review Podcast with Amanda)

on facebook

https://www.facebook.com/groups/readinginbed/

on bandcamp

https://readinginbed.bandcamp.com/

Comics Unity Podcast Series (Comics related and culture podcast with Michael)

on facebook

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1366264170126341/

  The Interview

1. When and why did you start writing poetry?

I actually started writing poetry when i was 10. It was terrible i seem to recall. My teacher encouraged to keep on it at it

. Little did she know

2. Who introduced you to poetry?

Good question. It was my teacher Miss Fenton. She always thought i had a good eye for images even back then

.

2.1. What poetry did she introduce you to?

She introduced me into Hilaire Belloc at the time. My major inspirations Hugo Williams and Paul Celan / Wilfred Owen came during college and at degree level years ago.

2.2. How did they influence you?

In Williams case it was the human touch the sheer love of life. Cealan and owen the misery

3. How aware are and were you of the dominating presence of older poets traditional and contemporary?

Not really if I am honest until I got into my mid 20s when I went back to evening classes. I had left school with quite poor qualifications (long story) and next to no interest in writing by the time I got to 18 or 19 and although I touched on poetry while studying English A Level (where I studied Tennyson, Browning and Swinburne etc), it wasn’t until I got to university in 1999 as a mature student (I was 27) when I really began to see the dominating presence of older poets traditional and contemporary and slowly began to find my own voice.

4. What is your daily writing routine?

I actually have a day job (I wish I was a full time artist) so that covers me during the day so it usually means just the evening when I get home. I’m quite deep into the world of Podcasting at the moment which can means that does take some time up when I am at home, and I also do ambient music under the name of Ocean in a Bottle but if I am not writing everyday I am always reading and usually have either a book in my bag or a new poetry book on my kindle. Bookwise, that’s Robert Cochrane’s ‘A Memory of Keys’ and I have a pre-order of a book by a South African writer called Alta Martin which is out later in the year I think.

5. What motivates you to write?

What motivates my writing? That’s a good question really. When I first started writing right up to when I went to university, I never really had any plans with it atall,  perhaps I thought it was something more interesting to do than just watch Television. The older I got, it changed and now I love telling my own stories in poems rather than been told stories (for example on Television) if they makes sense and this has now developed further so on my laptop I have various folders on there on sequences I want to tell. Currently this includes Science Fiction poems (A mystery called Robot Noir) or poems about an imaginary couple I am writing about who visit all kinds of cities and have adventures in them. Both of them motivate me as I want to work out where they end both of these stories end up next.

6. Why do you like writing mysteries?

Just what I am writing really at the moment, Paul and is not a reflection of my first three full length poetry collections. The first book ‘Return to Kemptown’ was a compilation of what I regarded as my best material as of 2010 (I have been performing poetry on a fairly regular basis since 2007). The second and third books ‘The End of Summer’ ‘and ‘The Birth of Spring’ are seasonal books really with each book designed to represent the seasons with poems about Summer and Autumn mixed with longer narrative poems which contain the elements of those seasons also.

I do have a third seasonal book in mind ‘In the Midst of Winter’ which is looking good but I also have two other full length books on the go which are certainly more mystery based. The first one ‘Changing carriages at Birmingham New Street’ which is about my imaginary couple actually made a brief appearance in The Birth of Autumn and I enjoyed reading about them, it kind of made sense to try and write a full length collection covering their time together. Robot Noir, my Science Fiction poetry book is quite different but still carries the same emotional strengths that people like about my poetry but is getting wrote hand in hand next to it covering before, during and after a Robot uprising in Poetry which threatens the existence of mankind itself. Both books here are mysteries as they do not operate like most full length poetry collections, but tell a story like in novels but rather in poetry which pieces stand alone but also work well in a long sequence and I hope will prove emotional satisfying for readers as well as me when they are completed.

7. How do the writers/musicians you read/heard when you were young influence you today?

I had a bit of a unusual taste in music growing up in the early 80s when my father got me into folk music and country and western music, of which if I am honest I haven’t heard in years. When I got into my mid teens in the late 80s, I started listening to some discoveries of my own, some of which are very difficult to listen to nowadays. One band I love listening to even now and saw live twice back at that point were a Scottish band called The Blue Nile who have had a rare ability to convey the ordinariness of life itself which still hits me hard even now over thirty years later and has proved a influence on my writing certainly.

Reading wise, I’ve just re-read a few books by Fred Hoyle which are very pure Science Fiction indeed and I think are difficult to read now (How I read them at 11 or 12 with great ease I have no idea) and I also remember reading a lot of Harry Harrison’s work as the Stainless Steel Rat which I struggle with nowadays also because of the sexism towards women which is pretty bad in the first book or two. I think it depends really, my father got me reading the Western works by American writer Louis L’Amour in my early teens and his later books like Comstack Lode are great novels and while a little preachy are full of what I try to convey in my poems now (as much as any work by Plath and Larkin, both of which I was familiar with in my early 20s and am still now).. I let the characters tell their own stories whether in a few lines or 40 lines

8. Who of today’s writers/musicians/ do you admire the most and why?

Ooh. I am taking my time reading Ocean Vuong’s ‘Night Sky with Exit Wounds’ at the moment. I also recommend Spiderseed by David Hartley, a young writer from Stretford (near where I was born) whose debut book is twenty illustrated flash fictions, all of which has a defo Gorey feel to them. Comic wise, as I am still reading them, I love the work by Ed Brukaber (who is known on the TV front for being the show runner for Season 1 of West World and Too die to this young). Comic wise, his work with Sean Philips is always worth reading, and their current series Criminal which is a series of interlinked stories involving Criminal has magnificient character work

9. What would you say to someone who asked you “How do you become a writer?”

I started as a child as I said before and also studied writing at university, but if I am honest although I learned stuff from starting from so young and also studying it, I learnt going to a writing group certainly helped me the most as it made me listen to people who tried to give me advice. So listen really

And also perhaps join websites likes Writeoutloud.net and blog your poems on there, as people will give you feedback on them sometimes.

10. Tell me about writing projects you’re involved in at the moment.

Current writing projects are the following:

1) The Streets were all we could see – my 4th full length poetry book which is a series of mini poems (All under 10 lines each). Book is now complete and will be out before the end of Winter.

2) Buried alive under the Wall – this is my second fantasy book, a sequel to a book released in 2018 called Enemy of the Wall. Currently on the last draft.

Other projects on the go is Europa 4, my 4th book of anti war poetry with my pal Nick Armbrister and I am thinking about what I am can do for NaPoWriMo this year which I think will be 30 poems wrote daily in April called Fragments of David.

Also will be carrying on with my constant podcasting and ambient music.

Wombwell Rainbow Interviews: Andy N. Wombwell Rainbow Interviews I am honoured and privileged that the following writers local, national and international have agreed to be interviewed by me.

[theintrovertedarchitect]

I don’t want to be an architect anymore.

I graduated and I found myself thinking “I don’t want to be an architect.”

It started as something adventurous. I was excited to take on the challenges of design studio. I loved learning about the old buildings and ancient cities. I liked sketching my ideas, better than most of my classmates to be honest. I actually interned at an amazing construction site where every day was a new adventure itself with many problems to solve with all kinds of people butting in their opinions.-I live in Turkey and construction workers are real caricatures.

So what happened then? What made me start to hate my profession?

One word. Ego.

I came across these amazing designers who were using great algorithmic softwares and mesh based big programs. I got to experiment with all these softwares and I became good at some of them. The half artist-half architecture student in me got arrogant. I wanted to become magnificient. I wanted to design buildings out of utopian and distopian novels. I wanted to defy all the rules and be interesting. I really wanted to design interesting buildings.

And I did design interesting buildings. Last 2 years of my education was dedicated to becoming better at algorithmic design methods and push my boundaries. I used my photoshop skills to the extreme for my presentations. And people started to compliment me on my different and ambitious thinking.

My instructors became ambitious for me, as well.

They now wanted bigger things from me. Amazing things. They wanted me to push it hard and work hard and basically become a little starchitect student. Things were going good for me until they weren’t.

I was tired.

I was really tired of learning new ways to design beautiful looking buildings. So I started getting worse.

In my last semester I slacked hard. I had another ambitious project but I had no joy of working on it. That’s why I barely finished it and received my 2nd lowest score ever since the first grade. My graduation project sucked big time. I still received good comments because I am not that bad and I really care about the philosophy behind the concept of any project I design. But this project was not up to the standards I set for myself. Basically put, it had many loose ends and poorly designed parts. The graduation exhibition I was waiting for ever since the first day of school was a bore. I spent the day looking at my friends’ better projects thinking why I hadn’t thought about it.

Now it is almost 3 months since the graduation and I have been a registered architect for the half of it. But I keep postponing finishing my portfolio and looking for a job because the idea just terrifies me and I simply don’t want to work from 9 to 6. I try to think of ways to get out of a dead end job before I even begin. I read posts on topics like “I don’t like architecture anymore”. Nothing concerning architecture exites me at all. I hate it. I hate how once I start working my ideas will stop being mine and I will be stuck in it until I retire and I won’t ever have a chance to improve my skills and I won’t travel anymore and I will not have a life and I have to communicate with clients I hate and I will have ungrateful bosses and I...

The list is endless.

What did I love about architecture before I got in the school anyway?

I loved the idea of creating. I loved sketching. I loved taking photos of buildings. I loved learning about art history and old settlements. I loved the notion of changing something bad and making it better.

Despite hating architecture, what do I love still?

I love hugging old greek columns. I love visiting old settlements. I still love photography even though I hated it during one of my phases. I still love sketching despite not doing it anymore. I still want to change the world. 

...

I think I still love architecture but I swayed from the path that would make me the happiest. I lost my way. I am unhappy.

I want to find my path again.

I want to change the world.

I want to be a happy architect.

Or an artist. Phtographer. Designer. Illustrator. Writer.

That’s why I studied architecture. It gave me the means to become whatever I wanted to become even though I don’t know what I want to become now.

I just don’t want to become a bored office staff.

I want beauty and happiness and achievement and usefulness and sustainability in my job.

I just have to find that job.

Then I can write about how I love being an architect/something.

[chicandswiss]

Voilà on est en décembre et là c’est l’angoisse qui monte! Comme chaque année on se dit qu’on va pas s’y prendre à la dernière alors on essaie d’anticiper, de profiter du Black Friday et des divers marchés de Noël, et finalement, comme chaque année, on ira faire nos cadeaux de Noël le 23, voire 24 décembre au matin…

Par principe, je ne mets jamais un pied dans un magasin dans la période de Noël, à part peut-être pour les cadeaux des grands-mères, et encore moins durant les nocturnes. Trop d’angoisse! Je préfère éviter d’empaler les autres retardataires les un après les autres sur les sapins en plastique. Du coup c’est devant mon ordinateur chéri et adoré que je fais mes cadeaux en passant d’un site à l’autre. Faut faire bosser la Poste non?

Chaque année le dilemme se resserre mais qu’est-ce que je vais bien pouvoir leur offrir??? la bougie, le panier garni, le livre qu’on ne va jamais lire, l’écharpe qu’on ne va jamais porter…non je vais pas leur mettre un bon ou des sous dans une enveloppe…Alors voilà quelques idées cadeaux (pas pour moi mais pour les autres… Ceci-dit, si vous tenez vraiment à m’en faire un, suis pas difficile, un sac Gucci ou des bottines Chloé me suffiront!)

Mode et accessoires

La mode étant au béret vous pouvez toujours offrir un joli béret vous avez une sélection dans mes précédents articles ou encore des bottines chaussettes mais c’est pas toujours évident de connaître les goûts de chacun. Alors pourquoi pas un bon Sézane ou Zalando…? valeur sure non?

Les accessoires sont peut-être plus faciles avec un joli sac ou porte-monnaie?

René René

Découverte lors de la Fashion Fair d’octobre, elle fait des sacs originaux et tendance avec des pochettes ou des sacs de ville.

Lahara

Je l’ai rencontrée à un vernissage chez Chic Cham, “Lahara” était en pleine préparation de lancement de son site. C’est donc tout frais tout neuf qu’elle met en vente ses créations de sacs en cuir végétal. Vous pouvez la retrouver sur plusieurs marchés de Noël de la région.

Tha-Maka

J’ai découvert cette marque grâce à la blogueuse Lisa Germaneau et suis complètement fan de ces bijoux bohèmes. J’ai notamment une bague que je ne quitte plus.

Lily’s creation

Comme je sais que cette bague vous a beaucoup plus sur mon insta et que même certaines se la sont achetées ;-), voilà le lien, attention elle part comme des petits pains!

Montre Daniel Wellington

Vous l’avez certainement vu sur toutes les blogueuses célèbres, cette année ils ont sorti un coffret montre-bracelet.

Casque Sudio Sweden

C’était mon premier “cadeau” blogueuse! Ce casque bluetooth au design or et marbre! que demander de plus??

Beauté

Rituals

La marque Rituals cosmetics que j’ai pu découvrir lors de l’inauguration de la boutique à Lausanne fait de parfaits coffrets cadeaux aussi bien pour femmes que pour hommes dans une gamme de prix tout à fait abordable puisqu’en être 26.- et 89.-

https://www.rituals.com/fr-ch/the-ritual-of-sakura—relaxing-ceremony-7949.html#start=1

https://www.rituals.com/fr-ch/the-ritual-of-hammam—purifying-collection-7946.html#start=1

https://www.rituals.com/fr-ch/travel-set-skincare-women-7385.html#start=1

Le Body Pass

Le cadeau idéal pour les coquettes! vous avez 50% de rabais sur les prestations de 150 instituts. L’occasion non seulement de découvrir de nouveaux instituts mais de se faire une nouvelle coupe pour Nouvel-An ou un massage pour se décontracter après les fêtes, ou même profiter du Spa du Royal Savoy…!

En tout cas c’est ce que je vais prendre le temps de faire pendant les vacances de fin d’année!

Déco

Pour changer un peu des bouteilles et boîtes de chocolat, un objet déco passe toujours bien! Et il fallait quand même que je place la bougie…Pour ma part c’est d’autant plus facile puisque, vous le savez déjà peut-être, ma meilleure amie a ouvert son webshop de déco scandinave. Facile donc de trouver un petit quelque chose, entre la bougie, le joli pot ou des peluches toutes douces! En plus il y a toujours l’option bon cadeau si on ne veut pas prendre trop de risques…

Solskenshop

https://solskenshop.com/collections/new/products/hexagon-plant-pot-xl

https://solskenshop.com/collections/new/products/scented-candle-rosenhave-rosegarden

https://solskenshop.com/collections/kids/products/riceananas-glasses-plush-toy

Mapiful

Vous l’avez vue sur mon insta mais je suis trop fan de ma carte Mapiful. C’est hyper facile, vous choisissez la ville de votre coeur et ensuite pouvez recadrer, zoomer, choisir le design, la taille, donc facile à adapter pour chacun

Lecture et culture

Pas le cadeau le plus facile, il faut effectivement connaître les goûts des gens et en plus un certain budget suivant quoi…mais il y a des livres un peu passe-partout et légers comme

30 manières de trouver l’amour

Ecrit par Margot Delévaux, jeune fille de 25 ans, ce recueil relate des minis fictions inspirés de faits réels. Et je confirme…j’ai déjà essayé la moitié, sans succès comme vous le savez :-p mais très drôle à lire!

Aux “édictions” Helvetiq. Vous trouverez d’autres ouvrages et jeux purement suisses. Très sympas pour animer vos longues soirées d’hiver.

Sinon la grosse mode est au fantastique donc évidemment

The Game of Thrones

Le coffret des 5 volumes peut plaire en attendant la 8e saison…bien sûr pour les autres il y a les dvd :-p

L’étoile de Lowilo

par Déborah Perez, une ancienne collègue/amie. Mêlant le fantastique et la littérature en attendant le tome 2 🙂

Plus pointu et culturel peut-être

Le Panier culturel

Cette association propose un “panier garni” qui encourage la création locale, le panier d’automne par exemple contenait

Sac en tissu: sérigraphie avec une illustration de l’artiste Fichtre, tirée de son projet «Asimpledrawing»

Oeuvre exclusive, signée et numérotée, de l’artiste plasticienne, Cleide Saito

Vinyle du poète et musicien lausannois, Stéphane Blok. Oeuvre co-produite avec le Panier Culturel.

Collection de quatre livres édités par le collectif Hétérotrophe. Oeuvre numérotée et co-produite par le Panier Culturel.

Visite insolite (pour 2): Découverte de l’univers de l’improvisation théâtrale avec l’association Impro Suisse

Sortie culturelle (pour 2): Une entrée pour deux personnes pour la soirée de votre choix au théâtre des Trois P’tits Tours à Morges

Revue: La Ficelle no 5 – Parution anniversaire

Je me suis finalement décidée à commander celui d’hiver (oui je m’autofais des cadeaux) et me réjouis de le découvrir.

www.lepanierculturel.ch

L’Opéra de Lausanne – bon

Alors ça c’est une bonne idée surtout dans ce magnifique lieu mais où les places sont vite chères si vous ne voulez pas vous retrouver dans le poulailler à voir la scène à la verticale…

Copines de voyages

Bon je savais pas où le caser celui-là, mais c’est au cas où vous avez des amies sans amis comme moi et qui peuvent pas partir en vacances seules…Copines de voyage est là pour vous sauver! Perso j’attends juste qu’elles remettent le Mexique….ce n’est qu’une question de patience!

Food & Beverages

Noël ne se résume pas à un boîte de chocolats encore que c’est une valeur sure! Mais étant plutôt salé, voilà quelques idées.

Gourmandia

Pour celles ou ceux qui aiment le foie gras, voilà des petits coffrets qui font toujours leur effet! Ok je ne suis pas hyper objective puisqu’il s’agit du service traiteur de ma maman mais comme c’est délicieux, comme tout ce qu’elle fait d’ailleurs, j’étais obligée! (oui c’est bientôt Noël et si je veux ma tranche de foie gras le 25, je dois être gentille!). www.gourmandia.biz

Oliviers & Co

S’ils sont plutôt spécialisé dans l’huile d��olive, ils ont évidemment une gamme autour de la truffe, vous pensez bien que j’ai déjà tout testé… et notamment ce petit pot de sauce crème parmesan/truffe une tuerie à mettre dans le risotto par exemple. Et évidemment vous trouverez plusieurs coffrets!

https://www.oliviers-co.com/fr/coffret-noel.html?nosto=nosto-page-category1

https://www.oliviers-co.com/fr/coffret-best-2017.html?nosto=nosto-page-category1

https://www.oliviers-co.com/fr/coffret-tartuffi-5084.html

La boutique de Lausanne se trouve à la Place de la Palud, à côté de Rituals en plus, vous pouvez faire du 2 en 1! www.oliviers-co.com

Magnificients

Un passionné de vin qui a su s’entourer et travailler sur des assemblages inédits, c’est là l’essence de Magnificients. J’ai eu l’occasion de tous les goûter (non je ne suis pas alcoolique) et ils sont tous aussi délicieux les uns que les autres. La cuvée est un Riesling et les bouteilles sont des litres et non pas des 75cl. Format parfait pour les tables de Noël.

Cette année, il y a également une fondue élaborée notamment par le chef étoilé Crisci et le vacherin fribourgeois. Elle est en vente à Manor.

RH Lamotte

Et bien évidemment pour les fêtes du champagne! On connaît tous les grands noms alors cette année je découvre le champagne RH Lamotte dont les premières bouteilles se sont vendues dans l’entre-deux guerres.

Bon ok, je vous mets quand même du chocolat SUISSE! Avec toutes les délicieuses adresses qu’on a dans la région…

La chocolatière

Vous pouvez commander en ligne et faire vous-mêmes vos petits coffrets!

Avenue de Mon-Repos 14, 1005 Lausanne, www.lachocolatiere.ch

Blondel

On ne le présente plus, vous avez toutes et tous certainement déjà fait la file devant le boutique en période de Noël…Pensez à passer commande depuis internet et aller simplement les chercher ensuite entre deux vagues de monde!

Rue de Bourg 5, 1003 Lausanne, www.blondel.ch

Läderach

OK bon d’accord j’ai honte mais je ne crois pas avoir goûté leur chocolat…c’est peut-être à cause du nom à consonance légèrement suisse-allemande…(ne me jugez pas je suis suisse-allemande…d’origine!) mais ils ont ouverts récemment à la Migros Métropole à Lausanne, donc facile d’accès!

Centre commercial Métropole, rue des Terreaux 15-23, 1003 Lausanne, www.laederach.com

Vincent Kuonen

Je suis obligée d’en parler puisqu’il est près de chez moi 🙂 et c’est de là que j’ai eu mon lapin de Pâques “Mignon”, donc pour les idées originales c’est par ici!

rue de la Blancherie 8, 1023 Crissier, www.vk-chocolaterie.ch

Voilà, j’espère que cela vous aura inspiré et donné des idées un peu originales…et si j’en trouve d’autres d’ici le 24, je mettrai l’article à jour!

Sinon JOYEUX NOËL!!! HO HO HO

NB. oui je fais de la pub gratuite #blonde, car cette article a été rédigé sans aucun partenariat (sauf avec le bodypass quand même) car je ne veux pas ressembler à un blog télé-achat 😉 après si on veut m’offrir des chips à la truffe suis pas contre 🙂

EnregistrerEnregistrerEnregistrerEnregistrer

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Ma wishlist au Père Noël Voilà on est en décembre et là c'est l'angoisse qui monte! Comme chaque année on se dit qu'on va pas s'y prendre à la dernière alors on essaie d'anticiper, de profiter du Black Friday et des divers marchés de Noël, et finalement, comme chaque année, on ira faire nos cadeaux de Noël le 23, voire 24 décembre au matin...

[carot-dj]

Best of the Type Of the numerous books that have been written about the Golden Isles and St Simons Island in particular, Ms Davis' seems nearly perfect in the accuracy of her historic information be it personal, geological, military, economic, or otherwise. It was a joy to read and to see a lot of the erroneous information in other, older works either clarified or debunked. My father-in-law came to SSI in the early 1930s and spent most of his life there. He always railed against much of the earlier histories that were available. He would have wholeheartedly enjoyed this work were he now alive. We bought a copy for ourselves and now bought one as a gift. Outstanding work. Go to Amazon

... SSI I think I'm qualified to say it's and excellent history both in words and pictures Well since I was raised on SSI I think I'm qualified to say it's an excellent history both in words and pictures. Go to Amazon

Jingle hits the JACKPOT with Island Time If you grew up in Georgia and visited St. Simons Island every summer, as I did, you will love this book! It combines a solid history of the Island with a lot of local color, such as the Oasis Night Club and The Deck. Go to Amazon

Just beautiful Amazing book! I bought this for my husband because we spend every free vacation on St SImons. This book is well written and includes beautiful photographs of the island. Any one who loves the beach, the east coast or St SImons, would love to have a copy of this book! Go to Amazon

IF YOU LOVE THE GEORGIA COAST -- THIS BOOK'S FOR YOU Great pictures and the History is what everyone needs to know if you appreciate our heritage. Go to Amazon

St. Simons Island, GA. Great book. I'm learning a great deal about my favorite vacation spot. The pictures are also very good and bring back many great memories of many great summer vacations there. Go to Amazon

Five Stars Great book Go to Amazon

Wonderful book I was privileged to get to hear Jingle Davis in person and to get the book autographed. It's a wonderful book. Go to Amazon

Will do that when the weather gets cool and I won't get the pages soiled Magnificient! GREAT gift for SSI lovers! Any Time! Excellent, well written and illustrated history of St Beautiful memories Five Stars Five Stars Four Stars Great Book!

[silviascorcella]

Artist Interview: JASON FREENY

“Sono magnifici! Ma, aspetta un attimo: è un giocattolo o è un’opera d’arte? No, perché, guarda: è proprio quel cartone animato che adoravo da piccolo! Eppoi, diviso in due così, e con tutto lo scheletro e gli organi che si vedono: è ancora più bello! Ma così bello che: wow! Sembra un’opera d’arte! Ma quindi: ci gioco o lo esibisco?” 

Benvenuti nel mondo immaginifico di Jason Freeny: un posto dove tutti troveranno di che meravigliarsi!

Laddove gli adulti riscoprono i propri idoli d’infanzia stavolta sezionati con fare chirurgico da mano d’artista, i bambini si affascinano di fronte a quell’universo ludico che si fa improvvisamente grottesco, quindi tremendamente irresistibile. Intanto la sua celebrità non scompone affatto la sua voglia di divertirsi: ed ecco come il famoso artista Jason Freeny ci rivela che di fronte ad un’opera d’arte gli occhi sono i primi a doversi sollazzare liberamente!

[ENGL.]

“They’re wonderful! But, wait a minute: is that a toy or a piece of art? Well, actually, look at it: it’s exactly the cartoon I used to love when I was a child! And now, split in two, and with the skeleton and organs gone bare: it’s even more fabulous! But so fabulous that: wow! It seems an artwork! So, then: should I play with it, or exhibit it?” Welcome to the imaginative world of Jason Freeny: a place where everybody find something to be wondered by. In which adults rediscover their own childhood idols, that this time are dissected by artist’s hands in the guise of a surgeon. While children are enthralled in front of that ludic universe suddenly turned into grotesque, therefore overwhelmingly irresistible. Meanwhile, celebrity doesn’t perturb his wish for fun: here’s how the renowned artist Jason Freeny reveals that in front of an art piece your eyes must be the first to freely  amuse themselves!

Looking at your works, the “artist” label might seem to be insufficient: I would add illustrator,  designer, toy-maker and, why not, re-inventor of imageries. If you could define your own artistic  identity, what would it be? And beyond, or inside this artistic guise: what “real” identity of Jason  Freeny is concealed?

I make things that I personally would want, this runs the gamut on platform be it illustration, sculpture etc... If other people like it too that is a bonus. For the most part there is no deep meaning behind my work, the visual enjoyment and journey to completion is all I need, that is not to say I have never made a piece that wasn't driven by meaning or that meant to tell a story. When people ask what I do I usually say I'm a sculptor.

The kind of art you’ve been devoted to for the last years, and that has contributed to make you  mainly celebrated, is the arrival point of a manifold process of growth: what was and how was the  evolution on this expressive path? How did the idea of watching inside the toys, likewise a surgeon  would do, arise?

It was a progression and evolution. one idea sparks new ideas and that idea sparks another and so on. The anatomies in particular began when I was creating narrative digital illustrations about 15 years ago. I was using balloon animals as a pet for a robot I designed. An inanimate object with another inanimate object as a pet... I thought to myself, well... what if this was an actual living creature? What would his anatomy look like? Mix that with my love of info-graphics and the "Pneumatic Anatomica" illustration happened, it grew from there...

From what imagery does the inspiration for your works come from and, meanwhile, what does it happen in your fantasy while you’re working? From the imagination to the hands: how does the material process of realization of your art-pieces develop?

I love form, surface and clean lines. When broken down that is how I see my work. I have found inspiration just about everywhere... Other artists work, riding the commuter train, lack of sleep... I make very basic sketches of my ideas and don’t waste time with too many pretty drawings, all of the trial and error is done in the 3D reality in front of me.

The characters your artworks embody are the emblem of the “pop” culture and delight: toys,  puppets, cartoons, video games and movie heroes; so, icons that are popular in a timeless and  deeply across-the-board way, gazing the fascination of adults and children. They seem to create a constant balancing act between innocence and maturity, fantasy and reality, playful aesthetic and  grotesque, subtly macabre, taste. First of all, are they supposed to be considered mainly toys, or art  pieces? And what visions, tales or messages are kept into and offered by your work?

You are correct in the importance of the juxtapositions of opposites in my work, if there was a description that would be it. The original pieces I sculpt are "art" and I wouldn't play with them :D. The limited or mass produced versions I consider more affordable versions of art but if you want to play with them, go right ahead :) There are no tales offered, just playgrounds for your eyes.

Living and observing the real life by the overturning filter of your imagination, that establishes  continuous surreal symbolic short circuits, yet candidly clear: what values does it hold and  represent, as for you, the quality of being creative? What’s the world seen by Jason Freeny like?

Anyone that thinks they've figured life out is a fool. Life is endless humor and ridiculousness punctuated with tragedy.

What’s the artwork that represents you better, and what’s the one you still wish to realize? And, finally: what’s next in your professional and artistic projects?

The anatomical characters were certainly part of me and I embrace them for the notoriety they brought. The work I create next will be a more true representation of my exploration of the beauty of form, I can only hope people will like them just as much. It’s a scary time for me breaking away from the comfort zone the anatomies created but I think it is necessary for growth and to be true to myself.

Silvia Scorcella

[Published on Hachi Magazine issue n°3]