Vector Graphics

There are "how to draw" books that are filled with cool characters broken down into simple shapes, ovals and circles, triangles, rhombuses (rombi?). I never liked them.
A while ago I spent some time working on how to do figure drawings. This is what I found. The pure shape based ones aren't as bad as the anatomy ones but not as good as the shape/light combos. And honestly I think my "shape" experiment was more about contours.
This week I have worked with inkscape to make some vector art. I don't enjoy doing vector art as much as I enjoy other mediums. Although I do like the clean simplicity of vector art done well.
But it made me wonder if people who really do well with those "how to draw" books would do well with the vector art.
Vector art is about manipulating shapes, not about drawing lines. To me it is about seeing the shapes that make up the thing you want to make. A bunny is not lines and colors but ovals and circles and squares. Just like those "how to draw" books. Then you combine those shapes and adjust the surrounding lines.
I apologize this is probably a terrible explanation of vector graphics if you have never done it before...
But I guess my point is it seems like people see art differently (surprising right?) some people see things in terms of shapes, others colors, or light, still others contours. And depending on the artist different mediums work better than others because of the way they think.
Me I think I am a contour person mixed with light/color (depending on the medium) and then shape.

Anyway here is my unsatisfied attempt at vector art.

Offensive

This post is inspired by several conversations I have had recently. Although to be honest, most of my posts are.
People talk a lot. In a lot of situations, in a lot of languages, for a lot of reasons. In my own sphere of conversation I have found that often people, strangers and best friends, say things that taken literally, or out of context could be extremely offensive. And I don't even mean the times when people purposefully say something offensive. Honestly, after such a unintentionally offensive conversation I take perverse pleasure in commenting how "offensive" that just was or recounting said conversation to others just so I can mention how hilariously offended I could have been.
Sidenote: My views on offensive sayings (not that I am perfect at living these ideas but this is how I see it).
1 The person didn't mean to be offensive. Therefore being offended is stupid because you are letting yourself be hurt by someone who meant no malice.
2 The person did mean to be offensive. Therefore being offended is stupid because you are letting them win.
In general I try not to say offensive things, although I admit I do on occasion enjoy saying something terribly offensive, that is particularly culturally insensitive to someone who knows me well enough to know that I studied anthropology and am all too aware of how important cultural sensitivity is. But I am not purposefully trying to offend/hurt/shame anyone.
I do not follow the news regularly. However it was brought to my attention that several newspaper personnel were recently killed because they were being purposefully offensive (because that is what newspapers seem to like to do). There have been arguments made that are legitimate that say people should not be killed for being offensive. I agree. But why do people have to be offensive in the first place. Sure, I believe in free speech but, as I was said above, don't people say enough offensive things completely on accident. Why do we need to be offensive on purpose.
Too political. I apologize. I will now go back to ignoring the news. I'm so educated....

Expectations

I find expectations to be difficult at times. (And for some reason I feel like I have already written about this on here before... but I couldn't find the post so whatever).
When you're expectations are high for a book and it doesn't measure up then it is depressing, but if they are low and it exceeds your expectation it makes it seem like the book is actually good.
In regular life I always find situations more difficult to handle when they are unlike my expectations. My 5 year old nephew thought he was going on an airplane that day and instead he was staying 3 more days. He was grumpy all evening. Not because he didn't like us or where he was at but jut because he was expecting life to be different from what it was.
But it's not like you can go through life with no expectations, they just naturally form. So how do you cope when your good expectations are crushed? I have no idea except pray that your attitude will change. Grrr.

Consuming and Creating: Part 6: Screen Time

Yep I'm back on this subject again. I have several nieces and nephews and I have seen all of them over the holidays. Screen time seems like a big issue parents have to make decisions on. Especially in this technology saturated society. Watching movies, TV shows and youtube videos, and other people playing computer games. Playing computer/tablet games. All of those things are part of screen time. But I think there is a difference, a better and best if you will.
All the types of screen time above are recreational, but I wouldn't say they are all necessarily consuming activities. I think playing games like mahjong or tetris or candy crusher can be an exercise for your mind. Sandbox building games like minecraft and terraria let you be creative. And watching other people play games can build relationships. I suppose watching movies or TV shows can do that as well. Of course all these have to be done in moderation or they can become mind numbing. Basically I'm just saying that screen time can vary a lot, and some is actually very creative. Screen time isn't always consumption even when it is a game.
After all I normally spend quite a bit of time in front of the computer, writing and artwork.

Honorable War Wounds

I became enthralled by Brian Jacques' Redwall series when I was about in third grade, and really liked them for a long time.
In one of them, (Salamandastron maybe) they talk about having Honorable War Wounds. I remember loving the phrase and using it frequently with my brothers in reference to scratches and bruises we obtained from run of the mill playing.
The past couple of weeks I have been spending a lot of time with some of my nephews and we have done a fair amount of roughhousing. I have a bruise on my hand, my heel and my foot. The one on my foot is the most painful, but you can barely see it. I find it a tad disappointing. Why have Honorable War Wounds if no one can even tell!
Although I suppose there are sometimes that not showing your bruises is helpful.

Antecedent Confusion

I am Not a grammarian. Is that a word? Anyway, I am not an expert on grammar. Never have been... except maybe for a week in seventh grade where we learned grammar rules and I thought it was so easy, and I understood it. Then I took the test, and I never did recover that knowledge.
Anyway. I'm writing a book and I had a friend help with the read through (among other people). She was an English major in college and she knows her grammar. At least a lot better than I do.
Anyway she is always writing "fix this, there is antecedent confusion." Or something like that. Meaning the pronouns are not clear. And now I finally get to the point.
Since she (meaning the before mentioned English major friend) has started writing that (meaning "antecedent confusion") I have noticed how often in writing, and conversation antecedent confusion actually occurs.
Like that last sentence for instance.
Sometimes I just want to stop and say "Antecedent Confusion!" but instead I settle for:
Wait who? Where are you talking about? Are you talking about cookies?

Historic versus Cultural

Japan

A couple of years ago I wrote about how different Nativities can be. I was noticing it again this year, but a different aspect of it. No one really knows what that scene looked like so long ago, and yet there are thousands, if not millions of representations of it. My Mom collects nativities, and many of them are from different countries. I just find it fascinating how even though we do know something of the culture and dress of the original Nativity, people have put there own culture into the Nativity sets they make. Because ultimately they aren't trying to represent a historically accurate event but they are putting themselves into the situation of the Christchild's birth. Or at least that's how I see it. So all nativities show truth, show the reality of God in a culture, in a home, in a life.

Philippines

Honduras (we think)