#chinese calligraphy art buy

[exhibit-of-the-century]

Lecture Notes MON 29th JAN

Masterlist

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The Artwork in History: 'Beyond' Europe

Giving general History as background becomes not applicable due to the world being so large and so much happening. Not only that, but historical and cultural contexts begin to fall apart due to our lecturer not specialising/lecturers knowing certain places etc. A trend in Art History is that the country in which you study it, is usually the country that specialises in it. Even in Europe, despite Art History being considered Eurocentric.

Which it sort of is, but even so, it focuses on Britian (England), France, and Italy. Perhaps momentarily Spain, but very rarely. And when foreign language classes are offered alongside Art History studies, they will still focus on these countries, maybe Germany is added but very rarely.

This is slowly being tackled within universities, especially the ones in London that I had applied for and discussed attending with. But still the European dominance and favouritism is obvious, perhaps mainly due to the fact that to do cultural and contextual reading you need to know the language/should as it shapes the understanding of the artwork a lot.

Our lecturer admitted to realising that he was very much uneducated on the rest of the world, admitting his ignorance, he had decided to educate us and show us how he attempted to tackle this. As he dubbed it, his “revelation of ignorance”, with this blog while I do focus on what I’m learning in class, I try to reach out and also cover other art in Europe and across the world. Albeit I am a student learning alongside everyone else, and everyone who discovers this blog.

Here is the reading list given by Oxford covering Art History, I’ve highlighted all the Eurocentric/Western books: and as you can see, there is very little variety.

I recommend reading Craig Clunas books if you’re interested in Chinese Art and Art History in China as he is an incredible Art Historian and very well versed. Speaking of Chinese art, I present a Ming Dynasty scroll:

This YouTube video does an incredible job of displaying the whole scroll, rather than cutting it up like in photos.

Xia Chang (1388-1470), Bamboo-Covered Stream in Spring Rain, 1441, handscroll, ink on paper, 41.3 x 1500 cm, Art Institute of Chicago

This scroll was made around the same time as the Renaissance was beginning/happening in Florence, it’s a very contemplative view of nature and draws on calligraphy. While it does not display as much detail, that is to not say that it doesn’t evoke emotion and stir the viewer. Originally this was a private gift exchange, which at the time in China was a common occurrence.

Zhou Jihong of Haiwu built a house at Xichou, where ten thousand long bamboo trees surround the stream. I love the quiet and beautiful scenery of stream and rocks, and the green and moist color of bamboo is enough to clean away worldly worries. One day Jihong had his second son, Tingyue, bring me a roll of blank paper and ask for a painting of bamboo. At that time, I was enjoying the coolness at the Pine Pavilion; therefore, I thought about the scenery and painted the Bamboo-Bordered Stream in Spring Rain. Although my painting cannot match the old masters’ essence of learning, it resembles the scenery of Xichou. I wonder if Jihong, who is a scholar of profound knowledge, has the same feeling when he looks at this painting. On the first day of the sixth month, in the xinyou year of the Zhentong reign [1441], Xia Chang Zhongshao of Dongwu.

We are very used to seeing old maps of the world, from the Eurocentric perspective, but what about maps from other nation/country perspectives? Cartographer books help Art Historians to understand other perspectives/what other nations may consider important as it’s closest to them/in their vicinity. It also helps show and track the development of a nation in a way, as you see their world expand in their maps you understand the influences and countries, they have connections too.

Map of the world from al-Istakhri, Kitab al-Masalik wa-al-Mamalik (Book of Roads and Kingdoms), 1470s, Istanbul, Sülemaniye Camii Kütüphanesi, Aya Sofya 2971a, f3a.

Another thing art reveals, apart from location and trade, it can also reveal religion and it’s spreading into other cultures. For example, this artwork has no real background or noted background, much of its history is lost and so we can only speculate. This artwork is believed to be from Kosovo, and given the rich history there, especially with the Ottomans, we can only guess at what it’s depicting: one such answer (and favoured) is a Christian institution in the Ottoman empire. We know it’s from around the 15th century and contains inscriptions. We also see Bells in the artwork, which is most associated with churches as opposed to other religious houses, and the interior of the building is covered with wall paintings perhaps of Mary or Jesus on the donkey. And the head coverings are non-Islamic.

Monastery Scene, Iran, fifteenth century, opaque pigment, ink and gold on paper, 34 x 48cm, Topkapı Sarayı Müzesi, Istanbul, H.2153, f.131b

While we have little context, this artwork was found stuck into another book, like a scrapbook. This lack of context means we must refer to cultural background to make the history. We do know that Persian art draws on many artistic backgrounds.

This next painting comes from Spain, Barcelona. A large-scale painting, part of many other paintings in a giant altarpiece, or rather put behind the alter. While looking straight on from a photo doesn’t do this painting justice for its scale and gold detailing, and it’s low relief like sculpture aspect to it.

Reconstruction of the St Augustine Retable for the church of St Augustine, Barcelona, commissioned from Jaume Huguet 1463

This painting has colonial history to it, while our lecturer realised it predated the slave trade and Spain plundering of America (1492), it did not predate Spain and Portugal’s plundering of Africa. Economic history factors into current art and art ownership. Note: Europe imports many luxury items and good, apaying with vast amounts of gold as it doesn’t have luxury goods to send back. So where does the gold come from when it’s predating the America’s. Africa of course, pillaging the caravans filled with Gold that travelled across the Sahara and other places.

Now keeping this knowledge in mind, turn your attention to the painting, and a secondary photo from a visit in person, notice all the gold low reliefs.

Jaume Huguet, The Consecration of Saint Augustine, between 1463 and 1486, tempera on panel, 250 x 193 cm, Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, Barcelona

The Catalan Atlas, c. 1375, Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris

Once more cartography books boost Art History, showing world views of the historical world and in art. While this Atlas has a great many details, I would like to highlight a specific part, which relates to the aforementioned painting from Spain. When in the 15th century Portugal and then Spain navigated North Africa.

'This black Lord is called Musse Melly and is the sovereign of the land of the black people of Gineva (Ghana). This king is the richest and noblest of all these lands due to the abundance of gold that is extracted from his lands.’

Musse Melly is where the gold comes from, and this man was a real Lord. There are records of his travels across Africa to Egypt, and giving away do much gold in Egypt it ruined the economy for many years.

PART 2 OF POST: BENIN ‘BRONZES’

[reasoningdaily]

Illustrator Linda Yi’s recipe for “smacked cucumber,” a classic summertime Chinese snack, is more than a list of ingredients and instructions. It’s a full-color comic strip, complete with speech bubbles offering supportive cooking advice, sound effects (“SMACK!”) and a cat and panda beating up a cucumber.

When it comes to telling stories about food, “there’s so much that you can do with both words and pictures,” Yi says. Across North America, a generation of Asian cartoonists have come to the same conclusion. The last decade has seen a flurry of illustrated Korean cookbooks, one-panel satirical comics about South Asian chai, and graphic novels about Japanese-American culinary history. No matter the focus, each cartoon offers vivid depictions of the artists’ beloved foods.

Asian culinary comics in North America go back at least to the late 1970s, when Vietnamese-Canadian artist Thach Bui and chef Bill Lombardo created the nationally syndicated, decades-long comic strip Cheap Thrills Cuisine, in which a character named Chef Peppi walked readers through recipes inspired by Toronto’s Asian and other immigrant communities.

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Culinary comics are a natural result of the Asian diaspora’s devotion to both food and visual storytelling, says Taiwanese-American writer Jeff Yang, the editor of multiple anthologies of Asian-American comics. In the United States, Asians-Americans are better represented in the world of comics and graphic novels than they are in almost any other major storytelling industry. “A part of our cultural heritage may make us more inclined to see words and pictures as being a little bit more blurred together,” Yang says, citing pictorial Chinese characters, South Asian calligraphy, and Japanese manga comics. And when it comes to visual storytelling, images of food are inevitable, he says. “Food as a way of showing love or respect or caring is so deeply embedded in every one of our Asian ethnic cultures that if we want to tell a story, especially a personal story…food becomes a critical lens.”

The art of Yi and Nakahira is a sharp departure from the negative stereotypes of Asian food that have long circulated in American and Canadian culture. “Food slurs are so common as frames for us. [They call us] dog eaters, right?” Yang says. Cartoonists reframe the food of Asian immigrants in a familiar, positive light, he says. “We have yet to be in the world of scratch-and-sniff storytelling,” but with visuals, he says “we can show people what [our food] looks like.”

Perhaps the most radical thing about these culinary comics is that they provide a space for Asian artists and readers to be themselves. Many offer glimpses into artists’ personal lives: the warmth of cooking with a parent; or the joy of eating with a partner. In Korean American Cooking Comics, illustrators and partners Sung Yoon Choi and Eric Watkins pair recipes with humorous panels depicting their domestic life, such as a recipe for a Pepsi float alongside a cartoon of Choi and Watkins binging on potato chips, or a recipe for o jing u cho mu chim, tangy spicy squid, alongside the two of them fishing in a boat, waiting for a bite.

Yi, who began drawing her Panda Cub Stories comics during the COVID-19 pandemic to satisfy a longing for her family’s Sichuanese cooking, says that drawing allows her to vividly express the feeling of a tingling tastebud or the image of a sizzling clove of garlic. With text alone, she might struggle to portray Sichuan’s famous mouth-numbing ma flavor, but she can get the point across by drawing a mouth with “little stars, tap dancing across your lips and tongue,” she says. Plus, she noted that drawing out her parent’s recipes has helped her master difficult recipes, which her ADHD used to prevent her from doing. Illustrated ingredients, dramatized cooking steps, and cute animal narrators have helped her and many others learn to cook complicated dishes such as mapo tofu.

Most of all, Yi says, her comics are an accessible, fun way to share her love of Sichuanese culture with her readers.Many of her fellow creators are similarly motivated, she believes. “Part of it,” she says, “is our generation returning to the foods that we grew up with—and, sometimes we’re ashamed of—and then being like, no, these are beautiful.” Her art, a delicious collage of drawings and words, speaks for itself.

Gastro Obscura covers the world’s most wondrous food and drink. Sign up for our email, delivered twice a week.

[peternelthorpe]

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Islamic Calligraphy has arguably become the most reverenced form of Islamic art. It provides a link between the languages of the Muslims with the religion of Islam. The Muslim calligraphists have great contributions in taking this Islamic art to this zenith. The holy book of Islam, Al-Quran, has played an important role in the development and evolution of the Arabic language, and by extension, calligraphy in the Arabic alphabet. The famous Islamic artists have created Arabic calligraphy of supreme quality. Till today, The chief sources for Islamic calligraphy are the proverbs and complete passages from the Holy Quran. In modern times, the supply of Islamic calligraphy has also become a flourishing Islamic art business.

Islamic calligraphy is a visible expression of the highest art of all for the muslim. It is the art of the spiritual world. Calligraphy literally means writing beautifully and ornamentally. Islamic calligraphy is the art of writing, and by extension, of bookmaking. This art has most often employed the Arabic script, throughout many languages. Since Arabic calligraphy was the primary means for the preservation of the Quran, Calligraphy is especially revered among Islamic arts. The work of the famous muslim calligraphers were collected and greatly appreciated throughout Islamic history. Consideration of figurative art as idolatrous led to calligraphy and abstract figures becoming the main methods of artistic expression in Islamic cultures. Contemporary muslim calligraphers are also producing the Islamic calligraphy of high artistic quality.

Calligraphic scripts

The Kufic script is the first of those calligraphic scripts to gain popularit.

It was angular, made of square and short horizontal strokes, long verticals, and bold, compact circles.

For three centuries, this script had been mainly used to copy the Quran.

The cursive Naskh script was more often used for casual writing.

This script had rounder letters and thin lines.

It would come to be preferred to Kufic for copying the Quran as techniques for writing in this style were refined.

Almost all printed material in Arabic is in Naskh.

The Thuluth would take on the ornamental role formerly associated with the Kufic script in the 13th century.

Thuluth is usually written in ample curves as it has a strong cursive aspect.

The Persians took to using Arabic script for their own language, Persian after their conversion to Islam.

The Taliq and Nastaliq styles were contributed to Arabic calligraphy by the Persians.

Nastaliq style is extremely cursive, with exaggeratedly long horizontal strokes.

The Diwani script is a cursive style of Arabic calligraphy.

It was developed during the reign of the early Ottoman Turks (16th and early 17th centuries).

This outstanding Diwani script was both decorative and communicative.

Finally, Riqa is the most commonly used script for everyday use.

It is simple and easy to write.

Its movements are small.

In China, a calligraphic form called Sini has been developed.

This form has evident influences from Chinese calligraphy.

Hajji Noor Deen Mi Guangjiang is a famous modern calligrapher in this tradition.

Calligrams

The most Islamic of arts in the Muslim world, has also its figurative sides. The muslim calligraphers have produced wonderful anthropomorphic figures by interweaving written words, made from an “Allah” , a “Muhammad” , a “Bismillah” , etc., or using micrography. These include , (Ali, the Ideal Human of mystics, a praying man, a face), (Duldul, horse of Ali, horse (Alis Duldul), fish, stork or other bird (the quranic Hudhud) and unanimated representations (a sword (Dhu al-Fiqar) and a mosque. Calligrams are related to Muslim mysticism and popular with many leading calligraphers in Turkey, Persia and India from the 17th century onward.

Pakistani Islamic Calligraphy

Pakistan has produced Islamic calligraphist of international recognition. Sadeqain is on of these international fame Islamic calligraphist. He was an untraditional and self-made, self-taught painter and calligrapher. He did a lot of work on Quranic calligraphy. Many other contemporary Pakistani calligraphists like Gul Gee have created great contemporary Islamic calligraphy. These days, Islamic calligraphies of Tufail and Uzma Tufail are getting very much popular both in Pakistan and all over the world.

Islamic Calligrahpy as an Islamic Gift

The Muslims love to adore their homes, offices and places of their work with the Islamic calligraphy. The Islamic calligraphies especially the verses from the Holy Quran and the verses from the sayings of the Holy Prophet are considered to be very sacred to muslims. Islamic calligraphy indeed make the perfect gift for a muslim for any special occasion. A muslim can send an Islamic gift of Islamic calligraphy to congratulate his relative or friend on his new home or new office or on his birthday or wedding ceremony or on Eid Festival.

It is great news for the muslims living all over the world to get the Islamic paintings and Islamic calligraphy of their own choice. Please visit our website at www.paintingsgifts4u.com and click the section of the Islamic paintings. You can get Islamic Calligraphy of your choice just by selecting the Item number of the Islamic Painting or by sending the Holy verse of your choice. We also supply Islamic paintings and Islamic Calligraphy from Pakistan on wholesale basis at very best prices. We are supplying cheap Islamic paintings and cheap Islamic calligraphies with high quality.

[paintingarta]

12 Important Facts That You Should Know About Chinese Calligraphy Art For Sale | Chinese Calligraphy Art For Sale

12 Important Facts That You Should Know About Chinese Calligraphy Art For Sale | Chinese Calligraphy Art For Sale – Friend Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill (30 November 1874 – twenty four January 1965) was the British politician, army official, and writer. He has been Prime Minister of the particular United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945, when he led Britain to victory inside the Second World Battle, and again from 1951 to 1955. Churchill symbolized five constituencies during his career as a Associate of Parliament (MP). Ideologically a fiscal liberal and imperialist, for many of his career he was a member regarding the Conservative Party, which often he led from 1940 to 1955, but coming from 1904 to 1924 was a member of the particular Liberal Party.

Of mixed English and American parentage, Churchill was born inside Oxfordshire to some wealthy, noble family. He joined typically the British Army in 1895, and saw action inside British India, the Anglo-Sudan War, and the Second Boer War, gaining fame since a war correspondent in addition to writing books about his / her campaigns. Elected an MEGAPIXEL in 1900, initially since a Conservative, he defected to the Liberals within 1904. In H. They would. Asquith’s Liberal government, Churchill served as President associated with the Board of Industry, Home Secretary, and First Lord of the Admiralty, championing prison reform and workers’ social security. During typically the First World War, he or she oversaw the Gallipoli Campaign; after it proved the disaster, he resigned coming from government and served inside the Royal Scots Fusiliers around the Western Front. In 1917, he returned to government under David Lloyd George as Minister of Munitions, then as Secretary of State for War plus Air, and finally with regard to the Colonies, overseeing typically the Anglo-Irish Treaty and Britain’s Middle East policy. Following two years out of Legislative house, he served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in Stanley Baldwin’s Conservative authorities, returning the pound pristine in 1925 to the gold standard at their pre-war parity, a proceed widely viewed as creating inflationary pressure and depressing the particular UK economy.

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[pocket-void]

Good lovely morning wonderful lads, lasses, and the non-binary masses, I have awoken. O///o✨

My dad showed me how he graduated an art class while he still lived in Japan the other day. This was his final project:

He was incredibly broke so he didn’t even bother buying anything else but paint, and basically took the useless wooden bins from the nearby fish market and stuck em all together.

His professor was apparently impressed and he graduated with no issue.

[shijiujun]

I noticed that you've done Chinese calligraphy (very pretty btw) and I wanted to ask if you know of any good resources for beginners?

heya!!!! thanks for that!! this is a timely ask because i was thinking i’d do a round-up anyway some time down the road so this is good XD 

firstly tho, i’d like to put out a disclaimer that i’m no expert at this and am pretty much an amateur. so i took calligraphy classes for three years at a national calligraphy center (not that it made me a pro or shite because i don’t one bit have a natural affinity for it). if there are any calligraphy experts on this site, please feel free to add to this or correct me.

once again, i’m not claiming that everything i know is super accurate, all my basics were taught by a teacher so i’m not super sure where to go for self-learning but here’s what i know in brief for an unreliable, personal crash course:

↳ there are a lot of types of calligraphy, but i’ll just simply go on two types for now:

(1) normal calligraphy 书法 with a 毛笔 (calligraphy brush)

(2) contemporary calligraphy 硬笔书法 that’s done with a pen (can be 0.7/1.0 ball point or fountain pens with thin/thick nibs etc., although using fountain pens is considered something influenced by the west, and a lot of people prefer to use inky ball points instead for better flexibility)

↳ in terms of font/style there are five main groups (of which examples i will give in calligraphy brush, not a normal pen), and the first two are the most commonly used ones:

(1) 行书 - semi-cursive script

(2) 楷书 - regular script

(3) 草书 - cursive script

(4) 篆书 - seal script

(5) 隶书 - clerical script

↳ what are the differences and how do you pick a style to begin with?

in general people start with either 行书 or 楷书 especially for young adults these days because honestly, these are the more clearly visible forms that most of us that read chinese can decipher, as you can probably tell from the above differences. it’s literally chinese as most of us know it.

even those who’ve practiced calligraphy for a really long time are still kind of arguing on whether beginners should start with 行书 or 楷书, and the 楷书 camp advocates for the learning of regular script before they start inventing with semi-cursive 行书, which has its own merits. after all, with 楷书 you do learn the basics of how to start a stroke, end a stroke, the structure of characters split for the best composition (that’s why a lot of people practice on grid paper), but there are those who started with 行书 that say it’s easier to go to 楷书 after you learn semi-cursive.

the rule of thumb is, learn the style you like best and you think you can follow best. i began with 楷书 and honestly haven’t figure out 行书 much i have to say. although personally, if you are not familiar with chinese characters in general, i’d recommend going with 楷书 first. only because you know exactly how many strokes there are etc., whereas with semi-cursive there are some tricks to it that you might not need to know right now.

篆书 is considered like an ancient form of writing font and was used in certain periods and dynasties not that i know which ones, but if you watch certain cdramas, you’ll definitely have seen this font - this font is also commonly used to make stamping seals (i’ll explain what’s written on seals below)

隶书 was invented sometime after that for, as the name suggests, administrative purposes where clerics required a faster font to write with. lastly, there’s 草书, which as you can tell, is a hell lot harder to decipher! this is because this font was created more as an aesthetic, art form than actual like reading. there are some that are of course written clearly, but the extreme curves and like sometimes even thicker brushes are used for aesthetics/style sake like this one:

↳ some general advice when you’re practicing

(1) this is a time-intensive practice and requires a lot of patience but is incredibly rewarding - it’s not something that will come immediately even if you watch tutorials and practice a single word for like a week. just like english calligraphy, you’ll probably have to practice for months/years depending on how much you can practice BUT it’s not as if you need to put up ‘perfect’ work each time, and it’s more important to find your own style after getting the basics right

(2) my teacher and a lot of calligraphy enthusiasts always nag and say: chinese calligraphy is not about just technique, you need to write with the heart - [练字重在热情, 只要能坚持就好] this sound incredibly philosophical but is pretty much the old adage of if you like something and have passion for it, keep at it and you’ll get it eventually

↳ brushes

okay, here’s where it might get a little complicated - the type of brush you need depends on the type of font you’re going for, and of course if you don’t have that many choices, just go for whatever you have as long as the ends of the brush aren’t split [cr: https://www.sohu.com/a/343812958_161249]

(1) 硬毫笔 (hard): made of wolf, horse, rabbit, deer hair etc.

(2) 软毫笔 (soft): made of sheep hair etc.

(3) 兼毫笔 (medium): mixed with hair used to make both hard and soft brushes

(4) i think there are now brushes made of synthetic hair as well now #technology especially if it’s a cheap brush, also there are only so many animal hairs you can grab XD

obviously, is it more difficult to start with (2), the soft brush - it is said that once you begin with the soft brush and master it, you can use any brush. i started with a hard brush, especially for 楷书 because you need a hard brush to help you end the strokes precisely but that’s because i’m half a noob

for 行书 and 草书, because it’s cursive right and requires flexibility, of course a soft brush works better!

length of the brush matters as well - it is easier to control a shorter and slightly thicker brush than it is to control a lengthier and thinner brush - i’ve tried both, and i died with the second one, you can see the different varieties here:

*most calligraphy brushes for daily normal practice have pointed tips, the one you see on the far left is obviously a wide tip and this is only used for larger or huge pieces, those with four characters, and typically used with 草书

size of your desired font matters too - if you’re going for a dainty size, do use smaller, shorter and thinner brushes like these:

regular sized fonts would do well with brushes like these:

↳ paper

(1) print 

square paper is your best friend - beginners should honestly start with grid paper and the type that sections the square nicely for you here, but once you’re familiar, any square/grid paper will do for practice, any size works as well, depends on what size font you’re trying to go for

square/columned/blank paper for final product

(2) paper types

yellow or white thin calligraphy practice paper, made of rice or normal paper - usually comes in a huge stack, feels a little like felted paper - they’re also usually folded into huge scroll-like stacks

normal A4 grid or column foolscap/paper - this list is not exhaustive, you can technically use any type of paper as long as it helps you to space out the words nicely

↳ miscellaneous accessories

(1) ink and ink holder - there is a special kind of ink for calligraphy called 墨 and people usually just buy it in bottles these days. in ancient times you had to 研墨 rub/scrape the ink out (which you can see with the rectangular pieces below). it honestly has a really pungent smell in my opinion for certain brands especially the cheaper ones, but that’s the authentic type i guess!

as for ink holders, just use a tiny plate or a tiny sauce plate (i stole one from my grandma XD)

(2) brush holder －  not really necessary unless you have a lot of brushes and need a place to hold them. the reason to have one of these is also because it’ll help the brush keep its shape and will help it last longer as well

(3) stamps - for a final product, you should end it with a stamp! there are different types of stamps and different types of fonts, you can use the seal font for this as well, or just usual regular script this is your watermark/signature for calligraphy pieces

shapes come in ovals, squares, circles 

characters in the stamp - it can be your surname, your full name, or even like a full poem for a huge stamp 

ink - usually when you purchase a stamp and have it carved, it comes also with a red ink stamp pad, traditionally, stamps on calligraphy pieces are stamped in red

(4) felt base - we use felt bases so that when you write the ink doesn’t seep through the paper! but honestly newspaper works as well, but i bought it for real cheap on taobao 

(5) paper weights - buy some nice chinese-style paperweight or just use whatever you have on hand because the papers are REALLY THIN and always end up flying somewhere

(1) get your strokes right first 

honestly, get all your single/compound strokes right first! which means starting with words such as 一，二，三 and others

some videos: 

(2) move onto other more complex words, one at a time

(3) print practice papers, get tracing paper and trace over each

here’s one but any works: https://kuaibao.qq.com/s/20191230AZP1AK00?refer=spider

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so that’s all i have!! let me know if you’ve got any other questions or need some other resources for me to point you to!

[wangxiandecoded]

Episode 5

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(Spoilers for the whole show ahead!)

Episode 5 is chock full of moments and fun romantic tropes that make it hard to believe this show passed the censorship. 

Wei Ying has already taken Lan Zhan as his soulmate of many lifetimes and started confiding secrets in him. He gets dragged away to copy all the rules he broke but it’s ok Wei Ying, Lan Zhan has to notice the undeniable chemistry you share at some point.  

The Yiling Patriarch Invented Gay Pining 

The sheer amount of pining in this scene.. How did he not burn a hole through the library?

Guy takes a break from admiring the beauty of his crush, starts admiring his calligraphy instead.

The Many Names Wei Ying Calls Him

Calling your beloved by his every name to get his attention. Success! He responds to the name with intimate connotations. But oh no! He actually looked at you! What do you do now? Head empty. Quick! Ask him why he’s ignoring you and subtly remind him that he has the right to express his anger by using your formal name for completely logical reasons. 

I understand Wei Ying's feelings, it must be maddening to meet the love of your life and want to skip to the domestic stages of romance, when he still considers you an unruly stranger who has no business with him.

Can we take a second to appreciate what a pure soul Wei Ying is for wanting to constantly do better and learn what he did for Lan Zhan to hate him so much? He apologizes not once but repeatedly for breaking the rules and assures Lan Zhan he would never attack him with the intention to harm. (Wei Ying sweetie, you did nothing wrong, he just isn't ready to admit you're melting his heart.) 

All he wants is your attention. Just spare him some him, Lan Zhan! I have no clue how someone can say no to Wei Ying when he’s being this cute. Lan Zhan’s self-restraint must really be something else.

This line and Wei Ying's gay ass smile is so damning. I do not know how some Chinese censor officials did not have conniptions over this.. were they too blinded by heteronormativity, perhaps? Even Lan Zhan has had enough and charms him into silence.

Looking At Him When He’s Not Looking

Looking at your bro when you think he isn't aware you're looking at him, but he's actually painting a portrait of you when you aren't looking at him. I’m done with these idiots.

Wei Ying's heartfelt apology is obvious to us but Lan Zhan's definition of sincerity is abiding by the rules, which Wei Ying gives into for him, with a lot of effort. If that’s not love, what is? 

More pining. Wei Ying makes one last attempt at wooing Lan Zhan for the day by giving him a parting gift. (For what exactly? Monitoring him while he carried out his punishment? Love is so irrational, y’all.)

The last touch he gives to Lan Zhan's portrait is adding a flower to his forehead ribbon. This is how Wei Ying really sees Lan Zhan - not as the intimidating Lan Wangji from Gusu Lan clan, but the guy he finds cute when he's lost in concentration. It pains me to see Wei Ying do so much to win his heart.

Lan Zhan Thinks Everything Wei Ying Does Is “Boring”

Wei Ying asks him to say something other than “boring” for a change and this is his reply. What makes their relationship so captivating is their contrasting personalities. Every time Lan Zhan thinks Wei Ying is being ridiculous and goes, “Boring,” I think he actually finds Wei Ying kind of amazing and that’s annoying because it is nothing but a hindrance to the way of life expected from him. It is boring and ridiculous to Lan Zhan that he is starting to get used to Wei Ying’s presence in his life. It is boring that he’s beginning to notice and personally care for a single person instead of the world. It is boring how someone is breaking the seamless silence Lan Zhan has spent most his life wrapped up in and suddenly making it overflow with words - words he does not vocalize but Wei Ying hears anyway. That’s what finding the right person feels like, after all. So it is boring that Wei Ying, with his stupid grin, is so close to coming into his life, throwing out the worldly matters Lan Zhan is supposed to be devoted to and asking him, “Lan Zhan, isn’t it funny that I’m your worldly matter now?” 

I guess Wei Ying does get his wish in the end. Lan Zhan erupts and calls him "Wei Ying" for the first time ever because he made him open an erotic book, more specifically one that features explicit gay art. The production team is so slick, I felt giddy the first time I saw this. But still, I don’t think Lan Zhan was being fair, I’m sure he broke a rule that said it’s a great offense to reject someone’s gift. 

Lan Zhan strikes me as a closeted baby gay raised on ascetic principles, and Wei Ying’s confident chaotic bi energy is predictably sending his poor world for a toss. No wonder he was ready to duel it out with him. What are the implications of this, Wei Ying? You showed a Lan clan member gay erotic art and assured him there is absolutely nothing wrong in enjoying it. Do you want to kill him? 

And remember Wei Ying got this book from Nie Huaisang who has also been queer-coded. After a point, you lose sight of how many characters seem hella gay on this show.

Nonetheless, it is impressive that there is someone who can make the disciplined, detached Hanguang-Jun lose his calm and even get him to swear. Of course it ends up being something for Wei Ying to brag about later. It is indeed an accomplishment that few people can claim as their own.

Can We Buy An Island For Our President Zewu Jun?

Zewu Jun is not even being subtle here. Why is he smiling? Seriously, why?! The fact that his brother called this guy by his formal name which can be used only by people you're close to? The fact that he followed Wei Ying to the secluded part of the Cloud Recesses? Or because he was unable to find the real person since he's fixated on Wei Ying? Knowing our President, it's probably all of the above.

The show's clever usage of Zewu Jun as the emotional compass who points precisely to what Lan Zhan feels is definitely one of my favorite things. We see that Lan Zhan often says one thing about Wei Ying but means another and Zewu Jun is the stand-in for the audience who knows the truth.

We can see the contrast of a speechless Lan Zhan when Zewu Jun confronts him about wanting Wei Ying's company versus the facade he puts on when actually in Wei Ying's company. That's it for today's analysis, folks.

The Aqua Demon Hunt Is The First Testament To Their Chemistry

Wangxian end up sharing a room. (Do we have the President to thank for that?) Lan Zhan being all "Time for me to go meditate in solitude" and Wei Ying being ".... about how we belong together!"

Rewatching these scenes is definitely bad for my heart. The unconcealed disappointment on Wei Ying's face when Lan Zhan turns down his bet to prove their like-mindedness really sends. (Is this the ancient equivalent of a love calculator, Wei Ying? How did the Yiling Patriarch never invent a device like that, I wonder.)

Lan Zhan, did he really deserve this? He just wants to show you what an incredible, unmatchable team you both will make! And he is so good at reading your mind.

Just smiling at the fact that your bro exists for no apparent reason in middle of a hunt. Wei Ying sure has his priorities straight, even if nothing else in his life is.

Wangxian Are The Dream Team

Wei Ying distracting the water ghost and saving Lan Zhan at the same time so effortlessly? A stroke of admirable genius! I probably need to start a separate post to keep track of all the times Wangxian's teamwork puts everyone else to shame. Notice how every time Lan Zhan said "boring" in this episode, it was directed only at Wei Ying’s romantic gestures. 

It's that little shoulder bump that screams "I'm sorry I splashed water at you, I did out of my love for you, okay?"

I'm sorry Wei Ying, he just needs more time to process the fact that you are the unrivalled candidate for a cultivation partner he has ever come across. And if you ever get confused why Zewu Jun is mysteriously smiling at various points in the show, it's probably a "My brother is falling in love, good for him, good for him" smile.

Wei Ying’s little head tilt after they both defeat the water ghost that came for their boat that says, “See? We belong together.” 

When Lan Zhan learns why Suibian is called so and thinks, "My crush is a fucking idiot, love that for me.“ 

Wei Ying always understands what Lan Zhan is thinking or wants to say without him having said a word. Soulmates.

Thank you water ghosts for ensuring they both end up on the same boat and giving them the chance to display their spectacular synchronization. Maybe it’ll help Lan Zhan wake up.

I rejoice every time there is a juxtaposition of Wangxian with the straight couples because it proves our main characters are travelling the same romantic arc the others are.

Saving Him For The First Time

Lan Zhan rescues Wei Ying in the nick of time! Sure, that’s the Right Thing to do but do you see his expression? That’s unbridled shock that Wei Ying is going to die. And the matter of utmost importance to Wei Ying in this life-or-death situation is the fact that Lan Zhan isn't holding his hand after the "intimate" experiences they’ve shared. I cannot.

Ok Lan Zhan.. You don't touch people.. Let’s see who the exception is. But honestly we get it, just swooping in to save him was a lot to handle, holding his hand would have been a gay apocalypse on your heart.

Wei Ying Is Growing On Lan Zhan

Lan Zhan finally admits Wei Ying could be right, because annoying as he is, his deductions are brilliant. 

We learn Lan Zhan is secretly craving loqauts but throws it back when Wei Ying gives him one. Zewu Jun offers to buy loquats for Lan Zhan, again hinting at his repressed feelings for Wei Ying. 

When we hear a vendor selling Emperor's Smile, do we see Lan Zhan's anti-Wei Ying persona begin to crack or am I seeing things? 

The episode ends with someone (Wei Ying) taking two bottles of Emperor's Smile and paying for it. Whatever happens, Wei Ying is going to sneak his misconduct into the Cloud Recesses and his way into Lan Zhan’s unfaltering heart.

All in all, this was an episode that opened the possibility of Lan Zhan maybe starting to accept that Wei Ying is a nuisance he likes having around. At the very least, he wants to live in a world where Wei Ying is alive and being his unbelievable self. He’s a man of few words and many micro expressions so that’s why it’s so golden on the rare occasions he does slip up and show that he cares about Wei Ying, like saving him in this episode. His actions speak louder than his words, and they ring louder still as show progresses and he becomes the main line of defense between Wei Ying and anyone who so much as thinks about harming him.

Episode 5 drives it home that Wangxian have chemistry that is to be envied and worth investing in. We get the sense that these two are going to be together for a long ass time.

[skiddo-xy]

Go - an ancient Chinese board game

Introduction

This is something I discovered as a school club - I wanted to try something new and it’s a board game which seemed promising to me. As it turns out my expectations were fulfilled, which brings me to making this post right now.

What is Go?

Go (aka weiqi aka wei1qi1 aka weichi aka 围棋 is a two-player Chinese board game similar to chess established during the Zhou dynasty. Go was one of the four arts of ancient China (the other three being mastery of the qin/guqin (an instrument), calligraphy and painting) - if you mastered all four, you would be a scholar-gentleman, a position in aristocracy.

How is Go played?

A gridded board (often played in either 9 by 9, 13 by 13, or 19 by 19) and black and white pawns known as stones are used. 

To start, all pawns are off the board. Whoever is playing as black always moves first. To make up for the disadvantage that the white player has, the white player is automatically awarded a certain number of points (usually between 5 and 7.5) called komi.

During the course of the game, points are awarded by player removing all liberties (spaces adjacent to a stone) of a stone. After that, the stone is removed off the board. If a stone is adjacent to a stone of the same colour, all liberties of that stone as well must be eliminated as well before it can be taken off the board. 

What are the rules?

Though the rules vary by where it is played, there are two main rules which maintain the main structure of the game.

1 - Every stone must have at least one liberty in the location that it will be placed in

If there are no liberties (blank adjacent spaces), no stones can be placed in that location. A stone can be played there however, if it is next to a stone of the same colour and that stone has liberties.

For example, a white stone may not be placed in between the four black stones on the left as it has no liberties, but a black stone may be placed in between the three white stones on the right as it will be touching a black stone which has a liberty.

2 - Stones may not repeat a previous position of stones (the ko rule)

If a stone would be in the same configuration as a set of stones of the opposite colour, it will not be allowed to be placed. Some examples:

A white stone may not be placed in between the 4 black stones to its’ left as it would have the same position that the black stones did, and a white stone may not be placed in between the four black stones on the left above the white stones as it would have the same configuration.

Go in the modern world

As elaborated on above, Go could get you into aristocracy in ancient China but where can it get you now? In today’s world, there are many professional Go players and lots of money can be earned from that. And also...

There are entire schools and university courses in a few Asian countries dedicated to the study of Go. In South Korea, parents often make their child practice Go as it encourages concentration. Often, children as young as five are “discovered” for their potential in Go and are enrolled in private schools to train to become professional players.

Where can I play Go?

Physically, anywhere as long as you have the required material and stones.

As most quality Go boards cost over 100$CAD to buy, I would recommend online-go.com where you can play against anyone else with an account and AIs to practice with a free account! This is what I use to practice (along with everyone else in the Go club I am in) And there you have it folks, that is Go. Hope this post is enjoyed!

[k00255353a]

Sumi-e Artist Research

5/November/2020

Sesshū Tōyō was a Japanese artist born in 1420. He is known to be one of the greatest sumi-e masters. He adapted Chinese models to fit the Japanese aesthetic at the time.

He learnt to paint and do calligraphy aswell as religion at a Zen Buddhist temple at a young age. He studied Buddhism aswell as painting for years, combining art with spiritualism and mindfulness.

I think his mindfulness is evident in his artwork. His lines are exact and precise. Negative space is used effectively to really impact the viewer. I especially love the top two images. He used the haboku (splash-ink technique) and it really caught my eye straight away. Though simple, there is such expression and mood in those few lines.

I’ve never attempted anything like it, I’m normally a very colourful person, but it inspired me and I really want to try something similiar myself. For Sumi-e there is certain brushes, inks and paper you are meant to use which I don’t have and they are quite expensive to buy. But I’ll just use it as inspirational and see what I can do with what I have.

[ideas-of-immortality]

Autistic!Kambe Daisuke Headcanons

So big note: I’m Autistic, and some of these are based on my personal experiences as an Autistic person, and others are based on stories/experiences from fellow autistics.

Daisuke’s food sensitivity (canon) is mainly to texture. He doesn’t care what it tastes like, but if the texture is wrong he’ll meltdown. (The whole fucking natto thing being the exception which I will explain later)

He actually can’t wear most mixed fabrics, and this isn’t even a wealth thing it’s a legit: dear god I feel like my skin is coming off (again Haru’s house exception explained later), he’s fine with silk, cotton, some varieties of Cashmere (the only wool he can tolerate is angora and alpaca, otherwise it’s too rough), bamboo, etc...

Daisuke was chronically forced to stop stimming, Kambe’s made him go through ABA Therapy aka modern conversion therapy for Autistics, and he internalized it, hence his heavy masking. Lighting/playing with cigars, driving really fast, and the hand motions for activating HUESC are ways he’s able to stim. HUESC once went offline for air movements and Daisuke actually had to go lie down to calm himself down.

His Special Interests: Mixed Martial Arts (any sort of physical combat situation, before he started doing MMA he was known for being quite clumsy), Music (the guy can list every piece written by specific composers he enjoys, and is actually a really fun person to talk to about music evolution, he wanted to be a music major... but the Kambe family sucks ass), Fashion (this was partially because he had to because Uber Wealthy, but he ended up really enjoying it, and has frequently taken Haru on shopping trips just to buy him clothes)

Meltdowns: Daisuke’s meltdowns are infamous among the Kambe group, the worst one resulted in him getting really badly injured. He has a habit of hitting himself on the arms/legs or hitting his head. However he’s almost completely trained himself to meltdown in private, so if he sees a meltdown coming he leaves and just sits in his car (the seats are made so that he can hit his head without injuring himself thanks to Suzue). Although he will meltdown when alone with Haru, Suzue or his Grandmother and that’s pretty much it.

However the less extreme meltdowns are just him going completely non verbal. He’s fluent in about 5-6 different forms of Sign Language, including: BSL, ASL, JSL, International, Chinese Sign Language and Spanish Sign Language.

Haru ends up learning basic JSL after Daisuke goes non verbal because “It’s annoying to have HUESC constantly translating for you, I feel useless. I’ll learn I’ll learn!”

Also because the only other way to communicate is via writing and apparently Daisuke writes in a very flowery cursive (think traditional Heian period calligraphy) style using “hard Kanji...”. And Haru’s knowledge of kanji is extremely specialized to police work (since he failed entrance exams to both high school (HC him as being Dyslexic and having ADHD) and college)

He also has Trichotillomania and Dermatillomania (and he himself considered them maladaptive and has been unsuccessfully trying to stop for years) so of course he paid for full laser removal of all of his arm and leg hair, but he still sometimes picks at his skin, especially when he gets anxious or thinks, and sometimes ends up bleeding on paperwork. Haru actually freaked out completely when he saw Daisuke was bleeding. He’s been working on getting him to stop.

So Haru is the exception to some of the above issues, and that’s because Daisuke sees Haru as a role model, if Haru says eating something is “normal/expected” or that “wearing these clothes is typical” Daisuke often will mimic Haru if he’s unsure of the situation (the guy was in a strange/foreign environment and later drunk canonly in the show). Some Autistic people mimic people we consider trustworthy and accurate sources for behavior if we are unsure of the scripts. So when Haru finds out Daisuke masks around him and copies him to keep the mask up, he does everything he can to assure Daisuke that he’s allowed to have preferences, and allowed to be Autistic around him. He ends up working with Daisuke to figure out foods and stuff that he can tolerate, and if it’s really bad then Haru asks him to just bring stuff to his house for when he stays over. Also because he mimics Haru in foreign/unfamiliar situations, it’s resulted in some really funny OOC impulsivity and arguably bad decisions which he has directly stated is “100% Inspector Kato’s fault.”

[starsbegantofall]

events and how they have been... eventing

Something I have been trying to keep in mind since 2021 started and I realized, “we’re not getting out of this pandemic, not truly,” I wanted to live my best life. Obviously my 2020 efforts to make true and lasting change in this country amounted to almost nothing in the end, but hey, I tried my best to help others beyond my career during the pandemic, that must count for something.

This year, I imagined that every 2 weeks is my last 2 weeks to live, that I contracted the deadly variant of coronavirus on top of some other illness, therefore I need to live for myself (living for others did not work out lol) so I can leave this mortal coil with no regrets. I put together a bucket list of the simpler things I felt I could easily accomplish, and used social media to try to keep myself accountable and on track.

If ya really nosy, read below

1. aesthetic design journey - I wanted to spruce up where I live so that I’m happy living and sleeping in it, hence I am making monthly blog posts to help motivate me. Work from home depends on a clean and pleasant environment, very important. Related, I am also reading books on gardening and konmari and attempting a few things. Am I making much progress? No, but at least it was better than the totally ugly mess before.

2. sewing projects - I dug out a gifted notebook from decades ago I never used and listed all of my sewing projects so that if I died, at least that notebook was loved, and I made some progress on my sewing. there’s mending and cosplay and lolita on the list, but I also want to make some normie wearable clothing to give a personal flair to my closet that isn’t from a corporation. Like pajamas and blouses or shorts/skirts.

2a. historical costuming - some lolitas I followed moved onto historical costuming (I guess so they can go to ultra fancy balls that lolitas would not normally go to , pre-pandemic of course), and I wanted to try my hand at one to test my sewing skills. currently working on an 18th century court gown wearable test muslin, not sure if I want to invest in real silk for a final gown until I know I can handle sewing it.

2b. use up fabric and materials that needs using up - as I began reorganizing my old costumes, I decided to do my best to sew up from my fabric stash before moving on and buying more fabric. I already failed at this (twice this year lol) but those are the last two times, I promise!

3. other hobbies - over the years I accumulated a lot of random craft materials that I never really used. no more! I did some cross stitch embroidery, badge rosettes, resin crafting, pressed flowers, and paper clay sculpting this year.  Would like to work on painting and calligraphy, markers and multimedia, more clay sculpting, plastic crafts, floral arrangements, book making, leather work, as well as graphic design and programming for my own video games.

4. cooking - a carry over from 2020, trying new recipes regularly, both Asian cuisine and whatever ingredients are in season. This is my favorite past time, even if some of the recipes turn out mediocre, many of them are better (taste and nutrition-wise) than the fast food I would be getting otherwise, and also don’t give me (as much) food poisoning.

5. finishing any of my several unfinished fics that are literally on the last chapter but haven’t been touched in years and ppl keep asking me about them. I think about them constantly but the words do not appear on the document. Every weekend I tell myself I’ll work on them but I don’t. I don’t.

6. rework my website... not sure if I really want to do this at all lol. but I bought the domain, so I really should migrate my blogs over for archival sake.

7. 2 pieces of “finished” art a month, one of them related to videogames so that my yearly art survey won’t have holes in it - I somehow failed to finish 2 this month, but technically I drew more than 2 drawings, just one of them was a comic and not post-worthy. Really, I need to stop procrastinating until the 25th lol

8. learn Chinese and Vietnamese - aka make use of the Rosetta account I paid money for

9. use up the “good stuff” - wear that new nail polish, light those fancy candles you never light, bring out those shoes that are uncomfortable but look awesome, drink that wine or eat that candy, take selfies just because. life is short and miserable.

This is a lot of stuff, but I’ve made a fair amount of progress halfway through 2021. I would say almost every 2 weeks and definitely every month I’ve checked something off my list that I could be proud of should I die from coronavirus complications the next day. And that’s what is important to me.

Whether or not you found this list entertaining, I will try to make wrap-up posts every other month for anyone wanting to go on this journey with me. Otherwise, I hope people at least stay healthy and take care of themselves as best as they can.

[yarikeartstudio]

Set of 2 Prints Yoga Wall Decor, Balance Harmony Chinese Calligraphy Wall Art Poster, Asian, Yoga (digital download) is available to buy on my Etsy shop – ‘YarikeArtStudio’ 💕💙

Link on this digital print – https://www.etsy.com/listing/958313277/set-of-2-prints-yoga-wall-decor-balance

Also there are many interesting prints on my Etsy shop ‘YarikeArtStudio’ you can choose for your daily use, gifts for your friends, family, etc.

Click ‘👍’ if you enjoy it. Have a nice day 😉

#balance #love #peace #nature #happiness #meditation #life #inspiration #yoga #beauty #calligraphy #art #harmony #chinese #fitness #health #strength #motivation #workout #training #energy #mindfulness #yogapractice #YarikeArtStudio #YarikeArt #yarike_art_studio

[twinklemassu]

This Chinese/East Asian mythology concept...!!! And their birth flowers...I need to look them up again...;-;-;-;

“Do Won Kyung” (Peach Blossom Spring) release May 15th

 must I mention that their thoughtfulness at creating their concepts is overwhelming. This title... ;-;-;-; their MV teaser is going to kill me for sure

[bytheangell]

This is Permanent

(Read on AO3) (Flufftober Day 25: Tattoo)

“This is a ridiculous idea,” Alec says, eyeing the toy dispenser inside the tattoo shop. It’s filled with those clear plastic containers that would normally hold cheap rubber toys or those slime hands kids inevitably got stuck to the ceiling for days. But this one, located at his and Jace’s favorite tattoo shop, holds $50 tattoo specials. The catch? There’s no way to tell what design you’re going to get until you put your token in and turn the crank. Whatever comes out is the tattoo you get. 

“This is a great idea!” Jace insists. “I mean, come on. We know Clary’s art is always amazing, even if it’s whatever leftover designs she’s trying to get rid of. There’s no way this can go wrong.” 

Alec can think of a lot of ways this can go wrong. “But what if I hate it? I’m just going to let the random turn of a dial determine something that’s going to be on me permanently? For the rest of my life?” 

“Wait, tattoos are permanent?” Jace sais, feigning shock. 

“You know what I’m saying,” Alec rolls his eyes.  

“That is generally how tattoos function, Alec, yes. Considering how many we have so far I think we both understand the basic premise.” Jace rolls his eyes right back. “You were saying you wanted to be more spontaneous and have more fun - this is both of those! It’s fate.” 

“I don’t know… when I said that I was thinking more like taking one of those parkour gym classes or buying last minute concert tickets. I wasn’t thinking impulsive tattoo.” Alec stares warily at the dispenser. 

“What if I get it with you?” Jace offers. “Whatever you get, I’ll get too. We can be in this together.” 

Alec looks up at that offer, attention pulled from the designs stuffed into plastic balls and shifted to Jace. There’s no one Alec’s closer with, no one he trusts more with his life, than Jace. There isn’t a single doubt in his mind that they’re going to have each other’s backs and be by each other’s side for the rest of their lives. The idea of a matching tattoo with anyone else would be an immediate hard pass for him, but with Jace? 

“You mean it?” Alec asks. 

“Always,” Jace confirms. “You’re stuck with me and my reckless decisions for life, Alec. Might as well commemorate that with impromptu matching tattoos!” 

Alec shakes his head with a fond smile on his face, because Jace is right. They aren’t going to part, not willingly, and Alec is always right there for the fallout of whatever it is Jace gets himself wrapped up in at any given moment. This is, quite possibly, the most accurate representation of their relationship since the day they met.  

“Fuck it, let’s do this,” Alec agrees. 

He stands back and watches as Jace pays the $100 at the register to get a token, fidgeting anxiously as Jace puts the coin in and turns the handle. A plastic container with an orange base falls out of the bottom and Jace opens it eagerly to reveal a symbol that, Alec has to admit, actually looks kind of cool. 

Down the center is a thick line, with a thinner line trailing off towards the left at the top, and towards the right at the bottom. In the middle lines like calligraphy brush strokes curve out, one on each side near the top and bottom, with one extra, thicker stroke near the bottom. If he didn’t know that Clary does only original pieces he’d think it might be a Chinese character of some kind. 

“See?!” Jace says triumphantly. “This is amazing.” 

“We don’t even know what it is,” Alec points out. 

“Clary! What is this?” Jace shouts from across the room, holding up the paper. 

Clary comes over and gives it a look. “Honestly? No clue. It sort of came to me one night - I woke up with it in my head and drew it quick before I could forget it.” She looks it over again. “It’s actually really weird you got this one - whenever I drew it I’d always draw it as a matching pair. It just, I dunno, felt like it was meant to be a set.” 

“Meant to be a set, Alec!” Jace repeats, looking back at Alec with enthusiasm. “It’s fate!” 

Alec isn’t sure he believes in all of that fate and destiny nonsense but he does believe in the permanence him and Jace - and right now that’s all he needs.

[halfpennythoughts]

15 Quarantine Crafts to Keep You From Going Stir-Crazy

Stuck at home with too much time on your hands? Sounds like a perfect recipe for crafting! And maybe you can’t go out to buy some new supplies, but remember, working around limitations often push you towards the most creative results.So let’s get cracking!

1) Mandala and Adult Coloring Books - If you have a printer and Internet, google "mandala coloring pages.” Lots of options for you to print out! No colored pencils? No problem! Using just a pen/sharpie and pencil you have at least two shades (black and grey, plus white) which is all you need.

2) Origami - Dig out a piece of scrap paper. Old mail is fine too! One Youtube tutorial later and you’ve got your very first swan. 

3) Papercrafting - Got lots of extra paper? Make a fancy thank-you card, or if you’ve got glue and newspapers, why not explore a paper-mache project?

4) Zentangling - Exactly the meditative break you need right now, and all you need is pen and paper.

5) Miniatures - Got glue and knickknacks around the house? Great! People are making amazing mini houses out of pringle cans and Popsicle sticks, or go small by making tiny colored pencils with toothpicks and paint. A few mismatched mechanical pencil parts can make tiny cups or a lamp.

6) Office Supply Weapons - Speaking of pencil parts, if you’ve got office supplies handy, chances are you can make a PENCIL CROSSBOW. Google it and you’ll be ready to defend your desk space when you get back to work.

7) iPhone photography - If you have a smart phone, take this time to explore you living space from a photographer’s eye. Try to capture the wall texture, the way the light hits the floor, etc. Or maybe take a few photos to sell as stock images.

8) Art Makeup - If you have makeup supplies, why not take this time to try a wild avant-garde makeup look? If it doesn’t turn out great, no one has to see it, and if it does, Instagram gold right here! BUT only use your own makeup supplies, don’t share makeup or brushes with others.

9) Plan out your next Halloween costume or birthday party. Anything you can start designing or making now? Any accessories? Do some idea sketches.

10) Calligraphy - A pen plus Youtube will get everyone swooning over your signature on your next potluck sign-up sheet.

11) Old T-Shirt crafts - If you’ve got scissors and a Marie Kondo impulse, you can find an old blah shirt and reinvent it. There are PAGES of google results for upcycled tees, including tote bags, grocery bags, braided headbands, floor mats, scarves, pillows, and more! 

12) Hairdressing techniques - If you have hair long enough to style (even if it’s just spiking it up) why not look up a new style, everyday or fancy, and try it out? 

13) Braiding and knotwork - From Boy Scout essentials to beautiful Celtic braiding and Chinese knots, you can learn impressive and stunning techniques to serve you well in all future crafting. No cords at home? You can use shoelaces, hoodie strings, or strips of fabric. 

14) Decorate a rock - Do you have some scattered rocks nearby, in a yard perhaps? Pick one up and go at it with a sharpie or colored pencils, or paints if you have them. 

15) Container upcycling - If your recycle bin is overflowing with empty orange juice or vitamin containers, grab one and decorate it. Do you have twine to wrap around a box for a wicker basket look? Some glitter to glue to a jar? Maybe you could use a new container to hold some pens, can you decorate some paper and glue it around an empty soup can? 

And finally, obviously raid your existing house stores of crafts. Maybe you have thread and fabric for embroidery or sewing, maybe some yarn for knitting. I have lots of wood for wood-burning. But the point is, whatever you have in your home can be a jumping-off point for all sorts of ideas.

[tolkienillustrations]

Tolkien: Maker of Middle-earth

YOU GUYS. I SAW IT!!! OH MY GOD IT WAS AMAZING. YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND. I saw Tolkien's handwriting WITH MY OWN TWO EYES!

Some context: the largest exhibit of Tolkien art and manuscripts ever available to the public is showing at the Morgan Library and Museum in New York and it's open until May 12. You have to buy tickets there (you can’t buy them online), so I recommend getting there first thing when it opens.

I spent a little over an hour in the exhibit. I don't know how long you'd have to be in there before you were forcibly removed, but an hour actually felt like a good amount of time. I mean, let's be real, I wanted to camp out in there and never leave—but I did get to see everything and take my time. If you can't make the trip, never fear! They've published a book on the exhibit and you can get it online. 

Okay, so. The exhibit was AMZAZING. They did such an incredible job. I wanted to let out continuous Nazgul shrieks of excitement the ENTIRE TIME but I think that's probably not acceptable in museums. 

As you enter, the title of the exhibit is painted on the wall to your left: Tolkien, Maker of Middle-earth, and it says the same thing in Elvish! Inside, each section has its title written like that! The entrance to the exhibit is a larger-than-life hobbit hole, and through it you can see a giant print of Tolkien's watercolor of the Shire covering an entire wall.

The museum was packed. You don't understand—it was so full of people that we were literally shuffling along in a line the whole time I was in there. Which sounds annoying, but it actually meant that I got to stare longingly at each picture or manuscript for a long, long time without being rushed to keep moving.

The first section was about Tolkien's family, his childhood, how the countryside where he grew up inspired him to create the Shire, and how his mother encouraged his interest in philology. It was really cool to see one of her letters, and her handwriting looked almost just like his! Then there was stuff about how he met Edith, and photos of them, and a picture of their gravestone, which bears the names Beren and Luthien. I'M NOT CRYING, YOU'RE CRYING.

Next we moved on to the section about the Hobbit, and there was another floor-to-ceiling reproduction of one of Tolkien's paintings, this time the one of Smaug and the treasure. And then we went around the corner and I saw THE FIRST EDITION OF THE HOBBIT, AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF TOLKIEN'S PAINTINGS ALL HANGING ON THE WALL.

It was that version of the Hobbit with the green cloth cover, you know the one. Let me say something about this green: it is SUPERB. Like the most perfect green you have ever seen in your LIFE. It's a little grey, but not quite sage green—still very bright. It was so pretty...I wanted to snatch it out of the glass case and possess it for myself. Mine. My own. At this point, needless to say, I had already devolved into a Gollum-like creature intent upon hoarding the entire contents of the exhibit.

It was surreal to see Tolkien's illustrations up close. You know they're beautiful, you know they're amazing, AND THEN YOU SEE THEM. They are real! There they are, hanging on the wall! You can actually see the paint on the paper. They're not very big, but the detail is INCREDIBLE. The colors are perfect. I can't believe I saw Tolkien's painting of Rivendell WITH MY OWN TWO EYES. I've looked at that painting so many times over the years! And that was just one of them—they also had Hobbiton, and Smaug and the treasure, and the Eagle eyrie, and Bilbo on the river, and pen and ink drawings for the Hobbit, and the beautiful dust jacket he designed (!!!), and next to each one it said stuff about what art materials he used, and when he created them, or how he came up with the idea.

Next we went to the section on Lord of the Rings, which also had Tolkien's original cover art for the three books, and MORE illustrations, and Elvish calligraphy! And letters! And maps! And timelines! And plot notes! And it was at this point that I completely lost my mind. I mean, to be fair, I lost my mind years ago, and yes it was because of Tolkien, but that's not the point. Because in front of me. WAS. A MANUSCRIPT. IN TOLKIEN'S HANDWRITING. AND IT SAID:

Arise, arise, Riders of Théoden! Fell deeds awake: fire and slaughter! Spear shall be shaken, shield be splintered, a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises! Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor!

GUYS, I STRAIGHT UP DIED!!! But that’s not even all... because I was looking at THAT ENTIRE PAGE FROM THE RETURN OF THE KING! It's just... that whole page... in Tolkien's handwriting! WHAT?! WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT WHAT WHAT and it said that Tolkien thought this was one of the most m‌oving passages in the book! It IS! IT IS!!!!! HOW DID HE KNOW I FELT THAT WAY. HOW DID HE KNOW

And there was one of the first maps of Middle-earth he EVER drew—one that he used throughout the years he spent writing the books—cobbled together from different pieces of paper, with faint notes on it in pencil, and ink stains, and ash stains from his pipe!

And I saw the Ring poem, written over and over in Elvish in different colors and styles, and the script is SO! BEAUTIFUL!!!!!  And there was a page of notes in which Tolkien meticulously worked out how far hobbits can travel in a given period of time, relative to humans, to make sure the distances traveled in the book were realistic! THAT'S ADORABLE.

Then we went to the part on the Silmarillion, AND I SAW TOLKIEN'S FIRST MAP OF BELERIAND!!! With his notes on it! AND THEN I SAW HIS PAINTING OF TANIQUETIL! AND IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL IN REAL LIFE! HOW DARE HE?! You can actually see a much smaller Elvish ship in the distance—not just the larger one in the foreground—and you can really see Tirion! YOU CAN SEE IT! Never have I ever wanted so much to transport myself into a painting.

YOU GUYS, there was a detailed Elvish language tree that I had never seen before, not even in pictures. I freaking love language trees!!!!!!!!!!!!! And there was a page Tolkien wrote in VERTICAL ELVISH?!?!?!?!?!?! WHAT?! But this is PRE-TENGWAR ELVISH! Like...he wrote Elvish like you'd write hiragana. I knew he was inspired by Japanese and Chinese art for some of his paintings but I had NO idea he wrote Elvish like that!

And the exhibit explained how this whole world he created was meant to be a mythology for England, because he loved Norse myths, and Germanic myths, and Celtic myths, and Beowulf and the Kalevala, but he wanted England to have something like that—and I already knew this, of course, but it was pretty incredible being reminded of it in the middle of a museum exhibit about Middle-earth because he wanted to create a mythology for England and HE SUCCEEDED! Now his mythology is known all over the world, and it’s translated into hundreds of languages, and it's in museums like sculptures of the Greek gods, with things labelled in the languages he invented... HELP! I love Tolkien so much! I HAVE ASCENDED TO ANOTHER PLANE OF EXISTENCE 

In conclusion, this exhibit was SO WORTH IT, SEE IT IMMEDIATELY!

But lest you think it’s only for Tolkien-obsessed lunatics who have read the Silmarillion multiple times and taught themselves Tengwar, it’s not! The signs next to the pictures and manuscripts did a really good job explaining things, and the friend I went with—who is closer than I am to being a normal human—really enjoyed the experience too. So even if you’re a fan of the movies but haven’t read the books, or you’ve never even seen the movies, go see it while it’s still there! Before I stage an elaborate heist