Wednesday, January 25, 2012

More sketches from the First Year of Art (2003-04)

[[posterous-content:pid___0]]Aussie Animals (I)

colored pencils, marker

© 2004 by A. Dameron

Reference: Aussie Animals by Rod Campbell, Lothian Books, Port Melbourne, VIctoria, Australia, © 1999

 

[[posterous-content:pid___1]]

Aussie Animals (II)

colored pencils, marker

© 2004 by A. Dameron

Reference: Aussie Animals by Rod Campbell, Lothian Books, Port Melbourne, VIctoria, Australia, © 1999

 

[[posterous-content:pid___2]]Top Shelves, Jackson's Java, Charlotte, NC

colored pencil, marker

 © 2004 by A. Dameron

 

[[posterous-content:pid___3]]

Brass Hurricane Lamp

colored pencil, marker

 © 2003 by A. Dameron

More sketches from the First Year of Art (2004-04)

Aussie_animals_1
Aussie Animals (I)

colored pencils, marker

© 2004 by A. Dameron

Reference: Aussie Animals by Rod Campbell, Lothian Books, Port Melbourne, VIctoria, Australia, © 1999

 

Aussie_animals_2

Aussie Animals (II)

colored pencils, marker

© 2004 by A. Dameron

Reference: Aussie Animals by Rod Campbell, Lothian Books, Port Melbourne, VIctoria, Australia, © 1999

 

Top_shelves_jacksons_java
Top Shelves, Jackson's Java, Charlotte, NC

colored pencil, marker

 © 2004 by A. Dameron

 

Brass_hurricane_lamp

Brass Hurricane Lamp

colored pencil, marker

 © 2003 by A. Dameron

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Two of my earliest sketches (2003 and 2004)

Michaels_toys

Michael's Toys

pencil, colored pencil

© 2003 by A. Dameron

 

Backyard_neighbors

Backyard Neighbors

colored pencil, marker

© 2004 by A. Dameron

 

Recently I dug up my first art notebook. After my son was born in 2003, I began sketching and drawing. At first, it was to help keep my sanity (Michael was colic for his first 16 weeks of life), but it expanded to lot more over the years. Above are two examples from that notebook. Two of Michael's toys (a musical cube and a walker) and the view out of the back door of our neighbor.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Free PDF download of sample chapter: Tales of the Elemental Dragons (Huo, Fire)

In celebration of Chinese New Year, readers can get a glimpse of my newest short story anthology, Tales of the Elemental Dragons. In Chinese cosmology, there are five elements (as opposed to four in Western myth): earth, metal, fire, wood and water. This anthology will include ten stories, two for each element. These stories are interconnected, and serve as an introduction to my upcoming fantasy series set in a land like ancient China.

The link is here: http://writermum1.yolasite.com/pdfs-of-novels.php

Once the set of ten is complete (hopefully by Wednesday) and on Smashwords.com, I'll announce it on my blogs (Eighth Shot of Espresso, I Gotta Write! and the IGW Facebook page, plus my Asian-inspired blog, The Brocade Box). The short story collection will be *free* to download for 2 weeks, then after that time, it will cost $1.00 to download.

In the meantime, enjoy this sample chapter! 

Some Chinese New Year Items I Treasure

Dragon_necklace

Purple Jade and Silver Dragon Medallion

charm from Blue Mountain Gems

 

Luckynecklace

Lucky Necklace

Charms from Blue Moon

(l to r) Fortune, Double Happiness, Prosperity and Wealth

 

Jadering

Aventurine Ring

(not jade, but as close as I have now)

from Earthbound

 

Redenvelope1
Red Envelope usually given to younger relatives on Chinese New Year
Two lucky carp, a peony flower and a chrysanthemum
gold/red paper

 

 

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Art Display: The Last Word, Charlotte, NC (Pictures)

Here are some pictures of my art that is displayed at The Last Word Bookstore, Charlotte, NC

 

Display1

From upper left to lower right:

Dragon Maiden (acrylic), Portal to the Sea (oil), Ying Gun, Warrior (pen, ink, pastel) and Ying Yang Invites You to Tea (acrylic)

Display2

Close-up of Dragon Maiden and Portal to the Sea

 

Display3

Close-up of Ying Gun, Warrior and Ying Yang Invites You to Tea

 

Display4

Another shot of the display

 

There is a fifth work of art that isn't displayed here, Nine Virtues, but it's a large piece meant for Chinese New Year 2012, which actually starts tomorrow.

 

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Writing Exercise: The Ideal Lover

Prompt: You're Dr. Frankenstein. Build your ideal lover. List all the qualities he/she would possess.

kind

compassionate

even-tempered

doesn't hesistate to show affection

enjoys being social

enjoys shared interests

knowledgable about the world

loves traveling to new places

loves meeting new people

loves kids

plays sports

takes risks

not prejudiced

asks for my opinion

gives me reasons for what he does, but doesn't give long-winded explanations

plays music

loves the beach

doesn't mind a few rounds in the pub

sense of humor

easygoing and relaxed

flexible

generous

decent-looking

respectful

able to stand up for himself

an exciting, inventive lover

loves animals and the outdoors

Story Ideas (Part II)

"The Moving Crew"

A family moves from a small town to a bigger city. Although they're family, they are strangers. Told from the point-of-view of someone who married in, not related by blood.

 

"Nine Wives"

A new twist on the "Six Wives of Henry VIII". A monarch falls in and out of love with women all the time. He honestly believes he's doing them a favor. One by one, the wives are discarded, and one by one, they join forces to take them down, some from beyond the grave.

 

"Road Sage"

A self-proclaimed 'road sage' travels from town to town and city to city, and meets interesting people along the way. He touches their lives in ways no one expects, and vice versa.

 

"Worlds in Miniature"

What happens when a politician, a truck driver, a high-powered executive, a sassy waitress, and a homeless man are mini-sized and forced to co-exist in a dollhouse?

 

"Pun Intended"

A stand-up comic goes too far during his routine and is blacklisted from the Vegas Strip. 

 

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

New Dragon Art posted on my art blog, The Brocade Box!

May_i_help_you

May I Help You?

oil pencil

© 2012 by A. Dameron

 

Check out my other dragon and Asian-themed art at my new blog

The Brocade Box

(http://brocadebox.blogspot.com)

Story Ideas (Part I)

Old story ideas that never went anywhere:

 

"Cheesestick Conundrum"

A waitress at a chain restaurant tells the story about a former regular who comes in only for the friend mozzarella cheesesticks, marinara sauce and a glass of sparkling wine, Why the cheesestick obsession? Who's the weird customer? 

 

"Living Cheap"

Meet Olivia Hartford Cheap. She's a kindergarten teacher who loves her job. She's married to her husband Jonathan, but feels disconnected from him and his high-powered job as a stockbroker. They are very different personality-wise. Jonathan, according to her, lives up to his namesake. "He's so cheap, his shoes squeak when he walks." Can this unlikely partnerhood be saved?

 

"Four Corners of the World"

Tahra lives in a small village, comrpised of homes and shops surrounding a village square. Every day, she runs errands and meets the townspeople. One man, in particular, catches her interest. He had left the village as a young man, experienced the world, then returned to live out the rest of his days. Tahra spends time listening to his stories, despite his admonitions to 'mind the present'. Following his advice, she ventures out, little by little, further from the town square. She finds the exotic and the new is embedded in the ordinary.

 

"Sitting in a Blue Window"

Maya Lipski had everything to live for: a wonderful job offer, a new hometown, and a man who loved her. Then an automobile accident changes everything forever...

She finds herself in her version of Heaven: in a huge library, where the past, present and future are open to her. She finds herself looking at parts of her life and possible futures. An insidious danger threatens the library and the fates of her loved ones on Earth. Maya must risk her own existence to save all she treasures.

 

Friday, January 13, 2012

Story Beginning: "The Admiral's Queen"

The first time Adriana Cayenne fell in love, she was five years old. It was not how the Matchmakers would have preferred it, but five year olds do not care about what adults think.

She stood on the royal platform, quiet and grave, just like how she was taught. The cheering crowd loomed beofre her like a dark, forbidding wave that threatened to crush her. Adriana trembled in its wake. The screams piercved her ears. All she could think of were three words:

Make it stop...make it stop...make it stop...

"Head up, chin straight," hissed her mother. She felt the cold fingers tighten over her wrist. "You are a princess; they serve you. Show them how grand you are."

"Yes, M-My Lady Mother," she whispered. She wanted to say 'Mama'. After all, did not all little girls call their mother as 'Mama'? Rhia Cayenne, Queen of Saligna, insisted on big words and big titles. So, her daughter mastered 'My Lady Mother'.

Adriana's feet ached in the heeled shoes. The pink gossamer dress clung to her limbs like a film of snake oil. Her jeweled tiara pressed tight around her temples. Rhia's lips flattened in disgust at her weakness; the girl cringed at the steel vise around her wrist. Her eyes flickered over the sea of humanity...

...and met a matching pair of blue-gray eyes across the way.

He was a few years older, eight or nine at most. The boy met her gaze and smiled. Of course, she did not see his mouth move. The pure joy poured into her and filled her spirit. Something lurked in the background, just beyond reach. She tried to catch it, press it against her heart..

"Come, Adriana, the review is over." Rhia tugged at her arm, and her feet stumbled, jerking her back to reality. The beautiful connection snapped and left tears in her eyes.

You are a princess; they serve you.

She followed her mother with her head held high, and the tears did not fall down her cheeks.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Writing Exercise: Brainstorming Survival Options

Prompt: Your main character's plane has been sabotaged over the Bering Sea. Brainstorm ways she can survive.

a) She clings to a piece of wreckage, a la Titanic, and is picked up by a waiting ship.

b) A kayak of Eskimo fishermen hauls her in.

c) Seals save her life and take her into their underground lair.

d) She's wearing a thermal wetsuit for such an event (she suspected someone had sabotaged her plane) and swims to safety.

e) A whale swallows her up, a la Jonah.

f) A U.S. (or Russian) nuclear submarine picks her up.

g) She manages to get to an ice floe and spends some time with the penguins.

h) She is frozen in the ice and spends 20 years in some sort of suspended animation. An archaeological team discovers and revives her.

i) She's knocked back in time and is saved by cave people.

j) The p-lan housed a small get-away copter (a la James Bond). She gets away, but fakes her death to throw the saboteurs off her trail.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Chinese New Year 2012 Art: "Nine Virtues"

Nine_virtues

Nine Virtues

multimedia (acrylic, gold leaf, watercolor, canvas board)

 © 2011 by A. Dameron

 

This is one of my major projects for Chinese New Year 2012. The nine red canvas boards simulate red tile and the calligraphy is in gold leaf, with the pinyin directly below. 

Top row (left to right): Shu (forgiveness), Jen (patience), Hsiao (piety)

Middle row (left to right): P'ing (peace), Fu (happiness), Ming (destiny)

Bottom row (left to right) Chih (wisdom), Ying (courage) Shun (gentleness)

Short Story Prompt: Tell Someone a Story Idea

Prompt: Write about an idea as if you're telling it someone. Tell the story from beginning to end and focus on the story itself.

Nora is looking for a place to make a new start. The realtor shows her beautiful homes, but they don't 'feel right'. She discovers a gate that leads next door and finds the key hidden in a flowerpot. Nora emerges in the yard of a run-down fixer-[upper. She has a feeling it's the 'right one' and purchases it against the realtor's advice.

She spends the summer renovating the house. Nora has all sorts of 'plans, but all her friends and acquantainces think they're 'too ambitious'. But as she goes through the rooms, she finds bits and and pieces of the old house's history. With each new discovery, uncanny things happen. She finds a steamer trunk of fabric, then meets a seamstress who makes pillows, curtains and clothes. She uncovers a set of china plates, then finds matching silverware at a flea market. As she incorporates the old with the new, she discovers new attitudes and new friends, new enthusiasm for life and new love. Nora learns to depend on a circle of steady friends and not be such a loner. The town begins to appreciate her individuality and creativity. She also meets a man who becomes her life mate.

 

Brainstorm a list of complications for this idea. Make it a BIG list--at least 10 items.

The neighbors complain about Nora's renovation project.

Nora struggles with her attraction to Craig, her neighbor.

Nora tries to find the 'perfect accessories'--she's so uptight about it.

Her parents visit briefly. Her mom, the socialite, tries to convince her to come home. Her dad is her secret ally.

The town gossips try to besmirch Nora's reputation.

Is the house haunted (by friendly spirits?)?

Some of the items of the house are of dubious origin. Some may have been smuggled/stolen.

The family of the original owner wants the house back.

Nora hides a drinking problem.

Her old boyfriend shows up and complicates things between Nora and Craig.

Craig has an accident while helping her with the house.

Nora ends up inheriting an unusually sensitive stray cat.

She has suspicions about the townspeople's intentions towards her.

Short Story Prompt: Tell Someone a Story Idea

Prompt: Write about an idea as if you're telling it someone. Tell the story from beginning to end and focus on the story itself.

Nora is looking for a place to make a new start. The realtor shows her beautiful homes, but they don't 'feel right'. She discovers a gate that leads next door and finds the key hidden in a flowerpot. Nora emerges in the yard of a run-down fixer-[upper. She has a feeling it's the 'right one' and purchases it against the realtor's advice.

She spends the summer renovating the house. Nora has all sorts of 'plans, but all her friends and acquantainces think they're 'too ambitious'. But as she goes through the rooms, she finds bits and and pieces of the old house's history. With each new discovery, uncanny things happen. She finds a steamer trunk of fabric, then meets a seamstress who makes pillows, curtains and clothes. She uncovers a set of china plates, then finds matching silverware at a flea market. As she incorporates the old with the new, she discovers new attitudes and new friends, new enthusiasm for life and new love. Nora learns to depend on a circle of steady friends and not be such a loner. The town begins to appreciate her individuality and creativity. She also meets a man who becomes her life mate.

 

Brainstorm a list of complications for this idea. Make it a BIG list--at least 10 items.

The neighbors complain about Nora's renovation project.

Nora struggles with her attraction to Craig, her neighbor.

Nora tries to find the 'perfect accessories'--she's so uptight about it.

Her parents visit briefly. Her mom, the socialite, tries to convince her to come home. Her dad is her secret ally.

The town gossips try to besmirch Nora's reputation.

Is the house haunted (by friendly spirits?)?

Some of the items of the house are of dubious origin. Some may have been smuggled/stolen.

The family of the original owner wants the house back.

Nora hides a drinking problem.

Her old boyfriend shows up and complicates things between Nora and Craig.

Craig has an accident while helping her with the house.

Nora ends up inheriting an unusually sensitive stray cat.

She has suspicions about the townspeople's intentions towards her.

What am I Reading this Month? (January 2011)

It's a mixed bag of books this month. I used my birthday and Christmas gift money to stock up on books and art supplies. Here's what's on the list this month:

The Complete I Ching, 10th Anniversary Edition, The Definitive Translation by Taoist Master Alfred Huang. I've always been interested in Chinese philosophy. In fact, this is the second version of the I Ching I own (the first being The I Ching for Writers by Sarah Jane Sloane). Master Huang's version is more complex and goes into great detail concerning the position of the lines, their meanings, and the various Commentaries. This is not a book you can read in one night.

China Style: Exteriors, Interiors Details (Icons) Edited by TASCHEN, Photographer Reto Gunli. This slim book covers many subjects: Chinese architecture, furniture, pottery, and history. Many of these snapshots are candid glimpses of how the Chinese live, both present-day and in the past.

Dragonology: The Complete Book of Dragons by Ernest Drake and Dugald Steer. I've always been a sucker for beautifully rendered pop-up art books (like Nick Bantock's Griffin and Sabine Trilogy). I love the pictures, diagrams and envelopes with removable letters. It's of the same series as The Egyptology Handbook: A Course in the Wonders of Egypt by Emily Sands and Dugald Steer, which I also own.

Drawing Dragons: Learn How to Create Fire-Breathing Dragons by Sandra Staple. How to draw dragon eyes, heads, claws, wings, and put them together in dynamic poses.

Zen Seeing, Zen Drawing: Meditation in Action by Frederick Franck. Not a how-to book on drawing or "zen" in art, but a book about actually SEEING the world as it actually is, SEEING the essence of your subject.

Anatomy for Fantasy Artists by Glenn Fabry. Human anatomy (muscles, skeleton, and how they literally move the body through poses) and how to convey that in fantasy art.

 

(All links are to their respective entries on Amazon.com)

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Art in Progress: Kemeti Temple

Kemeti_temple

Kemeti Temple (work-in-progress)

oil

 © 2012 by A. Dameron

This building is a combination of Mesoamerican architecture (the bottom half is based on a Mayan step pyramid) and a Middle Eastern domed mosque (the turquoise half-sphere roof and the tall minaret towers in the background). The general forms are blocked out, but I still have to add the details, such as the steps leading up to the entrance, the various flora along the river, and the geometric decoration on the dome.

Art in Progress: Kemeti Temple

[[posterous-content:pid___0]]

Kemeti Temple (work-in-progress)

oil

 © 2012 by A. Dameron

This building is a combination of Mesoamerican architecture (the bottom half is based on a Mayan step pyramid) and a Middle Eastern domed mosque (the turquoise half-sphere roof and the tall minaret towers in the background). The general forms are blocked out, but I still have to add the details, such as the steps leading up to the entrance, the various flora along the river, and the geometric decoration on the dome.

Art in Progress: Santo Tomas

Santo_tomas_wip1

Santo Tomas (Work-in-progress)

acrylic

 © 2012 by A. Dameron

 

This is a WIP and not finished yet. I have the general forms of the buildings, but I still have to apply shading and details. The middle building is the three-story Mayor's House, with a taqueria (eatery/restaurant) to the right and other shops to the left. Santo Tomas is an important setting for my fantasy story, "Cantadora".

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Three VERY short stories...

Story #1:

"Melba? Like the toast?"

Argh. What was it with these Aussies? I sighed, rolled my eyes and replied, "Melba, like the Dame."

Jackeroo grinned and nudged my shoulder. "You're not plannin' on leavin' and makin' a big fuss when you get back?"

"Not planning on it."

He laughed, then sobered a bit. "Didn't mean to doubt your dependability, love."

"I know you weren't, Jackeroo, and I appreciate it," I said, managing a smile. Usually, it was the other way round: being dumped by your employer, then being "wooed" and "invited" back, with stipulations.

Sometimes, being a contractor sucked.

Jackeroo, bless him, was more subtle than people gave him credit. "Well, I don't see any reason to make a fuss. Lemme know if you need anythin'."

"Much appreciated, mate."

Note: Dame Nellie Melba was an Austrailian actress who made several 'retirement performances'' and 'dramatic returns' to the stage. Melba is also the name of a breakfast toast.


Story #2:

"Love is not what I'm looking for right now. In fact, I'm happier without it."

"That's pretty sad. How can you live with someone, sleep with someone, share their life, without being in love?"

"Easy." She flashed her diamond bracelet at me and the light threw rainbows on the ceiling. "There are other things in life to live for. Things a lot more tangible, my dear. I'm what you educational types call--what is it?--a kinesthetic learner, a visual learner. I need to see, to feel, my reassurance of his love and devotion."

I stared down at my cold tomato soup. THe cool, matter-of-fact tone just appalled me. How empty Mrs. Wallace's life was, with all of her possessions, but without a soul.

And I had to humor her to ensure Keith had a job.

This was going to be more trouble than it was worth to me. But unfortunately, it was necessary.


Story #3:

"It seems funny to say so cliche', but there has to be a reason why we keep meeting like this."

He laughed and extended a hand. "Someone's either trying to tell us something, or we're the victims of a massive cosmic joke." He smiled to take the sting out of his words. "Constable John Brrennan, RCMP."

She blinked and shook his hand. "Um...you're a Mountie?"

Brennan laughed again. "Yes, but I don't have a dog named Diefenbaker. Otherwise, I've got the uniform and the hat."

Karen rolled her eyes. "You're probably sick of all the 'Due South' jokes."

"Eh, I'm used to it. I get a lot of flack, being from Up North, but I just let 'em roll off my back." Brennan shrugged good-naturedly.

"No offense, but what's a Canadian doing this far south? The weather?"

He sighed and replied, "I'll have you know that the sun does make an occasional stop in Halifax on the way from Toronto. I have relatives here."

"Hey, so do I. We already have a few things in common." Karen chuckled and thought, This is going to be an interesting vacation.

Note: RCMP stands for 'Royal Canadian Mounted Police', the national police force of Canada. "Due South" was a Canadian crime show (with comedic humor) that ran from 1994-99. It featured Constable Benton Fraser (with a deaf wolf-dog named Diefenbaker) of the RCMP, who teamed up with Chicago Detective Ray Vecchio. It plays on the stereotypical 'gentle, polite' Mountie's partnership with the more emotional, gritty American cop.

 

Monday, January 2, 2012

Art: Trinity Episcopalian Church, St. Augustine, FL

Trinity_episcopalian_st_augustine_fl

Trinity Episcopalian Church

St. Augustine, FL

oil pastel

 © 2004 by A. Dameron

I recently unearthed some old drawings and sketches, and this is from a trip to St. Augustine, FL, seven years ago.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

The First Day of 2012...

Happy New Year to one and all! :-D

The first day has been all right...mostly doing some very spring cleaning and trying to organize the chaos left over from Christmas. It was a really busy one with traveling to both my family and Husband's in Virginia. Needless to say, a few quiet days to restore sanity was VERY necessary.

I spent some time on a story draft, and enjoying my new set of Copic Fine Point Pens. I usually use other fine-tipped markers, but I've always wanted some Copics, and finally broke down and got a set with my Christmas money. Pics soon of new sketches and drawings!