So what are you doing this Summer?

Maybe spending time in a bookstore, looking for Manga to read for yourself, it's a new experience, try it. Or doing the best artwork you have ever done. Drinking lots of Starbuck's iced lattes and reading a bestseller. Outside with a camera, doodling in your art journal, reading all the special Somerset Studio publications. Share. Have a creative summer, friends.

P.S. You see that I have mentioned 'reading' alot, it's is one of my favorite ways to pass the time.

Manga Mystery

There is a little catch to reading Manga. The book's back cover is really the front cover and you read it back to front?!?!?! And you read it left to right, okay? By the little diagram above you are shown how to read the comics, you can bet that I kept my finger inside that cover while I was reading it because it was a bit confusing. There is so much going on with the characters and drawings that you need to check that diagram once and awhile. The way the characters are drawn - well - everyone has long hair and it is usually across their features so you can't tell the boys from the girls, their names might be nicknames or Japanese style, so the same character might be called by several names. But why get all bogged down with that? It's about a school academy for day students (humans) and night students (vampires) and the 2 main characters Zero and Yuri try to keep the peace between them. It's fun and light hearted and since scifi and fantasy are my middle names, well, I am hooked.

Manga Mania

So what I am doing this summer?? Reading Manga, of course. Japanese comic books!! I never read any comics as a kid, not that I remember at least. My goddaughter, Kat, turned me on to this little gems of sheer fantasy. If you haven't heard about Manga just ask any one younger than you and they will tell you all about it. I do watch Anime, Japanese cartoons so this was not a stretch for me. I liked it. Of course, there are a number of books in the series, for this one, about 12 books, I think. Read the first 4 and I must know what happens to Zero and Yuri so I guess I will read the rest this summer.

Sharing

I want to share with you just a piece of art that graces the cover of Esopus, a artful publication I found at Borders last week. Yes, the name is unusual but the inside is a work of art. In fact, this non-for profit group publishes Esopus twice a year. Each magazine costs $10 (a small price when you view the contents) but a subscription is only $18 for 2 issues. I am thinking ordering a subscription but my mail box is way too small and it will get crunched. And you know, how we hate to have any paper good crunched!!! The pages are glossy, next to veleum pages, next to graph and paper that feels like old note book pages!! There are artists and authors, sketches, drawings, collage, photos, believe me, it has everything. And I love their statement that "...provides an unmediated forum through which creative people can interact with the general public." Love that. So maybe you might want to treat yourself to an issue. The cover is of notes that the artist has been tucking into pockets, drawers, and lunch boxes of his 2 kids over the years. Some of the notes are published so that you can read them. Esopus, remember the name and check out your Borders for a copy. Who says treasures can't be found at your local book store? Not moi.

we tend to seek

happiness

when happiness is

actually a choice.

I challenge myself and you to be electic, eccentric and creative in ways that will surprise and delight you. Do it for yourself first. And then challenge all your friends and family to do the same. Shake things up, turn routine upside down and see what happens. A year of surprises to all. My birthday wish for the coming year. Oh, a lady never tells her age and no one should ask!!!

Eclectic and Eccentric Me

Need I say more? Happy Birthday to me, the new and improved version for the next 7 years of adventure and beyond. I guess you can say that I won't be behaving the same anymore. I would so like to make history. You, too? I thought so.

Birthday Musings.............

As my birthday nears (Monday 5/26/) I think that it isn't possible that all this time has past. I am of the generation that didn't trust anyone over 30 and now I am way past that, both in age and belief. If it is true that every 7 years the body goes through many changes then this must be the year when I muse about being eccentric (peculiar in manner or character) and eclectic (liberal and broad in taste or belief.) Tired of being normal and following the rules, I think I have earned the right to be - just me, which means I can be eccentric and eclectic for the next 7 years. What I will be after that I do not know right now, but I will think of something different and hopefully creative when that time comes. To those who share my birthday, have a happy one and change in ways that will surprise yourself.