Mixed media canvas

So I decided to dip into the art of mixed media, I wanted to incorporate my poetry into it as well.
I went for a scene from the anime Bleach, Ichigo and Rukia's farewell scene. 
I thought a haiku would suit it best and to set the tone as a slightly sombre one. 

First step was to pencil colour the line-art and then emboss it (it should be noted Kay taught me how) to help bring the figures into glossy focus.

Then I painted the canvas into a skyscape mixing blues and reds, I mounted the figures and then glittered them.
I wondered how to get the poem onto the canvas effectively and Kay had a great idea of printing onto tissue paper and acrylic artists medium to first stick down and then merge into the paint.

As a first go I am quite happy with the result, Comments welcome. 

The Poem verses are as follows:


Goodbye

Our souls never say
Summer's light drawing into
Blossom whispers death

What is poetry

A question that has one and many answers. for me poetry is any form of interaction that has a targeted outcome.

By this I mean that a scribble on a toilet wall can be poetry if the scribble has been constructed with it's own purpose in mind. Poems do not even have to have words in them (but it helps) and some have none. Some have randomized words but are still constructed and chosen by the poet for a reason.

I have had disagreements with poets that state that some poetry can have no predefined purpose or objective. I argue that all poetry is trying to inform or connect the poet to the one experiencing the poem in question. If this was not the case then the poem would have no meaning.

We are all influenced by the world and people around us and in turn our poetry is too, it is impossible to construct without constructing a poem. There has to be that initial spark or desire to give birth to it.

I'm by no means the most travelled or experienced poet in the world so feel free to disagree and debate with me, I'd enjoy a good discussion. There are after all no absolutes.

That's all for today, I really have to devote some time to my writing again.

New Poem.

So I spent some time scribbling this morning as I waited for Star Wars The Old Republic to patch. Watching the little progress bar seemed to help me compose this one.

Alter Ego
I am of all things a thief,
My time is money I collect,
Crimson saber lights the credit pad.

My saber always the answer,
Poor thoughts curtailed by virtual currency,
Talk it out, make an ally or run though,
Loot the corpse, always looting.

The force is my banker,
Surrounding and binding my credits together,
No care for politics or power,
A lush dancer for he night,
Fine room and finer food,
For these things I master the dark side,
Taking the lives of those for credits.

My poetry page

So as mentioned in my previous post I have a poetry page! here is the link for you all.
http://allpoetry.com/lexdalton

Fresh new poetry to come very soon!

The Blog awakens again.

Well it had to happen, the blog is back up and will have content added to it as frequently as I can type.

Things of note, the biggest surprise recently is that I got my Degree! I had given up on it as I could not afford to continue my studies. Turns out the modules I did not complete where optional ones so I had all the core ones plus my dissertation done.

I'll be adding my poetry onto this blog soon and will have a link to my All Poetry site page up.

Work seems to consume much of my waking thoughts at the moment, this is not a good thing. I need to relax and chill out at home. Get some writing done and more importantly get my poetry off the ground again.

My wife has started a blog too, a place top showcase her art and techniques. I am often dazzled by her artistic talent and ability to take a concept and create it.

Well thats me done for the night, perhaps...

Armistice, getting to know Mr Mau5, and sickened by greed at the Hut. 11/11/2010

I'm sure it's no surprise that today was Armistice day. I was quiet for the two minutes, I spent them thinking about war means to me and how privileged I am to have never taken part in a conflict. Whereas I do think conflict is something that humans will always take part in, it's not something I want to personally.
So what would make me go to war?
Hard to say really, threat of harm against my family, oppression of thought and expression. Those things I would fight against.

In other news, I was made aware of Ghosts N Stuff by Dead Mau5. I found the sound to be great and strangely nostalgic. Anything that sparks nostalgia for me is an instant addiction, so I am currently getting to know Mr Mau5 and his work. Much to the delight of my step Daughter, I might add.

Today I also spent some time with my wife, we decided to take sanctuary from the rain in Pizza Hut Beckton. It had been a while since I had been in Pizza Hut, (PH) so I was interested to see something on the table other than the menu. PH now add ten pence to your total bill and donate it to World Hunger Relief 2010. They will also match donations to the value of £20,000. I commented to my wife this was cool and wondered if we could donate more. We chatted some more and she commented that she wondered how many mean people would take the option of having the ten pence removed from the bill, you can do that if you really want to and donate nothing. I said that I was unsure hopefully not many, after all it was only ten pence.
After about five seconds of me saying that the table in front of us, commented loudly "they shouldn't add it, they get enough from everyone eating here. I'm not paying extra".

Now, myself and Kay are people watchers, I love to see how people behave and talk. It's a great place to form characters from, and so we listened to them. When their bill came, they sure enough asked the waitress to take the ten pence off and left her no tip at all.
I honestly felt insulted, I don't usually care about how other people conduct themselves but this really got to me. Before I make my next remarks let's be clear on a point. I am over weight, I have no idea how much I weigh but I am no food or slimming crusader.

This couple where huge, really really huge. The kind of big that gets you incapacity benefit and a free mobility car, I have opinions on this too but will stay on subject. I do not understand why ten pence was so bad, I was listening to them and it was not a budget issue but a moral choice. They chose to do nothing, in their world we should all only care about ourselves. This couple where a mess, dressed in new but very mismatched clothing and awful hair. It's hard to describe but I am sure most of you know someone that displays their inner darkness though an outer appearance. They where like that and I felt annoyed and insulted, as though because they where clearly English and close to my generation. That made them part of my "Tribe", a representation of all that is backward and selfish about this country.
Weird I know but there it is, Kay was equally disgusted and as we waited for our bill the table to the side of us (a mother and daughter clearly well off and well spoken) also where complaining about having ten pence added to their bill.

Are people honestly this selfish and blind? Does ten pence really make that much of a difference?
I donated and tipped the waitress as I always do and was still left with a sense of embarrassment at the actions of the others. Perhaps I have too high expectations of people in general?
What are you thoughts dear readers?

Sickness, Zombies and Ninjas 09/11/2010

I'm sick, got a heavy dose of the cold that is going around. I really don't feel all the bad and this is, in itself frustrating.
I had planned to get some scrap booking done, but I have a lingering headache that makes concentrating on tasks a struggle. I'm glad it's hit me during my week off work as I detest having time off work over illness, in fact I believe I have had one day off due to illness, ever.

Walking with the Dead, what can I say about this show? I knew it was coming on, I had read the hype about it and read a few reviews. In my honest opinion the pilot was masterfully executed. If you are a horror buff like me this show ticks all the right boxes and I dare say that even those who don't like horror all the much would be hard pressed to dislike it.
I won't go into a massively detailed review but I will say that the shooting, pacing and character development are perfect. I found the events and characters to be natural and not forced, there was a distinct lack of cliche used as all.
In short, check it out.

The new game I got for the PS3 is Naruto Shippuden ultimate ninja storm 2. A very long winded title for a great game. If you are a Naruto fan stop reading this and go to your nearest gaming store and buy it. No really, go now.
It's a solidly simple fighting game with all the characters from the show faithfully represented. I was considering doing a review but my pounding head is robbing my writing of any finesse.

I need a new creative project, there is an empty aching void that needs to be filled. I have no idea at this point what creative project could fill this void but Kay is going to help my explore what is on offer.

A bit rambling this post I realize but the Night nurse is kicking in, hopefully I'll have this cold beat in a few days.
Here is a vid of the Naruto ultimate ninja storm 2 game that is taking up allot of my time!