Ruskie Illustrators

I think I should try to make my blog more natural. Towards that end, this post will be on Russian Illustrators.

So, lately, as I've researched art, I've been focusing more on illustrators. It turns out that Russians have a unique, pleasant, and refreshingly simple style when it comes to illustrations. They tend to color sizable areas in a single, well-chosen color that often contrasts nicely with those around it. Also, they are very liberal with their outlines; I find that very alluring. Together, these things make for a delightful, fantasy-esque style. Of course, they can't be stereotyped. Russian illustrators are as original and creative as any, (except the English who had the Pre-Raphaelites AND Rackham among a host of others).

The picture below is by Bilibin. I think his work is a wonderful representation of that Russian style. This picture is an illustration for a folk tale about the witch, Baba Yaga, and Vasilisa the Beautiful. I especially like the house's chicken legs. I wish I knew the story. If I did I'd tell you. Now, though, I don't have the time to find out, and I'll probably be lazy and forget later.

Skool Dayz

Two weeks down and a mere eight to go. Classes have been pretty exciting and fun so far. English has been lots of trips to the library for lectures. Art history has been all I could hope for; amazingly fun. Last week we had a jeopardy game, in which our class split into teams AND the team I was on one it! Yay! We got some year-old candy. Science has been terribly, empirically, scientifically boring but I have been enjoying parts of it. We've gotten to core trees which turned out to be amazingly fun, and I've been studying with a business major, ROTC prospect named Taylor, which has been very diverting. Anyway, lots to do but I'm enjoying this lovely fall quarter.

The Way Boating Should Be

Last Sunday my brother and I took a kayak trip up a narrow stretch of Lake Mayfield. It was one of those precious, rare trips that is absolutely perfect in every respect. The sky was covered by a layer of fluffy grey cloud through which the sun could only cast a dull, soft light. The air was barely warm and every so often a chill would blow across the lake, which was oddly refreshing. As for the lake itself, the region where we went was confined by forests and cliffs where the water passage was narrow and deep and still.

Chris, my brother, was nervous. He hasn't often been in a kayak and he was afraid the wakes from the motorboats would prove.... difficult.... to pass through. Ironically, the first wake we hit was the worst for him. I hit it first, it was fairly large, but, really now, that's what makes wakes so much fun. Anyway, I got through it with no trouble. Somehow though, Chris failed to clear it and ended up.... in it. He didn't capsize but was fairly thoroughly soaked. A fact he reminded me of throughout the rest of the trip.

Unlike Chris, my low point occurred on land. I had gotten out at a spot where a short steep climb put me on the edge of a pretty cool landslide. I climbed up a little ways and found myself brushing through nettles, which hurt and itched for quite a while after.

Now, specifically for Mrs. Jones, my most devoted and encouraging reader: You must come with me sometime. Despite the risks, I cannot think of anything more fun than going on a kayak trip with you. We can even take a thermos of tea along and have a tea party on the water.

The Start of the School Year

School begins in less than two weeks. Although it's not a very exciting prospect; another year of stressful work, it's still comforting that I'm halfway through (my time at the community college). And I look forward to this quarter particularly, on account of my first art history class. After years of having a passion for the subject I finally will be able to study it officially... yay!

This year I intend to do more exciting things: join a band, school groups, hang out in downtown Centralia, and drink many mochas. I'll probably come to regret this, but I credit these ideas to Toby, the hound-panda, who has taught me to be less sensible. Thank you, little friend.

Lewis and Clark (State Park)

I went to a nearby park today. One thing about Washington, the state parks are beautiful. And, if you go to the right ones, serene. Anyway, the one I went to was Lewis and Clark State Park. Lewis and Clark isn't known for anything but, if it was known for something, it'd be it's old-growth trees. Some of the evergreen trees there are astonishingly archaic and wider around then gargantuan hamburgers.

Apart from the trees, the only other things Lewis and Clark has to offer are a swing set and a field. The field is not too big but there is something pleasant about a small field surrounded by trees and filled with flowers. The swing set is also decent. It's a little bit squeaky and is missing one of its four swings but still very nice.

To sum up, it was a nice little trip. I like walking down windy forest paths; not knowing where I'm headed and not really caring. It's just so pleasant.

The Sui Generis Personality of Small Town Fairs

This is the week of the Southwest Washington Fair, so that's where I spent my Tuesday afternoon and evening. As is typical with the SWW Fair, there were many cows and llamas -- or alpacas, I cannot tell the two apart -- and pigs. Although it's fun to see those animals, I hate walking past them. The cows and pigs smell unbearably bad and the llamas stare at me in their creepy llama-esque way. The llamas are especially bad at night when their stalls are dark and you're walking alone down a long, empty aisle that strongly resembles an ally and you see sets of big, shiny llama eyes staring out at you from the darkness.

Apart from the animals, the fair consists of overly-expensive rides, a redneck demolition derby, vendors selling things that don't work, and food that shouldn't be eaten. I'll grant that the vendors and the food and rides can probably be found at any fair. The demolition derby, on the other hand, I think is unique to redneck fairs. I had never watched it before, (never really feeling the urge to), but this time I decided to watch a round to see what it was like. It was boring and probably wasn't worth the risk and gasoline put into it. Still, everyone else liked it.

Oh yes, and yesterday I found that kangaroo rats are adept swimmers. I witnessed one jumping into the water, diving down several inches, and swimming away completely submerged! It was very graceful and unusual looking.

Tonight and Tomorrow

Tonight I realized just how much I enjoy photography. My brother allowed me, albeit hesitantly, to use his new camera. It was very satisfying to be able to photograph what I see -- all of the things I've grown accustomed to enjoying on my own and in my own head.

Perhaps I'm finally finding good ways to express myself; this blog, those photos. I'm not sure though, perhaps I'm just as awkward as ever. Still, let's not forget that sentiment.

To change the subject, the fair is tomorrow! My day will be filled with the wonderful sights of a small town fair: cotton candy munching cowboys, little children vomiting on the roller coasters, and more cows, sheep, and bunnies than you could squeeze in a lifetime. All things considered, it promises to be a pretty fun day. I will report on it later.

First Little Rambling

So, time to make a first post. Hmm...

I'm actually a bit tired. Yesterday was a very busy day, courtesy of a family wedding reception. I'm not too social and usually I don't know more than a couple people in a crowd so this time I felt pretty comfortable, (what with all the relatives there).

The reception was in Seattle. Seattle neighborhoods are usually very nice. In even dense neighborhoods, many of the yards still contain towering, archaic evergreen trees that were probably there long before most of the houses. Trees like that make neighborhoods much more pleasant and appealing.

How was that for a first post? My mind tends to ramble a bit I see but I'll still try to keep writing.