Artsy stuff is artsy

[soc_puppet]

So for a while now, I've been wanting to paint my own temp tattoos all over my skin. I was, in fact, thinking of doing so Mehndi/with henna, abooouuut up until RaceFail 09, when I started learning about things like cultural appropriation and wearing pants.

From what little I've been able to glean via the Great Wikipedia (is there an Internet pantheon yet? 'Cuz Wikipedia could totally be a deity, I'm tellin' ya - right up there with Google), its use has become more accepted in wider society and in wider terms, but. I don't wanna be that girl who stole something from another culture without learning anything about it and then didn't apply it as/where she should because she wants to look cool. ('Cuz I know I wouldn't just wanna use it on my hands and feet. Swirly designs up the outside of my calves would be, IMO, pretty awesome ♥)

I guess it comes down to me reading up a heck of a lot on henna usage, Mehndi designs, etc, and finding a good source of clean henna, or me finding an alternate temporary tattoo dye. And ballpoint pens seem way tedious (in how often I'd have to re-do them more than waiting time before they dry, 'specially 'cuz I sweat a lot). So I guess I'm going the studying route, and learning the heck out of Mehndi. ...Alternately, I see if I can find [information on] woad, because then I'd at least be appropriating from my own ancestry.

[Edit:] It has been pointed out to me that I have over-simplified the use of henna as body art to the point of identifying it with a single culture, rather than many cultures, which would better reflect reality. While I feel incredibly foolish for having made this mistake in the first place (Dear Self, just because it's widely associated with India doesn't mean it's solely an Indian custom, Yrs, Common Sense), I feel better about potentially being able to use henna for body art in general. So, yay for correcting assumptions! [/Edit]


On a completely different note, my brother mentioned to me that the local gaming store he frequents (for Friday Night Magic [The Gathering] stuff) has recently purchased a number of fantasy-themed paintings by local artists to hang in the store. Except they're pretty much all macabre and depressing, so would I maybe consider painting a thing or two of lighter themes to possibly be hung there perhaps? And he'd be willing to pay me (an admittedly small amount), so... ♥♥♥?

And, well. Exposure is exposure, and art-for-money is art-for-money, so. Now I just need to come up with ideas! Ideas that are not "a pegasus flying over a valley with a rainbow and a waterfall and also possibly magical fairies are there too 8D", 'cuz that's just a little too stereotypically girly. Um. Any suggestions to get me jump-started, oh wonderful f'list?


Oh, also, I feel I should mention that Mary-Sue sold on Friday ♥ Full price, too (though not over). Which, considering the number of two- and five-dollar projects available, was something of a pleasant surprise to both me and my mom. Yay for people who want to spend money on the library? Or who just have good taste, of course ;) And I can't help but wonder a little about the person who bought her...

Comments

[inarticulate]

But… henna doesn't seem to be specific to one cultural group? I'd think it would be more appropriation if the specific designs were used out of context. I mean, not to dismiss your concerns, because I think it's very good to think about and be aware of, but it's not like there's just one cultural tradition to draw on.

[inarticulate]

This might be helpful if you haven't already found it! Re: woad and henna and a safe alternative that shouldn't feel culturally appropriative.

[soc_puppet]

An excellent point, more fool me for not having though of it. Ah, well. I do know that it has common associations with India especially, and it would definitely not be out of place to learn about specific contexts/designs - but now I feel significantly better about the idea of using, say, Slavic egg designs on my arms and legs, more especially because I do have a book on it/it is part of my heritage, etc.

Temptu looks interesting, though it doesn't last quite as long as I'd like :/ Still, it probably lasts at least through sweat better than ballpoint pen, retouching things everyday might be hella meditative, and if I felt the need to get rid of a design quickly, it'd be easier to do than with henna, so I might have to think about it.

[inarticulate]

NEVER MIND meigui SAID IT BETTER. But my rec of the main page of the article I linked still stands. ♥ If nothing else, the articles and maps are pretty awesome.

[soc_puppet]

Asdlfkj. Perhaps I should have been more clear in expressing that I now process better the fact that Body Art With Henna Is Not Necessarily Indian. As an additional perhaps, it could well be that the association of henna with Mahndi is not so strong in general culture as it has built itself up in my mind. I just anticipate, perhaps falsely, potentially explaining what I have recently processed to at least a few people in the event that I go out and get henna'd up. (Om nom nom, feet :|)

I take your rec of the main page gratefully, and will definitely look around there more soon-ish :)

[inarticulate]

Yeah, I got that from your other thread, that's why I edited the comment ♥ 'SALL COOL, I think I misunderstood the fact that you did and got confused on that point and what you were trying to get across, hence my suggestion of Temptu as a culturally neutral medium. ♥ I think whatever you come up with will be great, and use whatever will work best for that end, be it henna, woad, Temptu, or anything else you find.

[meigui]

Seconding what inarticulate said--henna was pretty widely used by any number of cultures throughout that area of the ancient world around the juncture of Europe, Africa and Asia--including Romans and ancient Christians, from what I've read. So yeah, Mehndi is pretty specific; but henna-as-body-art is not.

[soc_puppet]

Awesome! I feel much better about using it, now ^__^ *goes to edit post*

[meigui]

...well, to be perfectly fair, the henna practice I hear about most often re: the Romans tends to be hair dye for prostitutes. xD but I'm pretty sure the ancient Christians or some Abrahamic sect or another from around that era had a practice of henna wedding tattoos as well. Which... may or may not have had some kind of relationship with the practices that existed in India, I don't claim to be an anthropologist xD

But honestly, it's wonderful that you're so aware of cultural appropriation and respect, but I wouldn't be so cautious of some minor things like this? I mean, the worst thing about cultural appropriation--the really insidious, creepy, skin-crawly thing about cultural appropriation--is the way it tries to pick up the cool bits of a culture while thoughtlessly sweeping aside the people and the history that that culture originated from. I mean, some things you do have to be careful about. But this is really so minor, so benign; even if the Romans and so on didn't use it, I'm sure no one would care so long as you weren't, you know, using anything too specific or culturally significant or something. You know?

[squishes] ♥

[inarticulate]

But honestly, it's wonderful that you're so aware of cultural appropriation and respect, but I wouldn't be so cautious of some minor things like this? I mean, the worst thing about cultural appropriation--the really insidious, creepy, skin-crawly thing about cultural appropriation--is the way it tries to pick up the cool bits of a culture while thoughtlessly sweeping aside the people and the history that that culture originated from.

You are so articulate ♥

[meigui]

:x ♥

I AM NOT NEARLY AS ARTICULATE AS THE OODLES OF ESSAYS I HAVE READ ON THIS TOPIC but that's the basic gist of the reason behind the angryragey kneejerk reaction that cultural appropriation usually gives me. There's a phrase I come across a lot--"erasing my body" or some variation thereupon: causing a to people disappear from their own narratives and then taking what's left as a sort of conceptual plunder after that's been done. There's a kind of visceral disgust that cultural appropriation gives me because of that. But this isn't it, by any measure! So yes. |D

[meigui]

...also that icon is amazing

[soc_puppet]

X3 Actually, I know someone who uses henna for hair dye regularly, so! And that would definitely not surprise me at this point.

Y-yeah, I hate to say it, but the awareness is a bit new to me, so I guess I'm skewing towards overly-cautious ^^; I could probably stand to stress out about it a little less, I'm thinking :P

[existence]

...I'm not sure you want to go with woad as I am pretty sure it's a kind of hallucinogenic experience. But! Ditto what other people said: re: usage and respect. And also, you should totally take pictures because I love seeing mods like this.

[soc_puppet]

Seriously? Jeez, good thing I asked o_O A-and yeah, I'm still a n00b at the whole recognizing-cultural-appropriation thing, so I generally figure it's better to be overly cautious than to not think about it at all ^^a

XD Shall do!

[ytak.livejournal.com]

My suggestion? How about some seriously sexy guys with wings? Y/Y? XDDD Or how about some adventurers entering a crystal filled cave? Or maybe a sorcerer making fun shapes with clouds?

I've played Magic: The Gathering with my brother. My deck is somewhere under my bed. I'm not particularly good at it but I'm good at dragging a game out for a long time. My deck is white/green, aka Horde. Mostly, my one brother liked to test out new decks with me before playing anyone else.

[soc_puppet]

Oo, I like the sorcerer-and-clouds idea :3 The sexy-guys-with-wings would probably have to be internet only, though ;)

[ytak.livejournal.com]

Hope it works out. But I'm sad about the guys-with-wings. Some girls like catboys. Some girls like bishonen. Me? I like guys with wings WHO ARE LEGAL! Seriously, all the anime guys with wings are underaged. And they're too scrawny.

Outta curisity, you have any art up anywhere where I can oogle it?

[soc_puppet]

Hey, I didn't mean that he/they weren't gonna get drawn! I just thought that my audience here might be slightly more appreciative than an the audience I assume I would get at the gaming store ;) Still, I suppose there's no harm in sending it with my brother anyhow, see if they accept it anyway... *pondery ponder*

Well, I do have a fanart tag, as well as a more general art tag; but no, I don't really have a comprehensive compilation of it :/ I think I may start a post with such an aim tomorrow.

[soc_puppet]

Giant art dump post now up \o/ Go, look, enjoy :Db And now, I think my laptop deserves a rest...

[ytak.livejournal.com]

*rubs hands together and laughs maniacly*

[ysabet.livejournal.com]

As for the temp-tattoos, what about Sharpie Markers? Kinda depends on how your skin reacts to 'em-- for me, a mark stays on for several days; for others (Icka, for instance) it'll fade very quickly. Worth a shot, though. Woad, just as a caution (and yes, I've tried it) is interesting, but it's less reliable than a lot of body-paints.

Paintings... what about mermaids? Figleafed but not clothed (I hate the stereotypical bikini-top mermaids), maybe sunning on the rocks or trying to seduce sailors? Or better yet, being seduced by sailors? XD Turnabout's fair play, after all. Or if you want to play a bit, do a scene from Snow White & The Seven Dwarves, only do it LotR style-- make the dwarves look like DWARVES and Snow White as an elvish maiden in a glass coffin.

[soc_puppet]

I kinda sweat a lot, so I'm not too sure how well they'd stay :| I'd be willing to give it a quick go, though. And a friend of mine over at DreamWidth pointed me to this as a possible woad alternative; the site itself looks pretty informative too, so I'll probably be poking around whether or not I use it.

Ooo, I could do mermaids. And I love the Snow White idea X3 I'll have to see what I can come up with...

[polysamachan.livejournal.com]

Just got back from Disney's world showcase, and I just thought I'd say--the Moroccan pavilion at Epcot has a bunch of henna stands. The pavilions are put together and designed by the countries themselves so they can present and share what they want to with the rest of the world, and all of the Moroccan artists there were really gung ho about painting my mother up. XD

Just saying. They really seemed to WANT to share all that with foreign audiences.


As for ideas, I find that henna looks really nice with abstract, somewhat natural designs.

[soc_puppet]

Actually had a couple of conversations on the subject over at DreamWidth Land, which resulted in me reaching pretty much the same conclusion ^^a So yes, I'm feeling better about it now :3b


Well, I know one thing I'm getting for sure: I'm putting a ruler on my left index finger :Db