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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.