“Culture In History”… Part 2

SAMURAI: To “serve”, a service which literally meant to give up one’s life for

one’s lord. The core Samurais ideals included GAMAN (endurance), ISSHIN

(whole-hearted commitment) and MAKOTO (sincerity). Samurais were

supposed to be men of Zen-like austerity who endured hardship without

complaint.

GEISHAS: Women of exquisite grace and refinement. They are
professional hostesses who entertain customers through various

performing arts as GEI means arts or performances, and SHA means people in

Japanese. It's believed that the women who danced for the warriors in the 11th

century are the predecessors of geishas.

I find it hard enough to “Gaman” doing housework, “isshin” to my spiritual life,

and “makoto” when playing monopoly, let alone go through hardship without

complaining!!!...and GRACE and REFINMENT I have issues with them too.

I’m not the most elegant person in this world and I certainly don’t GEI – SHA

visitors in my humble abode that much anymore either.

That’s why in this historical world of discipline, dedication and obedience…… 3

words that create a FORMULA of success if I were to compare it to today’s

society and lifestyle, I dedicate the second part of my collection “CULTURE IN

HISTORY” to the people of Japan who have inspired me by their humbleness,

SIMPLICITY, honesty and their intriguing belief in HONOUR.

“Culture In History”… Part 1

Spartan warriors, Trojan wars, Olympic Legends, Gods and Mythology.

The perfect mix of EMPOWERMENT! Ancient Greece comes to life in one Part of my future collection.

I often find myself wishing I could live in those days just to experience the STRENGTH, honor and intensity

these historical figures lived.

One of my major focuses on my art will be on SPARTA. Inspired by a  commissioned Piece for the

BEAUTIFUL GANACHE as a gift for the ever talented ALEX PERRY, it was this piece that has become my

connection to  a new Form of expressing Culture… “CULTURE IN HISTORY”.

"Sparta was recognized as the overall LEADER of the combined Greek forces during the Greco-Persian Wars.

“In 480 BC a small force of Spartans, Thespians, and Thebans led by King Leonidas, made a legendary last stand
 at the Battle of Thermopylae against the massive Persian army, inflicting a very high casualty rate on the Persian forcesbefore finally being encircled.

The SUPERIOR weaponry, strategy, and bronze armour of the Greek hoplites and their phalanx again proved their worth one year later when Sparta assembled at full strength and led a Greek alliance against the Persians at the battle of Plataea. The decisive Greek VICTORY at Plataea put an end to the Greco-Persian War along with Persian ambition of expanding into Europe. Even though this war was won by a pan-Greek army, CREDIT was given to Sparta, who besides being the protagonist at Thermopylae and Plataea, had been the de facto leader of the entire Greek expedition.” (Green 1998 pg 10, Britannica 2006 “Sparta”)

Mr Miyagi Champ

I’m still BEAMING from last night’s art class. YES PEOPLE I have gone back

to school and scored myself the best of the best art mentor! TONY CHAMP!….

He’s like the Mr Miyagi of the art world. He could paint you the Mona Lisa

with chopsticks, blind fold you and make you wax on and wax off with a paint

brush on a canvas until you get your brush strokes blocking fistfights……

“When building the layers on a painting it doesn’t matter how much detail you

loose going over it, everything is going to have an EFFECT on it, watching

accidentals, watching a painting as it develops and dries and builds depth,

nothing is ever wrong”….

Ooh my goodness I’m feeling like the Ralph Macchio of the art world!!

I have been and WILL BE attempting to torture Sir Champ with my presence in

his class so that I can further develop my skills. Seriously people, I’m going to

USE and abuse this mans brain to the point of exhaustion. 

I tell you this because SOON….. you will be seeing a far more mature collection

of artwork hitting my website! He has already pushed my limits to the point of

me having no nails left… (hhhmmmmm I think that’s been a habit of mine since I

was 5….. but  I did grow them…. and now they ‘re gone again! )…. I am

completely out of my creative comfort zone and I love it. I feel new and excited at

allowing myself to grow dynamically….….cant wait until you see it too!  

(  checkout the GOLD COAST ART SCHOOL here: www.artschool.com.au/index.php  )

Food Art CheSKa Stylin

Step 1:   FANTASTIC food styling  :P  preparing the base and cream..

Step 2:  Not quite FANTASTIC end result!

And that’s as FAR as my stepping goes…….

I’d be LYING if I said I didn’t give 100% to my “funky CheSKa stylin pavlova

nests”…. I’m thinking my artistic talents really SHOULD be limited to painting

and drawing. So I wont pain you any further with my attempts of impressing you

with my bright Idea of creating pirate faces with pavlova nests and fruits, so im

going to show You some REAL food art. 

  

Life is what NEEDS to happen in order to motivate us TO make plans.

How do we appreciate the good things without experiencing the bad?

Every individual and family on the earth suffers from some sort of adversity or

struggle in their LIFE,  struggles and events that are out of our control, but at

the end of the day, how we react is up to us!

I say CHEERS to life, the good and the bad, its taught me to be a better person

And as for MY plans….. I’m still going to make them!

New York city here I come, I’m COMING to get that scholarship!  Africa….. your

Nature is going to have my footprints all over it!  Japan …… I’ll be speaking to you

In Japanese in no time! Surfing……I’m going to stand up even IF IT KILLS ME,

and I’ll do it on a reef break so I’ll have no choice!

And if it takes from now till forever so be it, it’s the in betweens that’s gonna get

Me there!  There is a REASON for everything that we encounter in life. If we can

then accept it, learn from it and look at the BRIGHT SIDE, then we won’t care

when “life” happens.

This is HOMAGE to my mum and all others that have endured life threatening  

or experienced devastating situations and still seem to find beauty in life. YOU

inspire me to be creative in all aspects of my life!   

"The real essence of art turned out to be not something high up and far off –

It was right inside my ordinary daily self - If a musician wants to become a finer

Artist, he must first become a finer person".

(Shinichi Suzuki)

And so my journey begins.......

This time last year I was attempting my first real snowboarding experience in Furano, Japan. Apart from the fact it was

PHENOMENAL, it was also the first time in a long time I applied myself. I went from scrapping down the hill

front side and landing on my a*%  HARD, to flowing and linking turns barely falling once (ok maybe twice....and a

few whiplashing neck snaps)  and Ooh My Gosh I had a BALL. And then it HIT me. Do the same thing regarding

every aspect of my life and I’ll be cruising the whole mountain of “my life” and not just the bottom run!

EVERYTHING about Japan was INSIGHTFUL. I fell in love with everything, the art, the culture, the

people, the land and the history (take note of my future homage to this wonderful place with my art). It was a trip that put

my life into perspective, I realised I needed to live the things I love, so once again I applied myself…… and

finally gave birth to this FUNKY CheSKa Paintings website (thanks to my

DARLINGTREE too). Thanks JAPAN .. It was a trip I vowed to do again this year, to continue my

JAPANESE LOVE AFFAIR.........

i DIDN’T MAKE IT ….. and hubby did! (Damn you, hubby, for having fun without me!)