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the god of happiness

Posted on October 19, 2007 @ 5:30 pm by massimo | Filed under: blog, china, japan, mythology, ukiyo-e, wordpress

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hotei tao aynaku travel illustration

Hotei - one of the seven gods of happiness, is also the happy god of abundance and good health. Hotei is also seen carrying a large bag over his shoulder that is said to contain gifts and fortunes for those who believe in his virtues.
He is distinguished by his body of generous proportions and round stomach exposed beneath loose robes.
As a wandering jovial monk, a spiritual activist who travels about transforming the sadness in the hearts of people, Hotei is a genuine symbol of of spiritual growt…

Illustration Friday’s topic is: grow

peace & love

Posted on June 3, 2007 @ 1:01 pm by massimo | Filed under: blog, fun, mythology, wordpress

paradise the beatles aynaku illustration

On June 1, 1967 The Beatles “sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” was released in Great Britain. Upon release the album was an immediate critical and popular sensation and it is still considered the most influential album of all time by prominent critics and publications. Innovative in every sense, from structure to recording techniques to the cover artwork, the artistic effect was felt immediately. I was an eight years old kid then, and I can’t remember anything of the event; presently I appreciate the album very much and really love the psychedelic graphic style of its cover, as well as Yellow Submarine’s. So trying to depict a sort of personal paradise (a hard task indeed!), I can’t escape this feeling with the fab four: peace & love!

Illustration Friday’s topic is: your paradise

Here are three nice takes on last week’s topic: margarida colorida ; monstersofthemind ; sketchblog

monkey

Posted on January 21, 2007 @ 12:11 pm by massimo | Filed under: animals, blog, books, china, mythology, ukiyo-e, wordpress

monkey suwkong aynaku illustration travel

“Monkey King (or Sunwukong) was born from a stone. He wanted to be like the immortals and be free from death. He was extremely smart and capable, and learned all the magic tricks from a master Taoist. He could transform himself into seventy-two different images such as a tree, a bird, a beast of prey, or a bug as small as a mosquito so as to sneak into an enemy’s belly to fight him or her inside out. Using clouds as a vehicle, he can travel 180,000 miles a single somersault…”
Monkey is the Chinese classic by ancient scholar Wu Ch’eng-en I am reading these days. It combines the divine and human and is an allegory of own personal journey to spiritual development.

Illustration Friday’s topic is: super hero

phoenix

Posted on December 31, 2006 @ 11:21 am by massimo | Filed under: animals, blog, china, mythology, wordpress

 
“There is also another sacred bird called the phoenix which I did not myself see except in painting, for in truth he comes to them very rarely, at intervals, as the people of …

mask

Posted on December 8, 2006 @ 7:45 pm by massimo | Filed under: blog, indonesia, mythology, travel, wordpress

Bali is pure fascination and Balinese traditional masks are a component of it. The Balinese carve many elaborately detailed wooden masks with a wide variety of forms…

arakne

Posted on August 19, 2006 @ 9:27 am by massimo | Filed under: animals, blog, mythology, people, wordpress

The pizzica (pinch) is the traditional expression of Salento dancing. It is a genre with a frenetic rhythm that is linked to the increasingly prominent revival of the Taranta, a traditional musical culture of …

dance!

Posted on June 16, 2006 @ 11:22 pm by massimo | Filed under: blog, fun, mythology, philippines, travel, wordpress

Dance! Once in a lifetime –at least- a beachcomber happens to join full moon parties and happy dances. Sometimes parties are spontaneous: someone strikes up the …

wayang kulit

Posted on May 14, 2006 @ 2:33 pm by massimo | Filed under: blog, fun, indonesia, mythology, travel, wordpress

Wayang kulit (shadow puppets) symbolise the triumph of good over evil. They are prevalent in Java and Bali and are without a doubt, …

nigi nigi noo noos

Posted on February 19, 2006 @ 10:00 am by massimo | Filed under: blog, mythology, philippines, wordpress

Homer’s Odyssey, the classic epic poem about the travels of Ulysses, is possibly the most ancient report on the enchanting songs of sirens, songs which charm the sailors and cause their destruction…
Since the first time I read the Odyssey – …

ballet

Posted on November 23, 2005 @ 10:06 am by massimo | Filed under: blog, mythology, travel, wordpress

The Ramayana is an epic Hindu poem telling the story of the good Prince Rama’s crusade to rescue his bride (Sinta) from the evil king (Rahwana). The classical, enjoyable Javanese dance-drama performs the Ramayana throughout by …

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