Sunday, March 28, 2010

Art that Makes Me Wanna Write a Book!

Yes, it's finally time for another installment of Art that Makes Ann Wanna Write a Book!
It seems to be the only thing I get around to blogging about these days, but I feel some 'real' blog posts coming soon! I am going to be hanging out with YokohamaMama in the land of the rising sun next week, and two sisters+cherry blossom festivals= a good, old-fashioned blog post!

So anyway... This week's art is from Lani Imre, an artist originally from British Columbia, Canada. Her work makes me think 'book covers'. I see so much emotion in the eyes of her painted characters-- it really could fill a book!



And while much of the art I have previously posted is of a specific scene, and I spend time daydreaming about that scene and the story on either side of it... Lani's characters are solitary, lonely, almost existing in a vacuum.
There are no clues about what is happening to them, and yet it makes me yearn to know who they are... and that makes me wanna write a book!

9 comments:

Aubrie said...

I love Lani's art. Thanks for introducing me :)

Southpaw said...

I absolutely love that first image. I had to visit her site. She is an amazing artist.

ann foxlee said...

Southpaw, I know! That first one is my fav too. Those eyes! She seems so tough and fragile at the same time, like she's been hurt, but won't give up! I think it actually may end up being an inspiration for a new WIP once I get the current one closer to done!

Valerie Geary said...

Can't wait to hear about your trip!! PS- let's do coffee again soon? yeah?

Stephanie Thornton said...

You'll definitely need to post about your trip! I need to do another international trip ASAP!

ann foxlee said...

Definitely posting about the trip-- hopefully while I'm there, complete with photos!

And definitely up for coffee when I get back. I'll need it for the jetlag!!

Matthew MacNish said...

Amazing pictures. At first I thought the first one had somehow used photography to create those eyes. Stunning.

By the way Ann, I was wondering about the title of your book, Under the Floating World. Does it have anything to do with the "Willow World" or the Yoshiwara in Japan, just curious?

ann foxlee said...

Matthew: It's related, but not limited to Geisha life. It actually comes from the woodblock prints depicting Edo-era Japan, some of which were of the Flower and Willow World (of the Geishas). Collectively though, the varied scenes of Japanese life came to be called "The Floating World", which was a quote from a 17th century text:

"... Living only for the moment, turning our full attention to the pleasures of the moon, the snow, the cherry blossoms and the maple leaves; singing songs, drinking wine, diverting ourselves in just floating, floating; ... refusing to be disheartened, like a gourd floating along with the river current: this is what we call the floating world..."
--Asai Ryoi, in the Ukiyo Monogatari, c.1661


aaaand, cue my Japanese friends asking my how (and why) I know that. ;-P

ann foxlee said...

Matthew-- forgot to add that The Floating World (the original Japanese meaning) is more about 'the beautiful life' of the wealthy.

My book is about the poor souls living underneath that perfect floating world :-)