Independence Day at the Beach

Beautiful weather for the 4th of July this year! Here are some pastel memories from the Coney Island beach.

Celebrating Pilgrimage

Here's a drawing I made of a pilgrim woman tending her garden in the 17th century village at the Plymouth Plantation, MA, while on a drawing trip with Dalvero Academy.

With this drawing I'd like to celebrate my 21st anniversary of coming to America and "tending my garden" on this fertile soil since July 1st, 1994.

Happy New Year!

May 2014 be, indeed, happy. 

"3 May 1905.  
Consider a world in which cause and effect are erratic. 
Most people have learned to live in the moment. It is a world of impulse.”
~ "Einstein's Dreams" by Alan Lightman

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

It's amazing that for the past 19+ years of living in New York, this is the first time I went to see Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, a New York tradition that started in 1924! This balloon parade is really sweet: huge floating toys, stilt-walkers, marching bands... I just wish it wasn't below freezing today-I couldn't feel my fingers...the drawings below kinda show that! Happy Thanksgiving and Hanukkah, everyone! Enjoy family time and the food! I'm running out now to do just that...

Here's my last year's post dedicated to the Thanksgiving celebration. http://juliaidrawings.blogspot.com/2012/11/giving-thanks.html

Electro-Swing Party Poster 3

New poster for the NYC-based Electro-Swing Event "Swingin' Penguin", organized by my friend Deejay Spinach. The party celebrates it's 4th anniversary in May. Check it out, especially if you happen to have a great Prohibition-Era outfit in your closet that needs an outing. Should be fun.

Here are some earlier posters for the same event, done in 2011 >

Xilitla, Mexico: The Surreal Gardens of Las Pozas

Last weekend I was far, far away. Both geographically and mentally. If it wasn't for the drawings I brought back with me, I'd think it was but a dream...My dear friends, two beautiful people, tied the knot in the midst of luscious Mexican cloud forest of Las Pozas Gardens. It's 12 hours north of Mexico city by bus or car on winding mountain roads, in the city Xilitla of San Luis Potosí state. 

...

There was a night stop-over in the city of Ixmiquilpan, where I got to briefly run through the main square and it's magnificent Church of San Miguel Archangel. 

Church of San Miguel Archangel, Ixmiquilpan

... 

On the third day of my first-ever Mexican stay, the Bride and the Groom lead us, the happily rowdy, dressed up wedding party, into the surreal Gardens of Las Pozas for the ceremonies. 

Bride and Groom by the Stream in Las Pozas Gardens

The park was built by Edward James, an eccentric British millionaire, patron of the surrealist movement, who came to Xilitla to cultivate orchids. He didn't succeed—a snow storm killed off the orchids. So the man decided to make "permanent" orchids out of concrete and build a park for them. The construction lasted up until 1984, when Edward James passed away. 

Concrete Flower

Climbable Structures of Las Pozas

Endless Waterfall

I drew as much as I could while roaming Las Pozas. But no photograph nor drawing can do justice to this incredible, three-dimensional rain forest park with man-made plants, Art Nouveau-inspired castle-like structures, waterfalls and streams. This most extraordinary and gorgeous place does not compare to anything out there, and is considered to be one of the world wonders. BBC included Las Pozas in it's series "Around the World in 80 Gardens" (short clip here.)

Guests Gathering For The Ceremony

The magic of Las Pozas that day was augmented by perfect weather and the occasion. It felt like an otherworldly cathedral in which wedding ceremonies took place. 

Wedding Ceremony High Up

Congratulations to the newlyweds! May you share a lifetime of love and happiness together!  And may the magical aura of Las Pozas guard your union.

Wild Rain Forest of Las Pozas

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving is upon us. This agricultural holiday of giving thanks to "Mother Earth" for the offerings goes way back, and might as well be the oldest and most universal of human celebrations.

It's the time of being thankful for the gift of life force that unites, for the fellowship of men.

The Lakota, indigenous people of the Great Plains (the name Lakota means "feeling affection, friendly, united, allied"), held a philosophical view of life as being inside a sacred circle with four directions: Respect, Generosity, Fortitude and Wisdom. Beautiful way to see life.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Mass at the Russian Orthodox Church in New York

I had an opportunity today to witness the Vigil on the eve of St. Nicholas feast
at the Russian Orthodox Church in New York. It was really beautiful...I quietly drew on my iPhone in the corner.

the Vigil on the eve of St.Nicholas feast  *Drawn on my iPhone.

Drawing Music :: Medeski Martin & Wood at Terminal 5 with Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra

Happy 20th Birthday, MMW!

 “Music is about creating a vibration, an energy. It’s healing and transformative.” 

~John Medeski

My long-time favorite Brooklyn jazz trio Medeski Martin & Wood, whom I grew up listening since seeing them live for the first time as an opening act for Morphine in PA in the late 1990's, is together for 20 years already. They just celebrated it at Terminal 5 yesterday, sharing the stage with Antibalas. Whoa. That was more like a musical explosion than a concert. Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra ignited, then MMW took stage and played fan-selected songs that are so dear to heart. And then MMW and Antibalas played together. I didn't count exactly how many people were on stage, but it was around 15. The musical jam was outrageous.  I drew as much as I could, which was not easy in a tightly packed club, being pushed and bumped from all sides by intoxicated (both by music and substances) fans in their Halloween costumes. It was something…Happy 20th Birthday, MMW! Thank you for your music! 

p.s. It was MMW's customary Halloween performance and musicians wore all kinds of funny costumes.

MMW's drummer Billy Martin

MMW's John Medeski, wearing a sumo wrestler costume and wig.

MMW's Chris Wood, wearing a wig.

Antibalas singer and percussionist Amayo with the wind section.

Antibalas's Amayo and Yoshihiro “Yoshi” Takemasa

Jam!

Antibalas's Amayo and Jordan McLean

MMW and Antibalas together on stage

Seattle's Gay Pride & The Space Needle

To continue from the previous post, here are more drawings of the Seattle's Gay Pride 2011. The parade rumbled through the city and terminated at the Space Needle, where I was drawing.

 

Commemorative stamp for Seattle Gay Pride 2011

 

And it turns out, the iconic tower of Seattle, the Space Needle, will celebrate it's 50th birthday next year. It was originally built for the World's Fair of 1962 and had over 45 million visitors since. I put together a commemorative stamp for the Needle's 50th anniversary.

Visiting the West Coast :: Seattle's Gay Pride Parade

It's been 3 days since I returned from an amazing trip to Seattle and San Francisco with Dalvero Academy's group of artists. As I slowly get back in sync with New York time zone and pace, I will start posting drawings I brought back with me.

Here's one to start with: an icon of Seattle, the Space Needle, during the 2011 Gay Pride parade. The day before I heard the news about legalization of same-sex marriage in New York, so I can only imagine the intensity of this parade in Manhattan. Seattle's pride celebration was fun! The Space Needle was topped with the rainbow flag for the day.

Spring Ahead

Spring 2011 has arrived on my site's landing page.

Cupid and Psyche: The Ultimate Love Story

In light of approaching Valentines Day...

Cupid and Psyche (after Antonio Canova's statue Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss)

There is an epic tale from antiquity of Cupid and Psyche. 


The story begins with Venus (aka Aphrodite) being so jealous of the beauty that mortal Psyche possesses, that she asks her son Cupid to pierce Psyche with a golden arrow to make her fall in love with some vile creature. Cupid (aka Eros & Amour) messes up his task and instead scratches himself with the arrow upon Psyche's awakening. He falls deeply in love with her. Venus, enraged, places a curse on Psyche that keeps her from meeting any suitable husband. Cupid, upset, takes revenge on his mother Venus: as long as the curse lasts, he won't shoot any arrows. People and all living creatures stop falling in love and mating, the Earth quickly grows old and Venus's temple falls, for no one is worshipping LOVE any longer. That shakes up Venus enough to cut a deal with Cupid: if he goes back to work of shooting his golden arrows, he could have Psyche. 


What happens next? A whole lot. The long tale is filled with treacherous relatives, jealousies, curses and revenges, a plunge into the Underworld. But... not without a happy ending! Cupid and Psyche get married and give birth to daughter Hedone, the goddess of "sensual pleasures" in Greek Mythology. Here's the full tale by Apuleius >


So, if you find your love life is difficult, just look at what the Greek Gods had to go through!  As William Shakespeare wrote, "A course of true love never did run smooth." 


Happy Love Day. It's worth celebrating. Any day, any time, anywhere...

Happy Chinese New Year!

Chinese New Year in 2011, The Rabbit, also known as Lunisolar New Year and Spring Festival, is the "Chinese Year" 4709, 4708, or 4648. This is the time to wish everyone happiness, wealth & longevity.

Happy [Old] New Year!

I am back!  I've been around the world and visited many countries and cultures, from Japan and China to Africa and Indonesia...all inside the Orlando's Disney World.

In the honor of New Year festivities (tonight is the Old New Year, an Orthodox Slavic holiday according to the Julian Calendar), I'd like to share a curious fact I learned in China. The ancient Chinese invented gun powder, but it's first usage was to make...fireworks! So here's to all kinds of fun and peaceful pursuits in the new year!

 The Temple Of Heaven, China

Keeping it real

“Happiness Is not an idea of reason but of imagination”

-Immanuel Kant

The Bringers of Light

Every year, Dalvero Academy's founders and my art teachers Ronnie and Margaret gather friends at the Metropolitan Museum of Art to draw the magnificent Neapolitan Angel Tree. A beautiful tradition. Merry Christmas to those who celebrate, and love to all the bringers of light in our lives. 

 

Veterans Day Special

November 11 is not only my Dad's birthday, but also a day of tribute to veterans. Veterans Day memorial services are always accompanied by bagpipes in USA.  Coincidentally, I just stumbled upon  3-year-old drawings from the National Tartan Day that took place at the Grand Central station in New York in 2007.  Even though the drawings were made at a fun cultural event and are light-hearted, I still want to post them as my tribute.  A happy tribute made by someone who is lucky enough not to be touched by war.

Also, I realized that I have no idea why they play bagpipes during memorial services and googled it. One of the links offered the following:

"They sound right for the occasion. Bagpipes seem to have become associated with U.S. military, police, and firefighter memorial services on account of their connection with Scottish martial history. As early as the 14th century, Scottish warriors used musical instruments—mostly horns—to intimidate their English adversaries. (Indeed, contemporary accounts suggest that every Scottish knight carried a horn around his neck.) But it's not clear why this Scottish tradition in particular might have caught on among the U.S. armed forces while others have not. (You rarely see tartan-clad Army rangers, for example.) Perhaps the popularity of bagpipes at funerals is simply a matter of aesthetics."

If *you* happen to know the historical tie between US military and bagpipes, leave it in a comment, I'd like to know.

Today, I launched my new web site!

check out www.juliasverchuk.com

Here's to you, Ma!