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Art Lesson in Less than 5 Minutes: Learn How to Draw and Paint Decorative Masks
Follow along to this quick art lesson as I walk you through the process of learning how to draw and watercolor decorative masks one might see at Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Carnevale in Venice, Canaval do Brasil or at a masked ball any time of year!
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Creative Wanderlust Prompt: Mardi Gras
I can only imagine the buzz that is happening in Rio de Janiero, Brazil;, New Orleans, Louisiana; and Venice, Italy right now! It is Mardi Gras time (otherwise known as Carnevale in Venice and Carnaval do Brasil in Rio.) These cities are living it up before the religious season of Lent begins. Lent is a 40 day period that comes before Easter in the Christian calendar. It begins on Ash Wednesday, and ends with the Easter celebration. It is a season to reflect on the passion and sacrifices made by Jesus with fasting and penitence. Thus, the week before Lent begins cities around the world celebrate with one long party!! The…
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Art School: How to Draw a Mask
Masks are a part of many celebrations around the world, namely Carnevale in Venice, Italy; Carnaval do Brazil; and Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Some believe masks were a pagan practice to ward off evil spirits, but now they are more worn for anonymity and decoration. Enjoy this tutorial and have fun designing your own decorative mask for any occasion.
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On Location: Dream Trips – Illustrated Travel Bucket List vol. 2
It doesn’t matter the time of year, I’m always dreaming of another trip. Below is a continuation of my illustrated Travel Bucket List. I’ll take you to Africa and Asia, South America and Europe– come see the next 10 incredible spots that are a must-visit in this lifetime. Soak in the Blue Lagoon – Grindavik, Iceland The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa located about 50 minutes from Reykjavik or 20 minutes from the Keflavik International Airport. Although it is a man-made lagoon, the water is fed by a nearby geothermal power plant and renewed every 2 days. The water temperature averages a balmy 99-102 degrees F year round, so even in the…
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Culture: A World of Flavors – Brazilian Tempero Baiano Spice Mix
Brazil’s rich and varied cuisine is a reflection of its native and immigrant population and long history of colonialism and slavery. Many European nations including Portugal, Spain, Netherlands and France at one point colonized a portion of Brazil. Slavery became such a huge business, that by 1888, almost 40% of all the African slaves brought to the new world were in Brazil. The indigenous people of Brazil had many trials and tribulations as well. Nearly faced with extinction from new diseases brought over from Europe, they were also enslaved with the Africans under colonial leaders. This mixture of cultures and people from Europe and Africa influenced the flavors of Brazil’s delicious cuisine. One of…
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Culture: Entertainment – Opera Houses of the World
Growing up my father used to blare opera in his car on his way to and from work. I’d always know when he was home as I heard his car rumble down the driveway with a woman “screaming” at the top of her lungs. Well, screaming is what I thought of opera when I was young… but lo and behold, the more I listened to it, and the more my dad educated me on the stories, the singing and more, the more I liked it. Some of my most favorite memories of living in New York City was when my father came to town and took me to the Met. One…
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Type + Place: A Free Font Inspired by the Amazon – Amazonía
I’m so glad hand lettering is in fashion these days! I am definitely smitten by the trend. So much so that, as part of my New Years resolution to create something every day, I’ve chosen to devote Wednesdays to typography. Today, as a fun exercise, I chose to make a font inspired by a location. Randomly, I pointed to a world map and landed on the Amazon in Brazil. Imagery of this wild and beautiful location flew through my head – from soaring trees and dense rain forests to tribal tattoos and exotic bird feathers. Using the app (on my iPad) called iFontMaker, I hand drew the upper case letters to this font below.…
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Culture: Churrasco in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
On our last night in Rio we went to one of Brazil’s famous churrasco restaurants for Brazilian BBQ. We came to the conclusion that this type of restaurant would be a vegetarian’s nightmare! We picked a lively spot on the Copacabana, recommended by our hotel. The bright place had a modern interior, filled with tile mirrors and long communal tables. Upbeat dance music played loudly in the background. The place was crowded and it was still early. The instance we sat down, the food started pouring out of the kitchen, plate after plate. First up was some light appetizers – hearts of palm, cheese, olives, bread, and tomatoes. Then came…
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On Location: Iguazu Falls – Impressive Brasil vs. Intimate Argentina
It didn’t take long to sense the rivalry between Brasil and Argentina of which country is the best place to experience Iguazu Falls. It may not have helped to have a Brazilian guide for most of our visit because as you can imagine, he sure had an opinion on this matter. But, being able to explore both sides for myself, from gazing up at the roaring waterfall near the Devil’s Throat to peering over a 40′ drop off from a catwalk, it was pretty easy to decide which side was better. The Rio Iguazu runs between a very small portion of the border of southern Brazil and northern Argentina. Although…
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Wanderlust Bookclub: Ann Patchett’s State of Wonder and the Amazonas Theatre
Although I have not traveled to Manaus, Brazil, when I read Ann Patchett’s State of Wonder, I felt immediately transported to this exotic city, located at the convergence of 2 rivers and the gateway destination to travels on the mighty Amazon. Ms. Patchett’s writing drew me into a city filled jungle bugs, unbearable heat, and third-world conditions, yet, glaring out with irony and wonder was the majestic classic colonial opera house, the Amazonas Theatre. With a glistening gold leafed interior and Verdi classic being sung, this opera house seems to be quite a contrast to it’s neighboring world of the jungles of the Amazon. State of Wonder is the story…
