The Human Canvas - St. George and the Dragon... and Liz!

Liz.

Remember her?

I did a kind of randomesque

piece  on her in the middle of a disco at

a Dr. Who convention a couple

of years ago in LA.

Well, two pieces I guess - if you count both arms.

That's her hubby, Vasilios, standing in the background.

He was the one providing music for the disco.

This was a fun, fun night!

But back to THIS night. Again - a fun one.

I hadn't seen Vasilios OR Liz... or most of the other

folks there that evening in

quite some time.

So... St. George and the Dragon! 

And Liz!

(((I'm having trouble flipping this picture. I have NO idea why!)))

Legend has it that St. George happened

upon a road which went through an area where

people appeased a local dragon with a couple of sheep

per day, serving as a sort of "protection fee".

Much like what hoodlums may demand

of a small store owner.

Except for that part about the sheep.

Anyway, St. George had been asked to

stay OFF this road, but he vowed to remain.

While in conversation with a local princess, the dragon

reared out of the lake, St. George showed the sign of the

cross, wounded the dragon, then fitted it with

the girdle of the princess,  afterwhich the

dragon followed her around

as gently as a pet.

But then later, he killed it anyway because the local
peasants were frightened.

Or something like that.

St George and the Dragon

is ALSO a really cool number on Toto's

second album, Hydra.

They've kept with the sword motiff for many

of their last 30ish years...

...And this may be the REAL reason for me

naming this session as I did. 

Although with swords of this type generally having a

cross-shape, it seemed to fit.

St. George and the Dragon...

...and Liz!

Another shot for contrast...

...And another with a bigger smile.

Thank you Liz.

And thank YOU for stopping by...

and MAYBE... for being the next canvas.

I'm ALWAYS looking.

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The Human Canvas - SLASH! At the Vault! In Redlands!

First off...

Ya, ya... I know. 

That's not Slash. That's Katie.

But We'll get back to that.

A little over a year ago (or so),

we had just left a University of Redlands

end of the year gathering, and ended up back at

our place. I had done a couple of Human Canvas sessions

AT the gathering, but at this point,

we were just talking.

Katie said that if she ever got a tattoo

(or if I ever laid my pens on her - I don't remember which)

it would be a lotus flower.

A little over a year (or so) LATER then...

It was Katie's birthday... At the Vault in Redlands.

I reminded her.

It went (fairly) quickly.

The next shot is called

"Priya Pointing to Pretty Pretty Petals".

Thank you Katie.

Next that night... Andrew!

I don't recall if it was he that showed me, or if it was the other women at the table (not drawn on), but SOMEONE got his sleave up...

...and it was collectively decided that this

real tattoo needed an update.

I also don't recall if he was a Guns n' Roses fan...

...But after giving some color back to that rose...

...The rest, while impromptu, fell into place.

And then we got Slash!

At the Vault!

In Redlands!

Sorta.

I think I wanna do this'n again, except add some crossed pistols underneath.

Until then...

...Thanks again Andrew... AND Katie...

Canvases for this evening.

And thank YOU for stopping by,

for spreading the word, and possibly...

for being next.

The beginnings of The Human Canvas adventures

can be found and followed through a couple of tabs near the top of this page.

The Human Canvas at the After-Party!

Meet Ralphyy.  

And that's NOT a typo.

A koi has become kinda quick by now...

Still though...

I DO like to get the step-by-step shots.

This'n turned out well, and it's a cool process...

Which makes for a cool slideshow, if yer so equipped.

So...

Meet Ralphyy Bardoux, guitarist with 

Dead End Gypsies.

I'd gone to see Cam Loves LLND 

at The Wire in Upland California. When Ralphyy 

walked into the venue, dark as it was, I thought Vinnie 

Vincent was walking up to the stage to sat hi to Cam. 

It was DARK, okay? And out here, you really, truly, DON'T know who's gonna walk into ANY club.

It was a cool night, 

with Cam's band being the best of the evening. Original material (I do believe) throughout their set.

Rounding out the group - Tommy Lopez on drums, and brothers Adam and Ryan V, on lead guitar and bass, respectively. 

I met Cam through another 

friend out here, and I have to say... 

His story got my attention.

Cam introduced himself to me by 

saying that due to some unfortunate circumstances 

(which I don't know if I should go into here), 

he had died - then been brought 

back to life. 

He did some musical reorganization, 

has been cranking out new material, and recently 

appeared onstage with Carlos Cavazo 

(you know...the guy who 

replaced Randy Rhodes in Quiot Riot? 

Now in Ratt? Yeah, him).

Cam told me all this, and my first thought was, 

"Jesus! He got to play with Carlos Cavazo? 

At THAT age?"

It wasn't until WAYYYYyyyyy... 

later that I thought to myself, "Wait a minute. 

Did he say he died, and was 

brought back?"

But that's another story.

It was great to catch this band, 

though Cam told me later that the size of the 

venue severely prohibited some choreography which 

would normally be included. 

I'd totally go see these guys again though. 

And I truly appreciate being invited to the after-party. 

This is where the Human Canvas session 

with Ralphyy took place. 

Besides Ralphyy, 

I did another canvas that night. 

Unfortunately, this is the only photo from that one. 

I think I kinda petered out on the mid-section, toward 

the tail. I DO however like the color blend on the 

TIP of the tail. I also quite like the head, 

and the little burst of fire.

Oh well. Ever learning. 

I DID crank out a REALLY nice dragon 

on a friend a few weeks later. 

We'll get to that.

Having to work rather early 

in LA the next day, Ryan was amongst 

the the first to leave. While I WAS able to get 

right next to the stage for some photos earlier in the 

evening, Ryan was always on the other side. 

So - he DID oblige me with a photo 

on his way out the door. 

But given his look, the photo didn't seem quite right... 

Until we struck a fitting pose.

Thanks again to everyone, 

canvas or not, involved in making this night a success! 

It was a great night of great music. Also, some new friends, 

and the continuing adventures of the Human Canvas... 

In all SORTS of surroundings!

Thanks again, Cam.

And thank YOU.

For stopping by, for spreading the word, 

And MAYBE even for being the next canvas! 

I'm ALWAYS looking!

The Human Canvas - Rock Autism! 2012

So...

I was recently at a really

cool music event in Yucaipa, California...

Rock Autism - presented by the Autism Society - Inland Empire.

Some great music...

 ...And vendors...

And I got to hang out at the KVCR booth,

drawing puzzle pieces on people for a donation of any

amount to The Autism Society - Inland Empire.

First Priya...

um... Priya.

Then Alyssa, who was there representing KVCR.

She found it painful!

Well, maybe not.

From the website, Pinning Down Autism:

The puzzle piece logo was first created in 1963 by the National Autistic Society. They explain “that the symbol of the Society should be the puzzle, as this did not look like any other commercial or charitable one as far as they could discover. The puzzle piece is so effective because it tells us something about autism: our children are handicapped by a puzzling condition; this isolates them from normal human contact and therefore they do not 'fit in'.”

Since then, the interlocking, mutli-colored puzzle piece has become the international symbol of autism. Its significance has become multi-faceted. For some it represents the mystery and complexity of the disorder, for others it represents the mechanical nature of an autistics persons thought process. The bright colors are said to represent hope.

There were a few kids who wanted a piece done...

...Including one who had been waiting around until I got

back from wandering the site.

While it was (mostly) only puzzle pieces done that day, on many of the pieces, I found myself (unconciously) color coordinating with what they were wearing...

Or in this case,

coordinating with what was already tattooed.

She already had the four primary-colored puzzle pieces.

I provided the red and green ones.

This next wandering festival-goer got a piece to

match her clothing...

...Then it was back to Alyssa for a Sharpie

color-blending demo. I was talking with a KVCR friend

who was curious about "this whole

Sharpie thing I do."

Some of the coordinators for the event didn't

escape getting Sharpied.

Above and below, Theresa McFarland -  on the board of directors, Autism Society - inland empire...

Along with Beth Burt - 

President, Autism Society - Inland Empire

They each got something to go with their shirt.

Then, in between other festival-goers,

back to Alyssa.

(Below, a nice happenstance with the shadows)

Believe me - she woulda been COVERED
if I'd had my way. She was actually prepared to be
covered, too. Well, I missed THAT boat,
didn't I?

 Next time maybe?

On then to other patrons, volunteers, and wanderers.

I'll close with the shot I opened with.

Possibly the coolest that day, and (oddly enough)

something I hadn't considered doing. Interlocking

some pieces that is.

Thanks to ALL involved!

Again, each one of these pieces was done for a

financial contribution (again, of ANY amount) to the

Autism Society, Inland Empire. I had a LOT of fun

hanging out doing this, and I've run into

people since then who had fun as well.

Even a guy who got out of his

car (while blocking me in) to come over and shake

my hand when he recognized me

from the event.

FUN!

Thanks for stopping by and checking this out.

And thanks for telling ANYONE about this site.

AND

Thanks for being the next canvas.

Please check back. I should have another session

posted every few days until I catch up!

Meantime, you can ALWAYS catch the beginnings of all these Human Canvas adventures through a couple of tabs nears the top of the page "The Human Canvas - the beginning", "The human Canvas 2011" and "The Human Canvas 2012"