Masque of the inner temple

Deep within, where the silent bell tones, when comes the twins joy and excitement..the brothers pain and darkness. Lofty peaks and deep empty caverns both roam and share. From that place random images, infinite...scratch, splatter, like ice and air. Sometimes, once in the long whilst, an impression remains, long enough for tissue and sinew to trace, scrawl and place outside.  In pencil and on paper.   

 Here is one.

buke

It is said the masks of the Japanese buke, or samurai, were meant to be imbued with certain powers and attributes during their creation. Serving to both protect and disguise the warrior, as well as add a certain theatre to the noble art of gutting your fellow human being at the behest of a nobleman's whim.
This particular mask, although not strictly adhering to traditional design, has nevertheless taken on definite character during its creation. Changing in many guises, taking several days, and finally, after working from 11 am yesterday until now (2.30 am) I realise this particular 'mask' has the power to absorb energy steadily, hypnotising with its colours and movement, keeping the opponent dazed until exhaustion creeps up, then striking the death blow once all creativity and devotion are depleted. Leaving behind an empty husk, whilst itself grows stronger and healthier with every confrontation. I advise a cursory glance, then move on to other images in this blog, lest it sap your ardor for exploring random pictures and various ramblings on the vast and endless net.

Zulu adorned

In the 21st Century last nights storm still had me lying awake, wide eyed and uneasy. TV screens may be large and affordable, but the jungle is only inches away, and even now as a new night approaches I can hear distant thunder. Will we never leave the blowpipes and bone knives, damp floors and centipedes for that shining white future? More masks to come!

mask tattoo

One of a series of tattoo designs, all revolving around masks. Designed to be placed on the face, covering most of it.  I always personally wonder why no one ever (or rarely) gets a design to do with the body it is being created on. For example the bone or nerves, muscle, etc that lay under the area of skin worked on, Or cells, pores, glands...so many more fascinating, and relevant, images other than just dragons, tigers or skulls.