The Golden Cockerel

This post today is a bit different. I have done art journalling of a Russian fairy-tale, but because you won't be able to read my handwriting I have typed out the story below for you to enjoy. So grab yourself a cup of tea or coffee and enjoy this fairy-tale.

The Golden Cockerel

A Russian folk story that was made into Rimsky-Korsakov’s Opera: Le Coq D’or

Many hundreds of years ago King Dodon held his Court in old Muscovy. His city was built with the most extravagant fantasy; his palace was sumptuous: his peace-loving people were loyal and he had two sons.

But there was one disturbing factor – the war like neighbours. The worry and expense of organising defence oppressed and bored his majesty, and the advice of his experienced general conflicted with that proffered by his sons, the Princes Guidon and Afron.

Prince Guidon one day suggested consulting the stars; and immediately an astrologer appeared. This personage declared that he could provide King Dodon with a Golden Cockerel, which would send out messages of warning should danger threaten. King Dodon found this solution to his problems difficult to accept at first, but when the Golden Cockerel was produced, and after being presented, declared in a clear voice that his majesty could reign in peace, he was delighted. He accepted the offer of the magical bird, and asked the astrologer to name his reward.

On hearing this question the astrologer began to talk of legal indebtedness and documents – subjects which bored the king to such a degree that he summarily dismissed the astrologer before getting anything settled.

The Golden Cockerel having been installed, King Dodon sank into his luxurious bed and relapsed into slumber, only broken by a dream of a beautiful woman. But soon the Golden Cockerel sounded the alert, and the king’s sons set out at the head of the troops. Their armies fared badly; and in a short while the Golden Cockerel again cried its warming, and the old king was obliged to shake off his lethargy and put on his armour – which had been so long neglected that it was rusty and too small for his ample figure – and sally forth at the head of the remaining troops, followed by the prayers of his loving people, who begged him to avoid running into danger.

When King Dodon reached the scene of action he found tragic proof of the enemy’s success. Corpses were strewn in every direction, and in the centre of the grisly field lay the bodies of his two sons, the Prince Guidon and Afron, each transfixed by a sword, having slain each other by a misapprehension.

At this sight the old king was overcome with grief and burst into tears; but when he had mastered his sorrows sufficiently to look up, his eyes met an astonishing sight. From the stricken field a pavilion, draped in lovely silks, had risen magically; and while the soldiers were apprehensively preparing to defend themselves against attack, a lovely sorceress, the Queen of Shemakhan, stepped forth and invited Dodon and his general to feast with her. The general demurred, and Dodon dismissed him.

The queen then begun to make love to the old king, and he forgot his double bereavement and the nearness of the enemy. In obedience to the cajolings of the sorceress, Dodon even tried to sing and to dance, and, indifferent to the absurd figure he presented, continued to caper and prance until he fell to the ground exhausted yet foolishly triumphant, for the Queen of Shemakhan had promised to become his bride.

A royal procession was then formed to bring the king and his betrothed back to his capital. Dodon and the sorceress rode in a great golden chariot, and their cortège included soldiers, slaves, grotesque giants, dwarfs and one-eyed and dog-headed attendants. A rapturous welcome awaited them on the return to the capital, though the bride’s air of boredom was noticeable to everyone except the besotted king. As soon as they arrived, the sky became overcast, and a clap of thunder heralded the appearance of the astrologer, come to claim his reward for the Golden Cockerel – no less than a demand for the queen of Shemakhan.

At first Dodon imagined this to be a jest, but when he realised that it was a serious claim, he was so overcome with wrath that he struck out with his sceptre at the astrologer – then, feared for the possible results of this rash, impetuous deed, he turned to his bride for consideration, only to be met with peals of laugher, and, which he cowered beneath her scorn, the Golden Cockerel flew towards Dodon and struck him dead with its beak. Thunder sounded once more, night veiled the city; and when the darkness lifted, the Golden Cockerel, the queen and the astrologer had vanished and the sorrowing people were left with the body of their dead king.

More images:

Poster from Bolshoi Russian Ballet and Opera

Kitzeh Golden Cockerel

Doodle Art

I belong to a drawing group and every fortnight we get together just to draw.

So last night it was doodle time for me, the first doodle double page spread was inspired by Indian type images. Originally I was drawings eyes, then a mask and somehow a veil (so that has become somewhat Arabian Nights looking). The opposite page I traced my hand and then added detail to the nails including nail jewellery.

The next two pages were inspired by The Golden Cockerell (a Russian folk story), these two pages didn't quite gel, but it was more about experimenting with colours and shapes more than anything else.

Vintage and retro imaged art journal pages

I've been art journalling again. This one is kind of a quasi-comic style (without the speech bubbles).

 

These two: Confrontation in the Bedroom and The Waiting Room.

 

This one is a retro one: Chef, Hostess, Party Planner Extraordinaire: is there anything I can't do?

First Say to yourself what you would be and then ...

Click on the images to read further.

Scandinavian Christmas Celebration

I'm a bit behind on the art journalling session, this one was for Christmas. I did the Scandinavian Christmas traditions this year and celebrated St Nicholas' day (December 6) where the kids got some pressies, and yes they got more pressies on 25th (I know they are over indulged).

I did a title page in my journal for the Scandinavian Christmas, and the next page I put in some information on who St Nicholas was, along with the advent customs, and finally one yummy recipe (there were more recipes but I'm not making a recipe book).

Hope you like the pages.
I've done some painting, some glitzing with Glimmer Mist, some hot embossing (using stamp and heat gun) and have added some die cuts from Mamelok Press.

Art Journalling/Journaling: Session 16 - Making Learning Enjoyable

My daughter wanted me to teach her algebra, and that is one of the most boring subjects I can think of. So, to help make it a little more enjoyable I journalled a page focusing on vintage school children.

The page then becomes visually appealing, making a child more inclined to learn as he/she uses (for my daughter) a more dominant process of learning (which is visual for my daughter). On that page I've added the formula, which was BEDMAS (giving the order of how to work out an algebraic equation: Brackets first, then Exponents, then Division, then Multiplication, then Addition and then Subtraction).

I've also included some easy examples, that way it is easier for a child to move onto more complex examples.

Well, it worked a treat with my daughter, who now usually, fully understands how to do her algebra.

Art Journalling/Journaling Session 16: Walking in another's shoes

For people that know me, they will know I love shoes, and usually with heels, the higher the better ... those tend to be the shoes I walk in (and sometimes totter, too). What brings me to my thoughts this weekend is that I've been reading a book by Charlotte Gambil-Scanlon called In Her Shoes, and I tell you what this lady out does any male preacher I've come across. I saw her in action at the Sistas conference and she is really gifted.

Anyway, I have reflected on some of the things from her book, because as a career counsellor (or even as me in a non-professional context) I have been guilty of doing all those things she says in her book not to do. So today's art journaling is also like my counselling reflective journal where I reflect on my day's clients (usually 9.30 at night my days are long!) and look at a quick snap shot of their context and where to go from there.

So on with the art journaling, just painted a few strokes of acrylics paints and then added images of ... yes shoes ... and also card cut out shoes .... then I just jotted down some of those reflections that had meaning to me.

If you can't read the pages they are here:

1. Listen to people's stories – engage in their world and suspend judgement – or better still don't judge. To truly understand someone you have to take the time to dig deeper and go into their world.
2. Give more of my time to them.
   We think that to win people over we have to impress them, or have all the right answers to the questions they ask. All people want is for someone to stop and care enough to give them the precious commodity of our time.
3. Be committed to love people – don't chastise or judge their lifestyles. Measure my words carefully and speak into their life redemptively.
4. Decide to connect with people.
   Adjust my focus away from my own life, and focus onto others. It means slow down. Don't be so caught up in my own journey, that I fail to engage others on my way.
5. Don't see people as an inconvenience or a nuisance.
   See people as a sea of opportunity and need.
6. Don't make or put assumptions on people.
   Every person has background scenery (their context) and I can't understand it clearly until I walk in their shoes.

My life sometimes has a compassion deficit. I need to build a life – a wise and compassionate life, one that is not too busy to stop and understand people.

Moral rights of integrity attributed to the author: Charlotte Gambil-Scanlon.



"Walk in their Shoes" --- message to self.

Now I no longer own a scrapbook shop I don't like pimping products, but if anyone is interested in that book here it is:

And that IS Charlotte on the cover, 2009,
 If anyone is interested here is her link: Charlotte Gambil-Scanlon.

Art Journalling/Journaling: Session 15 - Using Souffle Pens with Tattoo style rubons

Addicted to Your Light
This week's art journalling is of a song of your choice, my one is Halo by Beyonce.
Choose a song and then analyze the lyrics for various images, then add a background that will encapsulate the general meaning of the song, add the images, followed by handwriting the lyrics using a white souffle pen. A souffle pen is a gel type of pen that has a 3D effect, so when using this, ensure you allow the pigment ink to naturally flow, do not write or print like you normally would with a biro.

Finally, just add the tattoo rubons in various places.

Really simple to do this one. Click on the image to enjoy some of the lyrics, or better still play the song.

Art Journaling: Session 16 - Go and Treat Yourself

Go and treat yourself to something or someplace special and journal it.


This week's journal page is art journalling some treat or special pampering that you have or have just had.

My girlfriends had a girl's night out a couple of weeks ago, it was a pampering night, but somehow I had forgotten to schedule that into my diary; so instead of missing out I decided to go and book some time at a spa (they had a special on, so I was in for the treat).

Honey Melt Ritual retreat and here is my take on journalling that experience (as you may be able to tell Winnie the Pooh also featured ... no surprises there when I've just finished a Winnie the Pooh Montage with my step daughter.)

Art Journaling: Session 15 - Proverb or Poem

Sorry for not posting last week but my time was spent at the SENZ show in Auckland; so I am making up by posting two journal entries this week.

Pick a poem or proverb and write it out then illustrate with pictures (cut out or hand drawn). I have used Tombow pens. Use your pens to make fancy doodles and borders.

Art Journalling: Session 14 - Let's do Coffee

This week go and check out your pantry and see what sort of coffees you have in stock.
Then write down on sheets of handmade paper the descriptions of that coffee. I bet next time you have a coffee you are going to appreciate it that little bit more.

What's on my menu: Vienna Velvet, Colombian Smooth, Gravity Cruise Control (doesn't sound that exciting that one), and After Dinner Mint Coffee.

I've also added Jolee type stickers to add that little 3 dimensional boost to my page.

Prepare your page with backgrounds that relate to the colour of coffee, add any vintage images you may have, and on the other side use coffee stain to colour that side of your paper. Then add your menu (strips of handmade paper with written descriptions of the coffee).

Vienna Velvet:
Immerse yourself in cream luxury with a cinnamon twist.

Colombian Smooth:
This South American coffee is smooth, creamy and slightly sweet with a declisous chocolate finish. Hmm.

Gravity Cruise Control:
Take a load off, sit back and enjoy the ride. Great for lazy weekends. Yeah that sound's like me.

After Dinner Mint Coffee:
After you have enjoyed a great meal, enjoy a great coffee. One that will lift you up, with peppermint, dark chocolate and vanilla cream flavor. After all, the end of the meal is usually just the start of the evening.

So which one will you have?

Other stories

Art Journalling/Journaling: Session 14 - Receive a Revelation of Purpose

This week's art journalling exercise is all about receiving a revelation of purpose for your life. As a career counsellor, this is a topic that is quite close to my heart, especially when I am called upon to assist people in doing just that.

You need a nice bright coloured sheet of paper (the hope colours) and add other images you wish to visualise the content. For instance, I've got cyclists there in a race, their purpose is to win; I've got men up in hot air balloons, there purpose was to build a machine of some sort that could fly.

As a believer I have also added in there my notes from what I have learned from other people connected with my faith. You too, can also add proverbs, quotes from books, etc.

The second art journalled page I have done has been chalked with oranges, reds and pinks (colours that are 'happy' and 'hopeful'), I have then made lines and swirls to do more written journalling, where I have briefly explained what I believe my purpose is in life. You can get the idea, but as this is more personal I have made the image small, if anyone is keen on it being enlarged they can email me privately.

Have a great week.

Next week: art journalling exericse is "Come and have a cup of coffee with me"