363. Funky Purple Travel Star

Okay... this project is really coming to a close quite soon...

I've been thinking a lot about this, lately. What's certain is that I'm not going to continue with daily stars, neither am I going to jump right into the next project. I honestly need a break.

But I had an idea how I might take something with me into the "life after 365"...

I painted a little wooden star I had still lying around, and will now carry it around with me and take some pictures of it in special (or very ordinary, everyday) places whenever I feel like it. Also, it's particularly great to make one right now as I'm just about to leave for Ireland and two weeks of - possibly - traveling around... (And I'm not one for garden gnomes, really) So, lots to see for this little star:

It's about the size of a €2 coin and thus not ideal for taking pictures in front of famous large landmarks or the likes, but it'll do somehow. At least it's easy to take around and needs no careful packing. :)

36. Miröchen

First, something I made between yesterday and today: There's a video update on the Human Supernova!

Second, I painted a star today:

Third, I painted some company for the star:

Quite obviously, this is inspired by Joan Miró*. For as long as I can remember, my parents had a Miró print on the wall - first of our living room, then our office room. I first 'learned' about this painter in primary school when we were supposed to do a painting after his style. A friend and I had so much fun with this we kept making more. We called them 'Miröchen' which in German is a kind of diminutive of Miró.

I'm not exactly sure why I did this today. I just felt like painting something again after so many non-painted stars. This was the first thing I rememberd when thinking of ideas I've had before.

*Oh, how I love the name Joan! Juan seems such an ordinary Spanish name - but Joan... :D

20. Stars on Canvas

Today, I decided to grab some paint and canvas, go outside into our garden and just start painting. That is something I don't usually do, since my perfectionism is particularly disturbing when it comes to painting on canvas: I'm hardly ever satisfied. This time, however, I desided not to care. The sun was shining, the air was unusually fresh and I felt lighthearted enough to try. I suppose the green all around me inspired me somewhat since it's not a typical colour for me to choose. But I really didn't think much about the whole thing until it was finished. By then, I felt rather comfortable with it.

In the flowers on the gras...

In the flying drops of rain...

In the roaring fire's sparks...

In the velvet sky of night...

...there are Stars.

P.S.: Taking a proper picture was well-nigh impossible... The colours simply wouldn't show. I had to strengthen them a little on the computer and it still looks nothing like the real thing. I'll try again tomorrow when there's still sunlight in the garden, maybe that'll help.

18. White Tiger of the West

Today's project is the first to not depict an actual star-shaped 'star'. But it's still very star-related.

At 11:04 this morning (that's 10:04 GMT), the sun crossed the celestial equator into the southern hemisphere. This moment is know as autumnal equinox and marks the beginning of the autumn season in astronomy. So I - being an almost hobby astronomer and currently taking a one year star challenge - decided to pay my tribute to this season in an astronomical kind of way.

In traditional Chinese astronomy, the sky is divided into 28 'lunar mansions' which are again grouped into four symbols: the Azure Dragon of the East, the Black Tortoise of the North, the White Tiger of the West, and the Vermillion Bird of the South. They are all associated with a season as well, and I was quite delighted to find that the one for the upcoming autumn season is the White Tiger! :D

The tiger is a simple aquarelle painting (DIN A3). For the stars I used acrylic paint. (I would have liked to use my Chinese calligraphy set, but I don't have it with me, so I had to make due with a not so very traditional way of painting. It was fun non the less!)

P.S.: The first one to find a well known western constellation among those stars will get a big cyber-hug and a cheer in the next post! ;)