Urban Blight

I drew something for IF's "Urban" prompt and I finished it. However, every time I hear the word "urban" I always associate it with blight. So I decided to post this 2009 illustration instead.

From my 2009 Illustrated Abecedarian Series: Mr. Xerxes Xavier was a xanthocroid whose complexion turned more xanthus through the years. His Xanthippe-like wife ran off with another man. Mr. Xerxes Xavier plunged into major depression and became a xenophobe. He neglected his health and hygiene until he developed xeroderma and xeropthalmia. He sought the help of one Dr. Xenia Xeno who prescribed a regimen of anti-psychotic medications like Seroquel and Lithium, skin lotions and opthalmic solutions. Mr. Xerxes Xavier became well, sold his house and liquidated his assets then sailed on a xebec in the Xingu river where he settled in the rain forest and became a millionaire from cultivating and extracting xanthan gum which he supplied to commercial food processors throughout the world.

While I was searching for travel photos to explain my word association, I browsed through my iPhoto albums. I saw an old photo of myself when I was twenty four years old, walking with friends in China Town in New York at four in the morning. At night, all the blight disappears. The darkness covers all the filth and the traffic is bearable. When I legally immigrated to the U.S. in the early eighties, I worked as an emergency nurse in New Jersey. One day, while walking to the bank at around ten in the morning, I got mugged..

These are comic-style illustrations in one of my Moleskine notebook/journals.

Gallery - Behance -  Google + - Society 6

Non sequitor - Along The Trails, My Sky and Oak

Be careful when clicking to blow up anything:

Ah, let me derail your thoughts from the Tears Series for a moment as I post previous drawings illustrating my interpretation of Illustration Friday's "Trail" topic. It's a good diversion for me as I draw these fabulous women and force a tear out their beautiful eyes.

From The Illustrated Abecedarian Series: G - Garbriela and Ghalan on the trail (grove) of the gentle giant (above). and H (below) - A happy ending for the hound and the hapless heir. These are 9"x12" pen and ink drawings on Bristol board.

On the trail of the storm, not the same storm that fried the desktop but the one outside my office window yesterday. I love it when my fellow employees alert me and ask : "Did you see the sky?" They know I love clouds and think of me when they see interesting cloud formations.

Last Christmas, my beloved sisterfriend Deborah sent me two acorn seedlings. I let them stay in their beautiful nursery boxes for months and finally transplanted them last week. These are the Quercus chrysoplepsis, massive oak trees. They will stay in the pots for a while, perhaps transplant them to bigger pots as I look for a canyon because, after all, they are also called Canyon oak.

THANK YOU!!!
THANK YOU!!!

To all my friends who made my birthday a very special day in the blogs:

Bella Sinclair, Shirley Ng Benitez, Deborah,
Thank you for the special birthday posts and drawings
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Arija, Manon Doyle, Bimbimbie, Lakhsmita Indira, Amalia K, Anne Huskey-Lockhard, Lori Ann, Steveroni, Audrey, Marie, Valerie Walsh, Diana Evans, Atelier Brigitte, Aimee, Jan, Pam, Karin Bartimole, Jenea, Eric Barclay, Linda Cardina, Caroline, Vanessa Newton, Francisco Martins, Sarah, Angelique, and last but not the least - my beloved Gemini twin sister Buckram and Bembo ♥♥♥♥♥♥

Scarlet Carafe And White Daisy with Black And Brown Spots

“You don't have to be an alley cat or scarlet woman to enjoy love when it is put in your way. It is so much better to have loved and lost, than not have loved at all. Quite probably it is because you are a controlled rational person that it has been thrown your way to shake you out of your self made restraints.” Arija

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So there it is, as scarlet as I could be, for a woman who loves dishes - a scarlet Fiesta carafe in the snow.

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On a separate note, I am a new surrogate mother to the daughter of the ugliest bitch in our neighborhood. The poor mutt has been plucked too early from her mother’s teats, but I think it may be a blessing. Her mother is a stray and a street-walker, too many unplanned pregnancies with unknown males. She made a home in the neighbor’s carport and they let her stay. No pre-natal care, no veterinary care of any kind. The pup must have a white and brown father for how else did she get her white fur and brown spots? In two days my husband and I have spent at least $200.00 getting her settled in our house. We still have to take her to the vet for her shots..

She arrived two nights ago. I was in bed and noticed that my son has not come in to say goodnight. I called him and he was outside talking to his father. He said he brought home a girl puppy. I got out of bed, barefoot and anxiously ran out of the house into the carport. My son’s friend gave her as a Christmas present. She saved us $1,500.00, the fee intended for purchasing a boxer puppy from a breeder. She smelled like a dog, was flea-infested and cold in someone’s carport. She was hungry. I asked my son how it happened and he told me that when he saw them he called out to them and she was the first one to run to him. So he took her home. I hope someday his taste in women will be different. I did not want any of it but my son begged and I saw his eyes. My husband left it all to me to decide. My daughter was not pleased upon seeing her. I had to decide quickly, so the first thing I did was to give her a thorough bath. Thank goodness we had flea spray from the last time I watched my friend’s dog. It was a long bath, at 10:30 PM and by the time it was finished I had no canine perfume, so I sprayed her body with Hermes Le Caleche and her paws with Chanel No.5. She smelled better. She’s found a home. She is loved. My son wishes she lives a long happy life. I introduced her to our 4-year old rabbit. She behaved well, she better. I love that rabbit, well I love her too.

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Her name is Daisy Brenna Euclid. Okay I just added Euclid. I prefer an intellectual. She is a smart puppy. She already knows how to sit on command. Oh, and she is spoiled and loved. She is going to be a gentle dog.

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Merry Christmas!!!