Clancy Tucker's Blog, page 74

27 July 2020 - MAGNIFICENT MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY by MIKI ASAI

MAGNIFICENT MACRO 
PHOTOGRAPHY 
by MIKI ASAI

G'day folks,
An incredibly talented macro photographer, Miki Asai is one of a few people to follow ants around, exploring with them a miniature world of water drops, stones and flowers, most of it within her own garden. She doesn't try to control the elements she photographs, but finds beautiful miniature scenes that happen naturally. 
Now, let's see her work ...















Clancy's comment: Truly wonderful work. Thank you, Miki Asai.
I'm ...

26 July 2020 - A COLLECTION OF INSPIRING QUOTES

A COLLECTION OF INSPIRING QUOTES
G'day folks,
It's time to present some inspirational quotes, and we sure need them during these harsh times. 





















Clancy's comment: Mm ... send them to those who might need them. 
I'm ...

24 July 2020 - CRUISE SHIP ON A CLIFF IS A LUXURY HOTEL

CRUISE SHIP ON A CLIFF IS 
A LUXURY HOTEL
G'day folks,

Taking a cruise to a beautiful location can be one of the most rewarding vacations you could experience. If you’ve never been on a cruise, they are a blast! You get the opportunity to travel to incredible locations and see many different cultures all packed into one vacation. 
One of the best parts of going on a vacation on a giant ship however, is the ship itself. Designers and ship builders have to take into account that you will be staying on one big boat, unable to leave, for days at a time. To make these days entertaining, they pack these massive ships with more entertainment than you can even experience in the short time you are on them. Cruises can actually be exhausting if you’re the type who likes to get the most out of your vacations because there is just so much to do. 

One hotel company in South Korea took the impression that many people take a cruise, without ever getting off the boat, to heart and created something pretty amazing! If you travel to Gangneung, South Korea you might be surprised to see a giant cruise liner perched atop a huge cliff and wonder how it got there and why? The ship on a cliff is called the Sun Cruise Hotel and it’s exactly where it’s supposed to be. The hotel offers almost everything a normal cruise ship has to offer minus the actual ocean travel and the constant motion of waves that may make people slightly nauseous. It’s a sight to be seen and there’s nothing quite like it in the world. Join me as we take a short tour of this unique concept.  
























Clancy's comment: Wow. Great views and extraordinary luxury, eh?
I'm ...

23 July 2020 - FRENCH ARTIST TRANSFORMS BUILDINGS INTO ART

FRENCH ARTIST TRANSFORMS BUILDINGS INTO ART
G'day folks,
Julien Malland, also known as Seth Globepainter, is an established street artist who is traveling the world leaving striking traces of his incredible talent. 
These consist of beautiful murals, often including figures of children and lots of color. At times, they also include the work of some other local artist he decides to collaborate with. The French artist has been active since the '90s, and along his artistic journey, he visited a number of countries including India, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Mexico, and he also released two books about the works he created in those places. 
Here's a taste of what his journeys left behind...


















Clancy's comment: Very clever. Love all of these. Thank you, Julien.
I'm ...

22 July 2020 - TARA VAHAB - GUEST ARTIST

TARA VAHAB - GUEST ARTIST -
G'day folks,
Today, I interview an inspiring artist from Canada.
Welcome, Tara ...



1.  TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR ARTISTIC JOURNEY.
My name is Tara Vahab, I was born in Iran and raised in different countries. I started practicing visual arts professionally since childhood. Although I find my interest in various forms of art and languages, I received my BFA from University Of Calgary in 2015.


2.  WERE YOU GOOD AT DRAWING AS A KID?
I actually struggled a bit with drawing as a kid but loved colours and making objects, mostly crafts, anything from paper flowers to stuffed toys, pottery, painting and baking. As a kid I could spend an entire day working on my little creative projects.


3.  WHEN AND HOW DID YOU BECOME AN ARTIST?
My parents found out about my interest and talent and decided to provide me with professional practice in visual arts when I was about 8-9 years old. Since then I do not remember a time in my life that I completely stopped making art.


4.  WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING AN ARTIST?
The fact that I can keep up with a routine of making art but always making something new and also being an artist gives me the freedom I crave for exploration, never ending research and expression.





5.  WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING AN ARTIST?
Having faith in my art and my mission as an artist when nobody else does, in other words, sometimes being my own army, my own team, my own fan, my own admirer and even my own muse!


6.  DO YOU WORK FOR YOURSELF, OTHERS OR BOTH?
I am working for myself as an artist and founder of LOUD Art Society, a humanitarian organization that helps to enhance health through art and creativity. Also, I am teaching Creative Acrylic Painting and En Plein Air Painting at the continue education of University of Calgary






7.  WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT?
Although once we achieve anything great, it no longer feels that great.  However, I consider my humanitarian work, leaving a legacy through my art and being able to heal individuals with my art program as a greatest achievement for me.


8.  WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT?
Currently I am working on several projects: woven newspaper art project that I started years ago, a doodling project on my social media and documentation of my findings for my upcoming book “Self-Therapy through Art & Creativity” a guide to higher emotional intelligence.


9.  WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE MEDIUM?
Acrylic and oil paint. Any non-traditional medium that inspires me such as newspaper.





10.      WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
Mysticism and human mind


11.      WHAT DO YOU PREFER TO PAINT OR ILLUSTRATE?
To paint


12.      DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR EMERGING ARTISTS?
Keep producing more art even if you don’t think you are making good art because:
-         Practice will make it perfect, your work will eventually improve within its authenticity
-         Create a collection of your own works, eventually volume and quantity will speak much louder than quality
-         Quality of your work is your style and brand. Accept is for what it is or improve it for what you want it to be




13.      DO YOU SUFFER FROM ARTIST’S BLOCK?
When I am burned out or I just received a rejection for my proposal, yes! But even then, I am refuging to art, I just need to change my activities. In fact, I have made a video on how to get access to the creative flow.





14.      DO YOU HAVE A PREFERRED SCHEDULE?
It depends to the project that I am working on. Sometimes, I need the daylight and sometimes I prefer the silence of the night.


15.      DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE PLACE TO WORK?
When the weather cooperates, I love creating in the nature.


16.      WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST JOY IN YOUR WORK?
Colours, shapes and forms. The joy of making, the process itself, reflecting and every time learning something new. I also really enjoy sharing my joy through collaborative creations.





17.      WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE ARTIST / ILLUSTRATOR AND WHY?
Oh, there are so many of them: Leonardo Da-Vinci for his timeless wisdom and mysteries in his creations, Frida Kahlo for transferring her pain flawlessly onto the canvas, Alex Grey for his complex and colourful metaphysical illustrations and paintings, Marina Abramovic for masterfully transferring her mental power through her performances.


18.      WHAT’S THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT YOU EVER RECEIVED?
“How did you do this???”


19.      WHAT WAS THE WORST COMMENT YOU EVER RECEIVED?
“Nobody will need this work!”





20.      WRITERS ARE SOMETIMES INFLUENCED BY THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN THEIR OWN LIVES. ARE YOU?
Art is often an outlet for our emotions so yes, I also sometimes am influenced by what happened in my life and that is what I find therapeutic but most of the times I see my art as discovering a new knowledge I need to learn about and present.




21.      HAVE YOU WON ANY PRIZES OR AWARDS?
I have received numerous awards the highlight of which is receiving a scholarship to study and exhibit at the State of Hermitage Museum in Russia and receiving individual artist grant from Calgary Arts Development


22.      WHAT DID THEY MEAN TO YOU?
I have been making art for almost as long as I remember and until not too long ago I was still very doubtful about whether I am an artist or maybe I should chose a carrier that challenges me more until I realized being an artist is perhaps one of the most challenging carriers to have. Receiving awards is a confirmation that I am an artist and a motivation to keep making more art.





23.      OTHER THAN DRAWING, WHAT ELSE DO YOU LOVE?
Sculpting, making installations and painting murals


24.      WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO ALL WORLD LEADERS IF YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY?
Please support giving public an easier and more affordable access to practicing art and creative activities. We cannot solve the world’s mental health crisis that we are facing with just medications and counselling.


25.      DESCRIBE YOUR PERFECT DAY.
Waking up early, work out, meditate, have a colourful breakfast while making some notes in my journal, start my work either on computer or on a project without getting interrupted! Have a colourful lunch and continuing my work, share my work on my social media and continue my work.


26.      WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE?
Aside from making more art and increasing my online presence, I am also working on my vision of creating spaces for people of all walks of life to practice any form of art for enhancing mental and emotional health.




27.      HOW DO YOU PROMOTE YOURSELF?
Mainly through social media and networking.


28.      WHAT HAS BEEN MOST THE MOST SUCCESSFUL PROMOTION?
Social Media, particularly making tutorial videos or videos of myself and my works





29.      DO YOU MENTOR OTHERS?
I do.


30.      DO YOU HAVE A MENTOR?
Mostly informal mentors.  As a visionary artist, I consider constantly educating myself as a mentorship.






WEBSITE
YOUTUBE

 Clancy's comment: Well done, Tara. You are gifted.
I'm ...

21 July 2020 - STUNNING MIGRATION OF GOLDEN STINGRAYS

 STUNNING MIGRATION OF GOLDEN STINGRAYS
G'day folks,
The ocean is full of incredible animals. Some we are more familiar with, like the dolphin or the whale. Others we might not even know exist. 
We know when we are sailing across the ocean, that there are thousands of animals below us. Imagine sitting on your boat when you look below to see something you have never seen before. These are incredibly rare ocean photos because it only happens twice a year. What you are about to witness is the migration of the Golden Ray. 
These fascinating creatures travel together by the thousands on their annual migrations to warmer waters. These graceful water creates will travel in groups of up to 10 thousand. To appreciate how much room they take up, I will tell you this. Each Golden Ray is about 6 feet across. They are some pretty big animals.















Clancy's comment: I'm always fascinated by the migration of animals, especially the distances they travel. I've encountered these whopping creatures whilst diving. They are truly gob smacking.
I'm ...

20 July 2020 - Community Of Over 1,000 Homeless People Live In Tunnels Under Las Vegas

Community Of Over 1,000 Homeless
People Live In Tunnels Under Las Vegas
G'day folks,

Deep beneath Las Vegas’ famous strip of glittering lights lies a sinister labyrinth of underground flood tunnels. 
The 200+ miles of flood tunnels are home to a secret community of over 1,000 homeless people who eke out a living in the strip’s dark underbelly. They’ve turned this way of living into their way of life, and they don’t feel like it’s necessary to change, when they aren’t necessarily hurting anyone by living underneath the Las Vegas Strip. Check out these photos of the interior of the Las Vegas tunnels.

Despite the risks from disease, highly venomous spiders, and flooding washing them away, many of the tunnel people have put together elaborate camps with furniture, ornaments, and shelves filled with belongings.

 Some residents like Steven and his girlfriend Kathryn, have furnished their home with considerable care. Their 400sq ft ‘house’ boasts a double bed, a wardrobe, and even a bookshelf. 


Tunnel residents have created wardrobes for their clothes and salvaged furniture to make the subterranean world more homely.
 Most of the people who are living here are ones who have lost their job, war veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress, drug addicts, and even criminals.  They earn their money off the wildly excessive city above by begging and “dumpster diving”, raiding bins and skips. Some still have decent jobs in hotels and such. 








 It’s hard to believe something like this exists in one of the biggest cities in the world. Who would have thought that there are people actually living in these Las Vegas tunnels. It’s sad that we live in a world where this goes unnoticed. The homeless population is growing each year and it’s up to us to come up with a permanent solution so that they are not forced to sleep in the underground tunnels of our cities.





  Clancy's comment: How did we get to this point? Disgraceful!
I'm ...

19 July 2020 - LONDON'S FOGGIEST ERA

LONDON'S FOGGIEST ERA 
G'day folks,
In the first half of the 20th century, London was covered in almost constant “fog” until 1956, when the Clean Air Act was implemented, but the fatalities from the Great Smog in 1952, when the smog was at its highest, are said to have reached 12,000.
Take a glimpse into life in the foggiest of cities - old London.
































Clancy's comment: Mm ... not only then. Venice and London were the same in the early 70's. It was spooky and mysterious, but not good for tourists.
I'm ...

18 July 2020 - Frozen Lake In India That’s Full Of Skeletons

Frozen Lake In India
That’s Full Of Skeletons
G'day folks,
  For years, scientists were baffled by what happened at a place called Skeleton Lake, located in Roopkund, India. Years of research and study were yielding no results, and people were becoming frustrated with the lack of progress. An expedition in 2004 however would bring the answers the scientists were looking for, and closure to this thousands of years old mystery.

This is Skeleton Lake. Located in Roopkund, India, it sits 16,000 feet above sea level at the bottom of a tiny valley in the mountains. It actually looks like a beautiful place to hike to.





In 1942, a British forest guard was wandering through the mountains, he made a grizzly discovery. He came across a lake that sat 16,000 feet above sea level. In the lake he noticed some object. Upon closer investigation he concluded they were human remains. Over 200 sets of them in fact.

Speculation began immediately about who the skeletons could belong to. The explanation that gained the most traction was that it was a group of Japanese soldiers who died from exposure while trying to sneak their way through the Indian mountains.

 The British empire was terrified of a Japanese invasion at the time, so they sent a group of investigators to the site of the bones to see if they were in fact the remains of Japanese soldiers. After looking at the facts, the investigators determined these couldn’t be the bones of Japanese soldiers as they were not fresh enough. 

  
The cold and dry air high up in the mountains allowed hair, flesh and bone to all be preserved extremely well. It quickly became apparent that these bones were quite old however. Other than that though, not much was known about how these people had all come to meet their end in this small valley by the lake.

 After the original theory was put to rest, more and more started take shape as to what could have possibly killed these people. Epidemic, landslide and ritual suicide were all floated around as possible reasons for hundreds of dead bodies so high in the mountains. These theories persisted for decades, but no one was able to definitively say what happened. 
That is until a 2004 investigation up to Skeleton Lake shed some light on the horrific events that must have played out here. The answer is one that no one ever expected.

 According to scientists, the bodies date to around 850 A.D. There are also two distinct groups of people who were killed here. One was a family group or tribe closely related to one another, and the second group was composed of smaller, shorter people. These were most likely guides or porters hired to take this family or tribe through the mountains.




The bodies all had similar wound patterns which were consistent with blows to the head and shoulders. The cracks in the skulls were short and deep however, leading scientists to believe that they were not caused by weapons. Rather, they speculate what killed these people was a rounded object. The majority of the wounds were in the area of the head and shoulders. Scientists theorize whatever killed these people came straight from above. So what on Earth could it have been?

 There is a traditional folk song among Himalayan women that describes a goddess that was so enraged at a group of outsiders who had been defiling her mountain home that she hurled stones from the sky “hard as iron” and rained death down upon them. Scientists actually concluded that this was no mere legend in a folk song. Their findings brought them to the unlikely answer that these people had in fact been killed by a severe and sudden hailstorm.




These people literally had nowhere to run or hide. The “hard as iron” hailstones were estimated to be about 23 centimeter/9 inches circumference. That is a huge hailstone! They were relentless and came by the thousands and struck down the group of travelers. Their remains lay by the lake for 1,200 years until they were finally discovered.






  Clancy's comment: Finally, we know how they died, eh? 
I'm ...

17 July 2020 - Abandoned Shopping Mall Taken Over by Thousands of Fish - Bangkok

 Abandoned Shopping Mall Taken  Over by Thousands of Fish - Bangkok
G'day folks,
The New World Mall was constructed, but was forced to close in 1997 because they failed to meet building safety regulations. It sat unused for 2 years before a fire in 1999 destroyed the roof leaving the building wide open to the elements. 
To get rid of mosquitos, the locals came up with a great idea – to breed freshwater Catfish and Koi fish in the mall’s water so they could eat the insects. The results are simply astounding. Take a look at what happens when an abandoned mall is left to rot.



Because nobody was taking charge of the situation, the building slowly started to fill up with rainwater, which in turn caused a HUGE mosquito problem for the local community.
Nearby business owners and residents were the first to introduce the fish, but in addition to the tilapia, they also introduced catfish, koi fish, mango fish, goldfish, and silver fish.



Now the mosquito population is under control and because of this unusual use of a building, tourists are starting to visit The New World Mall to see this.   








Clancy's comment: Eventually, it will have to come down, and I wonder what will happen to the fish when that happens. The locals will eat them I guess. I'm ...