Fun with Words

In a set of images inspired from famous idioms of American culture, I really got a good opportunity to challenge my creativity.

We all have heard about the "Starstruck" person. This was the easiest one to create.








As a child, some of my most vivid memories of heaven or paradise—in the context of a place believers in God go after they die—was a giant apartment building in the sky. Although my drawing has more "regal" Eastern type of mansion, I really wanted to portray a peaceful place isolated from the cares of the world.














Another childhood image was the saying "liar, liar, pants on fire!" This was clearly "easy" to create. However, with some 2-dimensional flames behind and in front of the 3-dimensional pants gave it something unique.





 Have you ever been told "Get your head out of the clouds!"
 

 

  What about "King of the Hill?" So many ideas came to mind for this one and they all seemed to flow into this pompous king, alone on a hill!

Certainly, any discussion about power, leadership and controversial issues is like opening a "Can of Worms."



It's too easy to be skeptical when it seems like everyone you talk too doesn't seem to understand you. It's like "Talking to a Brick Wall"

Ninja Attack

While I was working on the computer, I felt thumping on the back of the chair. I turned around. Just a few feet behind me was a little person in a ninja uniform. On the floor were rubber shuriken. Yep, I was just ambushed by my son, the ninja. This one is dedicated to him:

© Photographer: Theblackrhino | Agency: Dreamstime.com

Tickled

Google has a neat search engine which allows us to search the internet to see on which websites our images are used. Here's a few interesting sites using drawings I made:

Micheal O. Tunnel's children's book Moon Without Magic. This fascinating book uses part of an illustration I made called A Little Near East Town.

This picture sold alot during the Muslim month of fasting known as Ramadan. Here's some information about Mr. O. Tunnel's book:

The lamp is gone! Aminah can't believe her eyes when she opens her hidden closet to find the jinni's vessel missing. As much as she hates to suspect her dear friend Idris, he is the only one who knows how to access the magic lamp, and now he has run off. But somehow Jinni is left behind, trapped outside the lamp and devoid of his powers. He is traumatized by this event and finds himself changing from acting like Omar, the kindly uncle Aminah trained him to be, and Gindar, the greedy gambler he was back in his human days. When Aminah and Jinni set off after Idris, Aminah wonders which one of Jinni's personalities will accompany her on the journey--and how they will ever manage without magic. As it turns out, they must rely on wits, bravery, luck, and a bit of sorcery from an unexpected source in order to survive thieving bandits, pirates, and their biggest challenge of all: Princess Badr, who seeks not only the lamp, but also revenge.

This French language website GreenEtVert used my Staring At Death illustration in a story about fossil fuel pollution in our precious oceans. They were also very gracious to give me a credit under the image. In today's "if it's on the internet it's gotta be free" mindset, I was surprised (and grateful).

Next, was a big surprise. My best-selling royalty-free illustration, Boulders, was used by a roofing company as its logo. The Ohio-based White Rocks Roof Services seemed to really like it!

The most distressing part of my discoveries, however, is that many of the religious themes which promote positive images of Muslims are used on so-called Muslim websites that did not purchase the image. Some of them still have the watermarks imbedded by the agency from which the blogger stole it—thank God! I will not share those here because I don't like to promote this kind of conduct.

Historical Accuracy in Religion

Moses

Resurrection Day

Muslim Holy Man

Historical accuracy is not something we humans are prone to pursue. Yet, in art, it can be easier to to accomplish than in words.

Still, we need a source—of which there are many. In particular, I wanted people to question the common belief that famous people of Near East religions were Northern European in appearance.

Obviously, my drawings portray them as quite the opposite.

War Torn

Anti-War Woman

Mutually Assured Destruction

Big Fist

With the capture and killing of the infamous Osama Bin Laden, I sent a message of encouragement to President Barack Obama to end the occupation of Afghanistan. I have very little confidence he nor our Congress will comply. Nevertheless, I made my statement.

Yet as an artist-in-training, I am not satisfied with sending an email message. I wanted to make some pictures. Here's some of my ongoing pieces illustrating war and power.

Creating Positive Images

Country People (top) and City People by Eric Basir

Ever since I was a child, I was sensitive to the deficit in positive images of Black people. I think it was the television series based on Alex Haley's Roots. I was only 4 years old at the time. However, I connected with the character of Kunta Kinte (played by the most excellent Thespian and Educator, LaVar Burton).

He stood his ground and made sure no one would make him—nor his descendants—forget his African heritage. He was a moral and strong man.

An Ikere door made by Olowe of Ise

Recently, while browsing a book called African Art: The Barbier-Mueller Collection, I was inspired by the Osi-Ilorin style carvings from the Yoruba people in Nigeria. The photo at left from Kunstpedia.com, shows a good example of the reliefs describing the life and activities of various people. They also resemble reliefs I've seen from Aztec, Mayan and Egyptian art.

So I embarked on creating Country People and City People vector carvings (which happen to be available as Royalty-Free through Fotolia and other stock sites). I intentionally illustrated the people with distinctly aboriginal features, accentuating the beauty of their broad noses and large lips. They are happy, dignified, hard-working and not all too different than any other folk around the world. I apologetically drew them fully clothed and modest. This too, was intentional.

I also purposely included African Islamic elements to counter the stereotypes regarding Muslims. Although the clothing worn by the characters I made are seen in non-Muslim cultures of Africa, I believe it is subtle enough to influence the viewer toward a pluralistic attitude regarding Muslims.

Country People is my favorite of the two. Simply put, I'm an organic gardener who strives to incorporate "green" or sustainable practices in my everyday affairs. I also have been reading about owls with my children. The giraffe is distinctly African and I wanted him/her to be close to the farmers.

Everything in these drawings has a meaning. Some of it is personal, with very little to do with preaching a message. For example, the train in City People: Specifically, the same red No. 2 train, which used to stop a few blocks away from my apartment when we lived in the Bronx (New York City). The portrait hanging on the wall in the house of Country People resembles a certain American president whose father was born in Africa.

All too often, we are pummeled with images and video of people with dark skin, broad noses and large lips as savage, comical and cowardly—even in this so-called post-racial American society with a handsome president of mixed African and white American ancestry.

One example is in the sequel to the Transformers motion picture. The Black-skinned people portrayed in the opening scenes were clearly utter savages. The co-star to the hero, a young Latino male, was a sex-crazed coward.

Col. Tigh played by Terry Carter

Also, in the highly successful re-imagined Battlestar Galactica, Colonel Tigh was changed from a brave, serious and father-like Black man played by Terry Carter—as seen in the original 1978-79 show—into a grimy, alcoholic secret Cylon played by Michael Hogan for the 2003-2009 show. Although Herb Jefferson Jr.'s character Boomer was at least re-imagined as an Asian woman, there were absolutely no Black male lead actors in the 2003-2009 show.

From CDUniverse.com

On an international level, a famous Mexican television program called La India Maria fostered buffoonery and stereotypes about the indigenous culture of Mexico, while subtly elevating the superiority of white, Spanish identity among the viewers.

The examples are endless. However, I believe it is better to deliver a message instead of a complaint. Clearly, Country People and City People are a dignified counter-measure to the trend I described. Even if one disagrees that such a trend exists—or has an real impact on the minds of consumers—images which portray any human beings engaged in productive activities is welcome. I hope to continue creating more such illustrations—especially of Latino people.

—Eric

Backgrounds!

I've been experimenting with background concepts for stationery, wallpaper and wrapping paper. They start on paper and I scan them. Trace in Illustrator and start experimenting. It seems some of them are quite popular.


© Photographer: Theblackrhino | Agency: Dreamstime.com

© Photographer: Theblackrhino | Agency: Dreamstime.com