30th January 2022 Dr Beena
Hello everyone😊. Where ever you may be, may you be in peace. I did this painting in watercolour in Chinese style in my art class. We had this assignment as this is the year of the Tiger for the Chinese Lunar New Year.
The sample given was in a digital art form. So much complexity! Hahaha, nevertheless, I chose a puffy tiger compared to a roaring one as the tiger looked more benign😊. When we finished, we all had different styles. One of the students remarked that mine looked ready to pounce on prey😊. However, most commented that my tiger looked contented after a meal in my regular Friday greeting😊😊. What a contrast of feelings? A picture evokes many emotions, or as they say, ” a picture is worth a thousand words”. One did ask, what is that red blob? In Chinese painting, that is the signature of the artist. Since I can’t write in Chinese, I wrote mine in English. However, my friend Nyuk was determined that I should have a Chinese signature: she came up with few meta words. I chose the one where it appears like a little house. I hope you see it. I hope Nyuk will explain more about meta words in the comment section.
I prefer my tiger to be in a world where it does not prey on other living creatures. But such a utopian world will never exist☹☹. Wishful thinking or dreaming is what keeps us Hopeful. Hope gives us a sense of purpose and, I hope this Year of the Tiger will usher in that sense. My hope is for peace and stability. I know most wishes are for prosperity, wealth, health, joy and more. However, peace can exist only with stability and equality for all. A world that thrives on inequality and suppression leads to the destruction of humankind. One-upmanship never thrives. History has proven that many times. Most revolutions began due to the power in the hands of the few. Let us hope that the greed of the few will never thrive over the betterment of broader humanity.
I wish all my Chinese friends a New year filled with peace and hope. For my non-Chinese friends, I am happy that many liked this tiger painting and wanted it😊. That surprised me as I don’t think this is one of my better paintings. But your support gave me hope and inspired me to paint better and, I thank you😊. Till the following musings, stay safe and contented with what you have like my tiger😊😊.
10 thoughts on “Tiger and Meta Word”
Love your painting and your writing. Well done. Keep it up.
Hi, Jen Thanks for your comment. I hope you will read more about how we can write in a Chinese calligraphy style with meta words.
Dear Beena. I love the thought and contemplation that goes into your poems. I thought I will share this poem by Blake with you.
The Tyger
BY WILLIAM BLAKE
Tyger Tyger, burning bright,
In the forests of the night;
What immortal hand or eye,
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
In what distant deeps or skies.
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand, dare seize the fire?
And what shoulder, & what art,
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand? & what dread feet?
What the hammer? what the chain,
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp,
Dare its deadly terrors clasp!
When the stars threw down their spears
And water’d heaven with their tears:
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?
Tyger Tyger burning bright,
In the forests of the night:
What immortal hand or eye,
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?
Hi, Vimla thanks for sharing the lovely poem with a different spelling for Tiger:):). Makes the tiger more cuddly.
Dr Beena
saw your painting the tiger I guess it’s a relaxed & contented one who’s had his fill Many of your paintings reveals the nature/animal lover within you. Adding your signature in Chinese makes them more market able .
I think you can type in english (in word) translate into a language of your choice, s
Thanks for the tip that it’s the year of the tiger in Chinese calendar & hope it brings luck for us all 🙏🏿👏🏽👍
Lovely & healthy tiger
Great work
Yes have always loved nature and animals from very young age. I hope Nyuk will explain about meta word.
It’s a wonderful and thoughtful painting of this tame tiger.
It takes on a fresh perspective, and help us all set the lens to look through this Chinese New Year.
Let’s usher in the New Year with a peaceful mind and heart.
Glad that you liked this painting as well as the storyline.:)
I created a Chinese looking word from “Beena” (see below). The idea was from the artist Xu Bing who transcribed the poem Song of Myself by Walt Whitman into what he called English calligraphy. In appearance each English word looks like a Chinese calligraphy. So, essentially anyone can transform their name into a Chinese looking word. If you are interested, please Google him.
Thanks Nyuk for filling in the missing gap in my story:)