Prepping for 1001 Desert Nights in Augusta
March 17, 2010
Tonight has been a flurry of activity.
I am trying frantically to get packed for a mini-vacation in Atlanta before I hit Augusta on Saturday for 1001 Desert Nights. My friends from Columbia, SC will be performing in the show, and I’ll be setting up near the front in the lounge section with my bamboo mat and comfy cushions.
As I am pouring over my supplies and trying to decide what to bring, I thought I’d take a moment to show off a new skill I am working on.
Behold!
Henna Spice Cookies!
Now technically they are just plain old ginger spice cookies that have red food coloring painted on top (no actual henna involved). But they are damn tasty, and fun. They go great with peach white tea, or vanilla soy milk. The original recipe and idea came from Heather Baird over at Sprinkle Bakes. I tried to do the cute little hand-shapes she has on her site, but alas my baking isn’t quite as up to par as my henna… Oh well. 
I’ve procrastinated enough for tonight, I guess. I’ll post some photos from Saturday’s event when I get back. Now I’m off to pack!
Why I Henna
November 4, 2009
As I have mentioned on this blog, I am going to be in the December issue of Skirt Magazine. When I did my interview for the short profile I was asked why I started doing henna. I answered as best I could, discussing my habits of doodling on scrap paper and writing on my feet, and how that evolved into my first attempts at henna. Yet, I felt a little like my answer had missed something. Then, when I saw one of the pictures a henna party client had posted to her face book, it hit me. This is why I started and continue to do henna.
The art of applying henna to another person is extremely intimate and personal. When I henna I am invading another person’s physical space, making physical contact with them, and leaving their body (in some small way) transformed. How often in our guarded and self conscious society do we get the opportunity to impact someone, much less a stranger, on such an intimate level?
Touch can be very soothing and healing for some people, and something that I have always found fascinating to watch is the moment at which my clients truly relax. I have noticed that when I start doing henna on a client’s hand that there comes a moment when they let go of the tension in their arm and hand, and become more open and free with themselves. The amount of time that it takes to get to that point isn’t as relevant to me, it is the joy of seeing someone get there.
In the last two sessions I’ve done, realising when I had reached that point was very clear. That first moment when someone presents their hand to me there is usually tension in the arm from the client trying to maintain hold or control of their hand, and for the first few minutes the conversation is usually minimal and limited to safe topics. But then comes the moment when their body unclenches, they rest the full weight of their arm in my hand, and they begin to talk more freely and open up. That is when you make connections with people. I have made some great friends while applying henna, and it is those connections that you make and those moments of realness (when someone opens up and trusts you with their hand or foot or whereever), which make henna so worthwhile for me.
Crazy couple o’ weeks!!
October 15, 2009
Well, the last two weeks have been eventful… I have been slowly getting over some seriously weird respiratory issues (Not Swine Flu), and trying my best to stay on top of things creatively.
I am still working on a design for Cybelle’s “Pandora’s Box” dance, though it doesn’t look like she will get to perform this Saturday as originally planned. Whether I actually get to apply the design or not, I’ll be posting a scan of the design-plan once it is finished.
I am also working to get all my materials ready for Savannah Pagan Pride Day. I have a 10′x10′ canvas shelter that I am borrowing from my office, and a couple of bamboo rugs that I plan to use as flooring. I will also be bringing pillows and throws for seating and comfyness, and setting up some of my personal altar bits for decor and a little extra energy. I’ll post some photos of how it all looks put together.
I’m also very excited because Saturday I am having my photo taken by a photographer from Skirt! Magazine. They will apparently be featuring me as the “He’s So Original” guy for December. I’ll post links when it is actually finished and available in December, but for now, here is a shot of what I am thinking of wearing… thoughts?
I feel a bit like a can-can dancer with all the ruffles.
I am also in the early stages of planning a major creative project (I’m really excited about it).
Oooooh, found some inspiration!
October 1, 2009
Hey kids, I found the neatest thing the other day while I was web-surfin’. It is a piece of Art Nouveau jewelry that popped up while I was digging for images related to Pandora’s box for Cybelle’s next performance.The brooch is part of an exhibit that is traveling through the Museum of Fine Art in Boston: it will be on display at the Torf Gallery until November 9, 2009.
Cybelle’s next performance at Savannah Pagan Pride Day is supposed to evoke the myth of Pandora. I wanted to come up with a henna design that could help to further the theme of the dance, so I spent an evening web browsing relevant imagery.
I loved this image the moment I stumbled upon it, mainly for the fluid lines of hair framing the bust and the single lily at her chest. I thought the whole design seemed to evoke the closing of the myth, when Pandora reaches into the box and pulls out hope. I am working on how to incorporate the image into a gauntlet design for Cybelle’s arms and hands. As I work on the design, I’ll try to post some sketches so I can share a little of my design process with you.
Prepping for the Moondance Festival
May 18, 2009
Well, I have just 3 days left to get everything ready for Moondance in Carrollton. I have a ton of henna that needs mixing, and a workshop to plan. Hopefully all goes well and this ends up being an amazing weekend. This will be my second trip to Carrollton for one of their gatherings, but this is my first time vending at a major festival. I would be lying to say that I’m not a little nervous.
For my workshop I plan on focusing on the creation of meaningful patterns and the use of symbols in henna. The workshop will deal primarily with design and application, with some introductory notes on mixing and terping of the henna. I plan on taking my camera, so hopefully I’ll be soon making some additional posts to my gallery.
I will also be looking forward to busting out some of my new bellydance moves during the drum circles that will be happening each night of the festival. Wish me luck, and I’ll be back to report on all the fun next week.
Designs and Dreams
March 23, 2009
I am working on henna designs for the girls of Nocturnelle Tribal Bellydance. They have a show on April 4th and I have been commissioned to do large hand and arm pieces for both Cybelle and Maya. I am using some hand templates that are available for download from the Henna Page, and I will be posting each of the design sketches. I find that the actual creation of the design on the body requires slight modifications of the concept in order to better fit the canvas. Traditional tattoo artists deal with this as well; the shape of a persons body will often require that the size and shaping of design elements be altered in order to achieve the best final outcome. I am going to be adding a design gallery in the next day or so. I thought it might be interesting to see how things develop from conceptualization through to implementation.
When I first started as a henna artist I always worked directly on the skin with little pre-planning, letting designs reveal themselves. As I have gotten more experienced I have begun to put more stock into the planning of designs. Most of my best work was born out of a sketch or doodle in the margins of a notebook. The inspiration for these sketches comes from a variety of sources, One of my favorite pieces was inspired by engravings on an oil lamp. I have found lots of interesting source materials that have become wonderful henna designs; wallpaper, furniture, draperies, plants in the garden, old statuary (Buddhist and Hindu statues are excellent sources of inspiration), Mandalas, and dreams. I thought it might also be fun to add an inspiration gallery to showcase the bits and bobs that I find to work into designs.
Welcome to My New Site
March 21, 2009
Welcome to Three Ravens Henna! I’m Pyre, the proprietor, artist, and man behind the curtain. This blog will be a place for me to update guests on the goings on in my life as a henna artist. I’ll be sharing tips and tricks that I have picked up over the last decade of my journey as an artist, and sharing my thoughts on the creative process. I hope you enjoy yourselves, and please feel free to contact me if you are interested in learning more about henna or booking me for an event.
