Variations on a theme...Iznik tiles! Some time ago, I discovered the wonderful tile work of Iznik, Turkey. To tell you how I came to know of them would be too verbose, and well, it was practically another lifetime and a painful one at that, but no adversity in my life has been completely bad, definitely interesting, invaluable lessons learned and a wealth of knowledge. Though there is some wonderful tile work throughout the Middle East (Morocco is another fave, and Isfahan, Samarkand and Bukhara) Iznik is famous for their pottery, most known for their tiles. Aside from the fabulously ornate designs painted on them in shades of cobalt blue, turquoise, green, red and sometimes lavender, their glazing technique was incomparable, glassy, quartz crystal-like finish that has endured centuries, colours vivid as when they were first painted. The characteristic blue mosques, minarets, domes, minbars, mausoleums, madressas, and palaces in the Middle East and Asia are ornamented with such tiles.

My favourite design is called "Cintimani", a strange pattern of three spheres in a triangular pattern, with two wave/cloud like bands usually arranged like chevrons on either sides of the three spheres. Some historians have thought the design to be a morphed abstraction of leopard spots, but I see them as a perfect example of cross-cultural symbols, derived from either the dragon pearl (the moon or a treasure) found in Chinese motifs, or the Three Jewels "Triratana" (in Pali), a symbol from Buddhism, representing the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, respectively, and the wavy patterns represent abstract clouds (one design shows small swirls attached to the spheres) characteristic of abstract cloud motifs in Asia and the Middle East. The spheres are also reminiscent of another common Middle Eastern symbol (among Muslims and Jews), the "Evil Eye" amulet, which is found as beads pinned on children's clothing, worn on a necklace, or placed on doors often within a "Hand of Fatima" or "Khamsa" ("five") to ward off ill will, jealousy or covetousness of others. The tile designs were done in Inkscape.

Not completely unrelated...

When you think "Drama Queen", what image comes to mind? For me, it is the character Norma Desmond, played by Gloria Swanson in the 1950 film noir Sunset Boulevard. I did two SVGs, one of Gloria Swanson playing Norma Desmond, and my version of the movie poster, which reflects more of the molting Cockatoo, bad drag queen, Carol Burnett take on Norma Desmond, which is hilarious! I think both would make for great t-shirt designs for the overly dramatic.

Here's Carol Burnett playing Norma: