More Tinselling Classes and a question for you

Since 2022's Tinselling class was so enjoyable I am planning more tinselling classes for 2023.

Here are the next instalments - the Vizier, Shahzaman and Princess Dunyazad, already pre-approved by the discerning eye of my husband.

The sad and worried Vizier, agitated with a finger in his mouth, the slightly relieved but still sorry Shahzaman, the calmly listening and loyal Dunyazad:

- A question: would you like me to pre-paint the faces so you can just focus on the easier colour fill parts or you want to leave it in this black and white version for a colouring in + tinselling project?

Let me know, and I will scan it in for you in the most convenient format for you (majority). I've also left the beards for you faintly, since some of you might like to paint the beards too?

Shahriyar himself, the main man, the evil killer king, the murderous tyrant-turned-repentant-shah, is coming later this year... da da DAH...

...partly because I don't understand him yet.

These are the 'out-takes', I thought you might like to see, in the spirit of sharing:

My husband took one look at the above and burst out laughing. "That is NOT a man who is a killer king!!" he guffawed, "in fact - that is not even a man at all!" - ahem ahem, Persian gender-neutral painting and all... I am versed in the miniature painting tradition where men are signified by their beards and accessories, not necessarily by their manly stances. Also, the raised hand is a hand pausing to think... 'shall I let her live another day or not?'... but no, not good enough for my husband, who just raised an eyebrow and smirked. You can see I just started with the turban and then just gave up - abandoning this drawing as yes, I agree, not murderous enough. "Clearly I need to study more manly men in more detail, darling", I replied. He stopped laughing.

2nd attempt:

I used my miniature painting paper doll drawing aid (find it here: https://www.vaishaliprazmariteaching.com - if you wait a sec it should pop up for you to download - you have to make it yourself at home, follow the video instructions) and we agreed this was a better attempt. It still didn't pass muster, because apparently no manly man 'would put his hand on his leg like that' - I was attempting the 'aggressive man' pose you sometimes see men adopt in pubs or on public transport, ie. trying to take up as much space as possible. Shahriyar is not effeminate. Don't worry, I got him right in the end. You'll see at Christmas! I wanted him to be thinking, pondering, yet still all-powerful and unreachable, and it's also a reflection of my misunderstanding and confusion about his character.

'The thinking tyrant, the thoughtful murderer' - I definitely have mixed feelings about Shahriyar and I've written about this as part of my PhD research. He is an unforgivable murderer. Yet he also allows Shahrazad to speak - other kings in other times did not (there are other versions of different tales where the king replies to the queen 'no' - and kills her, thereby silencing her forever). Shahriyar does not silence Shahrazad, so there is a glimmer of hope. He does listen.

Worth thinking about because of this glimmer!

Yes, the long draped fabric sleeves are there because I couldn't be bothered to do so many hands, that's right.

3 Comments

Dorothy Thursby

Feb 25, 2023

Your beautiful last figure seem more philosopher or poet than killer, perhaps a bit sad, gentle and lost in thought. The killer king - I'm curious, was this his true nature, or only who he became after being so trusting and then betrayed? Was he was so hurt that he became a new person? Your image has a more youthful presence, perhaps before he learned the truth of his wife's betrayal before he was transformed, or as he was when not angry? Am I misreading the story?

Or, does the story say something about the nature of creativity: status, rupture and the urgency of expression? (B&W)

Susan Dobrian

Mar 06, 2023

Replying to

Great question, Dorothy, and great answer, Vaishali! It has been many moons since I read the book, so what follows is stream of consciousness! I could go on and on

The most interesting characters in literature are those that are complex and that undergo some transformation. A stock character is used as shorthand to convey quickly a set of actions or attitudes that support or challenge the main character. They are important, but it is the main character that moves the action along and keeps our interest, thus ensuring we will continue reading. Some call this the motor of desire--to find out what will happen, like a motor moves a car along. Like the king, we the readers want to know what will happen, so we the readers mimic the king's desire for the story to continue. In 1001 Nights, the stories and the storyteller transform the king. Back to Dorothy's question: as for the pensive, possibly sorrowful pose, perhaps that is a sign of the transforming result of the stories on the king. Is he sorry he has killed all the previous women? Is he sorry that the stories have ended? Is he thoughtful about the meaning of the stories? The fact that Scheherezade lives, is a concrete result of this transformation. So, although the king begins as the most powerful character, he is the character who will be most transformed. In reality, Scheherezade is the main character, the storyteller, the one who is the most powerful character, because she has the power to manipulate the king's desire (to know). So the question really is how is Scherezade transform? For me, 1001 Nights is about the power of stories, how they can transform and even save lives.