Monday, February 21, 2011

friend or foe?

Last Saturday, for the first time since November, I met with my three etegami colleagues, who, along with me, form "The Group of Four," which I have mentioned many times on this blog. The only item our hostess had prepared for us to draw was a potted cactus plant. It did not inspire me. I stared out the window at the heavily falling snow for a while, and daydreamed.

Then, horror of horrors, our hostess brought out a dish of tiny wrapped chocolates to go with the coffee she had just served the others. She KNOWS that I have an irresistable weakness for chocolate, and furthermore, she KNOWS that I have caffeine incompatibility, which is why I can't drink coffee along with the others. So I steeled my heart and persuaded myself to think of the chocolates as a subject to draw, not to eat.

I drew the chocolate. Then I ate it. At least I think I did. It was there one minute, and then it was gone. In fact, by the end of the drawing session, I had three empty wrappers in front of me. Just as I had feared, due to my uber-sensitivity to caffeine, I was in a state of nervous anxiety for the next 48 hours and unable to sleep. The effect has finally faded and I am now in my default state of calm & care-free. This is not the first time, nor will it be the last, that I surrender to my love of chocolate. I just wish it loved me back.

9 comments:

  1. I love chocolate! My only issue with chocolate is how fast it applies itself to my hips (and everywhere else).

    I love your chocolate painting!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Chocolate gives me headaches. I still succumb to its charms from time to time, though. Friend and foe.

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a lovely chocolate etegami. You're supposed to build up your chocolate tolerance by starting with one, not three!

    ReplyDelete
  4. It's interesting to see how many people "have issues" with chocolate.... and btw, the chocolates *really* were very small. I could have breathed them into my body. Really! :p

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh that's so funny, me too! But I am weak...for example, I just succumbed to dark chocolate M & M's and peanut butter...I will pay for said indulgence (like insomnia coupled with anxiety for many hours...sigh. It's SO good though.) And I LOVED your article on Expat Harem!!! Hadn't heard of Etegami- what a beautiful art form. I may attempt my own clumsy American form of it ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sorry to hear of your chocolate and caffeine dilemma, especially not being able to sleep! Nice illustration though.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sweeter than a potted cactus! :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love the composition of this painting. It does look innocent. You produced something nice from an uncomfortable experience.

    I enjoyed your post and your thought process.

    ReplyDelete