Travel: Smiling Faces in Cairo, Touring Egypt as a Solo Female Traveler

. Posted by Sherrie Thai by Shaireproductions.com .

Travel Blog Photo, Smiling Faces in Cairo

For international travel, I always research political and social climates to find out appropriateness of actions, interactions, etc. As a solo female traveler, I chose to meet up with a tour group (for safety), wore appropriate conservative attire (to show respect for the culture and to stay lowkey) and found out about social mores. There are soldiers and tanks at checkpoints mostly on the outskirts of Cairo, but I had no safety fears while traveling in a group. Like all cities, there are underbellies, and spots that aren’t so great, but with a little common sense, no troubles at all. Now is a great time to travel to Egypt, since you don’t have to push through crowds congregating at the sites, and with a country so dependent upon tourism, the prices are really great. Just watch out for the aggressive vendors–you’ll learn to hone your bargaining skills like a pro!

My interest in traveling to Egypt was to learn more about the present culture, and the mysteries / history of Ancient Egypt, with the great monuments and exquisite artwork. I definitely am inspired to create new art… just have to dig in and start creating! 🙂

While I was traveling on my own–away from the group–I was delighted to meet dozens of curious lil Egyptians and fell in love with their smiles and energy. There were very inquisitive–asking my name, where I was from, how I liked Egypt, etc. Another reason why I enjoy travel–to meet new people and get inspired! Here are a few pics of them while in Cairo 🙂

Christmas Art: Gingerbread Zombie

. Posted by Sherrie Thai by Shaireproductions.com .

Gingerbread Zombie Undead Bread illustration, art by Sherrie Thai of Shaireproductions.com

“Gingerbread Zombie” is a deliciously fun homage to B-movie creature features. Wanted to take a little break from the dark gothic art and explore the lighter side of Black Christmas. It was created in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, while watching the amazing “Walking Dead” series on Netflix.

Artwork: Skeletons Playing Piano Duet

. Posted by Sherrie Thai by Shaireproductions.com .

Skeletons Playing Piano Duet, Art by Sherrie Thai of Shaireproductions.com

“Skeletons Playing Piano Duet” is an informal homage to my favorite instrument with a fun “day of the dead”-inspired scene. This piece was also inspired by Tim Burton’s “Corpse Bride”–I adore the piano scene in the movie where the characters tickled the ivory keys and started an infactuation. My illustration was created via pen/pencil with an incorporation of old photo textures and digital coloring. I always like to retain the original black & white drawing in its original state for greater flexibility 🙂

Artwork: Skull Goddess

. Posted by Sherrie Thai by Shaireproductions.com .

Skull Goddess, Art by Sherrie Thai of Shaireproductions, Art by Sherrie Thai of Shaireproductions

Skull Goddess, Art by Sherrie Thai of Shaireproductions, Art by Sherrie Thai of Shaireproductions

Happy Halloween! “Skull Goddess” is an exploration into the lighter side of the macabre. It’s inspired by my recent trip to Southeast Asia, primarily Bayon of Angkor Wat, Cambodia, and the White Temple of Thailand, which depicts modern scenarios of good vs. evil. I created this via the usual pen/ink and graphite media, with a smidget of digital coloring. The pigments are kept to a minimum to highlight the details, but to also echo the stone carvings of the ancient temples.

This piece is available as an 8.5″ x 11″ art print HERE ON ETSY

Photo Buttons / Pins: Animal Skull and Teeth Horror Images

. Posted by Sherrie Thai by Shaireproductions.com .

Animal Skull and Teeth Photos Pinback Buttons by Sherrie Thai of Shaireproductions

“Animal Skulls and Teeth” is a 3-piece pinback button set that was created and produced from my own photographs. The images were taken at the zoo and educational sites. This is a must-have for anyone interested in horror, anatomy and the life sciences. For a small price, you can indulge in the complex world of the afterlife and add these buttons to your collection or as a small gift for your friends or family. AVAILABLE HERE ON ETSY.