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August 6, 2011
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:iconswagtail:
Number of reproductions - ONE (exclusive to Eurofurence Charity Auction 2011)
Where to get this - EuroFurence 17 2011
100% Charity Benefit
Size - A3 high gloss poster - signed and dated by artist

If you happen to be attending Eurofurence this year, stop by and consider placing a bid, it goes to a wonderful cause. Details - [link]

EDIT - To show the details that you'll never see unless you're there to see it in person.

~tharinvaza wrote a beautiful short story inspired by this piece, please take a moment to read it Blissful Wind By K.T.T
Inspired by "The Sword Dance" By Swagtail (you need to see the picture, I feel, to get the fullest effect.)



Li-Fu had been awake since the night before, just staring out at the stars in wonder, thinking about her life and her dreams...something that was often frowned apon due to the impossibility of the matter. Li-Fu,a Calico patterned shorthair , was deemed by the village tradition, unfit to follow her true dream, sword dancing, because she lacked a perfectly white coat of fur that was to show purity to the art and nothing but the art.A cold breeze had brushed through her fur and numbed her sensitive ears, forcing her to tr


The Sword Dance -

Chinese dance has a history of over 5000 years and is deeply rooted in their culture. Dance plays an important role in different sections of society. Different dance forms have different cultural values and significance. The dance in Chinese culture is divided into two types- folk dance and classical dance. Sword dance is a part of classical dance in Chinese cultural dance. It is also known as the "sword tool dance" in China.

Sword dance became popular during the Tang dynasty. The performance of the dance requires an extremely qualified skill. During the ancient period, it was mainly performed for entertainment in royal courts. Artistic communication takes place through the movements of the upper part of the body. Chinese warriors perform the dance and it corresponds to the form of martial arts. The dancers wear armour and helmet as the costumes. The movements of the dance show the expression of heroic qualities and power of the soul. The costume of the dance is red in color to symbolize the power of the ruler.

The sword dance is a particular form of folk dance in the Han and the Tang dynasties. The sword is used mainly for the movement of the dance and less as a weapon. A single, double or dagger sword can be used to perform this kind of dance. A single sword has hanging threats for ornamental purpose. It can extend to the length of one meter. The tassels add to the splendour of the dance. The movement of the sword dance bears a heroic expression with a number of variations. The movement of the dance is also elegant with beauty and grace.

The sword dance is a kind of martial dance in the Tang dynasty. The most popular sword dancer of the Tang dynasty was "Gongsun". The dancing skill is so brilliant that it is believed to possess the power to hold back the rivers and repulse the movements of the ocean. The effect of her dance was so great that it left an everlasting memory in the eyes of the people. It also creates a wonderful aesthetic feeling among the people.

The sword is an important weapon of the Chinese. The use of the sword developed into a form of dance. The sword dance can be grouped into two types: the moving sword and the standing sword. The moving sword dance involves a continuous movement of the sword. The movement of the dance is tenacious like that of flowing water and floating clouds. As the name suggests, the standing sword dance involves swift movements and standing position like a statue. The movements of the sword dance are elegant and forceful.

BlangaBindi
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:icon928:
Cute little kitty, kitty. =D
But with a sword?
I'd better let him dance.
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:iconeddiew:
~eddiew Aug 12, 2011  Hobbyist Digital Artist
What a gorgeous piece of work, it's so shiny and sparkly, and the close up detail on the fur looks exceptionally soft and pettable ^^
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:icontharinvaza:
Greetings,

Before we move onto the picture, I would like to add a tiny history lesson to this amazing collection of knowledge. Sun Tzu, or Sunzi, is a very famous Chinese general and tactitian. Most noted for The Art of War. But a little know fact is that he actually had trained many women,who were seen as unfit to fight or learn the sword arts, how to fight with a straight blade like the one depicted here. The relevence of this to the picture is that Sun Tzu also favored cat like reflex,grace,speed and brains over shear might.

That being said, you have captured the grace, history and, unlike to many people I know, you gave her a straight blade instead of a curved Dao or Katana, which makes this as accurate as anyone could get because it is perfectly done.

And here we are again...at the character. Yet again you have graced us with an astonishing beautiful character with perfectly captured personality and great amounts of detail and colors that makes this an extremely bright and lively picture. You also keep your almost trademarked lighting style that just really captures the brightness of the Kamino, the edge of the blade, the fur markings and the color of the eyes.

I am always surprised every time you post a new peice and I always await the next anxiously. You never try to be an artist you aren't and that is very admireable.

Sincerely,
K.T.T
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:iconfranktech:
~FrankTech Aug 6, 2011   General Artist
Whoaw! its so awesome! So real too!
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:iconshinragod:
A calico nekomata!! Very cool! I gotta fatter version of this cat. XD
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