shhhhhhh......

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Be very quiet.  Not even a whisper.

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Do not on any terms awake the cicada.  They may be small.  But they are capable of crazy, insane and deafening sound.  When ever I think of being quiet these days I think of the books I am reading, Game of Thrones.  Arya, one of the young heroines learned from her dancing master (sword play) to be as still as blue water and as quiet as a cicada shell.  (after the cicada is dead)  I just made that part up.  But Arya practiced her stealth skills trying to pick up wild alley cats around the city. That would be tough. meeeeeeOOWWW!!!!...pssssttttt...aaaaaaahhhhhaaaa

That was supposed to sound like a cat screeching, hissing and then probably scratching Arya. 

                   

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Well, unfortunately on this occasion the cicadas woke up and roared.  My illustrated monkey and toucan have heard enough.

These illustrations are part of my jungle journal stored at the Brooklyn Art Library/Art House Co-op.  If someone checks out a book in Brooklyn does it make a sound?  No.  I don't think so.    

The beginning of the day in Costa Rica

Beginner. That's the http://www.illustrationfriday.com/ theme today. And in the jungles of Costa Rica, the day begins LOUD. Thanks to the lowly cicada. But I wouldn't have it any other way. The first sound you are likely to hear is the grunt of the howler monkey. Then the buzz of the cicada slowly builds to an ear popping symphony.


These illustrations were completed for 2010's, "There's an Iguana on my roof!" for Art House Co-op.

Now if you want to hear the real thing be sure to play this short video. It was filmed at dusk when the cicadas perform their 2nd act. Turn up the sound! It builds to a deafening roar!

Cicada Symphony

I was inspired by an inquiry from my friend Alicia to do today's post. She wondered if I had ever gone to a concert while in Costa Rica. The answer is no. But there is ALOT to listen to for free. Sometimes the sounds are soothing and peaceful. Like a chorus of exotic birds chatting and singing. Sometimes the sounds are loud and exciting. Like the barking of a howler monkey. Or the ocean squeezing into the Ventenas caves South of Dominical. And sometimes the sounds are down right annoying. Those are the sounds that inspired my 5th installment of last Winter's fiction project. The culprit...the cicada. We never actually saw one. But their presence could probably be heard from space. Or at least that is the way it seemed. I had so much fun writing and illustrating my fiction project. And as I've said before the journal can now be found at the Brooklyn Art Library.

I've included 3 short videos. Turn up the volume and listen to the jungle. The chestnut toucan starts out blurry, but comes into focus later. The ROAR of the cicada can definitely be heard on the last 2. And it's free!