Article Title: "Speaking of Touch."
The article discussed different uses for the word 'touch' as well as how it is not merely skin deep. While the phrase "touch dancing" was used to describe old fashioned, waltz-like dancing, the article also discussed 'touche' as a moment in fencing. I chose to use it in the piece for a triple meaning since skilled fencers and other martial artists behave similarly to dancers in their technique and precision, while the foils touching almost creates the cliched heart symbol, suggesting how touch is pivotal in both martial, artistic, and romantic fields of interest.
Article Title: "The Skin Has Eyes."
This article immediately struck me because I happened to be working on a sugar skull self portrait in my spare time, and when the article said, "children often draw people with big heads and hands, because that is the way their body feels to them," I realized just how far my self portraits and my view of myself has changed over time. Because of the sense of touch in my hands and eyes, I can more fully see and feel the contours of my face, the softness of feathers and better replicate them with lines and shape, but I also enjoyed reminiscing how I used to draw years ago; back when everything was simpler because you really did only feel a disproportionate head on your shoulders and hands that looked like goofy flowers.
