Creative Writing

As an artist, mastering various tools and techniques is essential—but so is understanding art history. A global perspective and cultural awareness through art will set you apart. I challenge you to take at least one art appreciation and one art history class in your lifetime. It will change how you see the world.
Surprisingly, I fell in love with art history. While I enjoy creating—painting, drawing, and experimenting with new media—something is fascinating about uncovering patterns from the past and understanding why humanity left clues through art.
In this section, you’ll see how my research in art history, from ancient to contemporary, inspires my short stories. Being an artist isn’t just about making pictures—it’s about storytelling, sometimes through creative writing. I encourage you to keep a sketchbook journal, document your life, and share your stories. You never know who you might inspire, maybe a crown prince. 
But in the end, these are just stories from my imagination. Could any of them be true? That’s for you to decide—if you know how to read between the lines.

The Chronicles of the Gold Daggers

Imagine being young and inexperienced warrior, thrown into a labyrinth with no clear path forward. The map in your hands is flawed, leading you in endless circles. In that moment, you’d be grateful for every hour of simulated training, every drill that prepared you for the unexpected. And you’d come to appreciate the existence of the unseen forces—the "Umbrella" Corps of the real world—operating in the shadows, ensuring that chaos remains contained.
But what happens when you stumble upon a truth so dark, so raw, that you wish you had never uncovered it? The reality of what truly transpired in the Middle East is not something most people would want to know. That is one thing I respect about our culture in the Americas—we often choose not to tell the whole story. We shield our people from the weight of certain truths, sparing them the burden of nightmares that cannot be unseen. And I can’t blame them. I would rather you be happy, too.
Yet, there are those among us—some of U.S.—who carry the weight of knowing. We have seen the horrors lurking in the shadows, the demonic presence that thrives in the hidden corners of the world. You may stand in protest, condemning us, calling us villains. But I assure you, what we have fought against is far worse than anything you could imagine. The nightmares I have witnessed are beyond comprehension.
The truth of what happened in the desert will never be fully known—not unless you were there, moving like a ghost through the ruins, observing in silence, questioning everything. Who were these people, really? What did they represent? What were their values? How did they treat their women, their children, their families? What does it truly mean to rule over a population, to bear the weight of their survival? Was it ever our place to intervene? Some argue it wasn’t. Others insist it was. But now, it no longer matters. The past is written.
Still, there are moments that linger. This young female warrior who was lost, does think about that young man who once saved her life, his hands offering a kindness she did not expect. Perhaps, one day, she will return the favor. You never know. she remember his fearlessness— he wasn’t too young to understand mehr tradition, the custom of offering security and value in exchange for a future together. To a Westerner, that might sound absurd, even humorous. But to truly grasp its meaning, one must first understand the philosophies of the Middle East.
Mehr—or Mahr, مهر—is a traditional Islamic practice in which the groom provides a bridal gift to the bride as part of the marriage contract. It is not a simple exchange but a deep-rooted symbol of respect, commitment, and protection. This offering, which can be money, property, or anything of value, legally belongs to the bride, ensuring her financial security within the marriage. More than a transaction, it is a reflection of the groom’s duty to honor and support his wife, a sacred obligation woven into the cultural and religious fabric of the Middle East.
This young man asked the young female warrior a question that caught her off guard—he asked what her life was worth. She had never been asked such a thing before. The Arabic people have a way about them, a rhythm in their speech that feels like an ancient, forgotten language of the gods. How could anyone argue with that? After all, it's the cradle of civilization, the birthplace of some of the oldest knowledge known to humankind.
She told him she wasn’t afraid of death. He smirked. "That’s not what I asked," he said.
She came from humble beginnings, unaware of her own worth. His culture was foreign to her, and she didn’t fully understand what she was agreeing to. She just needed to finish her mission and get out of the maze she was trapped in, and he seemed to be her only way out.
She smiled and said, "I’m priceless, but if I need to put a price on it, that gold dagger on your side will do."
"Done," he replied.
He led her through hidden passages in the palace, and together they navigated the chaos that had unfolded there. They emerged on the sands just as the sun began to rise. He handed her the golden dagger and said, "This is my promise for mahr—I will come for you one day, and you will be mine again."
At that moment, she thought he was just talking about his silly dagger. Everyone knows that gold isn’t the best metal for a weapon—it’s beautiful, sure, but it’s soft and weak. She didn’t realize then that his dagger was a symbol of his royal bloodline, a mark of something far more significant than she could comprehend.
But she didn’t realize at the time, he wasn’t talking about the dagger. He wanted her. Then, just as quickly as he had appeared, he was gone.
She wasn’t allowed to keep the priceless artifact. As a clandestine warrior, she was trained to operate in the shadows, leaving no trace—not even a footprint. When she returned to base, they made her surrender it. No one knows where the crown prince’s dagger ended up, but perhaps one day he’ll find it and come for what is rightfully his.
If you're wondering how the "Golden Dagger" fraternity was born, it all began in the desert sands when a young rookie unwittingly agreed to a marriage. Don’t worry, her unit didn’t let her live that down for years. They even made patches to commemorate the moment. Now, those patches are the most coveted symbols in our world. If you see a Golden Dagger in a skull, you know what’s coming—like a thief in the night, they move through the shadows of time and space.

By Mrs. Lanette Parker - Blankenship M.F.A., 2025

  • The Chronicles of the Gold Daggers

    by Lanette Parker - Blankenship M.F.A.

    2025
    New Media: Magic Studio A.I.

    Description
    What does it mean to be a warrior in the 21st century? At what point should we begin training and preparing our children to become protectors? One could argue that if someone is gifted, extraordinary, or even just a little different, they may be considered valuable for national security purposes. But even then—do they truly have a choice? They say some secrets are best kept hidden, and that "dead men tell no tales." What does that really mean?

    There comes a moment in life, often referred to as a "mid-life crisis," when we reflect on who we are and what we have done. Everyone processes this differently. For me, it was a realization—a self-awareness of my true identity, my actions, and my motivations. In many ways, we are all part of a vast, intricate machine, an unseen force that powers our economic engine. It is not just our nation that we must protect, but also our economy, our space, and the sovereignty and peace of mind of our people.

    Understanding this reality requires an extraordinary mind, one capable of grasping just how delicate this system is and what sacrifices must be made to preserve our legacy. In the United States, institutions like NASA, DARPA, and the Research and Development Department push the boundaries of human potential. They ask the difficult questions, advancing our civilization and strengthening our Armed Forces. Without these efforts, we would be defenseless—without ingenuity, without creativity. But make no mistake, every superpower has its own version of this system.

    There are always those who are chosen—the elite among us, the extraordinary individuals selected and groomed for the trials of specialized programs. Their selfless acts pave the way for a deeper understanding of the limits of the human mind, body, and spirit. Some may even call them conduits of higher intelligence. At first, many step forward, but only a few endure. And those who do can move mountains. They challenge us to critically examine our own existence, our direction, and our identity.

    But I wouldn’t call this an honor. Many from my world would eagerly sign up for it—if only they knew the reality. If they had lived through everything I endured just to get here, they might think twice. They might no longer desire the so-called reward—a gold skull means nothing when you understand the cost.

  • Ravage Ritual

    By Lanette Parker - Blankenship M.F.A.

    2010
    Oil Painting and New Media: Oil, Digital Editing, and Transfer Images on a Wood Panel, 30” x 40”

    Description
    As a postmodern artist in this contemporary world, I reject singular truths, embracing appropriation, irony, and pastiche to challenge artistic hierarchies. Art, to me, is a dialogue that questions originality, blurs reality and representation, and invites critical engagement. My work resists fixed interpretations, recontextualizing familiar imagery and reflecting the fragmented nature of contemporary existence.

    Art should be both playful and subversive, mirroring a world where meaning constantly shifts. No longer confined to canvas or museum, it is a conversation, an intervention, and a challenge to perception.

    This artwork explores fragmented memories of sacrifice. In my country, the young are sacrificed to protect civilization. I reimagine Bouguereau's The Madonna of the Roses, juxtaposing it with an oil-painted Peregrine Falcon. Its concealed eyes symbolize its danger—both a tragic loss of freedom and a necessary containment for survival. This bird inspired the B-2 Spirit, one of the most lethal aircraft ever created.

    The B-2 Spirit, or Stealth Bomber, developed by Northrop Grumman for the U.S. Air Force, is nearly invisible to radar and capable of long-range nuclear and conventional strikes. A pinnacle of aviation technology, it remains a key asset in modern warfare, embodying secrecy and deadly precision.

    Like Adonis, the ultimate sacrifice, children are selected and groomed for this clandestine world. Legacy families engineer elite pilots, sought after—and hunted—by global powers. The U.S. Air Force and NASA, through advancements in avionics, AI, and warfare, push the limits of time and space. Yet, some secrets must remain hidden. You wouldn’t believe me, even if I told you.

    For the star seed children, survival is uncertain. If they endure, they realize the path never ends. Like Christ, they sacrifice themselves to safeguard the nation, securing its dominance in an ever-shifting world. We risk the lives of our youth to protect our American values.

    This artwork was sold in 2013 to Carl Peoples, a writer and producer who is the Founder of People’s Management. He expressed a deep interest in my work and artistic career. I am truly grateful for his support. A special thank you to Carl Peoples for believing in me and investing in my artistic journey. Carl received the Tony Award at the Stereophonic: Live Broadway event in New York.

  • Wraith Pinned To A Mist & Other A.I. Games

    By Lanette Parker - Blankenship M.F.A.

    2010
    Oil Painting and New Media: Oil, Digital Editing, and Transfer Images on a Wood Panel, 30” x 40”

    Description
    Wraith Pinned to a Mist & Other A.I. Games is a mixed media painting, predominantly red, symbolizing anger and madness. The intense use of red conveys a psychological unraveling, a descent into chaos, or even the blood-soaked consequences of power and violence. This artwork exemplifies postmodernism through its juxtaposition of classical and contemporary imagery, specifically referencing Bouguereau's Madonna and Child. Bouguereau’s depiction of Mary and Christ represents maternal protection, but ultimately, even she could not shield her son from his fate. This harsh reality reflects the inevitable journey of all beings—every bird must leave the nest, either to soar or to fall.

    In contrast, this painting integrates the image of actress Milla Jovovich as Alice from Resident Evil. Alice, initially a high-level operative for the Umbrella Corporation, serves as a clandestine warrior akin to a CIA paramilitary agent. She begins as a protector of an entry point to an underground facility conducting secret experiments on weapons, bioweapons, and pharmaceuticals. However, something goes terribly wrong—a deadly virus escapes, annihilating the entire facility and triggering a catastrophic outbreak. Alice, suffering from amnesia, is left without knowledge of who she is or why she possesses exceptional combat and tactical skills.

    As the narrative unfolds, Alice discovers that she is not just an ordinary soldier—she is an advanced superhuman, capable of accessing both alpha and beta brain waves, allowing her to operate at an extraordinary cognitive level. She is a modern-day super-soldier, an enhanced warrior engineered by the very corporation she ultimately seeks to destroy. When the world falls to ruin, overrun by zombies, Alice begins to question the nature of her reality. She becomes determined to eradicate the source of the catastrophe, even if it means confronting the ultimate moral dilemma:

    If given the chance to rewrite history, would you? If you had access to a hidden time machine within the depths of the Umbrella Corporation, would you sacrifice everything—your memories, your loved ones, and even your own identity—to alter the past and save the future? What selfless acts are you capable of to protect those you love, your nation, and the planet itself?

    When you volunteer to serve, there are no guarantees—no promises of safety, no assurances of rescue. The only thing our advanced research departments can do is prepare you: test you, train you, equip you with what we believe might help, and support you as best we can. Yet, more often than not, we simply get in the way.

    Advancing humanity presents an ethical and moral dilemma—should we push the boundaries of science and technology in the name of national security? Are we playing gods and kings? Some secrets, after all, are best left hidden. When knowledge falls into the wrong hands—into the grasp of those who lack the intelligence, sensitivity, or reverence for creation itself—it becomes a weapon. They will steal and exploit anything for their own gain, often without understanding the true nature of what they seek.

    History has shown us the dangers of this recklessness. Remember, someone once tried to steal a virus from the Umbrella Corporation, unaware of the catastrophe they were about to unleash. Ignorance and ambition are a dangerous combination. That is why we will always need protectors—those willing to stand guard against the threats that lurk in the shadows.

    I will always honor those who volunteer—ordinary men and women who rise to the occasion and become heroes.

  • The Chronicles of the Gold Daggers

    By Lanette Parker - Blankenship M.F.A.

    2025
    New Media: Magic Studio A.I.

    Description
    The Chronicles of the Gold Daggers

    Releasing soon…

  • The Self Portrait

    By Lanette Parker - Blankenship M.F.A.

    2013
    Oil Painting on canvas, 30” x 40”

    Description
    For me, a self-portrait is a moment of introspection—a chance to reexamine myself. Who am I? What am I? How am I doing? What am I doing? What have I done? Who have I become? Do I like this person? What needs to change? It is also an opportunity to question why we present ourselves the way we do—why we dress and look a certain way.

    In this self-portrait, I noticed something consistent: I always wear hoodies. Even now, I find comfort in pulling a hood over my head and wrapping a scarf around my face. When I was younger, I never questioned it deeply—I simply preferred to wear a Middle Eastern-inspired shemagh or something similar. It felt natural, as if I had been trained to conceal myself, like a ninja or something akin to it. Perhaps it stemmed from my years of martial arts training throughout my youth and teenage years.

    Yet, I have always felt an inexplicable connection to Middle Eastern culture, as if I had spent a lifetime returning to the desert. The memories are fragmented, like echoes of a past that may not have happened, a mirage in the distant sands of time.

    One thing I do know—learning to shoot asteroids with a zapper at a young age set me a part. The mechanics, the precision—it wasn’t so different from the real thing, aside from the volume. Simulated games are the future of training. But no matter how immersive they become, games are one thing—reality is something else entirely.

Historical Research

Industrial Revolution
by Lanette Parker - Blankenship M.F.A.

2017
Oil Painting on Canvas, 48” x 72”

Description
This artwork was a commissioned piece, which the collector requested my interpretation of the Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution in the United States began in the late 18th century and continued into the 19th century, generally spanning from around the 1790s to the 1860s. The revolution gained significant momentum during the early 1800s, particularly in the North and parts of the South, as industries like textiles, steel, and coal mining began to thrive. This period of rapid industrialization helped transform the U.S. from an agrarian society into an industrial powerhouse, leading to widespread changes in manufacturing, transportation, and society at large.

Focusing on the South, the Industrial Revolution played a pivotal role in reshaping the nation's economy and landscape. It marked a period of significant change, with industries like Sloss Furnace in Birmingham, Alabama, becoming central to steel production, while also giving rise to the birth of Republic Steel in Gadsden, AL, and U.S. Steel in Fairfield, Alabama. These industries created a large portion of jobs for the state and its workforce. The development of welding, the creation of machine technology, and the accessibility of steel were crucial to the growth of various industries in the region, driving economic progress, transforming southern society and the United States, and inspiring the world to compete with the U.S.

The Industrial Revolution also laid the foundation for the technological advancements we see today, from transportation to advanced machinery in industry and the U.S. military. The innovations of the era, from machinery to manufacturing processes, revolutionized how goods were produced and distributed, setting the stage for modern technological progress. The foundation established during this time has been key in shaping the digital and technological age we live in now, influencing everything from communication to transportation.

The Industrial Revolution also played a vital role in the war efforts during the Great Wars. The Great Wars, referring to World War I and World War II, were monumental global conflicts that reshaped the world and had lasting effects on mankind. These wars affected nations worldwide, but for the United States, the rapid industrialization of the early 20th century meant that factories and production lines were retooled to produce weapons, vehicles, and supplies on an unprecedented scale. This shift not only helped the U.S. to become a dominant global military power but also transformed its workforce, economy, and infrastructure, leaving a lasting impact on both the country and the world.

Our country, the United States of America, is built on the blood, sweat, and tears of our people. Creating a civilization is one of the most difficult endeavors anyone can imagine. Our founding fathers, many of whom were part of secret organizations like the Freemasons, understood this. They were willing to make sacrifices to build a lasting legacy that we must preserve, ensuring the continuity and progress of our nation into the future. If it weren’t for the Industrial Revolution and our ability to produce steel and textiles from cotton, we wouldn’t have been able to overcome the Civil War, create an industrial and military powerhouse during the Great Wars, or establish an economic foundation that provided the tools needed to launch us into space. It takes all of us, united within our country, contributing to this legacy—regardless of color, race, or gender. We are one people, one nation, under one flag.