Tea, Books, Henna, Lotus Flowers and Barracuda

Hey guys!!!

I hope this year is going well and folks are continuing to create art even after January's Art-a-day challenge. This is what I have been working on!

If you live in the Tri-Cities you can go check out my henna and lotus flower inspired tea artwork at Barracuda Coffee in Richland. I am really excited about how the large piece turned out... The work will be up Through March and into early Aprily (dates TBD).

Feel free to watch the video below (or if you want to watch it on YouTube and subscribe to see more of my art click here.)

Speaking of Book Art

This is something I did some time back.  The book was an old text of some kind, unimportant, and the image on the left is of a guy named BB Burritt.  Can't remember what he was known for, something important and world changing I'm sure.  And if you recognize the guy on the right, well, that's good; and if you don't, well...it's the best I could do at the time.

Book Art Project, complete

My Kuan Yin Book is done. She is 60" long and 10" wide, and made of paper and matt board. Colored with colored pencil and china marker. I've shown here here long and with a close up of the top and then the bottom. At this point I have decided not to fold her, and just am considering her a wall hanging variety of book. She will be part of the upcoming Book Artist's show in March at the Allied Arts Gallery.

Book Art Project (almost done)

Here she is in a long linear fashion, totally sketched and almost finished with the coloring. I opted for the white china marker (like a grease pencil) which looks so fabulous on a black background (just black gesso, by the way) and then I've colored it in colored pencils since they were within reach. It's actually quite subtle in color ... a departure from the others that were quite vibrant. Any suggestions whether she needs to be fully colored ... I sort of like the partially colored areas.

The ends have to be attached and then folded to become the "book" format ... I'm liking her so much at this point I don't want to fold her, but will do so to complete the book.

(bear with me on the photo - my cell takes low res photos ... so will take one with the other camera next time).

Book art project

She stands in a prayerful and compassionate way, holding a lotus flower and chanting "om mani padme hum." This is the beginning sketch for the book I am creating, the 4th in my series of Kuan Yin inspired long linear books that can be hung vertically. Besides doing the sketch, I have prepped the paper (10" wide x 60" tall) and started coloring the transferred sketch. I'm just having difficulty photographing it because it is so long ... and piecing it together in Photoshop is looking goofy. Will try again soon.

Not sure if the quote I wrote here will make it into the art, but am posting it so you can better read it:

"Meditate dawn and dusk.
When you see sunrise - it is beautiful.
When you see sunset - it is beautiful.
This is God working in the atmosphere
to increase the vibration
and calm the mind."
- Kuan Yin