Catch me for my last Disney appearance this Saturday and Sunday. Both days I will be at Wonderground Gallery in Downtown Disney from 11-1p and Rushing River in California Adventure from 2-4 performing live wood burnings. I hope to see you there!
Two new illustrations were released this weekend with Disney. Both were inspired by my daughter – her first ride and her love of Mickey and Minnie Mouse. I think of the Small World ride as my family’s first experience with representation. We immigrated in the 80s to Southern California and inside Disneyland we found ourselves reflected in these adorable dolls from India. Each time we went on the ride I would watch my mom point and happily sing along, feeling in that moment that we were welcome. I can only hope that the message and beauty of that idea will prevail. Small world will always have a special place in my heart because of that experience with my mom. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to create this piece. Drawing the dolls in front of the clock was my absolute favorite part!
If you are in Downtown Disney, you can find this piece in the Wonderground Gallery. I will be there signing on July 21, 28 and 29 from 11-1pm. I will also be performing live wood burnings the last weekend at Rushin’ River Outfitters inside California Adventure. This past weekend I created owls and a lynx, both original, one of a kind and available there for $125.
If you can’t make it to Disney can take orders via email at: merchandise.guest.services@
I hope you have a good week!
I’m excited to share that I will be at Disneyland a few times in July! Catch me at Wonderground Gallery where they will release 2 new Disney prints, Disney California Adventure where I will perform live wood burning demonstrations or on July 21st for the Pixar Artist Showcase. My artwork will be featured at both Wonderground Gallery and Rushin’ River Outfitters in California Adventure for the month of July.
Meanwhile I will be presenting about PASHMINA and doing a mini presentation tomorrow the Turn the Page event at Fairyland in Oakland with a whole lot of amazing children’s book authors.
Whew! That’s a lot of events – hope to catch you at one!
available now!
Over the past 3 months, nearly every evening, I’ve been burning mini wood pieces for my solo show, Burn to Shine. I’ve created 100 pieces! It’s what I set out to do, but in the middle (and to be honest at the end) I thought I wasn’t going to make it. I committed to 100 because I thought it’d be a good goal. It’s been physically hard and yet incredibly rewarding. I’ve explored and played with negative space, pattern, background, and character. This was my first attempt at creating such a large number of original wood pieces – I tried to keep each piece distinct and interesting. I won’t say I’ll never do it again, but I might give myself more time!
I will be sharing a few collections of the pieces through this week. I hope to see you at the opening night at Trickster in Berkeley this Saturday! If you’re not in the area the pieces will be up for sale after opening night ^_^
After that, I’ll be taking a long hiatus from wood burning!
I am super excited to announce my solo show at Trickster in Berkeley in November. Burn to Shine: 100 mini wood burnings (all the pieces will also be available for purchase online, each piece will be $65). The opening reception will be November 1st. I am posting my progress on Instagram and Facebook. Between now and November I will create 80 more pieces! It’s the largest number of wood burnings I’ve set out to create to date. It’s incredibly fun to explore different animals, backgrounds, and patterns. I create many with mehndi patterns in mind, but I also love burning waves and using negative space to create a soft and subtle environments.
I also wanted to take this opportunity to share a bit about my materials and process!
1. Wood slices. I obtain these from either Etsy, Michaels arts & crafts or Amazon. I shop for wood that is light in color without any dark marks or knots. If there are marks, I try and incorporate them into the work. The wood type varies from walnut, basswood, to cherry and oak.
2. Colwood Cub electrical unit. This unit heats my pens, it has great temperature control and its portable with a long enough cord so I can burn in my studio or living room (it smells so good!). I usually keep the temperature between 7 and 8, but when I want to create a softer, lighter background or environment I will turn it down to 6. I have never gone past 9, I think I’d burn my fingers!
3. A finished piece for the show!
4. A mechanical pencil. I use this to draw the character on the wood before burning. I never draw in pattern or background, only the central figure. Background and pattern I create in the moment. It’s my favorite part. It feels meditative and organic.
5. My two favorite fixed pens. I use both of these on each piece. One creates a thicker line I use for outlines of shape and the other I used for details like eyes, lips, and sometimes pattern.
6. Replaceable pen and replacement tips. I use these pens less often, but I do love the variety and texture I can get from them. There are two kinds of pens: fixed tips are just that, you cannot replace the tip only the whole pen. Replacement tips have one base and you can switch tips. I prefer fixed tips so I can switch mid burn and don’t have to wait for the tip to cool to take it off the base. Since I switch pens at least twice in every burn fixed tip work best for me.
7. Sand paper. Essential! If the grain on a piece of wood isn’t sanded down enough the pen will get stuck in the grooves and create a funky burn. Nearly every piece of wood can benefit from a quick sand to make sure the end result is pleasing.
That’s all from me! It’s been so much fun to work on the books during the day and burn at night – hope to see you in November ^_^
These are just a few mini original wood burnings I’ve been creating for San Diego Comicon. It’s been a fun way to spend my evenings as Comicon prep is in full swing! We’ll be at table O-13 ^_^
I’m having a great big spring sale of small original work. This Saturday I will have 6 small watercolors, 3 framed watercolors, a few mini wood burnings, a bunch of post-its and two painted dolls available. Meanwhile, I have reduced the prices on all my large wood burnings already.
i was recently commissioned to create two wood burnings for a new hospital in oakland. the last time i created commissioned wood burnings was in 2012 for paramount pictures. i was excited because i thought that many people would see the art – it was supposed to be used in a set on star trek into darkness. there are so many decisions, edits, creative calls that are made when constructing a film, i understood from the beginning it wasn’t a sure thing. i eagerly awaited the film’s release, sat in the theater and enjoyed the film, but whichever scene or set the art was procured for never appeared on screen.
i am happy though, that these pieces are headed to a new home, because i know many people will see them…
and after all, art is meant to be seen.
have a happy week! ^_^
a wood burning i recently completed! i am between big projects and my first ever trip to denver (for denver comicon).. i won’t be posting much until after june 4th, but if you’re in denver come by and say hello next weekend, i’ll be in artist alley!
