My Buddhaful One

As I’ve written before I really enjoy working on wood canvases. The thing with wood for me is that the natural material of it is already art within itself and working often with mixed media, there is an immediate contrast with nature and artificiality (paint, glue, fabric, ink, wax) that I like a lot. One of my favorite artists, Audrey Kawasaki, works almost exclusively on wood and I generally like paintings on wood a lot. While traveling through Argentina I bought a painting of the Virgin Mary painted on a split piece of, I assume once trashed wood, by a destitute yet obviously talented artist. It remains one of my favorite souvenirs from a country.

Recently I began working on a mixed-media piece for my daughter which I titled “My Buddhaful One.” It incorporates a Sak Yant tattoo known as the Gao Yord, a famous and well-known symbol of protection, an elephant, a red balloon, a blossoming lotus, and a photo of my daughter taken around 6 months wearing japa beads.

Initial sketch

As I’ve written about before these are all believed in as symbols of protection in South and Southeast Asia, the elephant especially relevant for children. The Gao Yord is a prayer written in Thai and also incorporates the circular triangle-shaped symbols of the Buddha. I decided to make the balloon red, a classic symbol of childhood joy.

Mid-way through

The Finished Piece

My buddahful little baby!

I gave it to her this morning and she said, “Wow, thank you Mama!!” and gave it a big hug.

Though she doesn’t look much like that baby Buddha anymore she still recognized her old self in the picture.

On her dresser, next to her Nutcracker and rock and seashell collection

White Winter Lace

Blazer: French Connection UK, Skirt: Forever21, Sweater top: Cheap Monday, Belt: Sanctuary Denim, Tights: Anna Sui

On this blog I’ve worn lace skirts and I’ve worn white skirts, now voila, a white lace skirt! Though it’s a fine winter white piece I think it’ll transition nicely into Spring. A crop top tee and it could take on a totally different vibe, retro 80s and super trendy… Looking forward to that when the weather is right!! The sweater top is the sold-out-like-hot-cakes Cheap Monday corset outlined style sweater.

Lately, I’ve been working with my daughter on a lot of art projects in my spare time.  So many new ideas everyday for new things to do. Recently have done some papercraft stuff, handmade cards and helped her today with her first mixed media canvas piece. She’s never worked with acrylic paints and today she did just that plus painted some woodwork. I am working on a piece on wood, too. I love working with wood canvases, it is by far my favorite and it’s been a while. Entries on all these projects soon!

Can’t believe it’s already the end of January. Lots of events to attend in February I am so excited. Quite a few mommy and me fieldtrips again plus I have a Johns Hopkins graduate school (SAIS) fundraiser I’ll be attending as well as my first Silk Road Society function — a tour of the Freer Sackler vaults. Literary-wise, I just got tickets to see Amiri Baraka (wowowow!!!!) at Bohemian Caverns. What a once in a lifetime opportunity, one of the last of the living beatniks. He was a real favorite of many of my professors in graduate school and I’ve heard recordings of his spoken word before so I am very excited to see him in person. He is to be accompanied by some jazz musicians too, awesome!  If and whenever I go into the city I’m always on U St. or Chinatown. The gentrification which has taken over since I left for Los Angeles is crazy but I’ll always be a big fan of the Corridor and will support the jazz and as many black-owned business which still exist.

Layering Up and Lots of Laughs!!

Winter storm advisories, left and right, it’s been cold!! Been layering up with thick sweaters and sweet printed dresses. The following coordinate is H&M heavy — new knits due to a GREAT sale. But I love their knits, I own quite a few… When I lived in California I couldn’t own enough denim shorts, here back East there’s no shortage of sweaters, honestly!!

This kind of outfit I can wear anywhere, all day long super super comfortable! I’m kinda crazy about this sweater, it’s so retro to me, and wintry and feels super soft. I also love this tan pink polka dot dress, also a retro feeling for me.

Everything H&M

The following pictures make me so happy. They’re from a night spent on the  couch with my brother was on his last week of winter break visit and we were goofing off while watching Freaky Eaters LOL! It’s my daughter who took these pictures!! She’s taken pictures of me before and I just love seeing the world through her eyes, it’s so interesting to see the world from her perspective!

And there were at least five pictures of this miniature Chinese gong. She was very keen on it. Maybe she knows it’s Chinese New Year?

And then of course, a self-portrait!