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
