Narasimha's Reveal

My latest project involved a new handmade screen print design.

I present Narasimha! One of the avatars of the Hindu deity Vishnu.


I'm the avatar, you gotta deal with it.

He sits in strength. Containing the ferocity of a lion. With cunning wisdom and patients, he waits to strike down even the most defiant of demons.


WIP screen from outlines to hand painted.

I choose to hand paint my silkscreens. It is a process that can take a couple weeks to a month to do. This time allows me to really get in touch with the imagery and poor as much energy and intention into the design as I can.

I really like the handmade feel. To me it comes across as much more authentic and timeless.


He waits to strike down even the most defiant of demons.

While the first Narasimha piece had multiple layers of marbling, This one has different techniques added to the process, such as stenciling and a squeegee drag.


In Other News
I was part of large group art show that happened in Portland. The show, "Burning Season 3",  contained a balanced mix of fine art and street art.


My Ganesh piece making its first public appearance.

Local artist from Portland and artist from California and as far as Texas all came together to present a mind blowing event that included a unique blend of mediums and styles, with 2d and 3d art, body painting, an interactive graffiti art section, and live funk and hip hop music.


Stencilled Buddha heads with some good company.

All and all it was quite the show, and I can't wait until the next one.

Are you interested in commissioning custom art or booking an ebru lesson, workshop, demo, party, or performance? Contact me at art@dannyebru.com

Peace & Love,
- Danny

Laughing All The Way

Switching things up from geometric masking to screen prints and stenciling. Variety is the key to life after all. Got to keep the process fresh and make the most of my work.

Laughing Buddha, Hotei, Budai, the Future Buddha. No matter how you know him, he is a pure symbol of contentment and the essence of Zen. However he was always humble, gaining joy from his work and not asking for much more from life.


Just for a laugh.

I spent a couple weeks painting the design into the screen mesh.



Once I had the screen all painted in and ready for printing, I was ready to marble some paper. After a great marbling session I made some test prints of the Laughing buddha. Then I cut out the silhouette of the design from the test prints, and that was how I made the stencil for the color fill on the Laughing Buddha. I used some Montana spray paint to fill in the color. Then lined up my screen and started printing.


The big reveal.


How do you Zen.



In Other News
----Workshops----

There will be a paper marbling workshop at the Loaded Brush in Portland, Oregon on July 28th.

I have my second paper marbling workshop at Art Supply Warehouse's Catalyst Gallery in Orange County, California. This August 22nd, We will be hand marbling paper at basic and advanced levels.

I will be teaching a workshop at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry during the PDX Maker Faire on September 13th.

*sign-up for workshops in advance.

Are you interested in commissioning custom art or booking an ebru lesson, workshop, demo, party, or performance? Contact me at art@dannyebru.com

Peace & Love,
- Danny

Kali Time for Change

My latest embellished ebru project is focused on the Hindu Devi Kali Ma. This was a great winter project.


Hand painted Kali Ma screens.

I planned out a four color silkscreen print made with only two screens. Then made a vibrant red battal ebru to embellish with the new screen print art.


Work in progress - fresh Kali screen print drying on original battal ebru.

Most know her as the Great Mother, Kali Ma, the Goddess of time and change. Often perceived as a destroyer, Kali is the redeemer of the universe. She is a champion Devi that destroys only to create, and what Kali Ma fights is ignorance and well... demons. Peoples inner demons mostly, but there are stories of her on the battlefield kicking demon butt.


Finished handmade original acrylic ebru (turkish paper marbling) battal mono-print embellished with a four color Goddess Kali Ma screen print on kozo paper. 19" x 24"

Exited by her victory Kali Ma is known to dance on her fallen foes. Kali's trident represents the female energy of the triple Goddess - virgin, mother, and crone. While the sword gives protection from fear. She also caries with her a bowl of blood. Blood being a symbol of both life and death.


This red battal ebru resembles blood.

Kali is always seen with a string of skulls wrapped around her neck, showing a mastery over fear and death. While her crown shows great wisdom and truth.

Always naked and revealing the truth of who she is. There are no clothes that can mask her, for she is pure and without illusion. With wild hair, untamed like uncultivated nature.


original handmade acrylic ebru (turkish paper marbling) mono-print embellished with a four color Kali Ma screen print on cotton paper. 19" x 24"

The cosmic sal ebru in this second piece was done on a methylcellulose size. It was a bit different from the carrageenan size I normally work with. I was expecting precise control over the movement of the paint, but instead I found I was more of the conductor of chaos as the paint spiraled out of my design and created something of its own. I think the ethereal mono-print that came from such chaos should be viewed as an abstract portrait of the Kali Ma energy.


The wise woman with the third eye.

Om Krim Kali Namah!

~Other News
• There are only a few more 2013 calendars in stock. Get yours at LucidOpticLab.etsy.com



Peace & Love,
-Danny

The New New

Hello everyone, happy new years. Its 2012, the year of the dragon, and the possibilities are looking limitless.


Shore of infinity.

I have been working on more abstract ebru. Trying out new ideas, and seeing were they take me. This shoreline looking ebru is one of the gems to come out the tray recently.

Also I have started several new embellished ebru projects that I plan on finishing over the next few months.


Guanyin the compassionate.

The Bodhisattva Guanyin, deliverer of mercy and compassion, is an enlightened being from the Buddhist tradition. I am very exited about this piece, so I will be working on it first. I will begin by making a frame, stretching screen mesh over it, and painting the design into the screen. Once the screen is done I will start the layered ebru process.


demon slayer Kali.

Kali the benevolent mother goddess, redeemer of the universe, will also be finding her way to my ebru tray and silkscreen mesh this year. I am really looking forward to this one too. Plus the Tantric goddess of time and change will not be the only hindu project I do this year. Keep an eye out for Narasimha, a lion headed form of Vishnu, and a new Ganesh with multiple heads.

OTHER NEW STUFF:
• I am having a big sale in my online shop. SALE!
Due to discontinuing the size, all 13" x 19" ebru posters are on sale. That means an archival quality print of one of my embellished ebru pieces is only $10. *while supplies last.
• I will be showcasing select pieces of mine at the event "the fifth world" on 1/28/12 at Berbati's Pan in Portland, Oregon.

Peace & Love,
-Danny

Bom Shiva!

My latest embellished ebru project is focused on the Hindu deity Lord Shiva.

I have been working on this project for a few months now. Here are some of the process shots.

Hand painting the Sri Shiva screen on the floor while Chelsea Rose paints her tribute to Lakshmi.


Double layer ebru prints ready to be screen printed on.

Some know him as the Destroyer, and others know him as the Transformer. But Shiva spends most of his existence as the sage does, perched high in the mountains in a deep meditation.


original handmade two layer acrylic ebru (turkish paper marbling) mono-print embellished with Sri Shiva screen print on cotton paper. 19" x 24"

Shiva represents truth, wisdom, and humility.

Sitting in the lotus position with hands resting is the traditional gesture of meditation. The trident seen in his right hand represents the trinity of creation, protection, and destruction. While the drum in the left hand is said to be the source of the first sound from which all of creation resonated. Two more of his hands are reaching above his head with the index fingers touching the thumbs in the gesture of the Vitarka Mudra, a seal of knowledge and enlightenment.


The ultimate in self control, Shiva is the Lord of the Yogis.

Shiva is always seen with a cobra wrapped around his neck, showing his mastery over fear and death. The snake is wrapped around his neck three times symbolizing control over mind, body, and ego.

Shiva also has three lines of ash on his forehead which represent the mastery over the three stages of existence, birth, life, and death, and through the mastery of seeing beyond the illusions of this existence, the universe is cleansed of the impurity of desire through Shiva's third eye.

The third eye peering out of his forehead emits a cleansing flame from which the pure is reborn. No evil can escape the flame of the fully opened third eye of shiva.

In the top of his hair lies the goddess Ganga, from which the river Gangas flows down Shivas dreadlocks to the earth, where it purifies the people, as a statement of selfless compassion. Shiva is also associated with the waning moon which is a symbol of healing.


original handmade two layer acrylic ebru (turkish paper marbling) mono-print embellished with Sri Shiva screen print on cotton paper. 19" x 24"

Om Shiva Shankara Hari Hari Ganga! Bom Shiva!

~Other News
• on the topic of transformation, I recently used some ebru in the cover art for the new Bone And All podcast featuring Chelsea Rose's spoken word poetry, CHAOS CREATURE. Listen>>>

Chelsea Rose leads an exploration through consciousness and evolution.

• Also, later this month I will be doing an Ebru demo at OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) as part of the monthly "OMSI After Dark" event. If you live in the Portland, OR. area, this is your chance to learn more about ebru first hand. See you there!

Peace & Love,
-Danny

Abstract Expressions and the Buddha

One of my favorite things about ebru, is the mediums ability to capture abstract visual representation of fluid movement. I think this recent piece of mine is a good example of that.

original handmade acrylic ebru mono-print on kozo paper. 8.5"x11" by Danny

Another name given to ebru is water painting. This is partly due to the fluid effect, but is mostly due to the fact that ebru is actually made by floating paint on top of a fluid referred to as size. Size is the name given to water that has a thickening agent, like carrageenan, added to it.

Using the right technique of pushing and pulling the paint across the size creates lines that lead the eye from one point to the next, visually suggesting movement.

original handmade acrylic ebru mono-print on cotton paper. 8"x10" by Danny

I love getting swept up in the movement of the abstract ebru pieces. I find them to be a great way to add life to a room.

I have also been working on embellished ebru pieces featuring a three color screen print of Buddha.

"Abhaya Buddha Ebru", original handmade acrylic ebru mono-print with three color Buddha screen print on cotton paper. 12"x18" by Danny

This is a very positive piece to have around the house or place of work, and will surely bring light into where ever it finds a home.

Every ebru piece I use I make by hand in my home studio. I also make all screen prints by hand too. Not only do I build the frames and stretch screen mesh crossed them, I also hand paint the print design onto the screen/screens. Then I do all the screen printing myself.

thats all for now.

Peace & Love,
-danny

Danny Ebru enters the Blogosphere - Fearless

And so it has begun...

How shall we get acquainted?
Lets start out with showcasing a current project in the works:

My current embellished ebru piece featuring the Abhaya Mudra Buddha:

"Fearless Ebru", original handmade acrylic ebru mono-print on kozo paper with 3 color buddha screen print. 12.5"x19" by Danny (more to come in varying print colors and ebru designs)

The Abhaya mudra is the gesture of the raised right hand with the palm facing outward. Abhaya in sanskrit means fearlessness, and the gesture symbolizes peace, protection, and the dispelling of fear. the Abhaya mudra is very important in Buddhism, it is said that when the Buddha came out of meditation after reaching enlightenment he stood and displayed the Abhaya mudra as a gesture of the absence of fear. The Abhaya mudra is great for warding off fear.

The left hand of the Buddha is portraying the Varada mudra. It also known as the boon granting gesture, symbolizing charity, patience, and compassion. the Varada mudra aids in breaking the delusion of pride.

The combination of the two mudras is also referred to as Segan Semui-in, or in japan its Yogan Semui-in. With both the Abhaya and Varada mudras the Segan Semui-in represents transformation and success.

All and all the "Fearless Ebru" is a very positive piece to have around the house or place of work, and will surely bring light into where ever it finds a home.

In other news, version one of dannyebru.com has gone live.
check out the official Danny Ebru website

More to come shortly.

Peace n Love
-Danny