Winter Shows

This winter I took part in a couple group art shows around Portland.

I made all new work to display for both shows. It was a blast working on mediums I don't always work with. The first show required me to work on wood panels for the first time. While the second show demanded vinyl records.


Wood panels at the Portland Big 500

The Portland Big 500 is an annual group show featuring local artist working on identical wood panels. This show happens every year, but this was my first time participating.



I actually really enjoyed working on wood panels. The pieces all came out great. Plus I sold over half the pieces I submitted.





I am definitely going to try doing more work on wood in the future. So keep an eye out for them.

Next was the vinyl show at Future Shock PDX. This was my second time taking part in the all vinyl record art show. But this year I utilized 45s.


marbled and stencilled and on display in Future Shock

The 45s were a fun twist on working with vinyl.



And so was the clock kit.


Unfortunately time slipped right off the wall and broke

Some of the un-sold pieces will be available in my etsy shop if you are interested.

Or 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

Meanwhile

While I was occupied with the epic commission project for Moen I was also quite busy with my own side projects. At the time It was unable to share, but now I have the time to do a recap.


Be aware of now.

I was actually just finishing this project when the Moen gig started. However this is the first time I am able to talk about it.

My intention was to create an image of a monk praying with his Mala(prayer beads) and opening his third eye. But first I had to stretch a screen.



Then I started by cleaning up a sketch on the computer. I printed it out then I outlined the image on to the screen I stretched.



Painting in the design on the screen took a couple weeks. But before I knew it I was ready to print.


Give it a pull.

Once again I combined layers of masked marbling with screen printing to achieve my finished look. But this time around I went one step beyond. I used liquid frisket to paint a lotus design that would reveal itself through the layers of marbling without the outline of a screen print to define it. This was my first attempt at utilizing hand painted frisket instead of hand cut paper masks. In the end I am ecstatic with the results.


Peace comes from within.

Many times I find myself creating small projects to break up the bigger projects. So while I was creating intense amounts of blue paper for Moen I was also knocking out little pieces for local group art shows.


Bill Murray Show, at Good Gallery.


Bling Show, at Splendaporium Gallery.

I even broke new ground by starting to marble old vinyl records. I marbled a small stack of vinyl and painted Mudra hands on a couple of them with acrylic paint.


Vinyl Show, at Future Shock.

Creating and showing artwork wasn't all I was up to.

I also hosted two sold out ebru workshops.


Paper Marbling at the Loaded Brush.

The first workshop was a paper class. It was a blast as usual.

The second workshop was a silk scarf class. I had four full scarf sized trays in operation at this workshop. Thats a lot of liquid size.


Silk Marbling at the Loaded Brush.


More silk Marbling at the Loaded Brush.

So that about sums up my hectic fall/winter. I am just now starting to catch back up with the world. I will be starting new projects soon, and I have a couple more workshops on the horizon.

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

I have my second paper marbling workshop at the Spark Arts Center in NE Portland, Oregon. Coming up on February 13th 7-9pm. We will be hand marbling paper to the theme of Valintines Day while enjoying sips of wine. It's a date!
*sign-up for workshops in advance.

I also have a paper marbling workshop coming up on March 15th at the Loaded Brush in SE Portland, Oregon. It will be fun for all!.

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

Grow With The Flow

I am making a lot of abstract ebru lately.


original handmade acrylic ebru mono-print on cotton paper.

I made this piece by using a combination of traditional ebru technique and traditional suminagashi technique. I love the colors in this piece, and the perspective really draws me in. I am also spotting tons of hidden faces throughout. I bet this piece would do great in a creative space.


original handmade acrylic ebru mono-print on cotton paper.

With a much looser design and a minimal color palette this gel-git ebru is all about balance and simplicity.


original handmade acrylic ebru mono-print on kozo paper.

A tarakli ebru full of blues and purples. This piece is like a deep river, calm, yet full of flowing movement.

I have been on a bit of a blue kick lately. All the blue is quite refreshing during the heat of summer. You can check out more of my work here.

I have also finished another buddha screen print piece.

original handmade acrylic ebru (Turkish paper marbling) mono-print on kozo paper with 3 color buddha screen print. 12.5"x19".

the ebru in this piece has a ripple effect to it know as the spanish wave. Its a cool effect that is created by altering the printing portion of the ebru process.

I am very busy creating so there will be plenty more to share next time. Until then.

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