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

It's Time To Triangle

Yeah, I have been on another Geometry kick lately. Lots and lots of triangles.

The fun thing about geometry kicks is all the cool mosaic patterns I can make. I have been using my stencil/masking technique with layers of ebru to create these geo-mosaic patterns.


Nothing can beat Triangleman


Grandiose trinity

Triangles are often associated with creativity, harmony, proportion, manifestation, illumination, and ascension. Plus triangles are inseparable with the number three. Linking triangles to all the great mythos and disciplines of the world.


Three is the birthing of true wisdom


Luminous triangle

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

Ripples, Waves, and Moire

Lately I placed part of my focus on perfecting the ebru print styles of the moire effect.

You see just like there are many different patterns to make in the tray, there are many alterations to the printing process. Many of which create new fascinating looks. Many of the different printing styles are regular features here such as the drag, masking, ripples, layers, spanish waves, and standard printing. The moire has always been on my list of must know techniques.

As you can see below, I have made great strides toward mastering this style too.


There is a bit of 3D illusion to it.


There is some depth and dimension to it too.

The moire is a fun technique, and its not to far from the ripple and wave printing styles I have such a blast making.
Check out these ripple and wave details from recent prints of mine.




I like when the ripples are so dramatic they look more like folds.





You will definitely see more of these printing styles gracing this blog in the future. I can't get enough of them.

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

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.
*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

Epic Project

I had been working on a big project for a few months, and I am just now wrapping it up.

I started talking with Derse, a representative for a potential client, early in the fall. While everyone else was planning Thanksgiving, I was planning the first phase of production for my new gig. I would be doing ebru for faucet and fixture giant, Moen. They wanted live ebru art as well as a hands-on experience in the Moen lounge booth at KBIS(Kitchen, Bath, and Interior Show) for 2015. I was also commissioned to create multiple pieces to be used as display around the Moen lounge booth, the Moen show floor booth, and a special Moen Spa event outside of KBIS. Thats not all. I was also tasked to create an exclusive custom edition of 500 handmade ebru papers for Moen to hand out at KBIS 2015.


Using the big tray for a big order.

I started by making the display pieces for the Lounge area. I designed and printed pieces on kozo paper(my favorite) to be scanned and reproduced on a larger scale. Then quickly jumped into production of the custom edition papers. Moen requested multiple blues with white in a freestyle pattern printed with a ripple effect.


Check.

I had to dedicate a whole room to prepping, drying, and cutting paper to fill the order within the deadline. Not only did I skip out on Thanksgiving but I also worked though Christmas while marbling away day after day. I was able to fill the custom edition order, ship it out and move on to the next phase of the project.


Custom edition details.

The next phase was to create custom original ebru art to display in the Moen show floor booth. I was given a design guide for each section, so I could work within the interior designers vision to create a impressive comprehensive display.


The colors really pop off all that black.


The curve in the swirled ebru kinda reflects the curve in the faucet.

With all the custom orders filled I turned my full attention to the show. I still had to prepare everything so I could travel to Las Vegas and not only perform for the two million people roaming around the convention floors that week but also host a hands-on demo for thousands of curious/adventurous/artsy people too. So I boxed up a good portion of my ebru art studio and workshop supplies then shipped it to Las Vegas in preparation for the show.


Moen lounge booth

As you can see the Moen lounge booth was quite large. In the center was my workstation where I did all my performance work. We had a camera capturing everything I did and displaying it live on a monitor over my head. I produced 8-10 big paper pieces a day during my performances. The pieces I created were then won as prizes in a social media sweepstakes held during KBIS 2015 by Moen.


Moen lounge performance.


stirring things up for convention goers.

Their was a style guide controlling the colors I used, but I use the chosen colors a lot anyways so it was still fun and natural. I made some pretty nice pieces during my live performances.


Live art.


Live art dripping on my arm.

As I mentioned before, there was also a hands-on demo for the artsy and adventurous convention goer. We had eight smaller trays for the hands-on demo set up on the left side of the Moen lounge booth. The demo area was being run by a trained crew of four that I brought with me to the convention so I could focus on my performances. People were invited to put on an apron to protect their clothes and were shown how to make there own little ebru paper to take home(or take to the office I guess).


The lovely Chelsea Rose at the hands-on demo station.

Over on the right side of the booth we had treats. There was infused fruit water and gourmet marbled chocolates to enjoy while catching a live ebru show or waiting for their own papers to dry.


Packaged and ready to go! Plus Marbled chocolate!!

The show was a great success. I made some amazing ebru pieces. We handed out all my postcards. People all over the KBIS 2015 convention were buzzing about Ebru. And we saw plenty of repeat visitors.

Big thanks to Moen, Derse, and my Las Vegas crew for helping make it all possible.

Hard to believe I spent three months on the Moen Project. But thats not all I was up to. I also held two sold out workshops, and participated in three different group art shows around Portland. I will be talking about all those events in a separate blog entry.

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.
*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

September Slam

I have come to notice that every September I get really busy. This year seems to follow suit.

I started the month with an instal at the 77 Salon in the Pearl Art District of Portland, Oregon. My Ebru art will be there for the Month of September. I also helped Chelsea Rose hang her solo art show at Future Shock. We decided to displayed all her collaborative art pieces too, including the piece she made with me.


Our piece is in the middle, "Wormhole".

Once I was done with hanging art around town I switched focus to workshops.

I hosted an advanced ebru workshop for a small group of Oregon based paper marblers. I passed on techniques like the Spanish wave, the ripple, and the drag, along with some other tricks that I favor when in the studio.


Fresh papers drying on the line.


The group hard at work.


Contemplating the possibilities.

The advanced class was fun, but the fun was just beginning, because a couple days later I held a workshop at OMSI(Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) during the 2014 Mini Maker Faire. The Mini Maker Faire brings in kids of all ages to get hands-on with all sorts of DIY projects. I enjoyed introducing paper marbling to some of the Mini DIY enthusiast.


Started the workshop with a group demo


Then I let the kids play.


Helping the little ones.


Dapper Maker cat 2014.

While at the Mini Maker Faire I was visited by Oregon's Marbling bigwig, Peggy Skycraft. We had fun talking shop and comparing methods. Maybe we will get together and do a project in the future.


Marblers unite.

I still have one more workshop to go this month. Next week I will be teaching at the Loaded Brush. We will be marbling silk scarves on September 21st, 2-5pm. We made a short video mash-up of me doing some ebru designs at the Loaded Brush to help entice people into giving this ancient artform a try.


Caught in the act.

If your interested in a workshop at the Loaded Brush, follow this link.

----Workshops----

I have a silk marbling workshop coming up on September 21st at the Loaded Brush in SE Portland, Oregon. We will be hand marbling silk scarves and sipping wine.

I have a beginners adult paper marbling workshop coming up on October 24th at the Spark Arts Center in NE Portland, Oregon. 7-9pm We will be hand marbling paper and book pages while enjoying a sip of wine.
*sign-up for workshops in advance.

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

Peace & Love,
- Danny

Seriously Strange Spirals

I have been on a major spiral kick lately.
I'm having far too much fun in the process.


A vibrant bold triple spiral.


Doubling up to the hexagonal spiral.

Playing with spirals isn't all fun. The hard part is making all the spirals look unique, not repetitive. Color and design go along way to add distinction among the spirals.


A hint of 3D in this one.


Down the rabbit hole we go!

As you can tell, I still jump at the chance to create optical illusions. Nothing is what it seems. Trust not your eyes.


The rainbow bridge, Antahkarana.

No spiral collection is complete without an illustration of the Golden Ratio. Known as the Golden spiral, or fibonacci numbers, my rendition leans more toward an abstract image, but keeps true to the 1/1.61 sequence.


Mystic golden spiral.

----Workshops----

I will be hosting an all ages workshop at the OMSI Maker Faire this September 14th at OMSI in SE Portland, Oregon. We will be hand marbling paper and bookmarks.

I have a silk marbling workshop coming up on September 21st at the Loaded Brush in SE Portland, Oregon. We will be hand marbling silk scarves and sipping wine.

I have a beginners adult paper marbling workshop coming up on October 24th at the Spark Arts Center in NE Portland, Oregon. 7-9pm We will be hand marbling paper and book pages while enjoying a sip of wine.
*sign-up for workshops in advance.

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

Peace & Love,
- Danny