Year of the Rabbit

HARE'S to (pun!) The upcoming Year of the Rabbit 2011!
2011 is the year of the Metal Rabbit- in particular the "yin" or female aspect of the metal sign. Naturally fitting I found silvers/grey to be the perfect tone to work with with a hint of blue.

The Kanji below reads Happy new years in traditional Chinese. Also symbolizing the feminine energy i chose to place the moon in there (as well as its Asiatic lore with the rabbits on the moon)

On the upper right hand corner is a "Plum Blossom Coin"
(taken from fengshui best buy)

"Plum blossom epitomizes determination, confidence, perseverance, longevity and indomitable spirit because of its ability to blossom in cold harsh climate. If there is someone in the household who lacks interest to be successful in life, this coin promises "upward mobility". It will extend ones life to soar in greater heights and reach the peak. Recommended for students, business people, sales people and those seeking to maximize their luck in life. "

Blessed Holidays!

I have a habit of posting art in batches rather then the actual uploaded date!
This was originally done Pre-December, as my Holiday card for 2010. Created in Corel Painter and Adobe Illustrator.

JavaJava

Ok first off I want to thank Eirik of drawinks.com for being so awesome and allowing me to do this. I can't take credit for the idea because it was a doodle of his epic art that sparked the initial want to play with this! Rhinos are an animal I feel that do not get enough attention. both for their majesty and rarity. Many of which are critically endangered. The idea came to me immediately when I saw Eirik's sketch to place two and two together. What two do I speak of? well Javan Rhinoceros.. and Java (Coffee!)

Aullido Verde

Back in Sept I got an email from a professor at the University of Puerto Rico of Applied & Environmental Geophysics, asking if he could use a piece of my art to help educate children in grades K-12 about environmental awareness in the country. While sadly the image he asked me to do was designed for someone else, I happily volunteered to create something new and better I feel suits the cause.

The name of the project is called "Aullido Verde" that means the Green Howl in Spanish. Since their university's mascot is a wolf I felt it was fitting. Professor Acosta-Colon and his staff were most pleased :)

"Not so Mini" Cooper

Another go at Corel Painter! the more you practice the more you learn. This was a birthday gift for the suave and kind Bill Evans of ABC7 NY's Eyewitness News. Bill has many friends, fans and family on facebook he is always sharing his adventures with. Often he posts photos of his little dog Sandy, but recently I asked him if He would post some of is daughter's beautiful horse. Bill seems to love this gorgeous creature as much as his daughter does, so I wanted to combine a gift for the two into one. Bill seemed very grateful and happy to have received this. and the one previous I painted for him (of his poodle Sandy!) thank you Bill for accepting this go gratuitously!

Chrone Bear

What better time to experiment with a new program then with a gift? I will be honest this is my first take on using Corel Painter 11 and its quiet different from the vector typed illustrations I have been doing. Its a program that literally mimics real media. This was a commissioned; but gifted piece as well for my beautiful Yoga Teacher Mary Angela Buffo of Anada Yoga in Southampton where I practice. These are of her two totems, Bear and Humpback whale. This piece also holds a double meaning on a more spiritual level- in that this was a gift for Mary's 50th birthday (hence the name "Crone Bear") A celebration of life moving into the last of a triad cycle. Mary will also be getting this inked on her skin (truthfully one of the highest honors an artist can have in my opinion- a permanent etching of your art one ones skin!) Here's to the beautiful soul which she is.

Dendrobatidae Arcus Iris

Which if my knowledge is correct means "Frog Rainbow" in latin. I use to own a t-shirt when I was younger covered in colourful dart frogs, Also the secondary musing for this came from the thoughts of a good friend whom I associate with the woods and wilds; in particular the creatures that well in them.