Artwork: Background for Ki'rin Project

As the Ki'rin project grew so did my background. What began as a simple cherry tree idea to go with my baby Ki'rin and his mother Ki'rin evolved into a full setting. Because I liked the symbolism I knew I wanted to include lotus blossoms so I had to add the stream in the foreground. The picture I used to draw my cherry tree from had a really interesting boulder so I included that too. Next thing I knew I was adding moss, flowers, grass...you name it it started appearing. Those Ki'rin are magical creatures and apparently highly persuasive!

Lotus Plants and Lotus Flowers

Close up image of part of the lotus section of the background.

The lotus represents purity of heart, divine spirit, enlightenment and good luck. It grows from murky water yet the flower is unblemished. Just as the lotus represents enlightenment, the Ki'rin is said to only appear in lands ruled by a wise and benevolent leader. The meaningfulness of both the lotus and the Ki'rin meant that, as I said, it seem to be a no brainer that the lotus should also appear in the image.

On a side note, because of this project I have gotten really good at recognizing a lotus plant versus water lillies. You'd be surprised how often they are used interchangably even though they aren't the same plant and do not have the same symbolism. I saw a commercial that was suppose to be for a lotion containing lotus root and they used a lily instead.

The Cherry Tree and All Those Cherry Blossoms
 

Close up of cherry blossoms, leaves, buds and branches.

The most time consuming part of the project was the cherry tree. I wanted to draw in each individual bud, leaf and flower. At this point I haven't yet finished them all but I've done enough to at least show what I have. I chose the cherry tree both because I love the grace of the blossoms and also because I love the shape of the trees themselves. If I'm going to talk about symbolism then I suppose I should mention that in Japan the cherry blossom represents the fleeting nature of life and our mortality. It's beauty appears quickly and dies quickly. It represents the idea of Mono No Aware or the impermanence of things and the wistful sadness of their passing. I'd love to say that in the case of the cherry tree I was being that thoughtful in choosing it but my use was far more simple in intent: I wanted to use a gentle and graceful flower and tree. Then again maybe that was exactly what I was going for after all. The subconsious is a wonderous thing.

In the end I created what I consider a pretty detailed piece of work considering this will be my first complete illustration once it's finished. I've sketched here and there and I've done lots of graphic design but this is my first attempt at anything that I would call and actual piece of artwork. I look forward to seeing it done!

Full composition. The top of the tree is still bare but, in the end, will also be covered with blossoms, leaves and buds.

Song: Tall Grass

Years ago I took a nap and woke up with some lines in my head that went "You are the dreamer (are the dreamer ) I am a beggar packing off my dreams upon a panther's back." I thought it was a cool line but I had no idea what to do with it so it stayed in my head for, no lie, the past 14 years. Today while walking I had two unrelated lines come to mind and I came home and put them down. The narrative started telling itself and suddenly I found my dreamer/beggar lines popping out. After having Chad and my friend Alison read it we decided to nix the panther though (or as I fondly referred to him, "Kitty".) It's part fantasy, part reality. While I'm not sure if it's more appropriate as lyrics or poetry, I'm just glad that I finally became inspired to create something new. This may change over time but here's the version that exists now.

  You came to me, a boy so tall and fine

Your eyes of blue, 

hair glimmering in the sunshine

And me a girl so new in the world

I thought I'd found my paradise

Every glance from you a promise

Calling me away, and carrying me away...

So I followed you, to the castles in your mind

and I stayed awhile, in those places lost in time.

And though I knew I could never stay

I came around and lay there anyway

And I watched as your wall of dreams

faded away...

Somewhere in the back of my mind

my own walls

were fading away...

and somewhere deep inside I knew

I was fading away.

Fading away...

And you were the dreamer

Yea, you were the dreamer,

and I was the begger packing off my dreams

Running deep into the night 

to a place you could not find me

and lure my mind away

The night grew longer 

with your mist at my heals

and I ran from the place that I was

hoping that you'd never find the door

But you found me there

and carried me home.

Now I live in this place of mirrors and smoke

waiting for that day

when truth was what you spoke

Not just dreams to surround me

but solid earthen walls

Not just promises made

but finally your all.

Artwork: Secondary Female Ki'rin from Ki'rin Project

As mentioned in the Mother Ki'rin blog entry, my plan after drawing that initial female ki'rin for the Ki'rin project was to draw a new mother ki'rin. I wasn't that crazy about the first one and thought that, perhaps, the issue was the body posture so I created this second female ki'rin. She was designed to be turning her head to nuzzle the baby ki'rin. I was happy with how she came out but then later I figured out my issues with the original female and fixed them leaving me with two ki'rin to choose from. I decided that the ki'rin that was laying down would be the mother and I would use the second as a father. The problem came from the fact that I had used a doe as the body model for the standing ki'rin which gave it a distinctly female feel. I decided then that I would go ahead and just have two females. My reasoning was that, since they are somewhat based on deer and deer travel in female herds with the babies, it would be ok to just go with it and would be far better than trying to force a male shape out of one that was clearly female.

Artwork: Mother Ki'rin from the Ki'rin Project

Following the Baby Ki'rin, the next step in the Ki'rin project was to draw a female. The initial plan had been to create something that would be relatively simple: a mother, a baby and a small cherry tree, painted in watercolors and fading just off of the edges into white so that even the tree wouldn't be complete. (See this link to Tony DiTerlizzi's web site and look at the images in the bottom row of the third page of images.) The design evolved, however, as you'll see in upcoming posts. This image is the mother that I drew for the original design. Later I drew another adult Ki'rin that I liked better and planned to use instead and so decided not to use this one after all but after reworking her I ended up bringing her back into the new composition.  

Artwork: Baby Ki'rin from the Ki'rin Project

This is the image that started the whole Ki'rin project. I decided one day that that's what I wanted to draw so that's what I drew. After I completed it I was so enamoured with the little guy that I decided that he needed a family and a nice place to live. I then drew what would end up being the female, followed what was suppose to be the male but, I think, really ended up being another female. I decided to go with that since they remind me of deer anyway and they run in female/fawn groups. The other Ki'rin will be in posts to follow and then the landscape that they're placed in.

Artwork: The Ki'rin Project

I'm working on something I call the Ki'rin Project. Even though I'm no where near done I figured I'd start uploading images. Once they're all up you'll see that the Ki'rin themselves are completed (at least to the initial drawing stage) but I'm still working on the cherry tree. If you look at the background image you'll be able to see how I'm working from the bottom up. In the end the Ki'rin will be composited into the background and then I'll do all the lines again in Illustrator and colorize it in Painter. The final project will be of Eastern influence but very similar to the Art Nouveau style I like so much. If you don't know what a Ki'rin is here's a link. I'm doing the Japanese version.

Recipe: Quesadilla Wrap

This is really too easy to call a recipe but for a lack of a better word let's call it that. This is something that's sort of a cross between a flatbread wrap and a quesadilla (a wrapadilla? I like it. I think it'll become a thing.) The number one thing is what you use for the outside. I love Fold-its by Flat Out. They're only 100 calories, soft and super flavorful, especially the rosemary and olive oil version. 

To start, salt and pepper two 4 oz pieces or one 8 oz piece of beef tenderloin or filet mignon. I also like to use garlic and onion powder and a bit of rosemary. Pop the steaks into the broiler about 4 inches under the element for about 4-6 minutes a side depending on the thinkness of the steak and the level of doneness. Mine were about an inch think and I prefer them medium so I did 5 minutes on one side, 6 on the other.

While the steak is cooking slice up two large mushrooms and then julienne the slices to about a quarter inch wide and dice about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of onions (depending on how much you like onion). Dice 2 cloves of garlic (1/2 tablespoon) then put 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil into a saute pan. Once the oil is heated add the mushrooms, onions and garlic and saute them until your preferred level of firmness. I like my mushrooms to be soft but not mushy. I usually stop at the point that they've started turning dark. See the picture here.

Once the steaks are done pull them out and let them rest for two to three minutes. Next, slice the steaks into 1/4 inch thick strips. I don't like having chunks come out while I'm eatting so I also slice them lenght-wise so they're no longer than and inch long. The steak should be able to priovide meat for 3 wraps. Spread the steak on one side of each of the Flat-outs. Next spread the mushroom mixture over top of the steak and then sprinkle cheese on top. Place the 3 open faced wraps on a baking sheet and then put it back under the broiler just long enough to melt the cheese. Fold the wrap and you're all set!

For garnish I like salsa and lettuce and instead of using sour cream I opt for the healthier option of low fat plain yogurt. It has the same bite but with more health benefits.

Grocery List

• 8 oz Beef Tenderloin or Filet Mignon
• Salt • Pepper • Mushrooms • Onion • Garlic
• Flat Bread • Cheese • Chosen Garnishes 

Enjoy!