ROOTS & CULTURE - International Year For People Of African Descent

The United Nations have declared 2011 as the quote on quote "year of African descent" throughout the global African diaspora. I have taken it upon myself to do some illustrations that I will be later applying on to T-shirts and other mediums to support this years awareness of African heritage and culture. To be honest I haven't heard anything about this throughout media outlets which upsets me. The best thing to do would only be for me to allow others to know that this is of major importance towards ones learning of tradition, customs, political & economic awareness as well as individual representation of ones heritage.

Please take time to read - INTERNATIONAL YEAR FOR PEOPLE OF AFRICAN  DESCENT

Illustration 01

Illustration 02

Illustration 03

Illustration 04

Please share this information in relation to what this year signifies and the importance of recognising what it really means to be African. 

Love & Light

Thank you

MASCARADE

The man and the mask......!

What ever man !  

STEP, BY STEP, BY STEP - (Butterfly Carving)

NOT designed by Persona (Christopher Coker) /  Designed by Cissy Cook Designs

I always document and keep a visual track of any of my design efforts. This was an integral but yet mathematical way of me calculating my next move of a desired outcome. I have so many folders of planning and progressive steps towards all of my pieces (from school, college, university, post - uni) that one day I may decide to publish them to demonstrate trial and error in design. But any how enough of sharing what was. What is now is that I have just completed a piece that was inspired by my girlfriend or other half or female counterpart of yes, wait for it, (drum rolls please) Butterflies. Chris is not going soft people ! We had tattoos done a while back and she had a tat done of a Butterfly that she is going to expand in future as a major piece on her back. I mean she didn't flinch or bat an eye lid once lol.... The very fact that these creatures symbolize beauty definitely is fitting on her to say the least. No it's got nothing to do with Monarch mind control folks (conspiracy theory stuff they call it) lol.... Anyway here are the steps that I took towards the outcome of the piece.

 

Step 1 - Technically this is step 4. The first three steps involve finding or taking pictures of the images then the next would be digitally illustrating the images to the size / board format for the final outcome. The third would then be to scouple the design from paper after printed. Through out this process I then draw or sketch the image on to the board from the scoupled illustration until I am satisfied with the detail.

Step 2 - After the drawing on board is complete I then begin the carving process with my trusty tools. Usually starting by carving the pattern first.
















 

Step 3 - At this stage paying attention to detail is paramount for a good piece.

Step 4 - Now this is the outcome of the piece with the desired detail. There are two steps the are also implemented after this stage. The sanding of the piece then after the treatment via priming, varnish, paint etc...































The finish of the piece will be posted in near future people.

Watch this space.

Love & Light !

Grrrrreat!

Tiger Carving

 
Okay so I'm sitting indoors after reading right and for some strange reason I said let me pop out and get a TV dinner right ( not recommended ). I'm standing in a que at a local shopping market and the line for the checkout operator is sooooo long. So as I do I'm observing my surroundings and I notice. Da da da duuuuuhh a box of Frosties. Now  I know what your thinking, who cares ? Well your right, I mean who really cares about a box of Frosties as there standing in a line waiting to be served ? Okay, the irony of the whole situation is that I had thought of doing a series of animal carvings, The Flying Hummingbird being one of out of the series. But all those years of youth eating Frosties only made me dedicate this Tiger Carving to who, ( drum rolls please ) Tony The Tiger. I mean it's only right after eating a bowl and feeling " Grrrrreat " to the point I want more. But I've grown out of eating such things now. Too much sugar is not good for anyone. Let's just say that's maybe why the kids of today are sooooo hyperactive. To much Frosties, not enough exercise and study lol !

Total design tally time equates to around 4.5 hours.

So here is my homage to the Grrrrreat ! Tony The Tiger !

You will never be forgotten my good friend !

ExPressions

So this is one of the reasons as to why I continuously stay in my own world, well.... due to the fact that all I see in my dreams and reality are swirls. I feel as if this symbol is apart of my very being so I try to express it as much as possible. "World, wait untill I really come out of my shell" this is just the beginning as ideas continuously run through my mind. Applying the idea is the challenge but also comforting once one sees the outcome. I did this wallpaper some time ago on paper. When I got a quote from a real wallpaper printing company it was far too much money for amounts that I probably wouldn't need at this point. So broke people make do with what they have. I looked at just printing it out on normal A3 paper to just see an outcome and when I did, "Hey presto" this was it. There are more that I have done some printed and others digitally.

The carving that you see before your very eyes was carved with a jigsaw and formed as building blocks to create this sculpture. The next step would be to make it out of clay, kiln it, then treat it. A man sized version is what's next to come.

Oh there will be a day. A time & season for all things.

Love & Light

BEHAVE

Another fine... lol collaborative piece that myself and Mr Haze put together ! My girl will freak out on me for this, but I love her never the less. I'm intrigued by the edginess of this piece. Bring back the punk revolution ayyyyyy ! Lol !!!!

Love & Light

The Flicker of the paint

So okay I know I'm a bit late on the uploading of the canvases but now is the time. Bought the canvas from a local art shop and said well how can I incorporate my Persona on to these ? Think ! Got some spray paint, emulsion paint, tipex and a marker, then went crazy. Looks much better before the eyes but I did promise to upload one of the canvases (a week late) but never the less. A few posts later I will upload a better picture quality of the piece and more. Nang !!!

Love & Light !