another work-in-progress: hamsa, protection from the evil eye.
END OF MAY: PROGRESS
i have been working on quite a few different projects lately, mostly while trying not to fall asleep outside on the deck. it is only the end of may but it is already a sticky summer.
1. i designed all of the merchandise for River City Extension’s 2012 tour, which will support their newest album, “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Your Anger.” this was a very exciting project for me, and i’ll be sharing more (including all of the finished designs!) soon.
2. i am working on a PLETHORA of new designs and products, including tea towels, tote bags (yay!), and, of course, new prints. it’s my first time designing for textiles, so i am enjoying working with different patterns and colors. i’m also learning how to sew (finally), which opens up an entirely new creative realm for me. it would be nice to make my own clothes someday — maybe some dresses? eventually.
3. most of this is in preparation for the Renegade Craft Festival, which will take place in Brooklyn on June 23 + 24. this is my first craft show, so i’m panicking quite a bit. my body is currently made up of 50% anxiety, 30% creative bursts, and 20% water. it’s messy and it’s exciting. i am hopeful, and i would love to see you there.
we had our first summer rain a few days ago, water seemingly pouring from the sun. i captured a few photos of constellation-rain:
i hope you are all doing well and trying your best not to melt! i will be back with new photos for you soon.
![as part of a group gallery show in Asbury Park, NJ, i created 4 new watercolor-and-ink pieces inspired by the life of a bird. my pieces are centered around the aspects of animal life we don’t often think about — the secrets they hold, the friendships they forge, and the bones, seeds, and soil that hold them together.
for those of you who are local, these pieces will be hanging for another few weeks. you can check out the fantastic works of all the artists (Keryn Thompson, Jordana Scheer, Christine Busch, Brittany Leigh James, Emily Whitt, Julie Markoff, Tiffany Asraf, Julie Markoff, Maggie Fisher, Laura Trommer and Jenn Shauge) over at Bands on a Budget, 630 Mattison Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ.
if you aren’t in the area, i’ve recently put all 4 pieces up on my site, www.meeralee.com. i’d love to hear what you think. :]](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4bpfgMmr21qa7mmno1_500.jpg)
as part of a group gallery show in Asbury Park, NJ, i created 4 new watercolor-and-ink pieces inspired by the life of a bird. my pieces are centered around the aspects of animal life we don’t often think about — the secrets they hold, the friendships they forge, and the bones, seeds, and soil that hold them together.
for those of you who are local, these pieces will be hanging for another few weeks. you can check out the fantastic works of all the artists (Keryn Thompson, Jordana Scheer, Christine Busch, Brittany Leigh James, Emily Whitt, Julie Markoff, Tiffany Asraf, Julie Markoff, Maggie Fisher, Laura Trommer and Jenn Shauge) over at Bands on a Budget, 630 Mattison Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ.
if you aren’t in the area, i’ve recently put all 4 pieces up on my site, www.meeralee.com. i’d love to hear what you think. :]
PROCESS: USING WATERCOLORS ON WOOD
today over on Ten Paces and Draw, i have a process post on how i create watercolor and ink illustrations on wood. when i was uncertain of the direction i wanted to go in with my illustration, i dabbled in digital mediums a lot. this always left me frustrated — both because i wasn’t very good at it, and because it didn’t translate into a language for me. when i started creating work traditionally again, using ink and a brush, i was able to create pieces that held meaning and purpose. each time i create a new illustration, i’m hoping that some part of me is deeply embedded — deeply enough that it carries over to my audience.
click here to read my tutorial. i hope you guys enjoy — and thank you to Alyssa for inviting me to document my process!
NEW BOUNTY
(clockwise from top left): america and it’s indians, our plundered planet*, cage and aviary birds**, leaf and owl belt buckles.
bottom photo: black-and-stone/elephant-and-camel pashmina.**
* from t.
** from the motherland.
wood grain hand-lettering for a commission. (taken with instagram)
my piece for the 2012 Boston Bacon & Beer festival is now available for sale!
“Pink and Blue”
Meera Lee Patel, New Jersey
meeralee.com
@meeraleeHigh quality digital print on Mohawk 120# paper
11 x 17 inches
limited edition of 10
numbered
progress photos from two of the four pieces i’m creating for tomorrow’s show in Asbury Park, NJ. details for the show are here, come by and say hello if you’re in the area!
my teapot terrarium is finally finished and up in my etsy shop and cargoh shop! these prints look stunning in the kitchen or by your favorite collection of indoor plants.
in other news, last week i had an interview with cargoh.com, a beautifully curated marketplace where i sell some of my items. i talked about my new upcoming line of invitations (!) and a little about the inspiration i am still carrying from my trip to india. check it out here!
if you are in the boston area next weekend, check out my piece at the 2012 Bacon & Beer Festival! bacon + beer + art from some wonderful artists = an amazing time. if you do go, let me know — i’d love to hear about it!
In conjunction with the 2012 Boston Bacon and Beer Festival and Boston Bacon and Beer Week, we’re excited to present Bacon and Beer Art. This show opens May 2nd, at PA’s Lounge in Union Square, Somerville. There will be a 6:30 viewing and an 8:30 viewing with art inspired by bacon and beer from 15+ artists.
There will also be bacony offerings from Stone Hearth Pizza Company, Zoe’s Meats, and Pink Box Desserts, with beer from Watch City Brewing Company, Clown Shoes Beer, and Left Hand Brewing Comapny.
This is a 21+ rain or shine event. Tickets are $10 and are available online with a limited amount available at the door on the evening of. Click here to buy tickets: 6:30 showing or 8:00 showing.
a special birthday six-pack i made for my sister’s husband, who is a football coach at Boston College.
birthday drawing!
tixcel asked: your art is gorgeous <3
thank you so much!
here’s another piece from my sketchbook during my travels in india. there were patterns everywhere: ancient palaces and castles intricately carved with the patterns of their times, religions, and means; parts of daily life beautified with complicated repeats and gushes of bright color.
the taj mahal, which was ostensibly lovingly built by emperor shah jahan as a tomb for his third wife, has heart-shaped carvings circling the top of each pillar (bottom row, second pattern from the right). it took more than 20,000 workers to carve the patterns that adorn the astonishing marble building. when the mausoleum was completed, shah jahan cut the fingers off of every worker, so their hands could never again build anything as beautiful.
RAZOR BLAZERS RECORD COVERS
i was invited to create five original record sleeves for the razor blazers new release, “i’m sick/linear rerun.” as part of the kickstarter campaign, 50 artists created 500 unique sleeves, one for each of the 500 vinyls that will be pressed. record sales will benefit Kusi Kawsay, an elementary school in the Andes in Peru, which offers 92 children from economically challenged backgrounds an affirming and holistic education.
i chose to sew my sleeves from canvas, which was an untidy and nervous process. my long-term goal is to become a fantastic (or at least competent) seamstress who also whittles her own buttons out of wood/bone.
