“Hand-stitched Artist’s Journal” The deep indigo of the cover,  contrasting with the white crane LensPainting art drew me to this unique journal. Arrived quickly in U.S. mail, securely padded, in pristine condition. Delighted to find the indigo  cover is silk. Discover close-up of white crane details in  color, paint, glitter, hand- stitching. The silk of the indigo cover folds under a pearl button. Inside front/back covers, reveal whimsical children at play from days of yore. I like the heft of the journal best. The blank pages  call me to write on heavy leaves of paper, each with a different tactile sense to my hand. Lovely  collaboration of  Suzi and David Smith-Rose.

CSColbert 11-18-23

I’ve spent the greater part of the past decade pursuing wildlife photography. The photos I’ve taken during this period are the springboard for the art. I look for shapes and contrast in foliage backgrounds that set the initial balance in a piece. 

Some begin as basic photocompositions, others are paintings, sketched first from reference photos. More photography and Photoshop are used to merge these initial states into what will become base prints.

I use a ten-color Canon pigment-based printer to render these early versions, and continue the process with embellishments in acrylic, acrylic metallic and leaf, and traditional inks. No two are the same. 

I am in the process of integrating Kanji/Gyosho/Shodo lettering as I learn it, and hopefully results will grow as my pursuit of calligraphy styles do. It will be a lifelong journey. Thank you for taking the time to look, and I hope you enjoy my efforts.