INLE in the HOUSE... kinda

This March, I'll be contributing a painting to "INLE", a group show curated by Greg "Craola" Simkins. The idea behind the show is "over 100 artists interpret the understated hero of Richard Adam's Watership Down".
Here's my sketch for the painting I'm creating for the show:

INLE AND ME
11" x 14"
Acrylic + Ink
2011

"INLE AND ME" features the stories protagonist "Hazel". In Watership Down, Hazel gets shot in the leg, which becomes a wound that never truly heals and plays an essential role in the rest of the story. So, in my painting, Hazel has his leg a wrapped up in a sling with a hint of blood seeping through the bandages. Meanwhile, "Inle", the mythical black rabbit of Watership Down, is represented as an actual black rabbit in the painting. Since Hazel's wound is such an essential narrative element, I chose to have Inle inspect, or rather, flirt with Hazel's wound.
Hosted by Gallery 1988, the show will open March 11th, 2011. (7pm-10pm)
Gallery 1988 - 7020 Melrose Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90038

Cocari

Christmas night 2010, my family and I sit down to what is becoming one of our wintery tradition: Dinner at Cocari, a "Korean BBQ" AND "Hot Pot / Shabu Shabu" dining experience. What makes this place extra cool is the wall of refrigerators that you walk up to and choose what you want to eat. Another plate of marinated beef? Why not?
Anyways, my sister and I get a kick out of this place, and so after properly stuffing ourselves, we start talking about making this our "Xmas place". The conversation then evolves into getting something "Cocari" related tattooed. I'm not sure what Kim had in mind, but I suggested that I would draw out the idea.
The cast iron BBQ / Shabu Shabu grill is actually shaped like a flower. I thought I would start by borrowing from Buddhist ideology, who celebrate the lily as a beautiful flower that grows from the muck. I complimented my cast iron lily with a Chinese women based on a handful of period style watercolors I looked up of empresses and/or goddesses.
The end result so amuses me that I wanted to share.
Enjoy.