Caring Colouring Two
Today I wanted to tell you about a really special project I was lucky to be involved in recently.
Caring Colouring Volume 2, is a charity colouring book created by Jehane Ltd with 100% of the profits going to the Sea Change Project. The Sea Change Project is a collective of scientists, film-makers, journalists and story-tellers who are actively working to save the endangered sea-kelp forests off the coast of Africa. They are also the team behind the film ‘My Octopus Teacher’ which is the film that moved Jehane so much to make the theme of this volume Protect our Oceans.
I felt so humbled when Jehane asked me to create a page for the book and after watching the film I was shocked at how much it moved me and made me examine my relationship with this beautiful natural world we are all part of. I felt very fortunate to be given the opportunity to use my artwork in such a positive and meaningful way.
The colouring book featured the artwork of Jehane’s own talented artists plus guests.
The limited edition book featured 47 artists and the downloadable pdf featured 100 artists. The brief Jehane provided was to create an ocean inspired A4 size colouring page. Mermaids were the obvious choice as I adore illustrating them but I also wanted to explore the theme further.
I’ve pondered over why the ‘My Octopus Teacher’ film brought up such strong emotions and I think it’s Craig Foster’s honesty and the gentle way he entered into the world of the octopus. The film doesn’t preach or make you feel like you are studying the inhabitants of the sea forest from a superior point of view. You feel like you are with him as he explores and cautiously befriends the octopus. It moved me in a way I am struggling to articulate and I think that’s what is so special about the film. It simply makes you feel and that’s why it will bring change if it is shown to as many people as possible.
So with that in mind I wanted to show tenderness in my illustration. I wanted to show togetherness and connection between species but in my own make believe way of course😉✨
Whilst the Colouring Book was on sale I also thought a fun way to promote the book was to show how you can use any colouring page design as an embroidery pattern and colour with thread. I approach my embroideries in the same way I approach a painting. I plan the structure but then make decisions as I go along.
Using a black white colouring design as your template is especially easy with the pdf version as you can print off a page and trace over.
Here is a short video of how I stitched my mermaid featuring lovely music by Adam Vitovsky.
**Please note if you ever use a colouring page design as an embroidery pattern you will only be able to use the embroidery for personal use (not for resale) unless the image is copyright free.
Another lovely aspect of the project was to be featured alongside my talented friend Louise Bell who also designed a page in the book and we had a brilliant chat with Jehane herself on Instagram about how we met and about Caring Colouring Two. Click on the image below to be taken to the video.
Hope you enjoy the video and giggling along with us!
Cassandra Xxx