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Big Panda & Tiny Dragon is my way of talking about friendship, inner wisdom, and our lack of self-acceptance—we are all flawed yet we are all perfect. We’re all doing our best and yet we tend to think we are not enough. This is a hard subject to talk about as it’s difficult to discuss what we perceive as our inadequacies.

One of the factors that really pushed this work forward was after I started volunteering on the phones for Samaritans talking to people who find it hard to cope with life. There is so much suffering I wanted to do something, however small, to brighten people’s day.

Most of the drawings lay bare my soul and are an expression of my feelings past and present. That can be a tough thing to do as our society tends to enjoy a more glossy version of reality.

More info: jamesnorbury.com | Instagram | Facebook

I think, however, that a lot of people might feel the same as me and I wanted people to see my drawings and feel better about things. From the response I’ve had, it’s working, so I am going to keep doing it.

My process is fairly simple: I think of a basic concept, often grounded in a feeling I’ve had such as "I’m getting anxious about the amount of work I have at the moment," and then I search for the "real" answer, which is usually buried inside me somewhere. In this example, it might be "focus on one task at a time and do it well." We all have great wisdom deep down, but it can be a hushed voice and gets easily drowned out by modern living.

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Once I have a fully realized idea, I work out how to put it into simple words that cut to the core of the issue and are hopefully something that viewers won’t find cryptic or irrelevant. I then do some little sketches until I get the feel I want and then paint a finished version.

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I use traditional methods—brushes, ink, watercolor paper, etc. as I feel it’s perfect for this kind of work.

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Nicky Colohan
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you want to experience reincarnation just watch a sunrise. Each new day is a chance to live again. If you have to say sorry say sorry and try to move on. And never let a chance to tell someone you love them. Don't let the last time be the last time because one day it will be and then it will be too late.

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ChinaPandas122
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

this looks like the traditional drawing thing of the chinese people

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Night Owl
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3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good answer. Otherwise he'd have to walk instead of being carried ;D

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Jeff P
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don’t get it. Why does Dragon look angry in his imagination and perplexed in real life?

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