BIG TEX SOCIAL DISTANCING COLORING BOOK PROJECT by Brian K. Jones
In response to the early period of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dallas-based artist Brian K. Jones created this crowd-sourced animation project. Centering around Big Tex—the over-sized, animatronic greeter at the Texas State Fair that features prominently in Jones's work—Jones invited artists to create slides using his illustration as a base, then compiled them into a single animation. This was my first foray into animation, and it gave me a new appreciation for the art form, especially traditional, hand-rendered animation. Moreover, it was a fun distraction during a time of isolation.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/611162cd-734f-47ce-8c63-996db56298b9/cdefb7a4-52fd-4f99-a847-726597d44072_rw_1920.jpg?h=93c726233ab6e88be4c53caeaff2d9d6)
"Big Tex Slide 04" 2020 | stick watercolor on printer paper | 11" x 8.5"
USPS ART PROJECT with Kate Csillagi and L. Renée Núñez
Launched in April of 2020, the USPS Art Project was created by Brooklyn-based artist Christina Massey to support the U.S. postal system during a budget crisis, which had the potential to jeopardize timely receipt of mail-in ballots in the upcoming election cycle. Artists paired up and created two collaborative works of art in which one artist created a base layer and their partner created the final layer. These were shared on social media to promote the project.
![Background created by Kate Csillagi](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/611162cd-734f-47ce-8c63-996db56298b9/78d62b48-fdbd-43e1-8b68-ef350f53c5f5_rw_1200.jpg?h=c6ede1fb60078b848a2d5269475bd4b6)
Background created by Kate Csillagi
![Final layer created by Lisa Rawlinson](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/611162cd-734f-47ce-8c63-996db56298b9/dd8e3661-9af8-4b18-87ea-a2d0949bfbcf_rw_1200.jpg?h=e7a02171a260a393fe42e2136aba7640)
Final layer created by Lisa Rawlinson
![Background created by Lisa Rawlinson](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/611162cd-734f-47ce-8c63-996db56298b9/04f911a6-739a-4d59-9710-716194eca674_rw_1920.jpg?h=f972428975ab80d64a5e99eeb0dd227c)
Background created by Lisa Rawlinson
![Final layer created by Kate Csillagi](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/611162cd-734f-47ce-8c63-996db56298b9/6c7f67fb-e4dc-44f8-989c-800d8fda7040_rw_1920.jpg?h=e8a6c5f1319a65b61eda69e4c3dac54f)
Final layer created by Kate Csillagi
![Background created by L. Renée Núñez](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/611162cd-734f-47ce-8c63-996db56298b9/098406c5-a108-4178-b73b-1acd0d14b89a_rw_1920.jpg?h=c072b09d17b0d346f42522b07760b62e)
Background created by L. Renée Núñez
![Final layer created by Lisa Rawlinson](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/611162cd-734f-47ce-8c63-996db56298b9/a70b8080-7fa8-45ef-b203-0f7d721e32ad_rw_1920.jpg?h=90ddda559145a92de8fd9991f10052ad)
Final layer created by Lisa Rawlinson
![Background created by Lisa Rawlinson](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/611162cd-734f-47ce-8c63-996db56298b9/a4a4525a-5260-419e-8583-26205647dcb5_rw_1920.jpg?h=893c212e42e4024e48723627cb80a59d)
Background created by Lisa Rawlinson
![Final layer created by L. Renée Núñez](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/611162cd-734f-47ce-8c63-996db56298b9/c9f137cd-eca9-4460-865f-77bafe3e170b_rw_1920.jpg?h=ce094b3518a050165e6c5d459b1d7aad)
Final layer created by L. Renée Núñez
SUPPORT THE ARTS
Collaborative work is not available for purchase. If you'd like to support my practice, I sell a selection of small originals, books, photography, and limited edition reproductions (in rare cases) via my online shop.