Laurel Burch In love with Bali
“I arrived on the island of Bali with packages of my mask and cat paintings and began to search for a carver whose eyes would sparkle when he saw my wild creatures with their vibrant colors and a mysterious smiles. This was the beginning of a love affair with this tiny little dot on the map of the southeast Asian seas, and the relationship has lasted for a good many years.”
“Here is the tale of masks, rainbow cats and mythical tigers coming to life in Bali ...”
"I am introduced to Siadja, a seventh-generation master carver and traditional Balinese dancer in the village of Ubud. He greets me at the doorway of his home, a 700-year-old masterpiece of beauty and mystery. And this doorway is only a taste of the magic hidden behind it.” 
“I soon make another excursion to Bali with a new collection of animal paintings under my arm. The trip was planned in time to see the carving and painting of the cat designs I had created earlier in the year. It is so exciting to watch the steps necessary to prepare them for their journey across the ocean to the United States.”
"Siadja opens the door to his garden, and I can hear chipping, carving, and sanding coming from the workshops behind the courtyard. As we approach, I begin to see paint cans dripping with magenta and teal, purple and crimson—my heart is leaping with anticipation.”
“Each carving takes several days to create, from start to finish. The first pieces are made directly from my paintings by the master carvers, and then duplicated by other carvers throughout the village. Each piece, therefore, has its own unique spirit, as an eye slants or a tail curves slightly this way or that.
“As one journeys through the villages of Mas and Ubud, the painted and unpainted feline carvings bearing my art can be seen peeking through the doorways and windows of the workshops.
Though I am known in Ubud as ‘the American Artist who brought bright colors, modern mask images, and cat designs to Bali,’ my greatest gratification comes from the thrill of collaborating with artisans skilled in ancient carving traditions. This has made it possible for me to retain the folkloric quality of my art and to make the pieces available to collectors all over the world.”