A note from the author, John Rocco:

Hello. Thank you for visiting the official website for Fu Finds the Way. I am very excited about this book as it was nearly ten years in the making. Many years ago, on a visit to Hong Kong, I was rushing around picking up last minute gifts and I saw this beautiful teapot in a small shop window. I went in and looked for the shop owner, a frail elderly Chinese woman sitting in the back. She did not speak English, but from her gestures it quickly became apparent that in order for me to buy the teapot, I first had to have tea with her. I was torn between meeting my friends for dim sum at a fabulous restaurant, and having tea with a stranger in order to buy a teapot. Somewhat reluctantly, I sat down in front of her small table. Her deft movements were mesmerizing. I watched with awe as she poured the tea into tiny cups. I realized she was not just making tea. She was making art.
Upon returning home I began to research tea ceremonies. The most well known are the tea ceremonies in Japan. In my research I discovered an ancient tea ceremony from the Shantou province in China called GongFu. This term implies any skill developed through great practice, such as painting, martial arts and tea preparation.
This ‘Kung Fu Tea’ reminded me of the frail woman in the Tea shop who stopped me in my tracks. What was it that made her tea so powerful? I realized that doing something, anything, with great skill could be more meaningful than what it is you are doing. This can be applied to anything. Cleaning your room. Folding laundry. Drawing a picture. Or reading a book.

I tried to apply these lessons while creating this book, (purpose, flow and patience). The artwork was created using pencil on paper and then adding color digitally. The stains were created by soaking watercolor paper in tea and tea leaves and then adding them to the paintings in Photoshop.

The trailer was created in Adobe After Effects over the course of several days and several cups of tea.

I hope you enjoy the book,

John