THE POWER OF A TEACUP: A Story of Art, Love, and Sacred Gardens

The author, who has designed hand-painted tea settings for Hillary Clinton, Tony Blair and Ehud Barak, among other illustrious clients, did not begin her artistic career until the death of her mother, Mimi, from breast cancer several years ago. A gifted opera singer, Mimi also collected porcelain, and Kaplan describes how, during Mimi's last months, the two spent many afternoons together, drinking tea from beautiful antique cups and communicating through silence or gentle conversations. After her mother's death, the author found that the china treasures Mimi bequeathed to her triggered a strong desire to learn the ancient art of porcelain painting. In evocative text, Kaplan (who also did the illustrations) conveys her emotional connection to this art and the peace it has brought her. Although she includes information on the techniques of her art, the most interesting passages deal with her personal progress. In this deeply felt reminiscence, Kaplan explains how once she was finally able to paint successfully a rose on china, she knew she would soon be able to create gardens on porcelain. Color illus. not seen by PW. (Feb.)