Prisoner

At first I was going to post an iris, another of the four gentlemen but as

I was scrolling through photos, this image caught my eye. 

A captive, a prisoner; I started to think about how we all become 

captives of our own self constructed realities.  While I love the digital 

world and believe that is where my creative muse lies; I am so

tuned to ink it brought me back to the brush. A prisoner of tradition.

I'm not sure how long this will last or if it should.  I think I just need

 a balance; perhaps a few days per week that contain brush and the 

remainder in digital.  Balance  

Bamboo

I love painting bamboo.  It's my favorite subject for sumi-e, at least of all

the four gentlemen.  The background looks a little mottled.  I happened

to experiment with a paper I usually reserve for woodcut; Gampi 

off white, that I found through McClains. It seems to photograph

that way because of the buff character of the paper.  Sometimes I

know that I'm back on track with this water/ink art by the sound

of brush on paper.  There seems to be a sweet sound when the paper

is accepting of the brush.  When an artist gets into that sweet spot it 

really seems like the paper is drawing nourishment from the brush.

Plum Blossom

It's hard to shift gears.  I finally came up with two additional digital

prints to add to my Winter series.  I'll post these soon.  In the meantime

I've switched gears a bit.  I've been viewing Laura's watercolors

lately and realized I've been neglecting sumi-e.  Time to get back

 in the saddle; but not so easy.  The ink drawings are coming

with great difficulty after so little practice over the last several weeks.

The subjects I wanted to work on just weren't coming and most

attempts ended in the trash.  In desperation I decided to return

to the 'Four Gentlemen'.  These are four traditional subjects that 

contain the brush loading and strokes that are fundamental to

more complex compositions.  The four gentlemen are plant forms.

Orchid, bamboo, chrysanthemum and plum blossom.  It is claimed that 

one can spend a lifetime on these forms.   The plants define the 

seasons. The orchid is spring, bamboo is summer, chrysanthemum

is fall, and plum blossom is winter.  I have finally fallen into working 

on plum blossoms.  First harbingers of spring.   

Weaving the Universe

I was at the computer today and I heard a noise directly above me;

Karen's weaving room.  Probably a mouse.  I was struck by a work in 

progress.  Karen is working on some dish towels.  (she claims) I took

a few pictures of a work in progress.  I love this weaving aspect about 

my wife.  She has such a high pressure job in mental health, I'm glad

in the last several years she's found this again.  She's got a dark green

with a light sage going on the warp.  I suggested she blog about to 

her return to weaving again.  Her response was something like " My 

title will be 'I'm trying to do this to relax'  so why do I post Karen's

work?  I wonder if there is a universal impulse to make art.  I would 

say yes there is. 

Winter Path

What am I to do?  As an artist you start each day with a plan

and then (if you're lucky) something else takes over.  I had

every intention that my next blog post would be an ink

work.  But, I have to confess, I haven't done sumi-e for

several weeks. I've been really focused in the digital 

realm. My attempts today are all in the trash. Certainly

not worth comment.  I'll save failures for another post.

So, in the end I went back to the computer and found another

winter image to work. Perhaps all my hesitant tendencies 

had evaporated by the ink work but I flew through a

creation in photoshop.  I printed it and I'm satisfied.

Great joy; I hate to spend the day chasing my tail.

The ink will have another round with me tomorrow.

Branch

 

Being present each day to follow your art is 

the most courageous thing many of us do each day.  Being 

self employed is frustrating at times; many people want to 

take your creative time.  I have to thank teri p for giving

me the gift of creating something on the fly.  Just to stay 

connected.  I found another "Winter " image to share. 

Dream

On his deathbed Xiuhtecuhtil imagined the end of the

world.  Only 512 years in the future. 

Weaving the Universe

Ixchel figurine, 600- 900 AD

Thanks for the positive feedback on Karen's weaving.  I think weaving

is a fundamental art.  Food, shelter clothing.  Weaving crosses cultures

as an art necessary for survival.  Fabric arts in general, go under the radar in 

the examination of a culture's art.  Both Karen and I have been 

influenced by Mayan women who have codified traditional religious

belief into their fabric.  Since the conquest, various aspects of their

belief systems evolved into geometric equivalent to prevent detection. 

An early protest movement, mounted by women, against an occupation.  

 There is a tradition in  Mayan studies that place the goddess Ixchel, not only 

a  moon/ fertility goddess, but as the  weaving goddess.  Weaving the fabric 

of the universe.   Color, structure and patience.  

Maintenance

Karens' latest weaving is going to blow people away.   A wonderful collection of color 

and a difficult rep weave. A table runner. For Karen, I believe weaving is a survival art.

A type of art, that if you don't do it, your day job consumes you.  My wife has been in

the mental health field for way too many years.  Currently with the state; as opposed to 

non-profits, her life is a pressure cooker.  Plus she married an artist.  Her latest

work is her most ambitious in the last couple of years since we bought the loom.  I

think her journey to rediscover her inner artist brings something special to this

Valentines day. Plus I think she will finish soon so we can invite Teri P and 

family over.  

Some days we just need to do some maintenance.  In Teri's last comment

she mentioned that I should get busy framing my Winter series.  A perfect

excuse to invite my diabolic friend over for a meal and some wine.  I say diabolic

because I kept coming back to her latest art post and wanted to comment.  

I probably went to her site fifteen times trying to un-spool what she 

was getting at with the image and title.  Finally, I realize that once again 

she has hijacked me, for her own nefarious purpose; driving me crazy.  Good 

fun, I think I'll resort to some childless prank, like pasting her head on Dr. Evil.

So, I'm busy matting these three pieces today. I can't wait to see her face

when I hand her a glass of wine and it's beer.

Maple

Finally - I feel vindicated; my friend Teri suggested that I do  some

ten minute pix.  Some real pressure, don't over think, just bang out

 your best.  I have taken to heart in my attempt to produce three

pieces, based on some photos shot after an ice storm with some 

great light the next day.  Thanks Teri - I came up with a great 

series.  And yes I threw out about twenty failures.  Still, the lesson

remains and promise to abandon bad ideas and trust instinct. 

Dogwood veins

My friend Teri has me on to something.  Musicians warm up, athletes

warm up.  When I wake up, finish the shower, walk the dog, check

out the paper to see if the world has ended, I need to get to work. If I need to work on art 

( or my woodworking business) I usually begin where I left off. 

 Teri suggests a warm up and I agree. I started off with one of her ideas yesterday 

with a ten minute creation, and guess what;  this was the best work I did today.

White pine

I'm not sure what is the most destructive thing artists do to sabotage their own work.

I usually work several pieces at any one time.  Having said that, sometimes I

end up down a dark alley, a dead end and still I don't want to wait for the 

inspiration that elicited the idea to return and guide me.  I press forward like a good worker bee and may settle for something because I'm just exhausted.  So it's a lack of patience.  Later on  I realize what I've done; I shortchanged something that just wasn't ready for birth.

  On the other hand, I have ideas that I procrastonate.  "The time isn't right", the little

 voice in my head intones. It usually means that I don't want to make the effort 

that the imagination is calling for.  I need to make the first step but I'm paralyzed.  I decided to share tonight a project that my friend Teri P suggested in one of her posts.  "Share something that you spend only ten minutes manipulating."  

Rusi

Meeting Rusi

I've been re-working Rusi all this month.  I don't understand my motivation to 

return.  This is a piece that I haven't exhibited; although it hangs in my studio

for me to observe. I really should be working on some newer ideas I want to develop

 but this image seems to be a thorn in my side.  For some nagging reason I haven't gotten 

to the meat of the subject.  I've had a year to observe and 

think about it and finally decided the original didn't convey my evolving feelings 

for this traditional Thai puppet figure.  While I probably will continue to 

rework the image a bit more, this is where it is tonight.  I need more polish 

on the slightly visible words surrounding the person figure.  Possibly some 

Thai phrases surrounding Rusi.

Original Rusi (printed 11" x 50")

I orignally did this very long and extended version with self portraits tied in knots.  At the time I think my insertion into the Rusi myth  (hermit who knows everything about your character) conveyed a universal reaction.  Now in retrospect; those viewing a Nang performance could only bring their own unique identity; both positive and negative properties to judgement.   In my new version I simply meet with no judgements.  This is not the final version and while it seems strange to present works in progress, that is the nature of the blog.  Final version to hopefully come soon.