Happy Traveler

An oriental brush painting from long ago. I can't remember the source image reference it has been so long ago. But this book seemed like a safe place to hold this happy little guy.

 

Year of the Ox 2021

This is an old suminagashi print that I put in the book to prevent it from getting lost or damaged. But since most of the prints in the Art Mythos III are from 2021 it seemed an appropriate entry. 

 

River (unmounted)

I have been working on a new oriental brush painting, River. It is probably finished, waiting to be mounted, sitting in a drawer. Will mount it when I get at least 3 paintings finished. It is a pain to drag out the large mounting boards.

53th Annual Juried Exhibition

Saturday night was the Sumi-e Society of America's 53th Annual Awards Banquet. The Judge, Freda Lee-McCann selected two of my paintings for the show. Then I was pleasantly surprised to receive the Sarasota Chapter Award for my Deer Friends 2 painting.

I AM IN!

Deer Friends II

Summer Joy

Both of my entries for the 2016 Sumi-e Society of America's Annual show were accepted. I have gotten one painting in but never both both. I am thrilled. Although painted in my usual traditional landscape style they are both different. The show this year will be on the internet around 30 September. I will post the link when they are up.

Attitude

Attitude (17.5" x 18.75")

Nesting (34" x 20.5")

These two Chinese brush paintings are going out to a National Capital Area Chapter of the Sumi-e Society of America show at River Farm Park. The show starts July 6. Birds are new to me but am enjoying trying my hand at painting them.

sparrows

Life has really been busy lately. I have been making greeting cards and practicing sparrows. Birds are fairly new to me but am liking trying to get these little guys down.

Two crinkle starts

Starting painting stages alway look awkward and disappointing to people unless you are an artist. Then you see the potential just like watching a child develop.

The top one is based on a painting I just finished, "Pine Falls". I thought it would be interesting to see how two paintings that begin with different techniques but the same vision would end up.

Pine Falls

I am always delighted at how mounting a Chinese Brush Painting always pops the colors. And getting rid of the waves and wrinkles cased by painting on rice paper really allows you to see the painting you originally envisioned.

Nesting

Last week I mounted 4 paintings, two complete and two crinkle starts. Nesting was one of the completed ones. Yes, I decided not to add a single thing (ie leaves) and call it done. It is waiting to be signed and a chop added.

Nesting (complete?)

I have the last version up on an easel in my studio trying to decide if I want to add a few leaves to the tree or not. I am leaning to  wet mounting it just the way it is. Although I went to my critique group yesterday and got the recommendation to add a canopy and some more leaves on the lower branches. My problem is I like it and am afraid to fool with it and mess up what I have.

Nesting stage 1

Have been watching the Eagle cam and got inspired to do a new pair of eagles building their nest. I understand that they mate for life and go back to the same nest every year. It has been fun watching the eaglets hatch and grow.

Pine Falls

I finished painting this one couple of weeks ago but forgot to take a photo. It hasn't been mounted yet. The style is a bit more simple than what I usually do.

New Studio Addition

Have been wanting a cart to store and work from for my acrylics. I finally found the perfect one for me. This will allow me to have an acrylic painting and an oriental brush painting going at the same time. I like to work back and forth between the two medium. Sometimes I need to think on one before proceeding or something needs to dry well. I use to have to break down one and set up other. This will be so much easier. The working position of my cart is on the right side of my easel but I wanted a picture with both work areas in one shot. Now I should have no excuse for turning out lots of paintings in the next few months. Also need to get to work on framing.

Pine Falls stage 3 and show

On Monday I dropped off my Three Pines painting at a show sponsored by the National Capital Area Chapter of the Sumi-e Society of America.  The venue, Green Springs Park in Alexandria, Virginia is a lovely place to exhibit your works.

Calling this stage three may be a bit of an overstatement. I only added a few pines on the right. Next I will add some water and mist.

Yesterday I returned to my Wednesday sumi-e painting group. Being away for so long made me appreciate them and what they add to my painting.

Pine Falls (stage 2)

Forgot to upload this stage before I left for vacation. The paper is torn so not sure how I will crop this work. Like the start but may let it go and start on an undamaged piece of paper. The composition is more western and I like that aspect. I would like to take my techniques and use them for a more western and modern approach to oriental brush painting.

Pine Falls

Started an oriental brush painting yesterday. It is always fun and a bit exciting to start a new painting. Not sure where this one is going but I am sure it will tell me in the days ahead.

Carp

This is an old painting that I am playing around with. It started as a sumi-e painting, ink on rice paper, of two carp. Got it out last Wednesday, dampened it with water and glue it to a half sheet of watercolor paper. Then started adding watercolor paint. Liking it better. Not finished will have to see where it goes.