Sumi and color

This painting (East Meets West) is sold.

These birds were clearer before the painting was backed (glued onto another piece of rice paper for support). The colors bled, especially the reds, an indication that there is too heavy a load of pigment for the thinness of this particulary rice paper. It takes a lot of practice to get it just right; I like to try different kinds of rice papers, but errors do occur during the process of experimenting. In any case, you would not see these birds together in the wild. The cardinal is not found on the west coast where the Steller's jay lives.

Sumi feathers on watercolor paper

Painting on rice paper is difficult to learn, so sometimes it is best to start with asian brushes on regular watercolor paper until the student learns how the brushes and ink behave ~ then move on to learning about rice papers. The feather is a nice subject, incorporating the ideas of both line and shape. Other popular subjects in my classes are shells, animals, bamboo and trees.

Teaching again in 2009

The students want to paint animals, and so I am painting horses for a start. In my past classes - panda bears, skunks and zebras have been popular subjects; I include the horse which is a traditional sumi subject representing both grace and strength.

Chinese Year of the Ox

Happy Snowy New Year!

Racoon tracks in the back yard.

Merry Christmas

It is snowing at 7 AM on Christmas Day.

May you have a wonderful holiday, holy day, whatever it means to you. Click on the photo enlarge it and see the ornaments.

It's still snowing...

Snow sculpture helps clear the driveway, and is easier and way more fun than shoveling the snow. This snowman doesn't really have red eyes - those are carrots, (which I later stole back to add to the pork roast in exchange for bark eyes, nose and buttons). My massage therapist traded me a bottle of Chateau Neuf du Pape for a few dozen Xmas cards. Such a fine wine goes well with a slow-cooked pork roast drenched in carrots and onions with fresh home-made French bread. And for dessert - candy canes. This may not sound very spiritual to you, but really, it is, in a 2009 kind of way. May you look forward to wonderful great and warm new friendships in the New Year. The Times they are a'changing. Again. Thank God!Save your buttons because you just might need them.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!