Painting of Nee

My trip has been postponed until Tuesday, so a little time to paint today.

Last night, I was thinking a lot about the swallow painting in progress. It was revealed that her name is Nee. She dies during the Spring Revolt and the scene is that of her death. So, far this is all I can see. I do not think she is a "normal" bird, but I am uncertain of what that means yet. This one is "unfolding" like many of the paintings do.

Off to pack, now and I am on my way out in the morning.

What's that Painting?

Japanese artist Matazo Kayama's work from 1961 made of gouache, metallic gouache, and opaque white on dyed paper mounted on paperboard also resides at the Smithsonian.
I love this painting.
I find the history of Japanese painting or "Nihon-ga", to be an overwhelming subject since it begins as early as 300 B.C. and there is a wealth of recorded information for each period. I believe his work is most strongly associated with the 17th century decorative screen tradition called "Rimpa." He is probably considered the most important Japanese artist of the 2oth century. Matazo Kayama was born in 1921 and died in 2004.
In 1990, he painted an art car for BMW. You can see a video here which shows some of his techniques. It is in German.
Please comment and add any info you might have about anything in this post.

Craig talked me into going to the Cherry Blossom Festival today. It is probably the most packed you will ever see Washington D.C. every year People come form all over the world to see the almost 100 year old cherry blossom trees around the tidal basin at their peak bloom.

Being a true introvert, I loathe huge crowds. My husband is a huge extrovert, so this paired with a historical and cultural event is right up his alley. Needless to say I couldn't take more than about an hour of shuffling around the basin walk with thousands of people all there to look at trees. It is all too much for me.

I am off to Virginia Beach for the next week to visit family. My brother in law, my younger sister's husband, is returning from Iraq any day now from deployment two and my older sister and her kids are going up from Atlanta. An all around family affair. Hopefully, I can handle the "crowd."

Happy artworking to you all, my friends. I look forward to seeing what you have made.

Craig took this lovely photo today. That is the Jefferson Memorial across the water.

Today's Painting

I am not sure where this is going yet, but it is going. It will be a scene from the Spring Revolt. I am doubting my aforementioned distorted background...it isn't going anywhere. So I focused exclusively on this today.

When I start to feel that hyper critical spirit of my work, I know my perfectionist and idealist tendencies are coming to the surface. I am really struggling with those traits today and had a difficult time facing the work this morning. I usually take a good look first thing in the morning at the previous day's painting. I really avoided doing that this morning. Went to CVS instead.

When I am in that negative head space, watching a movie while painting helps me to quiet down. I got through "The Fellowship of the Ring and halfway through "Two Towers" today while painting. Paul Dorrell said something like, "After all, we are only making art. We aren't ending world poverty." This is a good reminder when I begin to take myself way too seriously.
I think I need a comedy tonight. Oh!... but it IS "The Office" night. Maybe some "Flight of the Conchords," too.

"A Man Named Pearl"

Documentaries are my favorite genre of film. I recently came across "A Man Named Pearl", a film about artist Pearl Fryar.
Have a look at the trailer and be in awe today: http://www.amannamedpearl.com/

Wednesday

Craig found this site called Museum of Bad Art or MOBA. I am generally of the belief that the value of a work of art is in the eye of the beholder but, once I looked at the site....well, it really is the museum of bad art.

Good work today, but slow. Quality, not much quantity. I am rotating three paintings. It's a rainy, cold day; I hit the wall at 3:30 and took a nap. My front end of the last several nights have been spent thinking and chewing on my paintings until I fall asleep and then each time I wake up over the course of the night, my mind is already there like it kept going while I was asleep. Hence, it all caught up with me today.

If only good health were as easy as taking a pill

March was one long series of illnesses in my house, I really hope that April brings some fresh air and sunshine, I could really use it. I managed to stay healthy the entire month taking care of sick kids, now it is taking it's toll and I am struggling to fight off a cold.

Yesterday, I received a wonderful email that brightened my cold and sniffly day. Diane Barret, who took both my workshops Mixed Media Painted Fabric and Tsukineko inks in Atlanta last August, sent photos of the work she has produced since then using some of the techniques she learned.

Absolutely beautiful Diane, you have been busy!