Categories
Archives
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
Author Archives: Reluctant Rat
Not just another dog, painting wolf
We grew up in fear of the “wolf at the door”. It took me a while to determine my parents and grandmother were speaking figuratively (life altering abject poverty) and not literally (the wild beasts occasionally spotted in our wilderness … Continue reading
Posted in Chinese Brush Painting, painting wolf, wolves
Leave a comment
Mountains on my mind: Tree lines
The master horse painter Lok Tok often presented his animals in a mountainous setting. The distinctive rugged cliffs of China offer a fittingly magnificent background for singles, pairs, and of course the conventional eight lucky horses. He also depicted mountains … Continue reading
The Big Strokes (Hokusai on Painting with Contour Lines)
Depicting animals and figures using a ‘continuous line’ in the manner of acclaimed Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) led to mixed results for me. I easily painted cats, bunnies, turtles, and human figures, but struggled with cranes. His drawing lessons … Continue reading
One stroke challenge from The Old Man Crazy To Paint
Towards the end of his life, acclaimed Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) went by the name Gakyo Rojin Manji, meaning Old Man Crazy to Paint. With challenging health issues (not the least of which was partial paralysis from being … Continue reading
What is old is new; lessons (circa 1812) of Katsushika Hokusai
I like to keep a watchful eye on numerous online booksellers, paying special attention to their oriental art instruction and collective works. Every so often I am rewarded with books on my favorite topics or containing work of acclaimed artists. … Continue reading
Posted in Chinese Brush Painting, Lessons, painting horses
Leave a comment
Building bridges right: consider both ends
For my first year at university I lived on the fifth floor of an all women’s residence overlooking a bend in the Red River. Every morning I awoke to sunrises over the muddy waters, occasional glimpses of wildlife, and often … Continue reading
The ripple effect—painting net water
I’ve spent hundreds of hours in the bow of a canoe staring at water. I’ve seen the wind whipping small wavelets flat as it gusts, the afternoon sun glint off gently rippling diamond-shapes, and many ugly greys and greens of … Continue reading
Posted in Chinese Brush Painting, water compositions
1 Comment
Water village necessity—painting sampans
“It is more skillful to paint half a boat than a whole one. A common load on a sampan is the wine that will encourage the composing of poems. This boat would never be shown in rough waters; place it … Continue reading
Posted in boats, Chinese Brush Painting, sampan, water compositions
Leave a comment
The gift (horse) that keeps on giving: a Japanese Ema board
Sometimes when I trip over a legend, myth, or traditional belief from another culture I am totally amazed at the complexity and the “rightness” of the various nuances to the concept. Thus my appreciation of the Ema or Japanese Shinto … Continue reading
Posted in Chinese Brush Painting, Ema board, painting horses
2 Comments
Capture the breeze—painting kapok trees
While studying the body of art by contemporary artist Zhang Shipei I spied a distinctive tree appearing in his village scenes. In most instances the tree was large, spreading limbs almost horizontally near the tops, and frequently sporting red dots. … Continue reading
