SUMI-E; Japanese Brush Stroke Drawing
We were introduced to Sumi-e, during our trip to Japan. It is a type of brush stroke painting, in which the intent is to “capture” on paper the spirit of that which you are drawing. We were instructed to e chooses something to draw (or feel ourselves chosen by it! :). Then to clears the mind, meditate, try to feel the inner essence of what is being draw; to meditates while mixing the ink, and then draw with feeling. No erasures are allowed. Here are some of our efforts. (Note some of these are not technically sumi-e (e..g the ink lined ones; I call them Sumi-e like :)
Whimsical flute-playing Buddha (1979)
This sketch was drawn in the middle of my written journal from 1979. In Dec, 2022, upon seeing this sketch for the first time in 43 years I said huh!?!? There was no commentary either before or after it in the journal. When I first showed it to Johanna, her reaction was the same “huh?”