Knitting Dragonflies

In an effort to loosen up my paintings and brush strokes I became interested in the ancient Sumi-e Japanese (I have also seen it called Chinese) painting. Sumi_e roughly translates as ink painting It is an art form that strives to distill the essence of an object or scene in the fewest possible strokes. A few carefully placed broad strokes that fade off abruptly, a few thin lines and a dot, and a bird is clearly called into being on the paper. Sumi-e is sometimes confused with calligraphy, because the tools used are the same. Calligraphy is the graceful, artistic representation of written characters, using ink and brush, while sumi-e is painting a scene or object. In the West, sumi-e is often called Chinese Brush Painting , although it has been a major art form in Japan and Korea as well. To paint with ink requires the use of the Four Treasures . This refers to the must-haves of sumi-e: an ink stone , an ink stick , a brush , and the appropriate kind of paper . The ink stone is a...

Another TMC for me, a potted flower in my back yard. Too soon I will empty all of the pots and store them away for the winter. I’m enjoying looking at them rebound from the hot dry summer, a few fresh blooms before the first frost. Petunias are always a good flower for pots, even in the hot dry summer they can survive and continue to bloom. Cut them back a little mid way through the growing season and you will get fresh flowers and the plants won’t get as leggy. Petunia growing tips here . Plant them in hanging baskets, pots or in mass in your flower beds and you won’t be sorry. They are a pest free riot of easy color to add to your area.

I found the 20 Minute Challenge by Katherine Cartwright from a fellow blogger Theresa of Blueberries, Art and Life , a fellow knitter than lured me into watercolor! It is a fun way to simplify your drawings! I tend to want to overdo it, so this has been a great tool for me. The first several times it was rather nerve racking with the timer counting down. Then something “clicked” and I realized I could edit out whatever I wanted to. I urge you to take a look and try it yourself. It is oddly liberating, despite or because of the time limits. Fall White Pine I’ve been playing around with the more portable ink and paper with a watercolor wash. Sitting in my yard after work, doing a bit of unwinding in these wonderful fall days, inspires me to sketch. The last of my roses. I love fall days with the clear air and crisp feel of autumn, football games and campfires! Do a little creating today!