Bamboo like Bones

Luck, originally uploaded by plasticpumpkin.

A minimalist Chinese brush painting, done on off-white double xuan (shuen). The Character reads “fu,” or a blessing of good luck. Available.

A fellow Chinese brush painter described the young, bending stalks of bamboo as something akin to a skeletal hand. There’s something poetic about that. If our internal structure can bend with the roll and flow of things, we can also bounce back–with resilient strength.

View this painting in my Etsy shop.

 

Nobleman in the Moonlight

Nobleman in the Moonlight, originally uploaded by plasticpumpkin.

I did this painting several months back, on a long scroll of double xuan (shuen) paper. I am fascinated by traditional Chinese clothing (not the frog-button suits and Cheongsam dresses of the last dynasty (Qing)Dynasty), but the true hanfu; layered robes and garments which are often mistaken for Japanese kimonos  by the uninitiated. Hanfu were worn for thsouands of years, literally, before the Manchurian government of China’s last dynasty declared them illegal and forced everyone to wear the minority’s garb. Oddly enough, more westerners recognize the frog button Manchurian outfits as decidedly “Chinese,” even though they were not the country’s majority form of dress.

Whew! But enough of that.

This painting captures a Tang Dynasty nobleman as he wanders through a snowy forest, at night. A full moon illuminates the snowy ground, through a cloudy filter.

The nobleman wears his long hair up inside of an embellished ornament, which pins it in place. His hanfu indicate he is an educated man, perhaps a scholar or court records keeper of a higher, respectable noble rank. Why is he out in the wilderness, at night, alone, in the snow?

Some have said he looks a little worried… Perhaps he was taking an after dinner stroll and became lost in the forest. Perhaps he’s on an important mission and is no on foot, trying to make it through the wilds. Perhaps he is just walking, looking, and being–wondering which direction in life he should go next. Others have said the burden of being a nobleman weighs heavily on his mind.

View him in my Etsy shop.

 

 

 

Mayan Pyramid La Iglesia

Original Chinese brush painting: Mayan Pyramid “La Iglesia”

Mayan Pyramid La Iglesia

I’ve always been deeply fascinated by the megaliths of our world’s many cultures, including the Mayan pyramids and massive structures found deep in the forests and mountains of South & Central America.

This original Chinese brush painting was done on white rice paper, using traditional techniques, I used Chinese inks, Chinese watercolors, and tea to give the massive, crumbling pyramid an earthen, weathered feel.

I tried to capture the fascinating mixture of man-made beauty and the forward march of nature, as trees mingle with the structure’s bricks.

Painting from Live Nude Models

Wish, originally uploaded by plasticpumpkin.

 

Every Saturday at the Factory on 5th Art Space, Darla Hallmark (a local artist and teacher) is offering a $5.00 life drawing class / model opportunity.

 

She has a few repeat beginners and she also invites established artists to come and enjoy the chance to draw or paint from a live model (something that’s getting harder to find these days, at least in this area).

 

I’ve greatly enjoyed the chance to do this. Her models aren’t all magazine-slick and airbrush perfect. They’re real people, which makes for far interesting artistic expression. Wish (at left) is one of the original sumi paintings I did during the 3-hour session.

 

For info on attending a session, check out the Factory on 5th Art Space blog.

 

Featured Painting: Moonlight Bamboo

Moonlight Bamboo, originally uploaded by plasticpumpkin.

Here’s a new piece I have up for sale on Etsy. “Moonlight Bamboo” uses traditional Chinese brush painting techniques done with chunk color, ground ink, and some modern watercolors. I tried to give it the feeling nightfall with a full moon and overcast skies.

The soft glow of the moon hovers beyond the silhouettes of bamboo.

As we roll into early winter, it seemed appropriate.

The painting on Etsy.

Painting a Day- 8/28

My Painting a Day entry for 8/28/07:
Paula’s Garden

A train is rumbling right past my art studio as I type this. I am always amazed by how powerful they are. Anyway, my painting for the day of 8/28 is a Chinese brush painting done with traditional Chinese watercolors and inks. It was done on soft white xuan paper, then wet-mounted.

Three almost-ripe zucchini sit in the garden, warm in the late summer sun. I call this one “Paula’s Garden” because my friend Paula (who’s also an artist) loves my green gourd-pears.

 

Paula’s Garden is currently available for sale through my Etsy Shop.

New Series - Painting A Day

From today onward I am setting a new artistic goal–one painting a day! I know I’ve participated off and on with the “One Painting a Day” project on Etsy, but interest kind of dwindled off.

I will be posting a Painting a Day entry from this day forward. I feel it will keep my creative energies flowing and will give all you wonderful blog viewers something new to take in each day.

I will also be having special contests, giveaways, and events related to the Painting a Day project, so stay tuned!

Plum Blossoms for Charity

New on Etsy!

I’m a member of the EtsyPink Street Team, a group of artists and crafters who donate proceeds from the sale of certain items to various foundation for breast cancer research.

This fine art print: plum blossoms #2 / 50 is a charity item, up for sale on Etsy.com. 50% of the item price will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for breast cancer research, once the item is sold.

The artwork is available here. It also includes a Certificate of Authenticity from the artist (that’s me!).

If # 2 of 50 sells out before you get the chance to add it to your collection, please contact me (or keep an eye on my Etsy store, where more editions in the series will be listed).

The original artwork was done using Chinese brush painting techniques, on taupe gold fleck paper. Chinese brush painting is very important to me, as it’s part of my daily meditation. Each piece is done quietly and with decisive movements that are loose, yet structured. Wild, yet controlled.

The print version is nicely reproduced on an 8-color dye process printer and then sealed with a protective layer of acrylic. It is suitable for framing and is hand-signed and individually numbered.

August Moon - Featured Painting 8/17

Title: August
Medium: Oil Pastel
Size: 9″ x 12″ (mat is about 12″ x 14″).
Price: $40.00

I am fascinated by Japanese hanafuda (flower) cards. They are similar to Western playing cards, except they use flowers, plants, and seasons instead of suits. Gameplay is not unlike Rummy and the cards are striking, full of contrast, and lush with color and symbolism.

I rendered the Autumn grass card (the hills are bent pampas grass) in oil pastels on white paper. It’s got dramatic, room-changing color and it would really transform your space.
The work has been professionally matted and sealed in archival plastic by local framer and artist, Darla Hallmark (she’s damned good!).

August is for sale on my regular retail art site Art by Ren Adams and via my Etsy shop.

Simplicity is divine.

Painting is wrapped in plastic, which is why the flash is glinting off of it in waves of shine.

New Chinese Brush Paintings on Etsy

I’ve done a series of new Chinese brush paintings which feature serene, ripening gourds in the late summer.
I’ve always liked the roundness of gourds and squash and I found them to be enjoyable subjects when it came to applying brush painting techniques.

While some of the gourds are a little phallic (hee hee! Why the neck not?), all are plump, shiny, and almost ready to be picked–like the movement of August as it blends into September. As the summer comes to a head and the fall sneaks in at the edges, the gourds are ready to be plucked from the flowing vine.

All these luscious gourds are available for sale through my Etsy art website.

My Etsy website: http://plasticpumpkin.etsy.com
(let me know if you ever have any issues checking out through Etsy, during purchase)

Double Gourds: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6229215
Kinda Phallic Green Gourds: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6228785
Gourds Fruiting on the Vine: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6223733