Doodle

Just trying to be as spontaneous as possible but did a bit too much...  Acrylic paint on birch plywood.

Not Calligraphy but Asemic Writing?

Whilst looking at the work of Shinoda and other Japanese artists I've realised how much I admire Japanese calligraphy.  It appears to be way too complex for me to try to master so I experimented with gesture and mark making in the style of calligraphy.  Some examples below:

Apparently these are examples of asemic writing, a type of script that has no assigned meaning but that I assume can be as expressive as any abstract art.

Homage

I've recently read the book "Steal Like an Artist" by Austin Kleon.  I've always feared (being thought of as) "copying" or "stealing ideas".  The more I look at art and craft work on the internet the more similarities and exchange or development of ideas and trends I see.  I think I have beaten myself with the stick of having to be completely original (an impossibility for most mortals) for long enough.  So, using my own materials, plywood panels, milk paint, primer, brushes and home made wooden tools I have unashamedly experimented with trying to produce images similar in content and style to the lithographs of Toko Shinoda illustrated in the previous post.  The aim is to discover and develop my own voice through understanding what I find so compelling about Shinoda's work.  The great challenge is to develop my own recognisable signature and not just be a poor pale imitation!

Toko Shinoda

I've been searching Pinterest for inspiring images of artwork and have been amply rewarded.  I wish I could see it all in the flesh; maybe I will be able to sometime.  I was particularly taken by the work of Toko Shinoda, now 100 years old and still working as far as I know!  I love the purity and simplicity of her work, a sort of abstract expressionist calligraphy. I've taken the liberty of posting some images below:

Catch Up

The long gaps between posts represent my struggle to produce work that pleases me. In the run up to Christmas 2013 I went back to a bit of turning for the gift market. During my break from turning I had seen some images of turned, carved and milk-painted bowls by Jim Sannerud http://www.jsannerud.com  I was struck by the simple charm and lack of preciousness in his work and suddenly realised how liberating it would be not to have to obsess about minuscule imperfections in tool work and finish.  I had accumulated a number of cans of acrylic "milk" paint for use on my panels so I set to work. I have to say that it had been a long time since I so much enjoyed turning wood. The results are shown below:

"Barcode" series. Only a few so far. I enjoyed making these so may do more at some point.

It's been framed!