Canal

Near Suzhou are numerous villages and towns crisscrossed by canals. Such places as Zhouzhuang are now famous tourist attractions. As a subject matter, it is a fine example of how water and reflections can create interest and mood.

To render the reflections require repeated patient washes. I hope I was at least partially successful in bringing life and movement to the water.

Scotland

Years ago, I visited Edinburgh and was struck by its stark beauty. The signature castle dominates the skyline. It was full of a nostalgic mood. I love the ancient stones, the nearby seascape, and even more castles -- Stirling Castle, Castle Campbell. Here is a representation of all those...

The Upper Rhine

I was invited to do a demonstration at the Morris County Art Association in 2005. In the one-hour time-slot, I was able to finish the first draft of this picture -- basically all the elements were there, but the color intensity was only one-layer deep. I liked the result, and was able to finish the rest by further color washes and touch-ups.

This picture reminds me of some scenery in a trip I took in Switzerland years ago. The upper reaches of the River Rhine cut through deep gorges -- the interplay between idyllic villages and rugged landscape made its impressions. I was later able to further appreciate spectacular river gorge scenery when I took a cruise along the Yangtze River in the Three Gorges region. This work is an amalgamation of feelings from both trips.

Pine & Peak

This composition uses heavy ink strokes, and provides effects more in line with traditional Chinese ink painting. The ink dominates the picture. Only some lighter strokes for the distant peaks, and a minimal wash are needed to finalize the picture.

Landscape

In this landscape composition, I try to depict a quiet landscape with a very minimal brush work. A series of broad strokes creates the overall flavor of the mountain land form and the shore. Touch-up by ink lines and dots crystallize the edges, strengthens the space and brings out the depth. Free-style strokes give the boats. Wet-strokes provide the distant mountains. Wet-in-wet wash unifies the pictures and gives the mood.

Hailing from British Columbia

Having moved to British Columbia in the last few months, and anticipating meeting new friends, I herein post some examples of my work. Most of my newer work remains in a big box in storage, and I cannot readily access them yet. I have selected examples from my older work to show here.

In this example, "Gold Fish", brush stroke effects are primary: a sequence of prescribed strokes create the fish. A wash finishes the overal composition.

Welcome Friends

I am creating this blog to hold my artwork and musings. The service for my original art website is being shut down, and I need a holding place till I find a more permanent hosting service. So here it is. This will provide me with a forum for my thoughts on the subject of Chinese Brush Painting art, including such topics as aesthetics, space-feel, art-as-truth, qi-energy-flow, techniques, mental process during creation, relaxation versus focus, and mood-atmosphere.