the book haul

Got in a serious load of instruction books today

I must say, carrying home the bags was not very Zen.

but seeing them all piled up on my table was a sight for sore eyes

I look forward to using each and every one of these books over the coming year! 

Starting with:

my Grandpa's paintbox

My grandfather, a professional artist, left me some of his supplies. I intend to use his paintbox for my first efforts. I love it:

Those are his initials.

This is going to be fun!

pine tree exercise

Another important tree: the pine.

for starters, just the branches (I think I should have used a dryer brush to get more texture)

adding pine needles with heavily-laden, rather dry brush

using wet, diluted paint to add depth...
I'll keep honing my pine-tree skills.

inspiration 7

Chinese painting Tao Yuanming by Chen Hongshou
 Uploaded by Immanuel Giel Cortesy of Wikimedia Commons

tutorial link

a tutorial for creating an ink painting from a photo here. I think it actually helps me think about the process of painting, even though it's a different medium

inspiration 6

A page from Jieziyuan Huazhuan (芥子園畫傳 "Manual of the Mustard Seed Garden"), a 17th-century Chinese painting manual. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

information on Chinese painting history and techniques

A nice, rather in-depth essay on Chinese painting here

inspiration 5

Ma LIn Painting courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

philosophy link

A look at "the tao of Chinese ink painting" here

inspiration 4

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Tayū with Phoenix Robe, anonymous 19th century Japanese painting, Honolulu Academy of Arts courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

inspiration 3

painting of Military engagement between the Japanese and Chinese in the first Sino-Japanese War. courtesy of WIkimedia Commons

Asian Art website link

Here, a website with instruction on asian art techniques