Red Herring Painting

"In a sumi drawing, a few spontaneously skilful touches imply, through the rhythmical gestures of the artist's hand and arm, the living movements of nature with which he is in contemplative union." (Harold Stewart, A Net of Fireflies, 1960, ed. 1978. p. 133). This all began on a whim, taking a workshop on something I knew nothing about because I wanted to do something I knew nothing about. It was called "calligraphy" and taught by an experienced Buddhist artist. It was wonderful and I wanted more. I finally found a Japanese calligrapher under whom I began weekly study. After a while I became bored with just learning by copying, and started to make imaginary Japanese characters. Shortly thereafter I decided to experiment with larger brushes and this led to finding a studio in which to work and to incorporating my background in dance and movement into my brushwork. I have recently begun to experiment with working on materials other than paper and with techniques in addition to brushes. I do not set out with a conscious intention of what I will be doing other than that I will be making something with the materials I have chosen. My work is almost entirely if not entirely spontaneous. I do not have something in mind which I intend to communicate to an observer. The engagement takes all my attention and I become so involved with what I am doing that I lose all sense of self. I am in the flow, being one with the unspoken universe. There are obvious similarities between my work and gestural abstraction of the 1960's which, although not intentional, may not be entirely coincidental. I hope that when looking at my work a viewer will take a few moments to contemplate what they are seeing. He or she might sense the movement and imagine the energy that created it. Or they might find it puzzling or mysterious and struggle with trying to know the unknown. My work may take them from where they were to a new and better place. I hope the experience would be like stopping before a Spring flower or an autumn sunset and sensing the wonder of nature and the experience of being alive; if so, perhaps my work might be regarded in some way as transformative.