SketchBook Project 2012

Sketch Book Project 2012

Brooklyn Art Library

Read about the sketchbook tour in the New York Times!

New York Times Article

I have a sketchbook on the 2012 tour currently in Vancouver, BC and ending in Melbourne, Australia in November. My book is from the theme 'A Sketchbook' and titled 'Sumi-e and Haiku'. So far on the tour which began in April, it has been viewed by people in Brooklyn, Chicago, Portland, OR and Vancouver BC. You can view my sketchbook by going here.

Casey Shannon Studio

Director of North American Branch ICCPS

International Chinese Calligraphy and Ink Painting Society

国際中国書法国画家協会アメリカ支部：Ms. Casey Shannon　アメリカ現代水墨画家

Sketchbook 2012 ~ Sumi-e and Haiku

Sketchbook Project 2012

Theme: This is a Sketchbook

The Sketchbook Project is a constantly evolving library of artists' sketchbooks from across the globe.

This year thousands of sketchbooks will be exhibited at art spaces in 14 cities. After the tour, they will join the collection of the Brooklyn Art Library and made available to the public seven days a week.

The library is located at:
Brooklyn Art Library
103A N. 3rd Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211

The Brooklyn Art Library houses thousands of sketchbooks from various artists and lends them out for folks to view. I have participated in the sketchbook project since 2010. I enjoy making these books. As an artist, for me they help keep my creative juices flowing. Each year, you choose a theme for your sketchbook from the themes available. This year my theme is: 'This ia a Sketchbook' and I chose to fill my book with "Haiku and Sumi-e'. Haiku is Japanese poetry and Sumi-e is Japanese ink painting. Enjoy!

To view my entire sketchbook go: Here

Casey Shannon Studio

Director of North American Branch ~ ICCPS

International Chinese Calligraphy and Ink Painting Society

国際中国書法国画家協会アメリカ支部：Ms. Casey Shannon　アメリカ現代水墨画家

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Sketchbook ~ StoryBook

Enso and the Haiku

by Casey

The Sketchbook Project sponsored by The Art House Gallery library will house sketchbooks by artists from around the world. Visitors to the exhibit will receive library cards and be able to view the books at exhibitions around the country. The goal of the project is to create a giant collective of sketchbooks from around the globe and make it accessible to everyone. The Project was featured on CNN and the library will be touring across the country. My sketchbook this year will not be touring the country. Nor will it be on permanent display in New York.

Let me explain. I love creating these books. Every time I show my daughter my book, she says "Oh mom, don't send it on tour and then to stay in NY!" Well, this year she got her way. My sketchbook theme was storybook and I wrote a story about my canary Enso and dedicated it to my new granddaughter, Aven. When my daughter saw this book, she loved it and wanted to keep the book to give to Aven when she grows up. What could I say? 

My entire illustrated storybook is available for viewing at Enso and the Haiku.

Casey Shannon Studio

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'News from the Studio'

Cabrillo Gallery
Showing an art viewer my work

'News from the Studio'
Click Above

In the September Sumi-e Newsletter
Cabrillo Gallery
Featured Art
Haiku of the Month ~ Buson
Gabe's Wisdom
Enjoy!

Archived Newsletters: HERE

Casey Shannon Studio

'News from Casey Shannon Studio'

Dancing Cranes

Artist in the Spotlight
Ransui Yakata

'News from Casey Shannon Studio'

Sumi-e Art Newsletter
from Casey Shannon Studio just published for July contains:

Dance of the Pollen
Artist in the Spotlight ~ Ransui Yakata
Haiku of the Month ~ Issa
Gabe's Gossip!
Enjoy

Archived Newsletters here

Casey Shannon Studio

Watch a video of Ransui painting Camellias

Casey Shannon Studio

'News from Casey Shannon Studio'

'News from Casey Shannon Studio'

May/June Art Newsletter just published.
~ Casey Shannon Fine Art
~ Artist in the Spotlight ~ Melody Lea Lamb
~ Haiku of the Month ~ Basho
~ Gabe's Gossip ~ Observations from a Service Dog

Casey Shannon Studio

Basho's Pond

Basho's Pond
Contemporary Sumi-e by Casey Shannon

Ever wonder who is the greatest Haiku artist of all time? In my humble opinion, that person would be Matsuo Basho. Matsuo Bashō (松尾 芭蕉, 1644 – November 28, 1694) was the most famous poet of the Edo period in Japan. During his lifetime, Bashō was recognized for his works in the collaborative haikai no renga form; today, after centuries of commentary, he is recognized as a master of brief and clear haiku. His poetry is internationally renowned, and within Japan many of his poems are reproduced on monuments and traditional sites.

'The great age of Haiku spans only a little over a hundred years, and yet it's poetry is a river that continues to flow. Basho is neither the beginning nor the end'. ~ Sam Hamill

At the ancient pond,
a frog plunges into,
the sound of water
~ Basho

The above Haiku is my favorite of Basho's many works and it was the inspiration for my sumi-e called 'Basho's Pond'. You may purchase a fine art reproduction of this sumi-e Here.

Casey Shannon Studio

Rain Bamboo

Rain Bamboo

This Sumi-e is called Rain Bamboo. It is my hottest selling image of last year and is proving to be a favorite seller this new year as well. It is also my most viewed piece of art on my POD (print on demand) websites.

Bamboo is a very special image in Asian art. Bamboo signifies strength and the ability to bend. In our current world and economic climate, we all can use this quality within ourselves. We can embrace the spirit of the bamboo. We need to be strong and we need to be able to bend with the times in grace.

The original sumi-e painting is for sale at my website CaseyShannon.com Click on 'Portfolios' and go to Gallery Essence. Various POD websites where you can purchase Fine Art Reproductions of 'Rain Bamboo' are listed at the bottom of the page.

The rain is over:

South Mountain puffs out

Spring clouds.

- Soseki

Casey Shannon Studio

Sound of Water

Are Haiku and Sumi-e related?

What do you think? Now let’s look at the undisputed master of the haiku, Matsuo Bashō, an Edo-period Japanese haiku poet. Bashō’s poetry was quickly recognized for it’s simple and natural style. Sumi-e is recognized for it’s simple and elegant brush strokes. A natural combination.

Let me show you an example of how I have used haiku in combination with non-traditional contemporary sumi-e. For me as an artist, usually the haiku inspires the sumi-e. This results in a simple creative expression and profound experience. The following haiku is considered to be Basho’s most famous haiku writing of poetry.

At the ancient pond,
a frog plunges into,
the sound of water.
~ Basho

The sumi-e below is called 'Sound of Water' by Casey Shannon.

Flowering Alone

Flowering Alone

This contemporary Sumi-e is called 'Flowering Alone' and is painted with Sumi (ink) and Japanese watercolor. This image was inspired by the lonely and lovely little flowers and plants that manage to sprout up even in snow. They are determined to live in the harshest conditions of winter. I am reminded of this haiku:

"Just by being,
I'm here--
In snow-fall."
~ Kobayashi Issa

Now here is a concept we all could live by. We can thrive and live no matter what our condition might be in life. If you look closely at this sumi-e, you see a delicate little flower on a long stem with a few thorns. You see the struggle of beautiful life conquering all and the thorns representing obstacles overcome. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could be like nature and just be? Flowering alone................

The original Sumi-e is for sale in Gallery Noble.

Art prints are available from my Zazzle Gallery. You may professionally finish your art print before purchase with a mat and frame of your choice right on the website. Or, you may purchase the print unframed.

Casey Shannon Studio

Sumi-e and Haiku

The sumi-e I have created above is called 'Branch of Persimmon'.

Expressed in words by my Haiku:
” juicy ripe, branch of persimmon, gently live.”
- Casey Shannon

Since Sumi-e or brush painting is minimalist painting and Haiku is minimalist writing, it would be reasonable to say that the two ancient art forms would naturally support one another and often be studied and exhibited together. Both Sumi-e and Haiku are strikingly beautiful and are a compliment to one another.

In Japanese, haiku are traditionally printed in a single vertical line, while haiku in English usually appear in three lines, to parallel the three metrical phrases of Japanese haiku. Such as :

The fragrance!
Though I know not
Whence it comes.
~ Basho

Previously called hokku, haiku was given its current name by the Japanese writer Masaoka Shiki at the end of the 19th century. The typical length of haiku appearing in the main English-language journals is 10–14 syllables and have a symmetrical line arrangement such as 5-7-5 or 3-5-3. Some haiku poets are concerned with their haiku being expressed in one breath and the extent to which their haiku focus on “showing” as opposed to “telling”. Therefore haiku is concerned with showing minimally as is Sumi-e. Sumi-e is concerned with 'showing' spirit minimally.

Now let’s look at the undisputed master of the haiku, Matsuo Bashō, an Edo-period Japanese haiku poet. Bashō’s poetry was quickly recognized for it’s simple and natural style. Sumi-e is recognized for it’s simple and elegant brush strokes. A natural combination.

Let me show you an example of how I have used haiku in combination with non-traditional contemporary sumi-e. For me as an artist, usually the haiku inspires the sumi-e. This results in a simple creative expression and profound experience. The following haiku is considered to be Basho’s most famous haiku writing.

At the ancient pond,
a frog plunges into,
the sound of water.
~ Basho

The sumi-e below is called 'Sound of Water' by Casey Shannon.