'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

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

Returning to Watercolor--Briefly

Abstract Waterfall

What fun! A little playing with watercolor. I decided the other day to post a watercolor on this blog. Not my present medium but a medium I dearly love and have created with extensively in the past. It's fun to play with paints and colors and just let your mind go! Another way to enter 'a journey into art'.

Sumi-e (my current medium and breath of life) for me is serious business. A meditation and very spiritual experience. Having a little fun with watercolor was very refreshing for me. It was a return to art days past. I will dabble in watercolor from time to time. I enjoyed it. I wonder if the fairies might play and sing by my waterfall?

This image is called Abstract Waterfall and was inspired by the beauty of nature and the spirit of water. Water is ever changing. It is pure. And, it can speak to us words of wisdom, if we slow down long enough to listen and contemplate. A babbling brook is so peaceful. A waterfall is magic. The ocean is power. Rain is cleansing. Water--we can not live without it nor would we ever want to.

A ZEN POEM
A sudden shower-
I am riding naked
On a naked horse.
~ Issa Kobayashi