Practice, Practice, Practice

Last winter I was playing around a bit with Oriental style brush painting and this year I am going to work at it even more. Practice, practice, practice and more practice because I am finding it a lot more complicated than seems.

First there is the paper!

There is Masa, Mulberry, Awagami Fine Art Paper and a couple that I don't have names for because the paper was given to me. It is all rice paper but each one is different! How do you know which is best?

Then there are the brushes and the books! So many to choose from - Chinese, Japanese, fat brush , thin brush! At least I don't have to worry about the inks too as I just use my watercolours.

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 Now is just a matter of practising! So many different strokes to learn. Then there is loading the brush with more that one colour or tone - not too wet or too dry  because the paper just soaks it up!

Fortunately, every once in a while a practise piece turns out pretty decent so I am encouraged to continue with my studies.

Three Little Fishes

Favourite Flower

 I think all artists continue to learn and practise new things although many of us always continue to prefer a favourite. But, we often approach the old with a new freshness just because we tried something new.