Thank you Merle. Yes, observation is a penchant of mine. Since age 5 I have been an astronomer. Long time, now. ;-)
Observing has been my bread and butter. But I have always been hands-on, too, building and designing equipment for the work (and for the hobby, while it was a hobby). In fact, it was all a Yoga. So, the eye is good, the hands are good, and now they are coming together in this "new" art form for me, Painting. Meanwhile, the woodworking and the making of temple-fittings for Zen Buddhist temples, teachers, and practitioners continues. I make rakusu rings, teachers' sticks, kyosaku (sticks), han (sounding boards), mallets, altars, lathe-turned wood incense-burner vessels (to fill with sand), dokusan bell holders, plinths for Buddha statues, and other things I forget. I had a good background 40 years ago in Western Art from college courses in art history, and spent years in museums, but I have never had a practical studio class, yet, in painting. I've got Kandinsky's obscure and wonderful little book, CONCERNING THE SPIRITUAL IN ART, and will re-read it now while I am making my first baby-steps in painting. Maybe over the decades my favorite painter remains Miro. Such spirit, such power from rather spare uncluttered organic and animated elements. His work always makes me smile, it just happens automatically. I say "favorite", but it's just an expression of an affinity. Other painters challenge me more, and may become favorites. --Joe --- In [email protected], Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@...> wrote: > joe did i not send this to you before? > as you say practise so with art... start observing..look at the simplicity of > all things..and note they are all very basic shapes.. ------------------------------------ Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
