Japanese Art

Japan's Art:

This is one of my favourite forms of art, and has been since I was young.

I don't know what attracts a person or another artist or to a certain countries art.

But the Japanese have got me here.

For one thing..... I have always been fascinated with the Samurai, even naming one of my horses that I owned once Samurai, then another Shogun.

In the English speaking world, Japanese Art is synonymous with the Floating World - UKIYO-E Art, a style of woodblock prints and paintings produced between the Edo and the Meiji periods.

I have a big book on these myself in my own library.

"Samurai"  Artist ~ Andrea Balch  

Japanese art covers a wide range of art styles and media, including: ancient pottery, sculpture in wood and bronze, ink painting on silk and paper, to name a few.

The free style of the artists brush, as they fluently make their strokes upon rice paper, is something you can see, is like second nature to them.

I myself have been interested in their wood block prints, and paintings mainly.

When we had the Expo-1988 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. So many different cultures were there, and the Japanese exhibition was wonderful.

The Geisha and the Samurai seem to be well documented in their art.

And as you can see the drawing here that I did a while back of one such Samurai.

You can see the simplicity of the way the Samurai is portrayed, yet.... also you get the feeling of impact.

Have a look at this face, the intensity of emotion there is quite special.

And this is something that I think we, as artists, wherever we come from. Can learn from Japanese Art.

“Genius is eternal patience.” ~ Michelangelo

As I guide you from one culture to another and show you the different styles and their strong points that can be carried on into our own art.

The study of different cultures and societies art, broadens our ideas, perception and insight into how art can mean so much to so many. In how we think, and our different cultures.

I would like you, as an exercise to try drawing a piece of their art yourself, concentrate on their expressions, and really make it a point to bring that forth into your drawings.

We can learn allot from Japanese Art, and I want you to study how in this drawing alone, how this Samurai is poised for action.

Which makes you wonder, what this drawing is all about, is he under threat, he has a pail in his hands, and his other hand is poised over his sword.

I like the simplicity of their drawings and how they have also bring the notion of intended action into many of their art work.

Have a look at the different drawings, and if you do some, I would really like you to let me know how you go, and show them to me.

Remember the Japanese inscription on your drawings too. It's almost like a trade mark of the Japanese paintings.

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