08.05.10

There is little that I like more than inspiration with my morning coffee. I will just preface this by saying I had to leave my house at 9am and still, the watercolors beckoned me with their hypnotic siren song. I blame my friend Janis. My beautiful, wise, amazing friend Janis who sent this incredible book to me. Here is the story behind it, which is charming in and of itself:

As you may know, I am de-cluttering. I found a catalog I bought when I was in Japan, I visited an exhibition at a temple and liked what I saw from the artist (also a monk) and bought it. I thought you may enjoy it. I've translated the titles (on post-it's) as much of what I can- Japanese having borrowed some characters from the Chinese. That was my first trip to Japan and it had a special place in my heart. I went because I was broken hearted, and did not want to have to say goodbye to a boy I really liked, but was not ready for a relationship then, even though he very much liked me too.  I found great solace in Japan, esp in the bamboo groves and the temple. Still, I cannot hold on to everything, and when I looked over the catalog it made me think of you, and decided to send it to you.

I received it yesterday, and it is enchanting. I know nothing of kanji, but I love calligraphy, and mostly it is calligraphy scrolls. I instantly thought of ten things to do with these pieces, and then ten more when I put it down.

Of course, this morning when I was drinking my coffee and trying to get out of the house by 9am, I somehow thought that it might be a good time to paint a card or two based on this little page I found in the monk catalogue.

Yep. those are two jizos flanking a Guan Yin. As most of you know, mizuko jizo has become very important to me in my grief, and painting them are like little meditations. So, I used this inspiration for some gesture watercolors, and well, they took over my desk.

Each has a different gesture or expression. I am in love.