Jelisava

The tune in my head

Sketching while they played Angeline and I can't get the tune out of my "head" ;) / Oct. 2011

...the way I always loved her beats all you've ever seen...

~ lyrics from a version of Angelina Baker

La Belle

The real beauty in La Belle et la Bête / March 2010

This was the night of the girl on the stage with the yellow tulips who smiled and sang and sparkled and glowed so that you couldn't take your eyes off her and each time she smiled and looked at the audience you were positive that she was smiling right at you.

The poetry of hands, 29

Detail from Minerva by Rembrandt (oil on canvas, 1635) at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art / August 2009

Minerva is known as the Roman goddess of wisdom. I wonder has she read everything in that big book where her left hand rests? Or is that the book of wisdom she has written? She is also known as the goddess of the useful and ornamental arts and craft such as spinning, weaving, and needle-work.

A reflection of existence

Carving above a door in / Ljubljana, Slovenia / May 2005

"Art in the end, is a reflection of existence, yearning, suffering, epiphany and love."

~ artist John Urbain

The ink sings

ink not ink exhibit of Chinese contemporary ink painting; the building was designed by Frank Furness as the Centennial National Bank building (circa 1876), it is now the Paul Peck Alumni Center at Drexel University / Philadelphia, PA / May 2009

The brush dances and the ink sings.

~ Chinese saying

Creatively endowed it

Fashion City by Nan Xi, 2008, ink on pape / ink not ink exhibit

Nan Xi composes his art using fading ink dots -- similar to a faxed or newspaper photo with many round dots -- and the techniques of broken-ink, accumulate-ink, stained-ink, and washed-ink.

He has "created a metaphor-featured painting mystery close to history and reality. The intention and value of the original images has been doubtlessly disrupted to a large extent and provoked brand-new reflection and questions. Therefore, his recent works always give people various thoughts -- it is certainly not easy to achieve."

"Nan Xi brought us great inspirations. Under the circumstances of digital age, when somebody considers the wash and ink media insignificant and no longer coordinated with the colorful and volatile new life, and have to develop towards abstract ink and wash, he has not only persisted in seeking the new possibilities for this traditional media, but also creatively endowed it with new cultural attributes and mode of expression."

~ Lu Hong writing about the works of Nan Xi

Desire to fly

Ink on hemp paper mache, silk, iron wire; ink not ink exhibit

I'm here and desire to fly
~ by Chinese artist Peng Wei

A release of mood

Detail from The Night, III, ink on paper, 2008 by Wu Yi; part of the ink not ink exhibit

“I think I draw for a release of mood rather than anything else,” said he, “and I do my works according to intuition and nature only.”
~ Chinese artist Wu Yi

In the realm of ink and wash Chinese painting, Wu Yi advanced the theory that color and ink are of the same origin, thereby bringing change to the traditional school of Chinese painting, which has favored the ink and wash technique. Art critics praised his paintings which combine tradition and originality. In their words, Wu Yi represents a new generation of artists who paint images embodied with meaning.”
~ a description of Wu Yi from the Association of Modern Chinese Art

Art as therapeutic agent

Detail from a work by Li Jin; ink on paper

... In the appearance it seems like the promotion of business world in a fine line, but in fact, it is quite a contrary to the capitalist proposition with conspiratorial strategy to push people to consume and enjoy the world so as to destroy the rivals. And actually no one can live a good life in the crazy consuming pushing but intensive competition among people only. Perhaps art enjoyment is the only therapeutic agent for human being in our era.

~ Li Xianting writing about the art of Li Jin; from the ink not ink exhibit

Let us practice being artistic

Tulips basking in the glow of the sun / April 2007

The more I think about it,
the more I realize there is nothing more artistic
than to love others.

~ Vincent van Gogh