Everything Emptying Into White *

"Pine Tree Island"  Ink and wash  2012

In the art of Japanese calligraphy or Shodo, blank space (on paper or canvas) is seen in a positive light, not in the negative or angst inducing way some artists would have you think. Blank paper is a white area packed with unfulfilled potential, waiting for the calligrapher's brush mark to bring it to life. Literally.

One of my favourite descriptions of this, can be found in the book "Japanese Calligraphy The Art of Line & Space", Author and calligraphy teacher Christine Flint-Sato writes: The black line passes through white as a boat through water, the wake created by its passing is felt through the white. The white is not a passive space or vacuum to be entered and which is unaffected by the line, it is energised or activated by it. (pg 58)

"Floating "  Ink on paper  2013  

Viewed in this manner, it is easy to understand the important role space & motion play in the art of brush and ink. Space and line mutually support each other within the composition of the work but it is the energy motion of the line which brings it all together.

* Thank you Cat Stevens 

Love Letter to Space

Deep Space               

I've always wondered why do I have this deep fascination with Space /Motion. It wasn't like I suddenly decided one day "think I'll study space and motion for the rest of my life!" No. This was an intuitive decision. And I am happy to say that it's been a good one because the topic continues to grow deeper and richer with each passing year. I just need to catch up to it......

Space /Motion is a vast resource to delve into. I don't think one lifetime is enough to learn about it all. Each time I make a new discovery I try hard to figure it out intellectually so that I can explain it to myself or others but it doesn't always work out. People just think I'm crazy most of the time..

What I am beginning to see is that with space, the less said the better.

Sometimes a painting can say more about the experience than whole herds of typed character words on a keyboard can.  That's probably why I'm an artist instead of a writer!

Image info    Deep Space        Sumi ink, paint and chalk on paper   by R Allen-Sherwood  (created 2011)    

"Houston, we have motion!'

image courtesy of NASA

Couldn't resist posting this gorgeous photograph I found on the web,. It combines everything I love: space, motion but with a genuine space-suit thrown in. Unintentional art. How good is that!

It's actually a photograph of an astronaut testing the motion capability of a new spacesuit. I found it in this NASA  treasure-trove  of space images, - a resource so rich and vast, you could seriously get lost in it!

Hmm, might use that for the title of my next post. "Lost in Space". :)