ikebana

This is the second of my ikebana paintings, finished while camping in Arroyo Seco, California.

I have a massive pile of very cheap canvas boards which I regret purchasing now that I have become more serious about my paintings, so I am trying to use them up and reserve them for trial paintings.

I’ve been back at work for two weeks now and I am glad to spend time here, but I get tired. Trying to combat the fatigue with building my stamina – it feels good to be back in the gym and out running.

This painting is a reminder not to rush. Some parts are good and some parts stick out like a sore thumb, and it’s ok to embrace and learn from these things. Perhaps I will go back and fix the lines at a later date, but now I am working on a landscape.

This is the first of a series of Ikebana paintings, each 4×4″

I love florals but the stark complexity of ikebana-style arrangements are so captivating. Combine that with a moody background and you’ve got something kind of special going on. It definitely calms me to look at this painting. I am also exploring the way light hits vases and while this piece was something that I have made up it’s good to try to spend time thinking and trying to understand how light works. James Gurney’s book “Color and Light” is a fantastic resource.

I’m back at work now after a few weeks on disability but it’s good to be back at Stanford. I’ve also made it to the gym today and have been running semi-regularly. Today was shoulders and arms as well as squats (3×5 @ 115 pounds) and planks (60 seconds x 3). I have to start out slow and I’m sure I’ll hurt tomorrow but it’s good to get back into it.

Tag: ikebana

Ikebana #2

@kathendrixart