I enjoy practicing art. I am not all that good, but I am getting better. I practice both Western calligraphy and Chinese calligraphy (shūfǎ [書法]) as well as traditional Chinese painting, (Guóhuà [国画]) which consists of two major techniques, Ink wash painting (Shuǐmòhuà [水墨畫]; lit. “Water ink painting”) and what is often called Meticulous painting (Gōngbǐ huà [工筆畫]). I currently work primarily in the Shuǐmò Ink wash style. Someday, when I get much better with this style, I may try my hand at Gōngbǐ, but not just yet.
For me, art is a form of meditation and therapy. It helps me focus on one thing and one thing only. It requires breath and body control and it is very relaxing. There are times when it is more. For holidays and birthdays, I generally put my Western calligraphy to use on the envelopes of the greeting cards. Sometimes, if something has me concerned or if I have been pondering certain philosophical aspects of life, I’ll research it and if a particular Chinese quote or phrase strikes my fancy, I’ll put brush to paper as a form of inner expression, but the vast majority of what I do, I do to focus my mind and just be present in the moment.
Below are a few examples of my artwork. I haven’t always kept examples of my work, as I said, I use art as a form of meditation. Also, a lot of the Chinese calligraphy and ink paintings I do are less formal. I may do the same Chinese character (Hànzì [汉字]) twenty or more times on the same piece of paper or if I am trying to paint a fish, flower, or just a stalk of bamboo, I may make several attempts on the same page just to learn and practice. Generally, I save these for a few days so I can see how the finished product looks after it has dried, and then I throw them out.
In addition to my serious art, I also have fun drawing smiley faces. I draw a smiley face for my wife and give it to her each morning when she heads off to teach school. Their not fabulous, but they are fun to draw and they make my wife smile, and that is what is important. I have been drawing smile faces for my wife for over a decade now and she keeps them all in scrapbooks, but here are a few examples to enjoy.
