ArtSpirit7

Wabi-Sabi-ish Painting

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Pink Watercolor by Mary Gow

“Wabi Pink,” watercolor on paper by Mary Gow.


Recently I took “Wabi Sabi Abstract Painting” with Sherrie Lovler. (A few years ago I took a two day class with Sherrie called “Calligraphic Abstraction,” in person, in Sebastopol, Calif.). This Wabi Sabi class was virtual thanks to the O’Hanlon Center For The Arts in Mill Valley, Calif. The whole class description is here.

I might already be painting wabi-sabi style and not know it. Going with the flow and relaxing into what is – is that what wabi-sabi is about?

After some research I found out wabi-sabi is about finding beauty in every aspect of imperfection. Perfectly imperfect.

Could spontaneous, automatic, gestural painting also be synonymous with wabi-sabi?

In the class we reviewed what wabi-sabi art is. We practiced painting the enso – fluid circles early in the class. With Sherrie leading the way with suggestions on starting our paintings, we went through the exercise of creating a few compositions.

This pink purple exploration is what flowed yesterday morning.

Here’s one piece I created in Sherrie’s class.

Mary Gow- Wabi-Sabi-Painting-2021

Wabi-Sabi Painting by Mary Gow

At times I found myself ‘working at” creating something to look naturally at ease without trying. I made a few examples of pieces I wanted to share with the class that I felt were truly wabi-sabi — many I felt were my explorations ink brush work. . . which I loved.

My natural artistic painting style is to go with the flow of what I’m feeling. . . enjoy the process more than fixate on what the end must look like.

Keep Looking for the Light

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image-abstracted window

“The Light Seeps Through,” photo illustration by Mary Gow Pincus

Do you like those vertical blinds on windows that are probably from the 1970’s? They’re pretty good for privacy. Photographing them using a filter on the Paper Artist app created a cool affect I couldn’t resist sharing.

I love this app and the 40+ filters you can use to make any photograph into a work of art.

What type of light are you looking for?

Light seeping in on the edges. Whether it’s a bright day or a dim one, blinds help you regulate light. And dark. If we could have similar filters for what we hear, oh think of that.

Light from Below

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Following the advice of photographer, Tyler Mitchell, in his MasterClass “Tyler Mitchell Teaches Storytelling Through Portrait Photography” I’ve been taking a series of photographs of the floor.

You can see Day One of my series by clicking HERE.

Applying an app I love called Paper Artist, the image immediately skewed in a new direction.

The exercise is easy.

Who doesn’t have a floor?

Here’s what I captured on Day 2. I was looking at the floor through crossed legs. The Paper Artist filter pushed the image into an abstraction.

Like Tyler says, “Daydream about photography.”

Mary Gow Photo Floor No. 2

Create a Fluid Painting in Minutes

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Recently I got to see Zlata Rabinovich demonstrate her fluid painting. She uses Flood Floetrol Additive mixed with acrylic paint – and in the video you’ll see the mixture poured on a canvas can to create something spontaneously gorgeous! I can’t wait to try it myself.

The sound on the video isn’t that good and the images can tell the story.

You can find Flood Floetrol, 32 oz., at Lowe’s for around $7.98.

More about Zlata at her website: https://zartfun.com