Exploring the characters for Brightness – Koumyou – at Zen Brush Heart

2 April 2018

Some fluid markmaking with the Japanese fude brushes and sumi ink was a nice relaxed way to start the group, before working with the characters 春 Haru – Spring – and 光明 Koumyou – Brightness.

We had fun trying out the expressive shapes of the Tensho writing style, one of the oldest styles of Chinese calligraphy dating back over two thousand years ago, as well as the Kaisho style. We looked at some Japanese artwork and Zen poetry related to Koumyou, as well as practicing the stroke techniques and learning about the history and form of these kanji characters.

Category: Art Groups Tags: Shodo calligraphy

Preparing for a drawing trees day in June

31 March 2018

Tree drawings by Margaret Kerr and Blair Thomson

We are preparing for a summery day of drawing trees in the countryside outside Glasgow near Lenzie with Margaret Kerr. The day will be on the 2nd of June. It will be nice to be outside and engage with the trees and nature through our senses and with slow contemplative drawings as well as trying out fun ways of working like rubbings and drawing on a large floor piece together 🙂

Tree drawings by Margaret Kerr and Blair Thomson

Category: Art Groups Tags: Creative preparation

Preparation for Zen Heart Brush

9 March 2018

We will try working from the old visual pictgrams, first curved into shell and bone, for kou (光) and myou (明). Koumyou means radiant light, which combines well with our other character Spring (春)! We will look at the tensho as well as kaisho styles and have some fun with markmaking and listen to some poetry.

Category: Art Groups Tags: Creative preparation

Nichi and nenbutsu at Zen Heart Brush

9 March 2018

We worked on some kanji characters including nichi/hi (日)　and nenbustsu (念仏) as well as ei (永) – eternal which is always a helpful character for practicing the eight strokes (永字八法) of shodo calligraphy used in China and Japan. Some flowing markmaking helped us to loosen up.

Category: Art Groups Tags: Shodo calligraphy

Sansui – Mountains and Water calligraphy at Wiston Lodge

9 March 2018

On February 17th we led a calligraphy and mindfulness day at Wiston Lodge with the friendly and enthusiastic members of the Border Collie Sangha. The setting and light was beautiful with lodge sitting next to Tinto hill south of Lanark, with ice and snow melt running off the hill.

The day was perfect for combining shodo calligraphy with indoors and outdoors walking meditation. We worked with several old Chinese and Japanese characters including shin (心) – heart/mind – and sansui (山水) – mountains and water/landscape.

Category: Art Groups Tags: Meditation, Shodo calligraphy

Thursday art groups rescheduled for this week

6 March 2018

Hi folks, just to let you know that our Glasgow groups last Thursday which were cancelled due to the icy Siberian snowfall have been rescheduled for this Thursday instead, the 8th of March, at the same times.

We have our North United Communities after school group in the afternoon, as well as our expressive and fun Maryhill Art Group at 7pm at Maryhill Hub. Hope you can make it, with no ice shoes required this time 🙂

Category: News

Preparation for Zen Heart Brush calligraphy group

2 March 2018

Laying out various materials for the Shodo Japanese calligraphy class on Saturday, such as shitajiki (felt mats), bunchin (paper weights), fude brushes, suzuri (ink wells), fudeoki (brush rests) and washi paper.

The pavements are still snowy in Glasgow, so we recommend wearing boots and warm gear to get to the group! Take care on the way 🙂

Category: Art Groups Tags: Shodo calligraphy

Winter textures – art walk in Glasgow

2 March 2018

Generally zooming with our cameras and peering into bushes and next to the pine needles, we engaged with the soft and varied textures of the magical snowy world, continuing to walk along the canal.

Category: Art Walks Tags: Environment

Winter pattern – art walk in Glasgow

2 March 2018

We slowly walked through the snow up river along the River Kelvin and up by the frozen Forth and Clyde Canal. In these wintry photographs we were looking for pattern and shapes, also observing the angles and movement in our compositions.

Category: Art Walks Tags: Environment

Thursday 1st March Art Groups cancelled

1 March 2018

Due to snow and centre closures in Glasgow, our art groups at Ruchill Community Centre and also Maryhill Art Group on Thursday 1st of March are cancelled. Apologies for any inconvenience and we hope to see you soon. Enjoy the magical snowy world!

Category: News