I've been playing around with a new series that I'm titling Shibui. This Japanese word refers to a particular aesthetic of simple, subtle and unobtrusive beauty. These pieces are created with paper, light and shadow (sometimes watercolor). I'm trying to capture a quiet and austere feeling. I work on these images at the same time I’m working on another series that is laborious and very detailed. These pieces give me a break and they are quick/spontaneous to create. I rely on the natural light that comes into my studio in the afternoon. I sometimes use scrap mulberry paper that I have been painting on. They can not be labored on or fussed with - they either happen quickly or they do not work. To labor on them would kill their quiet and simple energy.
Shibui 6 Shibui 1