The Ancient Art of Bonsai

A beautiful little bonsai tree.

I’ve always been intrigued by “bonsai-d” trees and plants. There is something so cool about those tiny trees and forests! They almost look like tiny fairy gardens. I find them really magical.

they look just like miniature trees

I love the idea of working in harmony with a living thing to achieve an end result that is aesthetically pleasing and actually a living piece of art. Even though painting and drawing are my true passions, I plan on learning to bonsai.

The ancient art of Bonsai originated in China over a thousand years ago. Since then, it has been studied, copied and adopted all over the world and embraced as an artform as well as a gardening practice. The original practice of planting single trees in pots was known as “pun-sai.” The concept of bonsai is to grow a tree or shrub in a container and prune it in such a way that it is in harmony with it’s container, creating an aesthetically pleasing shape. Bonsai is more an artform than a horticultural practice, but basic gardening knowledge is essential to practicing the art of bonsai because the artist is creating and harmonizing with a living growing subject matter.

During the Kamakura period in Japan (1185-1333) many Chinese traditions were adopted. The spread of Zen Buddhism around Asia brought with it the spread of cultural trademarks, such as the art of Bonsai. The Japanese began to refine the artform and the practice of planting and creating these beautiful little living sculptures became a symbol of honor and prestige, representing a fusion of ancient beliefs with the Eastern philosophies of the harmony between man, the soul and nature.

Nature has always been a prominent subject in Japanese art. This is an example of an 18th century panel painted on gold leaf.

Over time, the practice continued to develop and eventually became quite commonplace and evolved through different styles and “fashions”. In the 17th and 18th century, the Japanese philosophy was one which embraced the reduction of everything just to the essential elements and ultimate refinement. The styles of bonsai trees reflected these ideas and was considered a representation of this minimalist philophy.

Eventually, other trends began to develop such as introducing other natural elements such as rocks, supplementary plants, and even small buildings and people. This particular style was known as “bon-kei.” One of my favorite type of bonsai is the representation of miniature landscapes, known as “sai-ke.”

In Japan, mostly native species such as pines, azaleas and maples are used in their bonsai. However, other countries explore many other plants in their attempts.

One of the bonsai plants on display at the Chicago Botanic Garden.

If you are interested in trying to practice the art of bonsai on your own, there are many books on the subject. Check out amazon.com for some book options. There is also an American Bonsai Society for enthusiasts in the United States.

one more thing about Akiane…

You can see more about Akiane Kramirek on her website. There is also a link to her blog there.

http://www.artakiane.com/

A Child Prodigy and True Inspiration

I have heard of her before; I saw her on Oprah. I’ve come across her artwork online. But today, I decided to research her story. I am in awe. Her name is Akiane Kramirek and she is an extremely gifted artist, poet and philosopher from Idaho.

Akiane Kramirek and her portrayal of Jesus Christ in her painting entitled, "Prince of Peace"

At four years old she received divine inspiration and began painting and writing poetry. You can learn more about her life experiences in her book, “Akiane, Her Life, Her Art, Her Poetry” She paints and writes about nature, God, and all of the things that seem to matter most to her. Her work is very spiritual in theme and she seems very wise far beyond her years. As an artist, I am so impressed with not only her ability to represent an idea or image, but in her conceptual ability and vision.

"Wonder" by Akiane Kramirek, painted when she was 13 year old

I encourage you to check out her website and blog and read her poems and captions along with viewing her work. Here is an example of her poetry. This poem is entitled “Prince of Peace” and was written when she was eight years old. The portrait of Jesus was also painted when she was 8. She is now 16.

Perhaps I wanted to catch it
perhaps not

But one morning
an eagle dropped a diamond

And right then
with my faulty brush
full of my own hair
I wanted to paint

I wanted to paint the wings-
Too late – they flew away
I wanted to paint a flower
Too late – it withered

That night the rain
was running after me
Each drop of rain
showed God’s face
His face was everywhere
On homes and on me

I wrung out the love
to make the red

I wrung out the stumps
to make the brown

I wrung out the trust
to make the pink

I wrung out my own eyes
to make the blue

I wrung out the seaweed
to make the green

I wrung out the nightly pain
to make the black

I wrung out my grandmother’s hair
to make the gray

I wrung out my visions
to make the violet

I wrung out the truth
to make the white

Today I want to paint God’s face
IT’S NOT TOO LATE !

"Open Door" by Akiane Kramirek; a recent painting

a detail from another recent painting by Akiane. She says that God tells her what to paint and write.

Stay tuned for more on Akiane…

Kings, Queens and Courtiers…

Vessel for the Heart of Anne of Brittany, with Its Crown, Probably Loire Valley or Paris, January 9–March 19, 1514. Musée Dobrée, Nantes, D. 886-1-1.

I recently saw an interesting exhibit at Art Institute of Chicago. The exhibit, entitled Kings, Queens and Courtiers showcased many Illuminated Manuscripts from the 15th Century, beautiful tapestries, sculptures and more. The illuminated manuscripts were of particular interest to me. I have been intrigued by the books and images I have seen on the internet of these manuscripts for a while, so I was anxious to see the “real thing.” I was blown away by their intricate detail and fine craftsmanship.

An example of an illuminated manuscript like the ones on exhibit at the Art Institute

The miniature books were my favorite. An illuminated manuscript is a manuscript in which the text is supplemented by the addition of decoration, such as decorated initials, borders and beautifully detailed miniature illustrations painted in vivid colors and often accompanied by gold, or sometimes silver, leaf accents. Hence the term, “illuminated”. The letters themselves were works of art.

ornate lettering was a constant in illuminated manuscripts.

The books were all painted on vellum, a fine grade of goat, calf, or sheep skin and had decorated leather bindings and covers. Some had beautiful and intricate handmade cases that were designed to hang on the owner’s belts.

This book was a book of love poems that was encased in a beautiful leather case that hung around the waist of the recipient. So romantic!

A beautiful example of the detail found on the covers of these manuscripts.

These remarkably well preserved books, most of which were known as “hours” were typically used as prayer books.
The pages or “leaves” are surprisingly abundant and have been actively pursued by collectors for centuries. Even today, the leaves are extremely popular for decorating. They remain lovely works of art and are one of the most affordable artifacts that collectors can find from the pre-Renaissance era.

The influence of these books carried on even after their production ceased. The works of the Pre-Raphaelites in the second half of the 1850’s are a direct result of inspiration from these books. When looking at the work of Dante Gabriel Rosetti, one can see the influence that the vivid colors and medieval subjects of the manuscripts had on him. On a more complex level, he also copied their use of a crowded picture plane and spatial relationships along with the luminous colors found in the illustrations of the books.

The vivid colors and rich details in this painting by Dante Gabriel Rosetti are reminiscent of the illustrations in the Illuminated Manuscripts of the Renaissance era.

William Morris is one of the most widely recognizable artists in the history of decorative arts and was himself a collector of Illuminated Manuscripts. His work was greatly influenced by the calligraphy and illustration contained in the books. So much so, that he created his own modern day versions. His work is still popular and his influences can be seen in many forms in the world of decorative arts from wallpaper and textiles to furniture and home accessories.

William Morris wallpaper

The Illuminated Manuscripts of the Renaissance are a wonderful example of the importance of art in the daily life of a renaissance aristocrat. Their beauty and influence lives on in the decorative art of the 21st century. They are a testament to the innate need and desire of human beings to decorate and beautify the world around us. When we look back at the rich history of all types of decorative painting, these amazing manuscripts are not to be missed.

Salon 2011 (continued…)

Well, Salon 2011 has come and gone and I am still smiling a week later. I had such a good time painting, laughing and dancing with all of my friends. For those of you who are unfamiliar with salon, you can check out their website at www.salonforever.se. We are a group of decorative painters from all over the world who get together once a year to display and demonstrate our specialties. Salon is “a gathering of dedicated decorative painters from around the world coming together to exhibit their work and discuss old and new techniques, products, and information in the field. The Salon, which began in 1992 in Belgium with a small gathering of professionals, reconvened in 1996 and has been coming together in growing numbers every year since.

The Salon is now recognized as the most important and significant gathering of decorative painters in the world.

Participants of The Salon include teachers from schools as well as those who are independent commercial craftspeople. The Salon is a way for some of the most unique traditions within the field of decorative arts to be shared amongst one another and ultimately, passed onto participants’ students.

The opportunity enhances and extends the level of communication between serious and committed craftsmen.

The Salon is also a way for visitors and the outside public to experience the high quality of work present and meet the real masters of this craft. Ongoing demonstrations and an exhibit hall allow visitors and participants to view works specifically created for The Salon.”

I look forward to next year’s salon in Hamburg, Germany!

My exhibition panel

Anita Medina's spectacular trompe l'oeil panel

Sheri Hunt displayed her Chinoiserie painting expertise in this lovely panel.

Dru Blair's amazing airbrush artistry...this is a PAINTING!!

The Group Mural turned out beautifully under the direction of Patrick Kirwin from the United States.

I was happy to add a bird to the mural...

Salon 2011

It’s almost here!! April 6-10,2011 is the official date for this year’s annual Salon exhibition. If you are unfamiliar with Salon, please check out their site at http://www.salonforever.se/ It is an annual meeting of Decorative Artisans from all over the world. I am fortunate to be exhibiting for the second time and can’t wait to see what the other Salon members will be exhibiting and painting. Here’s a sneak peek at what I’ll be demonstrating…

I'll be demonstrating a trompe l'oeil fountain mural panel at this year's Salon exhibition in Atlanta

Check this out. Wyland…a very talented and inspirational artist.

You’ve seen his work. He’s on calendars, posters, and walls all over the world. He uses his art to make himself a very wealthy man, but he also uses it to promote the conservation and recognition of endangered marine life. He is extremely talented; he gives, he gets. And the beat goes on…

Read his story and view his work at http://www.wylandfoundation.org/community-events-whaling-walls.shtml