Grandfather’s Wisdom to Survive

This bent and gnarled pine tree survived many storms. This ancient tree has lived many generations and gained much wisdom.

Lotus

One of my favorites, Lotus are so much fun with the challenge of the leaves, flowers and seed pods.

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Personality

The challenge of giving life to art. This one is how to give a creature that looks like a hairy potato life. It gives interest to artwork and a smile to the viewer.

Horseshoe Falls

Canal Street manmade waterfall in Autumn. Soon the colors will be just a memory as the world will be covered in January snow.

Home for the Little People

This is one of my favorites. I can just imagine an elf or fairy making a grand home in this charming yellow mushroom.

Falling Waters

I was told by one Chinese professor that women could not paint bamboo. Bamboo is typically a male subject representing the strong upright gentlemen who can bend but not break. In many cultures, women were not considered to have such virtues. As an American woman that concept just didn’t work for me. I worked and worked. Studied books on bamboo and finally achieved this painting. Needless to say, the professor accepted it to hang in his gallery. Thinking about it later, could it be the professor was challenging me to learn proper techniques for bamboo and it really wasn’t about women’s abilities? Whatever his reason, he was pleased with the result.

Peaceful Waters

The lotus leaf gently dips below the water line as the gracious flower reflect on the clear water in the moonlight.

As always, I’m using delicate xuan paper with Chinese color chip pigments and ink. The chip pigments are made from plants and to me, provide the most gentle colors.

Why I Paint…

The Lovers

Artist’s Statement

To me, Chinese art is a symphony in ink and subdued, peaceful colors. A gentle choreography of line and harmonious spirits. Empty space and stillness in anticipation of forthcoming life. When I need it most, Chinese art opens the gates of my imagination and delights me. It takes me away from the present to a special place of peace.

It is this mysterious journey that appeals to me. The muted, limited palette, hidden meanings and special treats: if I look deep enough, I am surprised to see treasures. A small butterfly, a tiny bird, cranes playing at the base of a gigantic gorge, mischievous animals delighting in new found food. It is their spirit, not their likeness that I paint (Chi-the life force, essence of all living things). I look for personality and magnetism between subjects, not their portraits; this allows me to share their souls and delight my own. A powerful skeletal base of each painting is created in ink, to support the structure. Colors are slowly added to create life. Spirit is formulated in my choice of focal, and symbolic essences flowing from the innermost depths of my heart and are woven together in an elegant rhythm of Chi.

My soul is in each painting, from sparkling fully mature peonies with yellows, reds, blues and greens to the tiny butterflies. It is then combined with vibrant, rich colors to give hope that life continues and is still beautiful. A broken branch, bits of brown, a shadowy place that reflects the hidden scars on my soul. These places are not the center, but they are there and are gracefully surrounded by new growth and new hope. Instead of anger, I look to create the beautiful places of still, peaceful, healing waters. I seek refuge. Look deep—for you may see your own soul reflecting back.

Judy Giguere – 2020