Author: Judy Giguere

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.