Thursday, June 30, 2011

"Inspired by Hokusai..."

...are my entries for the Illustrated ATCs 2011 summer
"Choose A Theme" (C.A.T) Swap
Group #3...Landscapes.
First, " Fuji...Winter Serenity"...
next, "Fuji ...Through the Pines"...
next, "Fuji...Mountain Pass Springtime"...
then, "Fuji Reflected: Lake Kawaguchi"...
and finally, "Fuji and Sakura Blossoms".
Above is a group photo of the girls right before they were
set free and mailed out from
Sycamore, Illinois
to
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
yesterday morning.
Indeed,
time spent researching the striking art of
Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849)
including his famous wood cut block prints
of Mt Fuji...
along with his not quite so famous 100 Illustrated
Views of Fuji
allowed my Muse and I to a travel into a wonderland
of
old world Japanese beauty and serenity.
Painting these tiny cards
linked me to his Muse...and to the soulfulness of Japan.
'Twas quite a wonderful experience...
for sure!

“When you are inspired by some great purpose,
some extraordinary project,
all your thoughts break their bonds:
Your mind transcends limitations,
your consciousness expands in every direction,
and you find yourself in a new, great, and wonderful world.
Dormant forces,
faculties and talents become alive,
and your discover yourself to be a greater person by far
than you ever dreamed yourself to be.”
~Patanjali

10 comments:

marianne said...

wow Margaret!!!!!
Amazing
You captured this atmosphere so right!
Love this series!!!You did an amazing job!
Have you ever been to Japan?

Have a wonderful day dear♥

Darkskye said...

Very nice! These are beautiful!

Alex said...

Awesome!

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Mountains always inspire me. The great Mt Fuji is no exception. You really bring him to life in these ATCs.

Kate Burroughs said...

I love Hokusai's art work as well and your ATC's are beautiful! I wish I was in the swap to receive one of these!!! Thanks for sharing your creations.
Aloha, Kate

studio lolo said...

wow Margaret! These wonderful atc's certainly embody that beautiful quote. I can tell you were transformed by each of them.
Just beautiful!♥

Lynn Cohen said...

absolutely beautiful watercolors. Love them all. makes me want to go do some too.

Sandra said...

So delicate and stunning.

Marva Plummer-Bruno said...

Hey Peg! These are fabulous! I've just been doing some sketching and that always reminds me of you. Finding lots of new stuff to sketch back here in PA! Marva

Evelyn and Lise said...

Beautiful as always!!! I love your Japan theme. Lise