"Chinese ink painting is one of the oldest continually practiced art forms in the world. It first appeared in China in the fifth century, and soon traveled to Korea and then to Japan. As old and deeply rooted in East Asian aesthetics and meditation as it is, ink painting is credited with influencing the development of Western modern art. Its minimalist approach to painting continues to have enormous appeal. Artist and teacher Sungsook Setton, who learned the techniques with Chinese and Korean masters in her native South Korea, brings new excitement to this age-old art. While teaching the traditional disciplines for holding and using the brush, she shows students how to turn the techniques and inner meditation toward interpreting their own world: city views, music, and the essence of contemporary life"--

(Limited Collector's Edition - 150) This is an art book: oil paintings with accompanying scripture verses presented as a 365 daily devotional.The Spirit and the Brush is a collection of 124 paintings, along with several drawings, created over the past decade. They are arranged to guide the reader through a year of contemplation that echoes nature's life cycles: Spring's revival, birth, and joy; Summer's celebration and whimsy; Autumn's color, abundance, and bounty; and Winter's sleepy embrace encouraging rest and solace in the stark and beautiful landscape.Each image pairs with three scriptures (one per calendar day, leap year excluded). Guided by my daily contemplations and prayers, the scriptures are determined once a piece is completed. The selected passages embody the emotional and thematic direction of the work with the intention of bringing a deeper meaning of context and contemplation to the visual experience. Selected works meet three criteria: an intimate connection with a place I've been and an experience I had; an aesthetic level that I am at peace with; and a strong emotional context. Landscapes are interspersed with still lifes-often created during the cold of winter-that have a direct correlation to the bounty of the scene. I encourage you to find a quiet place of respite each day and ponder the images, consider the passages, and find your own connection to God's Word and His creations.Whether artist, lover of art, lover of the landscape, person of prayer or curious seeker, I hope you find peace and love when opening the book. I pray my efforts humbly point to God.... with Humility comes Wisdom.Proverbs 11:2

This moment of perfect clarity that is the force behind all the traditional Japanese arts—from archery to flower arranging—is celebrated here in Dave Lowry's exploration of the common principles shared by calligraphy and the martial arts. Forty-two examples of Lowry's calligraphy, accompanied by his essays, show how the way of the brush reflects the strategic principles of the way of the sword. Each calligraphy represents a term from the martial arts—such as do, the way, or wa, harmony. The accompanying text amplifies our understanding of the term, what it meant to Japanese warriors, and what it means to practitioners of calligraphy and the martial arts today. What becomes clear is that these two seemingly unrelated disciplines actually partake of the same profound elemental spirit.

Begin your voyage into this ancient style of watercolor painting with this georgeous introduction. Learn everything you need to know, from the essential materials and techniques to mounting a completed painting. A selection of classic motifs, freom enchanting flowers to captivating creatures, is accompanied by informative and inspirational textt that guides you through the creative process. With this unique and accesible approach, anyone can experience The Ch'i of the Brush.

Step-by-step instructions for painting icons, from original drawings through finished product. For more than a thousand years, Eastern Christians have used their hands and hearts to create icons, proclaiming God’s reality in a visible–and breathtakingly beautiful–way. This ancient art is enjoying a renewed interest in the West, as people of faith create icons and use them to meditate on mysteries for which there are no words. A Brush with God is a guide to painting icons and using them in prayer. Written with warmth and energy, it describes the history of icons and examines why they’ve been a spiritual tool for so many centuries. Written from a uniquely Western perspective, the book guides artists–from novices to professionals–through the process of icon painting, using traditional techniques but employing contemporary materials. Included are eight full-color plates of the artist’s icons.

"Illustrated with 150 beautiful paintings by the author as well as some by old masters and other contemporary artists working in the medium, The Luminous Brush is the most comprehensive how-to guide on this luminous painting medium that is experiencing a newfound popularity among today's artists."--BOOK JACKET.

The eye-arresting images in this original contemporary art book feature two popular mediums, painting and photography. Although the art is inspired by the Long Island landscape, its visual appeal in artists’ interpretations of locations is universal. Paired with the dialog of the artists, the narrative becomes an intimate conversation with the reader. Combining life, loss, serendipity and art, it portrays two artists, whose conceptually similar work evolved independently until social media brought them together. Their collaboration continues to produce treasures of stunning, memorable beauty. The improbable pairing of Holly Gordon, photographer from Bay Shore, Long Island, and Ward Hooper, painter from Northport, Long Island, is a symbiotic match. Their artistic relationship is an affirmation of the human spirit in an age where most can’t seem to detach from objects. These two contemporary artists discovered a serendipitous connection to the earlier American artistic and personal alliance of Arthur Dove and Helen Torr, whose work was inspired by the same Long Island locations. The past thus joined the present, deepening Gordon and Hooper’s bond, both personally and geographically. In Gordon and Hooper’s intimate relationship there is a sense of empathy, connection, and mutual discovery that is invincible. Ward Hooper and Holly Gordon understand that the meaning of their journey extends beyond themselves. Their camaraderie and brilliant exposition beckons others to do the same and thereby reach their own heights in art and life. The transformative journey that unfolds centers on art as a positive force that ultimately unites two creative spirits. I found the imagery captivating and the text inspirational. Learning about how these two people from different art disciplines came together to help heal and enrich each others’ lives (and create wonderful imagery throughout the process) made me appreciate my life and relationships even more. The book may even encourage you to create something new, or collaborate with someone you already know...or someone who is out there waiting to be a part of your “Light's Journey.” -- Andrew Darlow, Photographer, Educator and Author ......A love story of friendship and renewal. Holly and Ward were meant to meet to discover their connection through art and nature. Two wonderful artists exploring life together through the warmth of colors, brush and lens strokes and subjects they created separately at different times and then together revealing their deep passion for life, friendship and art. --Charlee M. Miller, Executive Director, Art League of Long Island, Dix Hills, N.Y. Parallel Perspectives: The Brush/Lens Project gives us seamlessly created images that work on many levels: They pay attention to tiny details yet pulse with large swaths of vibrant color. They look like paintings — but they could be photographs, and vice versa. These are eye-arresting scenes, a visual harvest of the natural beauty that surrounds us, creating lasting sights that celebrate what talented artists have always quested for: the light. Holly Gordon finds images and builds digital layers that blend an unflinching assessment by a documentary photographer and environmentalist with a painterly sensitivity; Ward Hooper’s loose brushstrokes capture the ever-shifting light and shadow through watercolors that are as elusive as the light. Their collaboration continues to produce treasures of stunning, memorable beauty.—Annie Wilkinson Blachley’s features and cover stories have been published by The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and national and regional newspapers and magazines. She is a copy editor and columnist for the Long Island Press and writes several monthly columns for Long Island Woman Magazine

Describes the life and work of Ted Harrison, who is best known for his colorful paintings depicting everyday life in the Yukon.

A guide to Chinese brush painting that provides information about materials and offers seventeen step-by-step lessons on techniques and rendering a variety of subjects.