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Greetings and Welcome!
Thank you for your interest in this newsletter. This is the inaugural launch of the Casey Shannon Studio Newsletter. You are receiving this newsletter because you registered for it, have purchased my art, or have had email contact with Casey Shannon. I appreciate you and your support. If you wish, you may unsubscribe below.
With our ongoing communication, my hope is to provide you with interesting information about the elegant art form of Sumi-e. Understanding Sumi-e philosophy is crucial whether you create Sumi-e or are an admirer of this ancient art form. Sumi-e is a subtle dance between the artist's mind, brush, and intention. It is the delicate act of capturing spirit as the sumi (ink) dances across the paper creating a 'breath of life', which surrounds us in peace.
'Kokoro tadashikereba sunawachi fude tadashi'
If your mind is correct, the brush will be correct.
Let us begin our art journey together!
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What is Sumi-e?
Philosophy
Brush painting or ink painting called Sumi-e in Japan is done quickly without over thinking your subject matter. Once the brush
is laid to the white paper and you have a mark, that's it. There is no
erasing, doing over, or changing. The painting 'just exists'. This is
why one who creates Sumi-e paints from a quiet centered place and has
the intention of capturing the object's spirit and essence with just a
few simple and graceful brush strokes. Sumi-e exemplifies the concept of
'Less is More.'
Read More...The Image above is called Autumn and was sold at the Lauryn Taylor Fine Art Gallery in Carmel. The person who purchased this piece lived in Beijing, China and took it and two other of my pieces back home with him to China. I took it as a compliment.
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Zen Art for Meditation
Book by Stewart W. Holmes
 This book is a must read. This is a gem among books. I read and re-read it. For me, Sumi-e is a meditation and a silence. The philosophies put forth in this little jewel of a book are a collection of rare pearls to be enjoyed and savored as you would a glass of fine wine. This book is about emptiness and silence of the mind. It's about the expanding emptiness
of Zen painting. And, the reverberating silence of haiku poetry. Through
imaginative participation in the visions of painters and poets, the books
readers are led to the realization that, in the author's words,
"emptiness, silence, is not nothingness, but fullness. Your fullness." Click on the book image to purchase this delight from Amazon.
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On a Personal Note
I have been working steadily in my studio painting this summer. I have had the entire summer off from my teaching at the college. A first in many years. With my summer free from teaching, I have had precious time for creating either with ink and paint or designing on the computer (as you can see). This new Sumi-e is called Flower of White. I created this while sitting out in my peaceful garden. It was just a perfect sunny summer day with the birds flitting around and the busy bees a buzzin'. You can see more of my newest work in Gallery Be Well
This summer has been rewarding. I was awarded the Awesome Zazzlers Award in Design Excellence recently. You can view my award and see my work in my Zazzle Gallery
I was delighted to learn July 31, 2009 that Enso One had won the Parent's Day competition at ImageKind. You can view this award winning image and read about the significance of the enso at Casey Shannon Studio Sumi Gallery at ImageKind.
Another exciting thing that happened this summer is The Untapped Source has accepted my work to be sold on their Art Website. At The Untapped Source they offer
the Best Quality Fine Art Reproductions available
anywhere, at amazing prices. I am pleased that I can offer this service to you. All artists must qualify through a portfolio review in order to join this art community. Take a peek! There are many talented artists represented. ( besides myself, of course)
I have also been volunteering and working with an art group called Art for Cancer (AFC). We are a global group of artists that donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of our art to cancer charities around the world. Our mission is to stamp out cancer. I have been developing and creating a lens for the group. You can learn more about the AFC group by visiting this Lens . Many talented and dedicated artists are represented here. My artwork for AFC can be seen in my Sumi Gallery and SumiSpirit Gallery at ImageKind.
"Your Treasure House is in yourself, it contains all you need"
~ Hui Hai
Casey Shannon Studio
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Next Issue: We will delve into the History of Sumi-e and study it's relationship to Zen Buddhism.
If you have enjoyed this inaugural newsletter, I encourage you to share it by forwarding it to your family and friends and ask them to register. My newsletter can only get better as I improve my skills creating them. I am trying to build a bigger audience for my work and will only succeed with the help of friends like you! Thank-you for your support and your time.
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Casey Shannon
Casey Shannon Studio |
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