April 2010 Black dog
Casey Shannon Studio Newsletter
Sumi-e Art  
In This Issue
Enso ~ Zenga Art
Artist in the Spotlight
Self-Portrait Project
Gabe's Gossip! ~ Observations from a Service Dog
Quick Links
Sumi-e Art Blog
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Contemporary Western Enso by Casey

Fine Art Reproductions


Framed Enso Willow Bud

Enso Willow Bud

Framed Enso Snow

Enso Snow
Original Enso Available at Gallery Enso

Contemporary

Sumi-e by Casey


Framed Moon Forest

Moon Forest

Framed Golden Rods

Golden Rods Dancing

More Fine Art Reproductions Available Here
Framed Palm of Kindness

Palm of Kindness

Fine Art Reproduction
by
Casey Shannon

Sumi-e

Leaves of Life

Fine Art Reproduction
by
Casey Shannon

Original Sumi-e
available at
Gallery Be Well

Casey Shannon Studio

April 22nd is Earth Day

Help save the planet!

First sumi-e

Elegant Re-usable Cloth Bag

Sigg Water Bottle

Drink water in style and save our planet with a Sigg

'Your Treasure House
is in yourself,
It contains,
all you need'
~ Hui Hai



Greetings!

I am honored to communicate with you this month. It's that delightful time once again for us to begin our journey into art together.
Shall we begin?
 
  ENSO ~ Zenga Art
 By Casey Shannon Studio

bamboo enso

Bamboo Ensō brushed by Dieryu (1895-1954)

The calligraphy translates:
Leaf after leaf in the pure wind,
As I see you off at the gate, there are tall bamboo.
Just for you, their leaves are raising a pure wind.

What is an Ensō?

In Zen Buddhist painting, Ensō symbolizes a moment when the mind is free to simply let the body and spirit create in full moment-to-moment concert.  The Ensō is one of the most prevalent images of Zen Art, and it has become a symbol of  the clean and strong Japanese aesthetic. Ensō  is considered to be one of the most profound subjects in zenga (Zen inspired painting). Ensō is the sacred and timeless circle.

Read More.....First sumi-e
















Enso Spring
by
Casey


Visit my Galleries

Artist in the Spotlight
  Jean Levert Hood

This special month of April I'd like to introduce you to an outstanding oil painter, Jean Levert Hood. Jean lives in The Texas Hill Country. Her paintings are inspired by the beauty of the countryside which surrounds her home. Every morning Jean can be seen out walking the fields, breathing the fresh air, and gathering insight before her day of painting. I recently interviewed Jean for this newsletter.
                                                                                                    

First sumi-e

What is art in your opinion?

Now this is a loaded question! I decided to see what my dictionary says that art is: 1) human creativity. I think there are 6 additional definitions, but I like this one. It would be all encompassing - painting, music, writing, etc.

Jean Iris















What is your favorite medium? Why?
My favorite medium for painting is oil. I began painting in watercolor, and have had some experience with acrylics. Oil just does it for me! I love the buttery texture of the paint and squeeze out considerable piles of it. That alone is inspiring to me! I enjoy the texture I can create with oils, as well as, the layering processes.

Jean Geraniums

What media and tools do you normally use to create art?
I use mostly hog bristle flats or brights, Oils, and Ray Mar painting panels. I love the feel of canvas on board, and Ray Mar has excellent quality. I do paint on stretched canvas also. My paints are mostly Winsor Newton and Lukas.

What inspires you to create?
Oh my - living, I guess! I live in a beautiful place and every where I look I see, feel and touch inspiration! Nature never fails to inspire me - color and beauty. I live in the midst of it.

Jean oak


What method do you follow when creating?


I have 2 methods. It depends on what I'm painting as to which one I use. One method: I tone my canvas, block in my piece with very thin washes and as little white as possible, taking care to correct values and drawing. Then I come back with a loaded brush and paint. Another: I do not tone or block in, but simply begin painting with loaded brush and finish a piece all at one time.




How do you feel when you create art?
Exhilarated, frustrated, triumphant, focused, tense, relaxed. My studio is one exciting place, Casey!

Jean Pear

Contact Jean: leverthood@yahoo.com

Jean Levert Hood
PO Box 1740
Brackettville, Texas 78832

http://www.JeanLevertHood.com - my oil paintings
http://www.JeansArtblog.com - my art blog
Friend me - http://profile.to/www.jeanleverthood.com
FaceBook Business page - http://artist.to/jeanleverthood/
Follow me on Twitter - http://twitter.com/JeanLevertHood

  Self-Portrait Project
 At The Art House Gallery by Casey

 self portrait

Casey Shannon and Service Dog Gabe

This drawing is my self-portrait of Gabe and me. Media: Pen and Ink with Color Pencil. This artwork will be included in a massive exhibition of self portraits from artists all around the globe! My self-portrait will also be published in a book documenting the project. The books will be available on April 23rd during the exhibition.

Exhibition
April 23, 2010

Art House Gallery
201 Richards St #16
Brooklyn, New York

Visit my Exhibitions
Gabe's Gossip!
~ Observations from a Service Dog

Feature by Service Dog, Gabe

First sumi-e
Hi Everyone!

Here I am again this month. Last time, I told you about my first day of work at Cabrillo College. This newsletter I want to talk to you about my favorite thing.....play! I love to play. Tennis balls are my favorite. Casey calls them 'the god ball'. I obsess with my ball. However, another thing I really love is my scooter that Casey bought me. Her name is 'Milaide' and we walk, run, and jog all around the neighborhood with her.

I am so excited to tell you about a grand adventure that Casey and I had while taking one of our scooter rides. It was so fun and I was such a good boy. We encountered everything on this particular ride. Casey said it was like 'Mr. Toads Wild Ride' at Disneyland.

scooterHere is a picture of my scooter, Milaide. Is this a cool ride or what? I need goggles and a red scarf just like my hero Snoopy! You can see I am staring at something in the back basket. Oh, what could that be? A tennis ball perhaps? Yup, you guessed correct...the god ball.

OK, now for the adventure story. We turned right out of our driveway and we landed face to face with 2 huge brown horses and riders. Startling us all! It appears they were going for a little ride that day too. So we moved across the street only to encounter a big semi-truck that had just blasted round the bend knocking over two trash cans.

We waited for the truck to pass and then we turned down a side road. Well, little Jake lives down here and he was out playing in his yard. He's a little Jack Russel Terrier and does not like to be bothered very often. He saw us and came flying across the road barking and telling us off. Man, those little guys can bark loud!

He chased us for a good while and then all of a sudden I heard honking. Not a car honking but a Canadian Goose. He was sitting on the side of the road. I had never seen a goose before! Wow! He heard us coming with the barking terrier in tow and he flew up and away as fast as he could fly. What a wing span! Just about blew us over too!

At this point, I was thinking, 'Oh boy, this is really fun and almost as good as a god ball'. We rode on for a while longer and enjoyed a more peaceful run. I was glad to get back home though in one piece. Here's a pix of me when we got home.

Back Yoga!I am doing some stretching and back yoga after that fun filled scooter run. Gotta keep in shape for our next outing!

Don't forget to visit my trainer, Maureen Maurer, and her website. She is known as 'the dog whisperer' on Maui.

Hawaii Canines for Independence

We have a video of HCI graduates on YouTube also. You just gotta watch it. Guaranteed to make you cry! Can you find Casey and me?

HCI Puppy Love on YouTube

~ Bye for now, Gabe
Again, I hope you have enjoyed receiving and reading this Sumi-e newsletter. If so, I encourage you to forward it to your friends and family and ask them to register. I am enhancing my art base and can only succeed with the help of friends like you.

mailRegister Now!

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Sincerely,
 

Casey Shannon
Casey Shannon Studio