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| Winter birds in our neighborhood |
My workroom waits for me. I am reminded that in Japan the week called o-souji between Christmas and New Year's is a big clean-up time for Japanese families. I'm late to get started because the holidays have filled my life with everything but art projects. Now I am eager to make a fresh start in the new year. My workroom needs a good clean-out. I prompt myself to pick one stack at a time.
First, I have a box of washi paper and old wrapping paper, tucked in the bookshelves beside my table that I can ignore most of the time.
I pull out the box. I cut the paper into pieces and make designs for holiday cards for next year. I congratulate myself for getting so far ahead of schedule for the next December season. Now, all I need to do is remember where I put them twelve months from now.
I have a week before my watercolor class begins; but first, I am going to clean out my watercolor paint palette. I pry out each dried leftover paint color. I clean the wells and squeeze in a good amount of fresh paint. Next, I need to test my paintbrushes again. The last time I used them they seemed worn out. Since good brushes aren't cheap, I will test them again.
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| Two different kinds of palettes: a holder of paint |
To remind me how to mix colors and how to achieve the amount of paint to water that I want when I start a painting, I am going to paint a palette of January colors, the soft greys, browns, and greens that cover the ground and color the birds rooting around for seed. But first, I need to find space on my worktable to lay down my paper to paint my winter color palette. With these simple clean-ups and preparations, I have performed my own kind of o-souji in my workroom. I am ready for the new year.
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| and a piece of paper with swabs of colors mixed together |
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| COVID Diary 2020-2021 |
Link to YouTube:
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| HOPE Journal |
from Mary by email: You made me smile when I read about how you needed to find space on your worktable to paint your color palette.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary!
DeleteFrom Mona by email: I just love the drawing of your backyard birds in your Friday Postcards in the Air. Those are the exact birds I see every day in my garden, and they delight me.
ReplyDeleteYes, they give me a lift every day. Now, remember John Muir Law's drawings of birds?
ReplyDeleteI love the o-souji concept. I love your sketchbook even more! Excellent work! I wanted to participate last year, but so many things got in the way. Maybe, next year.
ReplyDeleteChandra Lynn, thanks for commenting. o-souji in Tokyo was a BIG deal. The whole country seemed to stop and focus on clearing out and renewal. The COVID diary was a great way to look around me and see the effects on other people as well as myself.
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