Monday, June 29, 2015

Diva's Challenge #224

This week's challenge is an interesting one. We were to use the pattern Tipple to fill a space. Tipple is a great filler because it's circles in different sizes. Circle is such a great shape, so simple yet it signifies so much in different cultures. I did a bit of research about circles and what they symbolize in the Japanese culture.

In Zen Buddhism, 円相 (ensō), a hand lettered brush stroke forming a circle that represents "a moment when the mind is free to let the body create." (wiki) Some artists leave the circle incomplete while others close it. 

I wanted to fill the ensō with tipple.


I chose not to close the circle because I don't think my mind is quite free yet to let the creation happen. Once I finished this, I felt the urge to do it's complement which is to fill the negative space with tipple.


And just for fun, I did one with just ink and my bamboo brush.


I think I'm going to buy a frame with three slots so I can display these together. I have seen ensō in various Japanese graphic art but never quite knew its meaning. Here's another interesting blog post about ensō here  You never know when a learning opportunity comes. This was fun!

24 comments:

  1. Yukari, these tiles will look great displayed together. Thanks for sharing the philosophy behind the art.

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  2. Great story with the artwork. It is really special and beautifully done. Nice work. Sarah.

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  3. Very interesting, I didn't know about enso. Good idea for the tipple background.

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  4. Thank you for sharing your beautiful work and the inspiration behind it. These will indeed look wonderful in a frame. Excellent post!

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  5. Really interesting. And, the finished pieces are quite dramatic with the positive/negative thing going.

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  6. So thoughtful, and thought provoking. I love the idea of enso. Beautiful tile!

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    1. This was a great learning experience for me!

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  7. Beautiful work and thank you for the story :)

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  8. Yes, a good idea to frame these three beautiful ensō's. I love hearing (well reading) the story about that. Thank you for sharing.

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  9. Oh, your tipple circles are very creative. I like the first one most :-) It makes me happy to look at it.
    Thank your for explaining your philosophy behind your work.

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  10. Very pleased to have the explanation you have given. And your tiles are lovely and will look beautiful displayed all together. Axx

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  11. Beautiful art. I do like the open circle and the thought there. Beautiful again..

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  12. I love love the enso. It is so luscious and energetically still. I am wondering how you did it... One single stroke with a Japanese mop brush? did you pencil it first? Give girl!

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  13. Wonderful work! Thank you for the story behind your tiles! Really a fine idea!

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  14. Yukari, this is so wonderful all together!! Thank you so very much for your explanations!! :)

    ~ Diane Clancy
    http://www.dianeclancy.com/blog/2015/06/my-diva-monotangle-tipple-challenge-entry

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