Welcoming In Inktober!

October means Inktober!

Yummy! Dragon Chinese ink and ink stone.

Dragon brush holder and Chinese brushes.

All the supplies came in a beautiful red Chinese box set: ink, stone, brushes, holder, chop, red ink (for chop), and small water bowl. Found it at the flea market for a very reasonable price. I bought the roll on rice paper on line. 

I'll probably burn through the whole roll during Inktober just practicing! Maybe that should be my goal?

Chinese Brush: Praying Mantis

In 1896, the Chinese Mantis escaped from a nurseryman in Mount Airy, Pennsylvania. They are very large, green or brown, and found just about everywhere in the Northeast. There is a spot between the front legs. If it is yellow, you have a Chinese Mantis in your hands. If the spot is orange, the mantis is a Narrow-winged Mantis, also a native of Asia. There is also a Mantis that is native to Europe. It has a large eye spot on the hind wing. Our native Mantis has a dark spot on the outer or fore-wings. 

The simple expressive brush strokes of the Eastern way of painting. Painting with my friend Kay (Gum Ran). Chinese brush and ink, gouache, rice paper. Used matte medium to paste picture into journal.

Insectmania: