Printmaker, Nishida Tadashige, and His Influence on My Recent Art

I recently became aware of a Japanese artist whose work I LOVE.  In many ways, it reminds me of my own.  When you look at some of the images below, I think you will see why.  

I could not find a lot of information about the artist.  His woodblock prints are represented in many galleries, but he does not have a website that I could find.  This is what I was able to glean from my research.  

He was born in 1942 on Amami Oshima Island in Kagoshima.  He pursued his studies at Chiba University in Japan, and then later, in the 1960's, traveled to Spain and the US for post-graduate studies in art.  He started out as a painter, but later became a woodblock artist.  He is very well known worldwide for his cat prints, and his landscapes.  Today, he lives in Chiba, Japan.

Here is some of his work.

Something that I like about Tadashinge's cat art is that he will use one cat image he has drawn, and use it in a few different background settings.  And at times, change the color of the cat from black, to a white cat, to a ginger cat. That inspired this last body of linocut art prints that I am currently releasing.  I like this idea so much, I know I will be trying it again in the future.

I hope you liked meeting, in brief, Nishida Tadashige. I'd highly recommend looking him up online just to see more of his beautiful cat art.  If you love cats, I know you will love his work too.   

A Date at the Museum

Last Friday, I decided to take an artist's date to see a new exhibit at the Morris Graves Museum.  This is an awesome museum we are fortunate to have in our small community in Eureka, CA.  They have some of the best shows by local and national artists and the exhibits change every month.  

What is an artist date you might ask?  The idea came from a book written by Julia Cameron called The Artist's Way.  Julia describes it as a date where you set aside a block of time, perhaps a couple of hours, to nurture your creative consciousness, your inner artist.  In its most primary form, the artist date is an excursion, a play date that you preplan and do on your own.  This alone time feeds your inner creative self with inspiration.  I know.  I've done this many times.

Examples of artist dates are going to the movies, the theatre, a gallery, or a museum; going to the zoo, the botanical gardens, shopping, or a restaurant.  But it is time you spend alone, not shared with friends or family. 

My favorite artist dates are going to see art in a gallery or the museum.  And it just so happens they are both within a block of one another, as well as a pizza restaurant and an old fashioned handmade chocolate shop.  You know I have to visit them all for the perfect artist date.  :)

This month's exhibit at The Morris Graves Museum was called "Guardians: Spirits of Protection" by Ann Savageau.  

These 15 human sized figures were made of found objects that had washed up on the beach, castoffs as Ann saw it.  The sculptures were created in response to tragic events that happened to Ann and to the pandemic.  

These figures were truly awesome and inspiring to see.  If you are interested you can read more about Ann and her traveling exhibit here.  

Book Recommendation - The Artist's Way

The Artist's Way is a book I highly recommend.  I have read it three times so far, and I'm considering starting it again very soon.

I first became aware of the book, The Artist's Way, many, many years ago and it is still as relevant now as it was when it was first published in 1992.  It was written by Julia Cameron with the help and inspiration of Mark Bryan.  Julia has been writing and teaching workshops and classes based on the principles of this book for decades.  Julia and Mark describe this book as "A Course in Discovering and Recovering Your Creative Self." 

Julia sees everyone as a creative.  She lays out a 12 week program for discovering or recovering one's creative self, with exercises and tools to help get past creative blocks and move forward to living a more creative, fun and fulfilling life.

Your form of creativity may be drawing or painting or any of the arts, it may be singing, writing, acting, gardening, or how you decorate your home. There are so many ways to be creative and Julia's suggestions and tools are helpful for them all.  

Julia considers this book a spiritual path to creativity.  She believes that by connecting with a Greater Source, a Greater Creator, it will help free up your own creativity.  You do not need to believe in a God to have success with the tools in this book.  Just an open mindedness that there is a source of creative energy, outside of yourself, that can help you be more creative.  Here are Julia's basic principles behind the book.

One of the foundations of the book is called Morning Pages.  Julia asks that you journal write three pages, by hand, first thing in the morning when you wake up, before you do anything else.  This is free form, stream of consciousness writing.  Not creative writing.  It's a way of clearing your mind and releasing any critical thoughts, feelings or negativity that may be getting in your way and blocking you from being productive.

Another tool that I highly recommend from the book is the Artist Date.  This is a time you set aside for yourself, to do something you like to do, every week.  You take yourself on a "date." Julia describes it this way: "An artist date is a block of time, perhaps two hours weekly, especially set aside and committed to nurturing your creative consciousness, your inner artist.  In its most primary form, the artist date is an excursion, a play date that you preplan and defend against all interlopers."  I love artist dates.  I have done this numerous times and I have to say, so many times I come home feeling so inspired.  

Examples of artist dates are going to the movies, a theatre, a gallery, or a museum; going to the zoo, the botanical gardens, shopping, or a restaurant.  But it is time you spend alone, not shared with friends or family.  

There is so much wisdom shared in this book.  My review is just a taste of all she has to share. Julia shares inspiration, affirmations, personal stories, ideas, exercises and so much more.   I highly recommend taking a look at this book if you are looking to open up to your own creativity.