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Monday, September 22, 2014

1) Wash & Timing 2) 2015 Book Launch, Exhibitions, Author Talks

Hi, Friends, I'm enjoying a new interesting project for publication.
While working on it, I play with washes. If you love washes, I'll post them more. Any feedback is welcomed and appreciated.

1) Wash & Timing
This work (A4) was absolutely fun! Timing is critically important. Sounds contradicted though, being "spontaneous" is, in fact, a carefully planned job in a loose style. Especially, in wet-in-wet, if you can find the appropriate moment when to add a colour, sure, you'll be a winner of a loose style. 
In this work, I left only a bird blank and started up a first wash all over the paper. All wet. Then, I kept on adding paints and moved them around on the paper. It's thrilling to balance between a half-wet paper and adding paints. There's a "time" in watercolour under heaven. 
(*That paper was originally used for life drawing. I always use both sides of papers.) The first try came out not so bad than I had expected.    
This fun experiment gives me a breakthough of washes in a loose style. 
I've got the feeling how to handle washes or played with paints and water. A reference photo was taken in a country side this year. 
This is the original photo. It seems I'm a happy and colourful person! 
Some more study of washes I tried. Landscapes came out of my head.   
Studio work is not so exciting. I went outside and observed bush, while enjoying cricket in the park. I got it -- colour, shape, value and pattern. Then, I got on this wash practice. 
Technically, another important factor for wash is the amount of water. I imagined a typical old-fashioned farmer's house in Australian bush. 
This is a bad example. I could not handle either timing or the amount of water. Also, a mono tone bored me too much. So, (**this is the point for me. I do not push myself too much, particularly, in art. I always listen to my heart and have fun) I moved onto colour instantly. Then, you already saw the better result above. 
Now, thin sketch pads do not hold my washes any more. Gulp... sketching, too, will cost me more than ever?!! 
Anyway, if you like this sort of work, please let me know. I'll keep up. 

2) Planning of Book Launch, Exhibitions, Author Talks in 2015
My illustrations are at the stage of layout. Layout is called, "marriage between a text and illustration." I've left editing in a book designer and an editor's hands. I keep praying it will go well...

We're preparing for a book launch next May. Already, a high-profile bookshop, Gleebooks delightedly welcomes our book launch and an exhibition. All the things are first experiences for me. I have no idea how to do it. The bookshop staff, Australian Society of Authors and top-notchers guide me, totally, a novice. Big names celebrate my debut such as Libby Gleeson, Shaun Tan, Margaret Wild, Elise Hurst, Sally Rippin, Jeannie Baker, Donna Rawlins, well-known editors and lots more. They all represent contemporary Australian picture books and to the world as well. Above all, my fabulous editor Helen Chamberlin and fantastic mentor Ann James back up me well. (*Right now, Ann is bridging culture between Korea and Australia by picture books!) I'm certain they want me to bloom out as one of Australian Illustrators.

Friends, I also appreciate Lynndy Bennett (Children's Manager at Gleebooks Pty Ltd), her warm cheers for such long years and her remembering me, this nameless children picture book illustrator! Once, our linguistics professor Jane Simpson and other notable authors such as Libby (Gleeson) did book launch at Gleebooks. I was there and sketched them. Lynndy and I knew each other quite a long time ago. I dreamed... I wish I could do book launch here...

BUT now, my publishing is becoming true.
When I rang up the shop to tell Lynndy my good news, she, -- to my very surprise -- promptly, said, "Oh, Sadami, what a coincidence! I just looked up your work on net a few days ago. Beautiful! I saw how quickly you sketched our guest speaker." Wow, I became speechless. I so much thanked for her strong support. In addition and for Lynndy's honour, she received the award, ABA Elizabeth Riley Fellowship for Children's Bookselling 2013. 

I've found myself surrounded by super stars and constellations of Australian picture book industry. ...I sometimes wonder I'm in a fairy tale or a day dream. No. This is real.
Thank you, Friends. Your cheers have enabled me to come to this stage.
My hands have still pains though, I'll do my best to pay back what I've got to society through picture books and art activities.

Libraries also celebrate my debut and we're planning author talks.
Yes, a school holidays program! Come over my watercolour workshop. Children aged between 8 and 12 years @ Parramatta library,  on 1st October,11am-12pm. $3 per person. To book, please contact the library, 9806 5159. Let's have fun!!

Friends, Happy Painting! Special thanks and smile from me, Sadami!




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26 comments:

  1. Wonderful watercolor wash Sadami. Lots of luck with the book launch!

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    1. Thank you so much, Carol. You, too, enjoy drawing fully. Best wishes, Sadami

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  2. wonderful painting, Sadami...and congratulations on the book. What a fantastic achievement.

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    1. Thank u very much, Celeste. You, too, enjoy drawing. Your work always make us happy! Best wishes, Sadami

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  3. Divertidisimo y dificilisimo lo de pintar en humedo sobre humedo. Me alegra mucho saber que te estan saliendo las cosas como tu quieres porque te lo mereces, y una pregunta... rodeada de de súper estrellas dices, acaso no eres tú una de ellas?

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    1. Oh, sweet Tina, thank you so much! I'm not a superstar at all (*I'm sure I'll die in poverty!). But I really hope I can get more projects. Yes, "wash" is hilarious and a sweet and bitter technique?! You are showing us sophisticated washes more and more. I'm learning from you, Tina. If you come to Sydney, we can sketch together!!!
      Best wishes, Sadami
      Oh, dulce Tina, muchas gracias! No soy una superestrella en absoluto (* Estoy seguro de que voy a morir en la pobreza). Pero realmente espero que pueda conseguir más proyectos. Sí, "lavado" es hilarante y una técnica dulce y amarga ?! Usted nos está mostrando lavados más y más sofisticados. Estoy aprendiendo de ti, Tina. Si vienes a Sydney, podemos esbozar junto !!!
      Mis mejores deseos, Sadami

      >>> Tina said...
      Hilarious and a real problem in the paint wet on wet. Glad to hear that you are leaving things the way you want because you deserve it, and a question ... surrounded by superstars you say, perhaps not you one of them?

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  4. I am partial to birds anyway, but I love that bird painting - great colors, great placement of forms, wonderful sense of movement and placement. It is interesting how the artist's hand changes the scene from the photo.

    When I first started watercolor it was for the expediency. But I fell in love with the juicy liquid flowingness of it all , and especially it's unpredictability when I let it go. Now when I go to acrylic, I miss that unpredictability.

    As for your book, it has been such an adventure watching each stage with you. I can totally imagine how it could seem like a fairiy tale or day dream.

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    1. Thank you, Dan! I believe creativity and imagination are our wings that allow us to fly across a sky called art. Or, I think, "Artist has privilege to tell a sweet lie," ahahaha?!

      Your work is always interesting. I have no idea of acrylic though, I tried oil. Like you miss the unpredictably, I missed the transparency and came back to watercolour.

      It is real the adventure!!! I know nothing about what book launch, author talk and an exhibition = my ignorance is blessing. People happily help me. "Do u want to be silly for five minutes or forever? Ask Qs!" is my favorite say.
      Dan, I know you have a dream. Keep up and I heartily hope you will get a chance to make it come true. Please pass my best wishes to your son.
      Kind regards, Sadami

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  5. Your style has always fascinated me. And yes, good luck for your book launch. Am sure it will be a success.

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    1. Thank you, AK. Your work always inspires me and I learn lot from you. Yes, a bit scary though, book launch will be fun! Best wishes, Sadami

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  6. I love the colorful landscape, Sadami. I can tell you had much fun doing it. You used the natural fusing of wet colors so well! I always admire artists who can do that. Keep doing the washes, please ! :)
    I wish you tons of luck and success with your upcoming projects!!!

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    1. Yes, Blaga, "let it move around naturally" is the key. BUT to control it, the amount of water is the secret tool. You can only learn it by experiences. Yes, I'll post more about washes. Thank you for warm cheers. I'm negotiating galleries and libraries. Libraries are very happy to have my exhibitions. An upcoming project is quite interesting. When a day comes, I'll disclose it. Cheers, Sadami

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  7. Hi, Sadami,
    As usual your post is a delight! Would love to enjoy washes like you do...but..I need more control when I paint...
    Have a great week!
    Martine

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    1. Oh, douce Martine, merci. Vous et moi apprenez sur lavages. "Laissez une peinture se déplacer naturellement sur papier» est la clé. MAIS pour le contrôler, la quantité d'eau est l'outil secret. Vous ne pouvez l'apprendre par les expériences. Donc, il suffit de jouer avec des peintures sur les autres côtés des papiers utilisés (vous n'avez pas besoin de vous soucier de coût!). Plus vous en faites, plus vous obtenez comment le faire, certainement. Des cris de joie et meilleurs voeux, Sadami

      Oh, sweet Martine, thank you. You and me are learning about washes. "Let a paint move around naturally on paper" is the key. BUT to control it, the amount of water is the secret tool. You can only learn it by experiences. So, just play with paints on the other sides of used papers (you do not need to worry about cost!). The more you do, the more you get how to do it, certainly. Cheers and best wishes, Sadami

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  8. I DO love this work! I didn't even know what washes were until someone commented on my etegami blog that they liked my "washes," so I had to look it up, and my etegami are not washes. I guess the commenter was confused by the "nijimi" that comes naturally to washi cards. But now I know what a wash is, and when I see your work, I think: wow, washes are really cool. I especially like how you manage to make the water in the bird bath look like a mirror, even though the colors are blurry and overlapped.

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    1. Thank u, Debbie! Let us put "aside" the theoritical definitions of "nijimi," "bokashi," and "wash." I simply think, we-in-wet painting = paper is wet and a brush and a pigment are wet going onto the paper = blossoms, blooms, spreading, merging colors. Outcome is wash. I believe that is the most beauty of watercolour. Your etegami has similar beauty that charms readers, certainly and I'm one of them!
      Best wishes, Sadami

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  9. Sadami, keep blogging your washes, they are all wonderful! You need special watercolor paper, thin paper for sketching is not very good for washes, I think. I wish you much success on your book launch!!!

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    1. Thank u, Judy! I used washes more often in the illustrated picture book. Usually, I use Arche smooth 300 for my art work and wash. A daily sketch book are thin papers. So, I have both Arche and a sketch book in my back pack. Cheers, Sadami

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  10. Love the loose washes you are doing and you have to have color to be happy, it shows! So happy for you with your first book coming out next spring!!

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    1. Oh, sweet Rhonda, thank u! Yes, exciting, next May!!
      Colour and light make me happy. You, too, enjoy washes and experiments. Go, go, Rhonda! Cheers, Sadami

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  11. Sí que me gustan este tipo de pinturas de lavado. MUCHO!!!!! Es además muy divertido ese juego de ver mezclarse los colores bajo la humedad e intentar controlarlo. Je, je. La ventaja es que generalmente suelo utilizar este sistema en hojas pequeñas... Sale mal y se vuelve a empezar!!
    Utilizo bastante en mis acuarelas este tipo de lavado, pero me gustaría perfeccionarlo más. Es tan hermoso!!
    Hay que llevar encima un papel secante para absorber el sobrante de agua! Es muy divertido y a ti, Sadami, te quedan muy bien. Te felicito!!!
    Un abrazo.

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    1. Gracias, Joshemrai. Yo sé que usted está utilizando este tipo de lavado más y más. Es tan encantador. Usted me puede enseñar. Sí, sólo el dolor de cabeza es empezar de nuevo, cuando va mal. Sus acuarelas vez mejor. Estoy deseando a su próximo trabajo!
      Mis mejores deseos, Sadami

      Thank you, Joshemrai. I know you're using this sort of wash more and more. It's so lovely. You can teach me. Yes, only the headache is start again, when it goes wrong. Your watercolour paintings get better and better. I really look forward to your next work!
      Best wishes, Sadami

      >>> Joshemari said...
      Yes I like this type of paint wash. Much !!!!! It's also fun to see that game mix colors under moisture and try to control it. Heh, heh. The advantage is that they generally tend to use this system in small leaves ... goes wrong and start again !!
      I use a lot in my watercolors this type of washing, but I would refine it more. It is so beautiful !!
      Bring up a blotter to absorb the excess water! It's fun and you, Sadami, you look great. I congratulate !!!
      A hug.

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  12. Your washes are beautiful, Sadami. Congrats on the book. I am delighted for you xx

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    1. Oh, sweet Pat, thank you! You, too, enjoy writing and drawing together. See how the book launch will go. Best wishes, Sadami

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  13. Congratulations on your book and the washes are lively!

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    1. Oh, Dora, sweeeeet!!! Thank u very much. You, too, enjoy drawing. Best wishes, Sadami

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