Suminagashi Scape

 

 

I took a short hike to get warmed up to make some art in the woods.  Suminagashi is an ancient Japanese marbling  art that originated in the 12th century or perhaps earlier.  This art form has been used in bookmaking, official documents and is an art form that when done mindfully has a meditative quality.

I received this kit of supplies from Dawn Tevis. SuminagashiScape is the website that Dawn developed that includes upcoming events.

The path that I took.  And crossed a tiny spring.

The dappled light was wonderful to do forest bathing--a term for walking in the trees and taking in the energy of the land.

The picnic table is filled with supplies and papers and cloth that had been marbled.

A happy artist creating.

This is a piece of linen cloth.

I love how this looks like topography of the bluff lands of Southeast Minnesota.

This cloth I may have removed too quickly that no dye adhered to a portion of it.  Lots of experiments to do and play with.

 

 

I like how this one, above, became very dark.

 

 

This one is light.  The blue starred patch beside the table is a cloth of fabric that I mended my shorts.

One of these looks like part of a tree log.

This looks like there are swirls of smoke.

It's a fun process to play and enjoy the process. Maybe some of this will come into some of my artwork.  Hmmm, we'll see what unfolds.

Springtime in Winona

 

Flowering Tree near the east lake in Winona.

Redbud trees and crabapple trees create lots of color.  The crabapples are also very fragrant.

May 8, Bluffs surround Winona

May 15, Green bluffs surround Winona. A very dramatic change in the landscape!

Midland shooting stars in bloom

Ferns are coming up out of the rich leafy ground cover.

See the dark green at the center of the picture above.  That's some of the fern leaves getting ready to unfold open.  The leaves appear to be creating a circular hug around one another.

The fresh evergreen growth at the tips of the branches are fresh with new life.

The delicate pink of the Midland Shooting Star from another angle.  The colors are so beautiful together.

Ferns and violets growing together.

The invitation to hike the Holzinger Lodge Trails.  Join us sometime!

Tulip Beauty

 

 

 

 

 

 

A neighborhood walk and so many tulips are blooming.

 

Here's a whole yard of them.

Look deep into the throat of the tulip.  Do you see black inside?  It is really a deep purple masquerading as black!

Beside the house are a few more tulips in a bed of bluebells.

These tulips were brought inside before a frost.  So much color and life to light up our days when it is grey outside.

This one got knocked down in the spring clean up.

A little two tone color beauty.

Some daffodils and tulips ready to bloom.

Deep in the throat, dark purple and a thin line of yellow on these rich red tulips.  Breathe in the spring air.  It is fine.

Blooming Cherry Trees

 

The cherry trees, the gift from our sister city in Japan have been beautiful this spring. This picture was taken on Sunday, 4/18/2021. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They look like they're raising their arms/branches in glory! Photo: 4/13/2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's a view of them across the lake on April 8th.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A close up of the blooms. Let your heart sing with this natural pink color.

 

 

 

 

 

Sunrise How I Love to See You

Saturday morning, April 26, 2019, 6:00am  It was a magnificent sight and lit up the whole sky.  The sunrise is coming earlier and earlier to bring us more and more light.  I breathe it in.

These three are on the morning of April 10, 2019 around 6:18am.

April 3, 2019 on the ridge near Witoka, Minnesota at about 6:45am. Morning time, it is a good time of day.

Spring Holds a Promise of Warmth

The earliest of flowers are beginning to bloom.  These cheerful little blue beauties grow close to the ground.

The owner of these tulips said he got these a couple of years ago when he was in Amsterdam.  Earlier in the day, they had been open up wide.  At this time of the day, the sky was overcast.  They even survived the snow/ice storm of the previous week.

Last year's leaves won't stop this tiny ones from showing their color.

Miniature yellow crocuses.  Hmm, anyone know when the pink flowers are?

Purple crocus.