notes from the drifting spaces
Blair’s art notes…
-
Twisting branches, fading spaces – sumi-e ink painting
I worked outside in the North of Glasgow with my friend artist Margaret Kerr, painting in my large sketchbook a 水墨画 suibokuga ink painting (style is also called sumi-e) of […]
-
Carving seals and stamping onto calligraphy and artwork
Here is an example of stamped calligraphy (this is kokotsubun shell and bone style). You can stamp on your shodo calligraphy, artwork, poetry or sutra copying, or anything else you […]
-
Vista painting and punky rocks at Traprain Law
It was peaceful working with artist Margaret Kerr (please have a look at her beautiful and mesmerizing work: @megkerr245 on Instagram) in East Lothian – Margaret kindly invited me over […]
-
Meditatively stitching a zen robe
Having been born to meet the spread of this Dharma, if we cover our body with the kasaya only once, receiving it and retaining it for just a ksana or […]
-
In reisho calligraphy – the movement and light of the seasons
I worked from Suenaga 末永 Sensei’s reisho 隷書 style of a peaceful and joyful poem by 6th C Chinese poet 陸瓊 （りく けい）Rikukei: 春風秋月恒好 spring wind autumn moon always pleasing […]
-
Kusen 255 collaboration with John Fraser
Dragons see palaces (heavy rain is falling) In the Mountains and Waters Sutra, Dogen says that when human beings see water, fish and dragons see palaces. He doesn’t say that […]
-
Shakyo – bringing the Sutra to life with each brush stroke and pen mark
Our first online Shakyo 写経 practice event saw us come together from Scotland, and elsewhere such as the rest of the UK and Canada, forming a lovely group of sutra […]
-
Walking and chanting the Lotus Sutra Odaimoku
The Odaimoku お題目 chant – repeating the title of the Lotus Sutra Namumyohourengekyou 南無妙法蓮華経 – is principally associated with the Nichiren-shu school but was originally part of a Tendai chant, […]
-
Walking chanting the Boundless Life Ten Line Kannon Sutra
The Boundless Life Ten Line Kannon Sutra is chanted at various times such as by monks at Takuhatsu ritual begging while they walk in all weathers. It has a lot […]