Aug 21, 2010 Posted by admin

Artful Intention

One of my favorite destinations in Brooklyn is the Japanese garden at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Walking along its path one day last weekend, I arrived at a bench on the far side of the pond. From there, I could look back at the viewing platform at the entrance and get a pond-side view of a small island bordered with stones. That day I wanted to sketch a cluster of stones. At first I did a few sketches... read more

Jul 19, 2010 Posted by admin

A Meaningful Meander

In July and August I like to sit by the lotus plants in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. This year is its 100th anniversary. I am glad the garden is being celebrated, because it offers me so much to see all year round. I enjoy the trees in the fall, conservatory exotics in the winter, cherry blossoms and peonies in the spring, and roses and lotuses in the summer. I wander around the garden until something... read more

Jun 23, 2010 Posted by admin

Traveler’s Heart

When I get ready to go traveling, I always pack something that will give me a way to record impressions. A sketching pen and a notebook used to be enough. Now I include a few more items: I go to an art store for a pen brush. With this, I can do brush sketches, in a quick sumi-e style. Also I pack a sketchbook that has a soft absorbent surface like rice paper. I add a camera, to capture scenes that I... read more

May 20, 2010 Posted by admin

Moved By Design

Design changes us. We don’t perceive design just visually. It changes how we feel as we move around and through it. Walking down city streets, the straight lines pull us forward, move us ahead—make us hurry. Response to design varies according to personal preference or mood. Sometimes we like to be hurried; sometimes we like to be slowed down. Since most of my life is on the fast track, I like a chance... read more

Mar 22, 2010 Posted by admin

Shidare-zakura: Oku-fukai

Yae-zakura Every year I am drawn to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden to search out the emerging spring flowers. Snowdrops, forsythia, daffodils, plum blossoms—all build to a crescendo in April, with a stunning display of cherry blossoms. Crowds flock to see the rows of flowering yae-zakura trees—and they are truly impressive. But my favorites are the weeping cherry [shidare-zakura] trees around the edge of... read more

Feb 25, 2010 Posted by admin

Japanese Soups: Oku-fukai

In New York, March is still winter—freezing, cold winds, sometimes even snow. Spring doesn’t arrive until almost April. So until the plum blossoms arrive, I will continue to make hot soups to warm up after going out in the cold. Recently, I tried to introduce some Japanese-style items into my soups, so they would be lighter, but still warming. This was my chance to go deeper into soup-making. I should... read more