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Bob's Artist's Statement I have been an artist as long as I can remember. However, my relationship with the bamboo brush began when I was twelve years old. There was an art program on local public (then educational) television teaching basic sumi-e (asian black ink painting). I would come home after school and sit in front of the tv with my brush, paper and ink. Each day would be a different object to paint: orchid, crab, etc. This is how I became attached to the brush. For over 40 years, I have been using ink and brush in the manner of Asian sumi-e (black ink) painters, primarily as a self-taught artist. As a graphic designer, I often have used brushwork in logos, design elements, and illustration. In 1995, I had the opportunity to take a workshop from Lok Tok and Yitong Lok, two Chinese painting masters who reside in Toronto. This was the beginning of my study in the tradition of Chinese landscape painting. I have continued to study with the Loks, here in Minnesota when they make their binannual visits in the summer. I have also had the privilege to live and study with them as well in their home in Toronto. Since 1998, I have also been pursuing a rigorous professional training in Chinese landscape painting with Hong Zhang, a Chinese painting master who lives here in Minneapolis. My weekly training with Mr. Zhang continues to challenge and strengthen my skills and understanding of this ancient form of creativve expression. The rigor of practice in this tradition has deepened my understanding of the power of these simple materials: ink, brush, and paper. The emerging direction of my work is: •to explore the spiritual essence of specific geographic locations; •to integrate the discipline of the tradition of Chinese landscape painting with the power of abstract expressionism; • to find form that connects these ancient methods to contemporary experience. May you find some measure of hope and peace in this artwork as I have had in creating it.
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