Lilly Pond

20″ x 16″
Oil on canvas

When the compulsion to paint hits me, I utilize whatever primed canvas is at hand. The French Impressionist collected and studied Japanese wood block prints. In 1854 Commodore Perry of the United States forced the Japanese Tokugawa government into signing formal diplomatic treaties opening up Japan to the outside world. Japanese woodblock prints became available and because they were considered ordinary in Japan (they were inexpensive). Monet collected 231 Japanese woodblock prints. Copies of these prints are displayed throughout his house. Original Japanese block prints are very light sensitive. They fade when exposed to light and need to be kept in the dark when not being viewed. Good composition is good no matter who produces it. Both Japanese and Chinese rely very heavily on negative space in their compositions. They do not fill every area with noise. I tried to use the quiet blues in the center of this painting as an integral part of the composition. Every painting is a learning experience. In painting if you are afraid to fail you will never succeed.