Sumi-e Society of America featured artist Patricia Larkin Green

Sumi-e Society of America member spotlight

“Patricia teaches, gives workshops and engages in speaking formats.  Her method for teaching is philosophical.  She starts with a meditation to help the transition from the outer world into the inner world.  She also believes there is much beauty to be discovered in the use of materials themselves and prefers grinding her own ink to prepare for painting.  Her focus is on the process, not the result.  Patricia states,” As in life, if you make a mistake, you must go on, you cannot cover it up. Sumi-e (literally ink painting), for me, involves a meditative process.  It is impossible to correct the line once on the paper. My hand betrays my inner state, requiring a balance of self-control and spontaneity. Every brush-touch must be fully-charged with meaning, with useless detail eliminated.  My intent is to let each mark of my brush meet the paper as an extension of my state of mind. I am working inward as I paint outward. In Sumi-e painting, when you observer what you paint, you become it. You no longer see “the Japanese Crane” as separate from yourself. Sprouting feathers, you throw your head back as you dance with your brush and touch the paper with your breath….””