Demonstration Art

Sketch

This relatively simple cherry blossoms sketch is for practice.

Demonstration Painting

This week's painting is a haiga, a painting combined with haiku poetry. The haiku is by Kobayashi Issa (1763 – 1828), a Buddhist priest. He is regarded as one of the four greatest haiku masters in Japan along with Matsuo Bashō (1644 – 1694), Yosa Buson (1716 – 1784) and Masaoka Shiki (1867 – 1902).

Issa's poem seems appropriate for a haiga with falling cherry blossom petals.

Some of you have asked to see the Japanese in a vertical format. Here it is. It reads from right to left, top down. The fourth line, the one on the left, is Issa's name.

Here is my painting.