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I learned Suiboku-Ga (Watercolor-Ink on rice paper painting) while living in Japan and have been painting watercolors on rice paper in my own style since 1997.
My subjects range from portraits to still-life. Space and color are delicately balanced and lend an ethereal feeling to each painting.
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Artist: Juana Almaguer
While living in Sapporo, I studied Sumi-E (Japanese/Chinese Ink Painting). The traditional and controlled form of Sumi-E had an important impact on my art, as well as my development as an artist.
I am very stubborn when it comes to learning. I like to discover for myself how to do something. So when I joined the Sumi-E class, I was very resistant to all the rules that had to be followed when painting. I thought, "How can anyone be creative with all these restrictions?" Everything was repetitive and had to be done a certain way.
As time passed, and my understanding of that Art form took shape. I began to see the benefit of practicing the same brush strokes, in a particular order, time and time again. Through this discipline, I learned that the brush strokes become a part of me -- instinctual -- and the picture soon becomes itself with little effort, allowing creativity to lead. I realized that the hand works from memory: creativity is discipline in disguise.
Toward the end of my studies, I started exploring painting the figure. I developed my own style using what I had learned in my Sumi-E class. My husband and I moved again and settled in Zacatecas, Mexico. I was able to work on my Art full-time and fully develop my own style of painting the figure.
Fast forwarding to the present, we came back to Japan again in 2002. This being our third time to live in Japan.
I use the following materials in my mixed media paintings and collage: Rice Paper (washi), watercolors, ink, acrylics, gouache, canvas paper and canvas board.
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