Michele Benzamin-Miki

2016 / Sumi Ink and Pencil on Paper / Framed

"‘Elevation’ Before painting, I take a moment to clear my mind of expectation or direction for what comes from my brush, by meditating.

I start with brush work, using the principles of ‘Ma,’ in the art of Japanese Calligraphy, considering the empty space around the brush stroke as an important part of the painting, and which creates a meditative space for the observer. I use this space to integrate my female figures, elevating and illuminating them. With ‘Elevation’ I reversed my usual process of painting and then drawing, and took the risk of creating the figure first, and then adding the brushstroke in afterwards to complete it".