Glory to God (2006)
Today I have added a new room to my suite “Christmas Cards” called “1999 to 2006 — The Global Dimension”. It is so named because the Earth appears on several cards, and round things appear on a few others. I hope these works inspire you.
The Sheep’s Gate (1991), decorated and encased in resin by Mrs. Kobayashi
In 1991 a church was opened in Oji Town in Nara Prefecture, Japan. This provided the inspiration for a number of Christmas cards in the 1990s. Most of these cards were designed or fashioned by my family, not just myself. You may notice the impress of my beloved’s style in particular. As such they are more properly copyrighted “Winskells in Japan”.
On of the recipients took her card and gave it the honour of special treatment (above). Below is one more of her treated cards.
Nativity 1989, decorated and encased in resin by Mrs. Kobayashi
Please see the developing collection of Christmas cards in “Galleries” > “Christmas Cards” > “1991 to 1998 – Church as Motif”.
Next week, on 26th October I hope to add a third room to the Christmas card suite, focussing on the Earth as motif.
.
Nativity (1990)
What? Christmas! It’s only October. Most of us haven’t even done harvest thanksgiving.
True, but I hope you enjoy my Christmas card selection, starting with a gallery called “1982 to 1990 Early works” featuring my experimental works from way back in the 1980s.
I have also just reorganised “Galleries” into just three suites “Calendars”, “Christmas Cards” and “Global Thinking”. There are now seven rooms for the seven calendars. There will be four or five rooms once I have added all my cards. Global Thinking is just one room right now. It will have to be reorganised into a new suite called “Style Development” probably next month.
You might be tempted to click on “Shopping” the one commercial button on the site. I’m still working on this part of my life, so patience please. Don’t expect cyberspace mugging, yet.
Please look forward to more cards next week on Saturday 19th.
Global Thinking A, B, and C
“Global Thinking” is a series of four paintings showing twelve views of the earth at 30-degree intervals. The issue being highlighted is, of course, climate change or global warming. I used data from the year 2003. That was a dramatically hot year especially in Australia (reddish-brown in the painting) and Europe.
Since entering the 21st century the surface temperatures of the earth have shown no overall increase. Even so scientists are concerned. They are on record at the United Nations for claiming with 95% certainty that we humans are primarily responsible for climate change. How can we reduce our ‘carbon footprint’? In other words, how can we mitigate the impact our lifestyles have on the climate, especially in our use of fossil fuels?
Sir John Houghton, an important meteorologist, in his book “Global Warming, The Complete Briefing” (link to a recent edition here:-
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9606545-global-warming)
offers timeless advice on the theme of ‘stewardship’ in his 8th chapter “Why should we be concerned?” If we humans could see ourselves as tenants rather than landlords we might make better progress in leaving a better world for our children. Guess who I think the real Landlord is…
Please enjoy the entire series in the gallery “Global Thinking”. While in “Galleries” you can also enjoy the seven other rooms which house works for seven calendars right up to 2014’s, named “The Earth and all in it”.
Next week, on 12th October, I hope to introduce my Christmas cards, starting way back in 1982.
Window of Praise
Today I have added a new gallery featuring works painted for a calendar for 2012 titled “Praise the Lord” based on Psalm 148. Below is the “Window of Praise” featuring all twelve works in miniature. I would love to see a stained glass craftsman fashion this in actual stained glass.
The window features the panoply of creation giving praise to their Creator, the LORD, starting with the heavenly hosts and culminating in humankind with the birth of our Saviour.
Next week, on 5th October, I move away from calendars to address the issue of climate change. In view of the recent dire warnings from the United Nations’ panel on climate change, I consider this timely.
What artists do I admire? Who has provided most beautiful objects and scenes to inspire me? Who has influenced my work?
1. God
God has provided so many things for us to see, as well as the eyes to see them with. Many humans adore the sexual organs of the higher plants. I was so taken by the colours of this geranium growing in Sissinghurst in a garden designed by and cared for by Ms. Vita Sackville-West. Just below the photo is my painting of it.
The Sissinghurst geranium
My painting of the Sissinghurst geranium, 2005
2. My Parents
I am fortunate to have a rich artistic heritage in my parents.
Cyril is an architect by profession, but he is also an artist in his own right. He has been hung in the Royal Academy of Arts for his architectural drawings. To him I owe so much, including a sensitive appreciation of perspective, colour and form. He painted this autumn scene in Hattoji in Okayama, western Japan in 1998.
Hattoji Folk Museum by Cyril Winskell, 1998
Patricia is an accomplished embroiderer doing quite a lot of work locally for the church and other compassionate organisations. She won the prestigious award of the Olga Stokes Cup for ecclesiastical embroidery. Patricia says her intention always is to interpret the desires of those commissioning her into the final work to the delight of the client and herself. To her also I owe so much, including attention to detail and the patience to see a project through to completion. She gave my wife this cushion for her birthday present last month.
Persian Tile by Patricia Winskell, 2013
3. M. C. Escher
Escher was a Dutch artist who was influenced by his love of Japan where I live. His work can be viewed here:- M. C. Escher’s official site. His playing with perspective and pattern has inspired many. His ‘Metamorphosis’ is famous. I was very taken by his Puddle, and based a work on it (below).
Eight Variations on a Theme, 2010 — See the entire collection in Galleries/East Meets West.
4. Richard Bizley
Recently a friend let me know about this marvellous artist whose life sciences background and interest in heavenly spheres chime with mine. I feel Richard Bizley is streets ahead (or light years ahead) of me. He is the kind of artist I wish I had known about a long time ago. He is so skilled at creating a sense of depth and grandeur in his prehistoric landscapes and scenes of planets moving through space. Eclipsed Pluto could have inspired this work of mine (below) had I known about it.
Heavenly Lights, 2008 — See the entire collection in Galleries/Creation.
There are many more people I could add such as Monet, Turner and Hokusai. Eventually I must open a new page describing the major artistic influences in my life.
Next week, on 28th September, I hope to return to my galleries and add one more set of works painted for a calendar which together form “The Window of Praise”.
To introduce “East meets West”, a cultural and mathematical experience I hope you will enjoy, I have copied the frontispiece of the calendar I made for 2011. If you click the below ‘image’ you will see enlarged, clearer text.
Next week, on 21st September, I hope to introduce an artist I admire.
My latest gallery has a grand-sounding name, “The Earth and all in it”.
In it you will find not only the original designs
but also photographs of the solids crafted from them.
The Earth is the LORD’s
together with brief stories behind the images.
I hope eventually to publish a craft book to show how these solids may be assembled.
From the craft book
I have long been fascinated by patterns in nature, ranging from the microscopic to the cosmic. I have striven to maintain a child-like sense of wonder in my observations of space, skies, flowers and living creatures. I hope we may discover a common bond with people of all ages and cultures as we appreciate the beauty out there, and catch the hope that there is a meaning behind it all.
A bilingual explanation
Two months ago I tried to get a Christian publisher here in Japan to take up my designs for a calendar. I sent this bilingual explanation with the designs. In case you are wondering, I was politely turned down; but it was they who suggested I consider making a craft book.
説明 Explanation
|
月 Month |
タイトル Title |
Scripture 聖書の聖句 |
|
１ |
地球は主のものである。 The Earth is the LORD’s. |
詩篇・Psalm 24:1 |
|
２ |
水は主のものである。 Water is the LORD’s. |
詩篇・Psalm 24:2 |
|
３ |
光は主のものである。 Light is the LORD’s. |
詩篇・Psalm 104:2 |
|
４ |
火は主のものである。 Fire is the LORD’s. |
詩篇・Psalm 104:4 |
|
５ |
植物は主のものである。 Plants are the LORD’s. |
詩篇・Psalm 104:14 |
|
６ |
小さな生き物は主のものである。 Small creatures are the LORD’s. |
詩篇・Psalm 104:25 |
|
７ |
海胆は主のものである。 Sea Urchins are the LORD’s. |
詩篇・Psalm 104:25 |
|
８ |
傘貝は主のものである。 Limpets are the LORD’s. |
詩篇・Psalm 104:25 |
|
９ |
地からの食物は主のものである。 Food from the earth is the LORD’s. |
詩篇・Psalm 104:14 |
|
１０ |
種は主のものである。 Seeds are the LORD’s. |
創世記・Genesis 1:12 |
|
１１ |
地にある実は主のものである。 The fruit on the earth is the LORD’s. |
詩篇・Psalm 104:13 |
|
１２ |
私達も主のものである。 We too are the LORD’s. |
ヨハネ・John 1:11, 12 |
Next week on Saturday 14th September, I hope to introduce the wonderful world of ‘Wasan’ or Japanese mathematics.. It is fascinating how much knowledge was independently discovered in Japan during the country’s isolation from the outside world prior to the Meiji Restoration in the 19th century.
God Cares For You
Ninety years ago tomorrow at lunch time, the ground shook under Tokyo and Yokohama. Many thousands died in the fire that followed. Sixteen years ago today, Lady Diana died in a horrific traffic accident in Paris. At this moment as I write, in Syria people are dying at the hands of people.
Whether many or few people suffer, is there a God who cares?
About 2000 years ago Peter wrote about a God who lifts and cares.
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand,that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
1 Peter 5:6,7 (Bible: NIV)
Is there a God who cares? My paintings express the hope that there is.
Next week on 7th September, I hope to introduce my current collection, on the subject of “The Earth is the LORD’s’’.
私は水が大好きです。
水滴
水の三つの物質の状態を立体の表面の上で表現しました：雲、雨、雪。
虹もどうしても付け加えたかった：雨の水滴と雪の結晶に反射しています。
以下は展開図です。
水滴の展開図
完成した作品の感じは新鮮でしょうか。
