karesansui girl
£46.00
A girl inspired by the 'dry landscape' or karesansui (枯山水) gardens of Japan - frequently termed zen gardens, they are often small spaces utilising stones, rocks and gravel or sand to represent the essence of a landscape and encourage meditation. Stone gardens had already existed in Japan but with the introduction of Zen Buddhism in the 12th century, they were used to represent a sense of nature in abstract form, with the raked gravel or sand representing the ripples in water.
My pieces are painted in a naïve and simple style, with visible brush strokes and differing paint consistencies. It is important to note that these dolls are made from real wood which will have naturally occurring markings and grain, and sometimes there will be small amount of bleeding along the grain, or knots, which is to be expected when using untreated wood - please make sure you consult the pictures carefully before purchasing. She has been finished in a top coat of matt acrylic.
A note about 'Wood Girls'
This girl was turned from lime or linden wood by a production turner, and then hand painted in the U.K. by me, a British artist. I love exploring the patterns and scenes encountered by me on my travels and in daily life. My wood girls are inspired by the kokeshi dolls made in Japan, and with every new purchase I include a leaflet explaining a little about the history of kokeshi in Japan and how they are made. I prefer to call mine 'wood girls' to distinguish them from the traditional folk craft of Japan, but they are very much in the spirit of kokeshi.
Stamped underneath with my roaring bear in blue ink.
Approximately 18cm high.
Please note: THIS IS NOT A TOY and should be kept out of the reach of children.
