Wow! How long since my last entry… I’m sorry, I’ve been quite busy lately.

You will understand why taking a look at what the postman brought this morning:
“Felt to Stitch: Creative Felting for Textile Artists” by Sheila Smith and ” PHP for the Web: Visual QuickStart Guide” by Larry Ullman.
(The package arrived from my beloved Amazon UK, of course).

These books are opposites of creativity in my own opinion, both interesting but so different.
Of course my love goes to the art part and I’d rather spend all my day felting, stitching, drawing and painting… But I have to learn PHP, along with a lot of other stuff, for my job.

That is why I’m feeling torn between those opposites and not much time is left for blogging!

Left, "Roosters" by Ito Jakuchu - Right, "A Shower Below the Summit" by Katsushika Hokusai | A sinistra, "Galletti" di Ito Jakuchu - A destra, "Pioggia sotto la cima" di Katsushika Hokusai

I’m doing some research in Japanese art to follow the intuition that came out in my latest paintings.

I always loved Japanese art – and Asian art – because is so different from European art and that amazes me.
It is like discovering a whole new world, a completely different way to see and represent the world around you.
I can only imagine what happened when impressionist painters first learnt about Eastern art!

All these images are now available to everyone in books and on the net.

I own some books about japanese art and patterns, and I started from those.

My books on Japanese art | I miei libri sull'arte giapponese

I love doing research, as I previously stated, it makes me feel like my brain cells are excited and active!

I had to work these last days, but I look forward to some painting time this weekend! Japan style, of course.

Below, some results of the research.

"Lion Dogs" by Kano Eitoku | "Lion Dogs" di Kano Eitoku

Three prints from the series "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo" by Hiroshige | Tre stampe dalla serie "Cento famose vedute di Edo" di Hiroshige

"Evening Snow at Asuka-yam" by Hiroshige Utagawa | "Neve di sera ad Asuka-yam" by Hiroshige Utagawa

"Fuji from Goten-yama" by Katsushika Hokusai | "Il Fuji da Goten-yama" di Katsushika Hokusai

"A Bird's Eye View of Japan" by Sakuma Soen | "Una veduta del Giappone a volo d'uccello" di Sakuma Soen

From left,“Facing the Mirror” by Ito Shinsui, “Dyers' Street, Kanda” by Ando Hiroshige, detail from “Walking Along the Riverbank at Night” by Kitagawa Utamaro | Da sinistra,“Di fronte allo specchio” di Ito Shinsui, “Strada dei tintori, Kanda” by Ando Hiroshige, dettaglio da “Passeggiando sulla riva di notte” di Kitagawa Utamaro

Some of the books in my collection / Alcuni dei libri nella mia collezione

I added a new page to the site: a list of books I love about my favourite subjects.

You’ll find five categories:
- Books about painting, drawing and collage;
- Books about photography;
- Books about sewing, knitting, embroidery;
- Books about design;
- Miscellaneous books.

I hope I will be able to add more of my favourite books in the following days.

Please feel free to add your comments and suggestions!
You know I love books and I’m eager to find out more books I should collect!