Japanese Panel - Summer is the first in a series of Japanese Panels. There is also
Autumn,
Winter and
Spring. There are two versions - one with fully embroidered backgrounds that you stitch together similar to a Stained Glass set. The other version is individual designs you can stitch on one piece of fabric. I painted some white silk to make my sample below. You will receive an idea file that explains different methods for constructing the designs and specific instructions for creating the samples shown.
When I found the artwork for these designs I of course wanted to know what the characters mean. I asked for help on my group and a delightful lady, Deb, offered to help. Her Mother lives with her and is Japanese. Her Mother recognized *Summer* and *Persimmons* in the writing. Not being satisfied, they wrote to their family in Japan for help.
Deb's cousin, his son and a young lady that teaches Japanese at a local university all replied. It seems the characters are very ancient and only a few have survived to current usage. The panel below is a combination of four calligraphy styles: Shousho, Kaisho, Gyousho and Kana. So though I still do not have a full translation, I know that it is a poem about summer and persimmons and that it is from a very ancient painting and of course we have the beauty the original artist portrayed.
