Art by artist, Juana Almaguer of Gallery Juana, Figure Ink, Watercolor Paintings, Illustrations on Rice Paper


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			Watercolor, Sumi Ink, Acrylic Figure Paintings, Illustrations on paper by Juana Almaguer
			How it all Started While living in Japan in the 1990's, I studied Suibokuga (Chinese Watercolor and Sumi Ink Painting on rice paper). The traditional and controlled form of Suibokuga had an important impact on my art, as well as my development as an artist. I am very stubborn when it comes to learning. I like to discover for myself how to do something. So when I joined the Suibokuga class, I was very resistant to all the rules that had to be followed when painting. I thought, "How can anyone be creative with all these restrictions?" As time passed, my understanding and appreciation of that Art form took shape. I began to see the benefit of practicing the same brush strokes, in a particular order, time and time again. Through this discipline, I learned that the brush strokes become a part of me -- instinctual -- allowing creativity to lead. I realized that the hand works from memory: creativity is discipline in disguise.
			Toward the end of my studies, I started exploring painting the figure. I have developed my own style using what I had learned in my Asian Art Sumi Ink Painting class. My watercolor and sumi ink paintings focus primarily on the nude figure. The image is as important as the “unpainted” space. Materials that I love to use in my mixed media art works: Rice Paper (washi), watercolors, sumi ink, acrylics, gouache, pencil, ephemera, and canvas.
				Selected Exhibitions and Press
				Solo August 2008, Kahoku Shinbun newspaper, Japan August 2008, Re-bridge Edit Gallery, Japan August 2007, launched GalleryJuana.etsy.com 2001, Gallery 25, California November 1998, Cafe Monet, California Group Dec 2000, Gallery 25, California July 1999, Arte Americas, California April 1996, Mariya Craft Gallery, Japan June 1995, Chokin Art Gallery, Japan January 1994, Maruzen Art Gallery, Japan October 1994, Mariya Craft Gallery, Japan

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