Geese Ascending in Flight Sumie

This is the second scroll in a series created for a bonsai display. The sumi-e painting of the Geese, called 雁 Kari in Japanese, was done by Darlene Dihel, a sumi artist in the Pacific Northwest. I met her several years ago at a Japanese festival, and have done a few projects together.

If you would like to order a custom scroll there are three ways to get started: 1. Go to my shopping site at www.shop.customjapanesecalligraphy.com 2. Download my scroll design workbook from my website at www.customjapanesecalligraphy.com to read about the concepts behind kakejiku or wallscroll design. 3. E-mail to me directly at sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com

I requested this painting to sell for a bonsai display that has a fall theme. The entire poem and concept will be provided upon purchase. When I bounced this idea off of him, he said it was a good theme, but advised me to design scrolls that are more subdued with earthtone colors.

In designing this scroll, I wanted to do a Sandan Hyougu, or three step style scroll. This is a little complex for a display, because most scrolls used for display in the Gadou style are either Maru Hyougu or Fukuro Hyougu designs. I thought the symbolism with this would work, and would be appropriate for certain plants used in the display. The Orange on Gold Ichimonji represents the sunset, the goldenrod is for the dried out grasses along the riverbanks, and the bronze for the turning of the leaves.

As opposed to the other artwork, this has the Geese in ascent and beginning the migration, rather than in mid-flight. Dimensions of the scroll as follows:

Name in Kanji / Name in English Size in Bun (Size in Inches)

天 Ten 80 (9.54)

上中廻し Ue Chuumawashi 45 (5.37)

上一文字 Ue Ichimonji 9 (1.07)

紙本の幅さ Artwork Width 74 (8.83)

紙本の長さ Artwork Length 108 (12.88)

柱 Pillars 20 (2.39)

下一文字 Shita Ichimonji 5 (0.60)

下中廻し Shita Chuumawashi 25 (2.98)

地 Chi 65 (7.75)

掛け軸の幅さ Scroll Width 114 13.60

掛け軸の長さ Scroll Length 328 39.13