Catherine Lecce-Chong
Zen Calligraphy and Mark Making Series
Lighting
Twilight
Medium
Photo with Digital Painting
Representation
Asian Art Supplies
Artist’s Statement
Zen Calligraphy, Mark Making, and Writing
…have always been a part of my life in much of my art. My mother says that I was trying to copy books before kindergarten.
The multilingual experience of words and communication from different cultures are precious to me and the world. Maybe that is why I use color symbolically and emotionally to express the treasure of calligraphy and mark making.
So you will see a range of different ways I have used the written word. Often I photograph my work with objects integrated over the surface. Sometimes I play with digital painting after creating the artwork.
If you want a deeper dive into this part of my life that continues even today, take a look at my Instagram.
Zen Calligraphy and Mark Making Series
Hugging My Mountain
The mountain character has a triangular shape made by strong tall vertical strokes like the spine of the mountain. We are reminded to sit tall and straight.
And the base line is a strong horizontal with bold accents on the ends. It gives a feeling of strength and balance.
Zen Calligraphy and Mark Making Series
Psalm 100. Shout with Joy.
Multi-colored one-inch size Chinese calligraphy on white paper, with English translations in middle of page. Multi-colored geometric stamps round and square randomly placed. Photographed with a strand of colorful, felt beads in random curves. Impression of joy and play.
Zen Calligraphy and Mark Making Series
Awareness
12″ x 20” – Two bold strokes with a bamboo brush making fast and sketchy shapes in gold-black ink on paper. Photographed with crystal and rocks on it. At bottom right, there is my stone seal carved with a rabbit, my Asian Zodiac sign. To the right side of painting, you can see small circular dishes with ink.
Zen Calligraphy and Mark Making Series
Origin
10″ x 12” – Red ink Japanese Character and English. Inspired by my teacher, Gyousyou Suzuki. Japanese on left, and English written vertically on right. Literally two characters mean “remember heart.” That is our origin. In the photograph, there is a river stone and a slice of sunlight over the character for heart.
Zen Calligraphy and Mark Making Series
Psalm 23
10″ x 12” Sketchbook. Practicing Chinese calligraphy in Italian cafe.
Black ink Chinese characters, less than one inch. Left side has large red heart with a small red cross and a yellow square POST-IT that says, “Good Shepherd for Uncle Peter.” Digital painted background, gold and light violet. The characters have light violet shadows.
Zen Calligraphy and Mark Making Series
The Feminine
20″ x 22” Two black ink thick lines come into the paper from the top, meeting at the bottom, to form a triangle. Red ink swirl inside the triangle and slightly splatters outside. Signature: Victorious West in lower left corner.
Photographed with small square dish with black in it.
Zen Calligraphy and Mark Making Series
Rumi and the Rose
20″ x 22” Heavy, black, ink lines and large, circular, red ink splatter over them.
Rumi quote: “The patience of the rose close to a thorn, keeps it fragrant.”
Photographed with clear, plastic push pins scattered over the image.