Carol Durbin

When presented with the opportunity to live on the Japanese island of Okinawa, she immersed herself in a new world. She embraced the people, the culture, the island, and the arts. For three years, she spent her weekends scuba diving over brilliant coral reefs and her weekdays in the classroom.

She began the serious study of Sogetsu Ikebana (Japanese flower arranging) and sumi e (Japanese brush painting) and Okinawan pottery. Her classes were taught in tatami rooms with sensei (teachers) renowned in Japan. The Japanese disciplines were treated with dignity. The only sound in the room would be the clipping of branches for a floral arrangement, the grinding of sumi ink or the turning of the potter’s wheel.

She learned that the Japanese disciplines always had two important elements: “less is more” and “negative space”. She immersed herself in these disciplines and absorbed the Japanese culture and artistic elements.

Her abstracts are not necessarily Asian depictions, her use of the brush and her feeling of peace as she paints is part of what is now second nature to her. Carol feels that her best works are those that come from that special place.

If you’d like to purchase Carol’s online artwork, please email her at gramcr@aol.com  or call her at (360) 908-7699 to make a sales appointment.