Traditional Japanese Drawing

Hi, I have been searching the internet and have not been able to find anything that im looking for. Does anyone know of any websites/books or anything that can give some lessons and theory behind the ideas of traditional japanses designs? Drawing of other designs is one thing, but I was wanting to know more about the actual style itself. Thanks Mark

hit the local book store or library as i cant think of a frigging book at the moment and i just had the damm book in my paws a couple of weeks ago. damm C.R.S best of luck don

Thanks, I think I'll do that...I might just keep borrowing them until I find something good. Thanks Mark

I thought I saw a pretty good book advertised just the other day right here on this website called Bushido or something like that...

hey I just did a search on amazon and tons of shit popped : http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=br_ss_hs/104-5180749-0881524?platform=gurupa&url=index%3Dblended&keywords=japanese+art&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&Go=Go I performed a search for japanese art, you may want to refine it though.

Here it is... it was right here on this site! Bushido - Legacies of the Japanese Tattoo Takahiro Kitamura & Katie M. Kitamura Size: 8 1/2" x 11" Illustrations: 220 color & 32 b/w photos Pages: 160 Binding:Soft Cover This gorgeous book delves into the elusive world of traditional Japanese tattooing. The Samurai spirit, Bushido, is an integral component of Japanese tattooing that is traced through the imagery and interpersonal dynamics of this veiled subculture. The eloquent text is based largely on Takahiro Kitamura's experiences as client and student of the famed Japanese tattoo master, Horiyoshi III. Over 200 beautiful photos by Jai Tanju capture the breathtaking tattoo artistry of Horiyoshi III. Five original, unpublished prints by Horiyoshi III, like those in his acclaimed book, 100 Demons of Horiyoshi III, are included here. Bushido: Legacies of the Japanese Tattoo is certain to fascinate everyone with an interest in tattoo culture.

The traditional Japanese "style" comes, or rather, was influenced by japanese wood block prints. In the "Edo" period- 17th~19th century japan, the choice of entertainment and culture for the rich to the common was all centered from the theater arts. Imagery of the heroes and heroins were captured in the wood cut print called "Ukiyoe". The prints were made to capture the story and drama for people to take home. Wood cuts were made by a crafts man, from a sketch done by artists who specialized in making the image for the printers. Kind of like a graphic artists today. Of cause the main materials available at the time was the brush and sumi ink, as well as few colors taken from nature. thats explains the bold line, as well as the choice of color, mainly primary. (also, the ukiyoe was sort of like a poster of an idol, thus character mostly became the main focus and the back ground is made as soft as possible to add just enough accent to enhance the main "item" to be seen. The trends of body sutes changed time to time, just like fashion and product cycles. but thats a different kinda style to talk about.) Tattoo designs were quite often made from this "Ukiyoe" prints. Also, theaters would have characters with tattoo, and that leads to the Ukiyoe to have image of an actor with tattoo..., that's the kind of connection tattoo partook in the cluture of edo period. Tattoo in edo period was a practice especially popular among blue-color-workers. As we cheer the eagles today (or whatever your choice of team) and support the bird tattoo, in the edo period japanese would wear the mystery and the drama- heroism they found in the image and story of the period within. **not responsible for any typo&grammer. thanks.

one more thing. The artist of that period was taught to " get rid of the muddiness (they painted mainly on silk using pigments and glue, not at all like oil painting)", " to simplify", and " to capture the essence ( of whatever you are painting)" Add some basic folk concept of perspective, and that's the so-called "style" as we see it. As far as i know, there is not much "Theory" that you may find in da vinci, Rembrandt, or any of European school of art before 20th century, in Japanese art.

I have the Bushido book and it's beautifully photographed with full-page photos and information about the style. It gives a lot of attention to Horiyoshi III. I have one more book about Japanese tattooing (from a how the west influences modern tattooing in Japan), called Japanese Tattooing Now. Much less in quality that the Bushido book -- a number of the pictures are so low-rez that it looks like they were pulled off of a website and the pictures are much smaller, sometimes five or six thrown together on each page. The Bushido book is quite good if what you're looking for is information and tremendous photos from traditional Japanese tattooing.