Sometimes I get overwhelmed trying to think of something clever to paint for someone. Then I reread this great post by Dosankodebbie about the basics of etegami and remember that it’s not the wow-factor you are after, it’s the sentiment behind the etegami.
In this birthday card, I relied only on the key elements of etegami that she outlines — wobbly, slowly-drawn sumi lines; “laying” the color, rather than making strokes with the brush, to let the paint spread naturally; limited use of color; and leaving space uncolored.
I painted this hibiscus for a neighbor’s birthday–her front yard is dominated by a towering hibiscus, which seems capable of blooming well into fall. The words say only “Happy Birthday.”
etegamist 