One Hundred and Eighty-six

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[RonRagusa]

Me, a blank canvas, a few brushes, a pallet and some tubes of oil paint. That's it. There are times when I'll go in with an idea that I want to render; other times I'll just start with a sky and follow where the painting leads me. Even when I have an idea to begin with the end result always looks substantially different. I have found that the needs of the work cannot be ignored. The painting always grows out of my interaction with my materials; but at the same time calls me to move in a certain direction. A painting is always more than the sum of its parts.

Me, a partner and a mat surface. That's it. There are times when we practice a prearranged routine employing a specific technique; other times we'll start with an attack and see what unfolds. Even when we our practice is prearranged the end result is always a unique rendering of our motion in time and space. I have found that the logic of our combined movement cannot be ignored. The technique grows out of our movement; but at the same time calls to us to move in such a way as to assure its appearance. Aikido is always more than the sum of its parts.

(Original blog post may be found here (http://ron-aikidothoughts.blogspot.com/2011/02/one-hundred-and-eighty-six.html).)

[Janet Rosen]

Nice post, Ron, and I agree with the comparison (when I was painting a lot, I blogged a fair amount on visual and martial arts connections).
I remember writing about how in almost every painting, I reach a part of the process where I literally feel lost and don't know where the work is going, and just stick with it until the painting itself reveals its internal rhythm. On the mat I often reassure kohei (and remind myself!) to just trust that if you stay in connection w/ your partner a technique will manifest.