Looking closer

Short notes for looking at Japanese craft and older objects. Start with a line, a colour, a shape or the way light touches a surface. Choose an article below and try its observation prompt.

For a guided route through the notes, visit Looking Notes.

From the Archive

Archive photograph of a rounded square lidded container with pale tree-like branches against green and grey areas.

The Spaces Between Branches

Pale branches cross a rounded square lid. Follow one line, notice the spaces between, then compare the closed container with its open view.

7 days ago2 min read

Archive photograph of a tapered cup with yellow-green and red-orange grid-patterned panels and a pale pink interior.

Small Squares, Changing Colour

Look at a small Archive cup through its crossing lines, changing colour panels and pale pink interior. Three prompts invite a slower journey across the images.

7 days ago2 min read

Archive photograph of a glass plate with six petal-like shapes, nested coloured lines, a clear outer band and a dark rim.

From the Centre to the Edge

Follow a six-petal pattern from its centre to a clear outer band, then compare a second Archive photograph for another way of seeing the same glass plate.

7 days ago2 min read

Archive photograph of a wide dark bowl with pale green and cream speckling across its upper sides and a small round foot.

When Ash Becomes a Surface

A dark archived bowl invites a closer look at pale speckling, a thin rim and a broad curve. Learn a little about natural ash glaze, then return to what is visible.

7 days ago2 min read