When I have paint mixed up and ready to use, I’ll dip my Japanese brush and shape the tip to fit the type of brushwork I’ll be employing.

If I’m going to use a dry brush or cross-hatch blending method, I'll squish the brush down to separate the hairs. Otherwise I’ll drag the brush on scrap paper to form a point so I can paint either washes or details, depending on what I have in mind.

I accumulate sheets of paper that look like below, in different colors and assorted brush mark styles, and occasionally they will suggest something that, out of a sense of playful exploration, will turn into something like this week's image...or something else entirely.