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And now a brief break from Japan. Last week I taught a " Start to Finish in 2 hours "painting class at the Garden Education Center of Greenwich. Not one of my regular classes but a special one off, primarily for beginners. We did a starry sky with lots of open ended possibilities for the finish. One possibility was a constellation so here is the Lepus. ( favorite animal naturally.). acrylic on canvas, 12 x 12 "
Another hopefully lucky cat. With Winter trying to squeeze all life and warmth out of us, we need everything life affirming that we can get. Tiny collage, 5 x 7", acrylic on antique Japanese paper.
According to Japanese tradition, every business should have a Beckoning Cat to welcome in good fortune. Such a creature is especially welcome in the New Year. Here is a friendly cat, already to welcome in health and prosperity. Ink and collage. At the beginning of my 2013/2014 Japan Sketch book. It was much too cold to sketch outside at the time and part of the pleasure of any trip is the remembering afterwards.
Camellia studies on Japanese paper and a little pile of fabric scraps calling to be sewn into something .
The Year Of The Horse.
Finally back in the studio after nearly three weeks away, 2 in Japan and 1 in San Francisco. So nice to be back. Easing into the old routine, some painted pebbles depicting Otafuku, the Japanese deity of Mirth and all thing female, and her companion, an old man. (The two are often depicted together) plus a couple of foxes. Foxes are traditionally messengers of the gods so they are considered to be very good for business. I do not speak from personal experience but am crossing my fingers here. Acrylic ink on small stones. Eventually, when the weather warms up I will spray them and use them for chop stick rests.
Appropriate for New Year's Eve, a final look back at my old sketch book. With luck sometime in the New Year I will find the time to work on a journal for this most recent trip. Journal page, collage and micron ink pen.
A Chinese style pavilion in contrast to the Japanese temple of the previous post. Both are by the very picturesque Sihinobazu Pond in Ueno, Tokyo. Watercolor, Japan 2008 sketch book.
No time yet to even organize my photos from this trip so instead a pen and ink study of a small temple by Shinobazu Pond, Ueno, Tokyo. From my 2008 Japan sketch book.
From my Japan journal from 2008, a collage of a woman in a kimono, based on one of my photographs and using found and collected papers.
The lucky beckoning Cat-maneki Nekko waves welcome as we embark for Tokyo. (Image from a 2008 travel journal on Japan ).
A polar bear disappears into a winter landscape, in preparation for the snow tomorrow.
Making Christmas cards. Lots more to go. Now there will be no excuse for not sending any.... Hand carved squirrels with red ribbon and garlands.
A slight change of pace. A needle felted circus Sea Lion, complete with bow tie, balances on top of a large ball. Approx 6" high.
Happy Thanksgiving. The show is hung, the opening has happened. Big thank yours to all who helped and to all who came on Sunday! braving freezing winds. It was all splendid. Time now to enjoy a god book and listen to the rain. Watercolor, journal page.
Very busy getting ready for the annual student show, "Closely Observed" V. The opening will be Sunday, November 24th, from 2 to 4 pm, at the Garden Education Center of Greenwich. (Which is actually in Cos Cob) but let that pass. A great celebration with beautiful work by all. The in I ration image is a collage on wood panel.
Rush hour underwater. Exploring the fish theme further. Collage, 17 x 11 ". Acrylic, painted paper, assorted security envelopes, lots of ink.
Looking across the river on a grey Fall day one might, if very lucky, spot a leaping trout. They are not easy to see. Sketch book page, watercolor.
Now that Halloween is over, it's back to one of my favorite topics: fish. And here we see a very small fish and a rather large gull. Acrylic on canvas, 24 x 12".
A similar approach to a photograph of a Chinese policeman directing traffic in the smog.
