Back to Work. Otafuku, the Japanese "Goddess" of Mirth.

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.

A Last Look Back

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.

Chinese style papillon, Japan 2008 sketch book

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.

Temple Drawing

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.

Kimono Collage

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

The lucky beckoning Cat-maneki Nekko waves welcome as we embark for Tokyo. (Image from a 2008 travel journal on Japan ).

Agile practices Zazen

While Lancelot poses for his portrait, Agile practices Zazen, meditating on an insoluble Koan, ( a type of unknowable riddle) namely " which data package should he choose?"

Getting Ready

Lancelot poses for a formal portrait, prior to the Deign Studio's departure for Japan

A Winter Landscape

A polar bear disappears into a winter landscape, in preparation for the snow tomorrow.

Making Christmas Cards

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.

Circus Seal

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.

Important Correction

Lancelot and co are not in fact hunting a wild turkey for their thanksgiving dinner. In fact they are hunting the rare Thanksgiving wild birthday Cake. Threatened by habitat loss, this delicious birthday cake is now close to extinction. Luckily through a rare combination of skill and guile they finally manage to capture one and bring it home as part of the annual November birthday celebration.

An Authentic Thanksgiving Experience

Cunningly disguised as early pilgrims, our intrepid trio set out in pursuit of their thanksgiving dinner.

Happy Thanksgiving

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.

Annual Show. Opens on Sunday, November 24th

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.

Look Both Ways

Rush hour underwater. Exploring the fish theme further. Collage, 17 x 11 ". Acrylic, painted paper, assorted security envelopes, lots of ink.

River Trout

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.

A Member of the Fish Eating Class

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 Strange Sight

What a strange sight, it looks almost like a witches' coven dancing around their bonfire... In fact it is Lancelot and co melting down their Halloween candy. Worried by the prospect of rain the Design Studio went trick or treating early and scored a record haul. Now they are applying great heat and in a top secret process extracting the corn syrup. The syrup is then solidified and converted into bio fuel which the studio will sell back to the government. (Since Congress mandated higher bio fuel usage in 2007 corn prices have reached record levels. See the Financial Times, Wednesday, October 30 th). With luck, the profits from today's work will allow them to relax over Christmas. It's a good thing the squirrels completed their core class work in organic chemistry and that Agile will be spared his annual tooth ache. What a good thing too that Lancelot subscribes to the FT!

Same source, same idea.

A similar approach to a photograph of a Chinese policeman directing traffic in the smog.