June 2008
June 16th
My daughter is home for summer vacation so I will be lucky if I can pick up a paint brush. Sunday I went to the Mt. Fuji five lakes area and took a walk around Lake Kawaguchi, even though it's rainy season in Japan we are having pretty decent weather. This scene reminded me of a George Seurat painting "Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Gande Jatte".
Sunday Afternoon at Lake Kawaguchi
My daughter is home for summer vacation so I will be lucky if I can pick up a paint brush. Sunday I went to the Mt. Fuji five lakes area and took a walk around Lake Kawaguchi, even though it's rainy season in Japan we are having pretty decent weather. This scene reminded me of a George Seurat painting "Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Gande Jatte".
Sunday Afternoon at Lake Kawaguchi
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May 2008
May
30th
Finished a portrait of my daughter Millei today. She became seventeen years old this month. Before my daughter started high school in America she wanted to put some pink strips of color in her hair. She could never do this and go to high school in Japan most schools have very strict rules, no dyed hair, no makeup, no jewelry etc... So I couldn't blame her for wanting to have a little fun. The schools in Japan can go too far like making a student with naturally brown hair dye it black or if the student has naturally wavy hair like my daughter they question her like she committed a crime because perms are against the rules. Conformity is the driving force behind these rules and I think it is stressful for the students sometimes. She likes her American high school better but she misses her Japanese friends.
In the background of this painting you can see a small picture of my daughter when she was seven years old. In Japan there is a special religious ceremony performed at the shrine for girls at this age. They usually wear either a kimono or a party dress. I wanted to compare the difference between the ages of seven and seventeen. Also in the background you can see my eyes and our dog Emma watching Millei grow up. The rose symbolizes my love for my daughter.
May 23rd
I will be changing domain hosts soon so my site may be disrupted for a day. I have also joined a new art gallery site : spraygraphic.com
I also finished the fourth painting in the "Lily Pond" series, the title of this painting is "Air Of Loneliness" . I was only planning to do four paintings in this series, it is inspired by the book "Snow Country" written by the first Japanese writer to win the Nobel Prize, Yasunari Kawabata who is believed to have committed suicide. "Snow Country" explores themes of loneliness and the possibility of love. To learn more go to my paintings-lily pond series page.
May 13th
Another week, another painting. I finished a self-portrait, I haven't done a self-portrait since my college days and I haven't done a portrait of anyone for at least twelve years. The last portrait I painted was of my daughter when she was four years old. I added this painting to the end of my "Ten Masks" movie. I think it looks like me except maybe ten years younger. It's hard to paint all the wrinkles.
I'm wearing my bathrobe and pajamas because I've been wearing them so much do to health problems and I guess they are my favorite clothes. The mask I'm holding is the Noh mask for a disheveled middle aged woman.
May 7th
It was golden week in Japan and I went to Matsumoto Castle yesterday. I wasn't that thrilled about going because I've been there several times before but the weather was perfect and the scent of Wisteria was in the air so I actually had a good time. I tried going to the top of the castle which involves climbing very steep stairs. I was OK until I got to the last set of stairs, which are the hardest to climb, and then I knew I couldn't do it when I watched young healthy people struggling and almost falling to their deaths.
They also have a small museum on the castle grounds with a few interesting items like this collection of large wooden penises.
My daughter told me she's seen large wooden penises at another exhibit. I wonder if this use to be fashionable, having a portrait done of your penis to display at home.
I also saw a giant straw sandal which could easily pass for modern art.
To see more of my pictures of magnificent Matsumoto Castle please look on the photo page.
May 5th
I surprise myself today by actually keeping to my plan to finish at least one painting a week. I finished the third painting in the "Lily Pond" series. The first two paintings were very stylized, influenced by an antique kimono design. What I like about this painting is that it has more of a feeling of real water and the reflection of clouds. My daughter likes the fishes' mouths.
Freshly Pealed
Finished a portrait of my daughter Millei today. She became seventeen years old this month. Before my daughter started high school in America she wanted to put some pink strips of color in her hair. She could never do this and go to high school in Japan most schools have very strict rules, no dyed hair, no makeup, no jewelry etc... So I couldn't blame her for wanting to have a little fun. The schools in Japan can go too far like making a student with naturally brown hair dye it black or if the student has naturally wavy hair like my daughter they question her like she committed a crime because perms are against the rules. Conformity is the driving force behind these rules and I think it is stressful for the students sometimes. She likes her American high school better but she misses her Japanese friends.
In the background of this painting you can see a small picture of my daughter when she was seven years old. In Japan there is a special religious ceremony performed at the shrine for girls at this age. They usually wear either a kimono or a party dress. I wanted to compare the difference between the ages of seven and seventeen. Also in the background you can see my eyes and our dog Emma watching Millei grow up. The rose symbolizes my love for my daughter.
May 23rd
I will be changing domain hosts soon so my site may be disrupted for a day. I have also joined a new art gallery site : spraygraphic.com
I also finished the fourth painting in the "Lily Pond" series, the title of this painting is "Air Of Loneliness" . I was only planning to do four paintings in this series, it is inspired by the book "Snow Country" written by the first Japanese writer to win the Nobel Prize, Yasunari Kawabata who is believed to have committed suicide. "Snow Country" explores themes of loneliness and the possibility of love. To learn more go to my paintings-lily pond series page.
May 13th
Another week, another painting. I finished a self-portrait, I haven't done a self-portrait since my college days and I haven't done a portrait of anyone for at least twelve years. The last portrait I painted was of my daughter when she was four years old. I added this painting to the end of my "Ten Masks" movie. I think it looks like me except maybe ten years younger. It's hard to paint all the wrinkles.
I'm wearing my bathrobe and pajamas because I've been wearing them so much do to health problems and I guess they are my favorite clothes. The mask I'm holding is the Noh mask for a disheveled middle aged woman.
May 7th
It was golden week in Japan and I went to Matsumoto Castle yesterday. I wasn't that thrilled about going because I've been there several times before but the weather was perfect and the scent of Wisteria was in the air so I actually had a good time. I tried going to the top of the castle which involves climbing very steep stairs. I was OK until I got to the last set of stairs, which are the hardest to climb, and then I knew I couldn't do it when I watched young healthy people struggling and almost falling to their deaths.
They also have a small museum on the castle grounds with a few interesting items like this collection of large wooden penises.
My daughter told me she's seen large wooden penises at another exhibit. I wonder if this use to be fashionable, having a portrait done of your penis to display at home.
I also saw a giant straw sandal which could easily pass for modern art.
To see more of my pictures of magnificent Matsumoto Castle please look on the photo page.
May 5th
I surprise myself today by actually keeping to my plan to finish at least one painting a week. I finished the third painting in the "Lily Pond" series. The first two paintings were very stylized, influenced by an antique kimono design. What I like about this painting is that it has more of a feeling of real water and the reflection of clouds. My daughter likes the fishes' mouths.
Freshly Pealed
April 2008
April
16th
Now the dogwood tree in front of my house is blooming. There are many dogwood trees where I live in Japan, many streets are lined with dogwoods. The dogwood tree was a present from America in exchange for the cherry blossom trees that are famous in Washington D.C. The problem with Cherry Blossom trees are the annoying black flies that circle around your head if you go anywhere near them when they are in bloom.
Not so with the Dogwood, it's a beautiful tree.
I'm finally painting again after many health problems caused by a prescription drug. I will never take a drug without googling it again! I've been dealing with one problem after another for the last seven months and have to go to a pain clinic every week. I think I finally finished this painting, it took me months.
Milky Way
April 28th
Finished the second painting in the Lily Pond series in one week. It's my goal to finish one painting a week till my daughter returns for summer vacation in June. I have my doubts I will be able to do this but.. I'll give it a try. I am planning to do four paintings in this series.
Soft Happiness
Now the dogwood tree in front of my house is blooming. There are many dogwood trees where I live in Japan, many streets are lined with dogwoods. The dogwood tree was a present from America in exchange for the cherry blossom trees that are famous in Washington D.C. The problem with Cherry Blossom trees are the annoying black flies that circle around your head if you go anywhere near them when they are in bloom.
Not so with the Dogwood, it's a beautiful tree.
I'm finally painting again after many health problems caused by a prescription drug. I will never take a drug without googling it again! I've been dealing with one problem after another for the last seven months and have to go to a pain clinic every week. I think I finally finished this painting, it took me months.
Milky Way
April 28th
Finished the second painting in the Lily Pond series in one week. It's my goal to finish one painting a week till my daughter returns for summer vacation in June. I have my doubts I will be able to do this but.. I'll give it a try. I am planning to do four paintings in this series.
Soft Happiness
March 2008
March 18th
The beginning of Spring in Japan.
Went to view the plum blossom trees...
devoured a strawberry parfait.
March 30th
Cherry blossom trees were in full bloom today. There beauty is short lived and will only last the week.
Cherry blossom flavored sweets can also be enjoyed only at the time of year.
Cherry blossom ice cream.
The beginning of Spring in Japan.
Went to view the plum blossom trees...
devoured a strawberry parfait.
March 30th
Cherry blossom trees were in full bloom today. There beauty is short lived and will only last the week.
Cherry blossom flavored sweets can also be enjoyed only at the time of year.
Cherry blossom ice cream.