May 2008
May
30th
Daughter's Portrait
Finished a portrait of my daughter 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
Air Of Loneliness
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
Disheveled Middle Aged Woman
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
Magnificent Matsumoto Castle
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.
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
Freshly Pealed
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
Daughter's Portrait
Finished a portrait of my daughter 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
Air Of Loneliness
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
Disheveled Middle Aged Woman
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
Magnificent Matsumoto Castle
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.
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
Freshly Pealed
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
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