From three Years in Japan

I seldom choose a directly frontal view of a scene or object when I choose my subject to render. I also make sure that there is a strong contrast in light and darkness and especially a strong cast of shadows. Offcourse the subject has to be exciting to work with.

A good form of exercise in working with light and darkness is working with 'scratch boards'. These boards are specially made such that there are two layers of black over white. The picture is made by scratching off the black to expose the white according to what is needed to create forms of a picture. This medium and technique helps one to get use to drawing in reverse, where instead of adding you are subtracting to create.

Different kinds of pens, pen tips, sizes and shapes, permanent and water soluble, is available for eploration and use to achieve myriads of rendition of a subject in sketching. Never be scared to utillize whatever is available and take each instrument to the limit of its capability untill you find its uniquness.

The use of water to wash or bleed water soluble inks is exciting if and when fully discovered. It helps to give depths, shapes and forms to your works. Just remember the basic sense of logic, sense of movemnet and directions, layering when needed to and so forth. Explore! Explore!!

I have ventured into the Japanese hearts and minds through my works and my love of the Japanese culture. The character above is from my own imagination and was commented by a fellow Japanese Artist as capturing the Japanese spirit.

What is the Japanese spirit in Art? What is Wabi-Sabi? What is the Code of Bushido?

Everytime i sat and studied this ancient tree growing in the compound of the Yochien or Kindergatern where my children attended at Mukaiyama, I was moved by the connectedness of man and nature that the Japanese has, it is a labor of lov, the harmony of nature and self cultivation.

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Japanese 'Stone Lanterns' were created by designers of 'Tea Garders' to add to the rustic beauty of the garden surrounding the "Tea House" where till this day and age tea drinking ceremonies are being held carried out by the 'Tea Masters". These stone lanterns over long period of time becomes one with the garden when they are coverd with moss and some even chipped or broken down. This gives the garden the illusion of time and impermanence, of nature and man coming together.
Embracing imperfections was honored as a healthy reminder to cherish our unpolished selves, here and now, just as we are, the first step to "Satori' or enlightenment.

While driving north towards Aomori prefecture in Northern Japan, I came upon this apple orchard and this lanscape in winter was to me the epitome of what Japan was all about, the harsh and the preserverance, nature at its worse and its best.

Like everthing else in their lives, Japanese carpentary has mesmerized my mind every so often. The old temples still standing all over the country is testimoy to this feat of human creativity. I have visited as many Old temples in japan as I could and was always moved by the amount of dedication and care given to their construction. These places were meant to evoke from within the beholder a sense of the awesomenss of human endeavors.

There is a small mountain retreat not too far from the City od Sendai called Akiu where one may find a group of Artists living to eachother and doing their work as Carpenters, sculptors, Musicians, Ceramic works, Painters and so on. And here too one can find some of the most beautiful breathtaking scenic views that most artist would die for.
Wabi represents the inner or spiritual experiences of our lives, Lonliness living in nature remote from society, this is Akiu.

Thes two last pieces were etchings done while i was doing my printmaking out of the Miygi Muzium of Fine Arts in Sendai. They were from my trip to Mount Haguro or the three mountains of Dewa SAanzen. Again the Haiku Master passed through here in his historical travels of the Northern Japan and wrote saveral well known Haikus.

Here too you find the Yamabushi monks, keepers of these muntain retreats, known for their eccentricity in practice and lifestyle.