Osechi Ryori 2

The image created from the previous painting was used in this one for a design for a scarf. 

Check out the 1st in the series of Osechi Ryori paintings 

Osechi Ryori 01

This is a picture that symbolizes my interpretation of Osechi ryori (a traditional Japanese food eaten during the news year period

Osechi ryori is a type of food eaten to celebrate the coming of the new year in Japan. The names and shapes and colors of the various foods symbolise bringing good luck to the family. For example, some of the different dishes represent abundant harverts, the safety of your family and the flourishing of your descendents. The amazing colors are also designed to please the eye.

Kinmokusei 03

This picture is the third in a series of three paintings entitled "Kinmokusei", the name of which comes from a plant that blossoms with bright orange delicate petals across Japan. The plants beautiful colours not only inspired me to make these painting but also their cultural connotations in Japan. They bloom in late September which evokes an Autumnal feeling and memories of festivals which often happen during that time. 

In this picture, the woman is wearing a festive dress and the design was developed from the second in the series of the Kinmokusei paintings I made. The woman in this picture is reminiscent of Delacroix's "Liberty leading the people". 

I'm a Japanese artist living in Tokyo, please check out my other blog posts to see my other works.  

You can also check out the other 2 paintings in this series here:

Kinmokusei 01

Kinmokusei 02

Kinmokusei 02

This picture is a T-shirt design. The motive for it was inspired by the "Kinmokusei" plant(Orange Osmathus). This is the 2nd of a series of 3 paintings. You can see the first Kinmokusei painting here. 

Kinmokusei 01

The Kinmokusei or Orange Osmanthus in English has incredibly small and delicate flowers. However the shape is beautiful, it has a strong perfume and has a striking appearance. I wanted to use this flower as an inspiration in my picture to express a sense of fun and an image of traditional Japan (above).

The Kinmokusei flower flowers for about 2 to 3 weeks around the end of September. It has a large number of tiny orange flowers and gives off a sweet pleasant fragrance. You can smell this all across Japan. The flowering of the Kinmokusei reminds us of a traditionally Japanese Autumn when they are in full bloom.

Higanbana 03

Higanbana flowers grow in large clumps around rivers and rice paddies. It's amazing to see them all in full bloom. However, they are in fact poisonous. In this painting I wanted to depict a woman that is sensitive and delicate like the flower but also powerful as represented by the red colour.

Higanbana 02

 In this piece I designed a necklace and bracelet from the Higanbana motive in my previous pieces under the same theme.  The bracelet uses a tradition golden laquer pattern. The necklace uses a pattern inspired by a "dragonfly ball" or traditional Japanese glass marble. The red pattern in the ball is inspired from coral.