Sakura III, Japanese Landscape Painting
3/25/2011 12:33:15 PM
takasago noonoe no sakurasakinikeritoyama no kasumitatazu mo arananOn the upper slopesof steep hillsthe cherries have bloomed.O mists of the near foothills,please do not rise in the way!
(by Masafusa Ooe, 1041-1111)
Sakura (cherry blossoms) is probably the most beloved flower among the Japanese. Often planted en masse, the sakura trees, when their flowers are in full bloom, look like soft, pink clouds. The flowers won't last a long time and the petals are fragile, so knowing when and where to go to view sakura each spring is an important event for the Japanese. It depends on where you are located in Japan, but [...]
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"Gyotaku Inviron 6" for Japan Relief Auction by Mark E. Mehaffey
3/24/2011 10:59:03 AM
"The fish print is taken directly from a fish I caught... continuing the long Japanese tradition of fish printing," says artist Mark E. Mehaffey, referring to a traditional Japanese art form called gyotaku, which means "hand-rubbed fish impression," a technique used by fishermen to record the size and details of the fish.
Mark spent a year in Japan when he was a child. Long after he left, he now lives in Michigan but we see his art often reflect his childhood memory and impression of this small island nation in the Far East.
One of the most established and respected watermedia artists in [...]
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Spring in Kyoto, Japan IV, Japanese Landscape Painting
3/18/2011 4:30:28 AM
In about 10 days or so, the cherry blossom trees (sakura) will start blooming in Japan. A beautiful display of their pale pink flowers is a sure sign of the arrival of spring. I think, for many Japanese, spring is the best time of the year.April is also the beginning of a new fiscal and school year in Japan. It is a chance to make a fresh start for new hopes and goals. It is a time to look forward to a bright future ahead. Especially this year, after the recent disasters of epic proportions, I pray that spring will still [...]
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Japan Disaster Relief Auctions
3/13/2011 12:25:33 PM
Paris (#17) - Bistro
In addition to the two paintings posted here on March 11, I am offering seven more paintings (see below) for a disaster relief auction. All proceeds will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross Society to help tens of thousands of victims and their families in Japan who were affected by the earthquake and tsunami. Minimum bidding starts at USD100. Please send me an email to bid. The bidding closes at midnight on the 17th. The highest bidder will be notified by email.
This is a closed (by invitation only) auction. To participate, please contact me. The prices [...]
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Paris Café LII & LIII, French Landscape Paintings
3/11/2011 4:13:57 AM
As I was writing today's blog post, I received a call from one of my family members in Japan who was horrified about a massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake that had just hit there. It took me some time before I was able to get in touch with the rest of my family (and they were all ok). However, as I see more news reports on this biggest tremor in the history of Japan and think how extensive the final damages can be, my heart goes out to those who have been affected. And I feel I want to do something, however small, [...]
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Retour de la série «Paris Café»
3/6/2011 11:57:19 PM
Paris Café LI (Montmartre)
Paris Café was the series of mostly small works depicting different cafés in the city of Paris. I started it in 2009 and, after making 50 paintings, I announced the end of the series.
I am happy to say most of the 50 paintings found a new home and that I still hear from visitors to my website that they continue enjoying viewing the images of those paintings. In fact, after the announcement, I myself couldn't stop painting scenes involving Parisian cafés, bistros, bars and restaurants, and occasionally showed them here on my blog (see my Paris, France category).
Without [...]
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Carnevale in Venice
3/3/2011 11:05:35 AM
It's time for carnevale in Venice. This year's festivities have already begun last month and will end on March 8 with a huge party to end all parties. People walk on the streets, wearing costumes and traditional Venetian masks. There are extravagant balls, concerts, parades on canals. This is a big winter celebration, 40 days before Easter, when Venice transforms itself into a mysterious world of elegance and magic.
Gondolier, Venice, Italy XI
Click here for an enlarged view.
Media: Original watercolor on paperImage Size: 10 x 6 inches (25 x 15 cm)Mat: Yes (15 x 10 inches; white)
Frame: No
Purchase: Sold
Venice Reflections X
Venice Reflections [...]
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