After The Rain

I went to the Ueno Royal Museum where a group show has taken place.  I was happy to see two of my college friends for the first time in ten years.  We enjoyed chatting over lunch.  

This is the image of my painting titled "After the Rain", Acrylic and pastel on canvas, 15.2"x18.2".

While it was raining, it seemed to me to last forever.  But before I knew it, the little light was coming from the sky.  The rain has stopped.  The whole world looks washed by the rain.   I couldn't move on while it was raining.  So it's time to step forward again.

What artists should not do??

Whenever I get stuck in painting, I tend to look back at some of my successful works in the past and try to analyze what is good in that painting and what is missing in the work in process. 

But in many cases it does not work.  I stick to the past image and mix it with what I have in my mind currently, which results in a chaotic picture plane.   Also I just can recall, if my memory is right, what Mr. Masuo Ikeda said in the writing, "Artists should not seek for the successful images of their works in the past."   Well then, I am not a great artist like Mr. Ikeda.

The painting below is titled, Banquet, Acrylic and pastel on canvas, 36"x47", 2015

My brushstrokes look a bit rigid. I may seem to stick to the way  I did in the past.  But I still congratulate on myself for completing this work as the message of this painting.  Good work today.  Move on tomorrow.

Wool

The other day I went to Rokko Mountain Pasture where keeps sheep, cows, rabbits, horses, and pigs.  Since the pasture is located higher than city areas, it was so cold and I went inside the craft center rather than enjoying the natural environment.  I made the sheep below with the wool of the sheep in the pasture.  It took only 20 minutes because it's very simple and there was a kind instructor.  The touch of wool made me feel warm and happy.

Today

Suddenly I realized that there is no another Today.  I tend to procrastinate and be indecisive.    When I cannot decide, it's ok, so at least when I know what I can do or I should do, I choose not to put it off.  This is one of the my resolves this year.  I guess when I wake up in the morning, I feel happy to have a new day, one uqnique day, Today.  The painting below is titled, "Awakening", 13.3"x18", Acrylic and pastel on canvas, 2015.

2015

What is your New Year resolve?  

Last year I decided to paint as many as possible.  I experienced one of the saddest time where I lost my mom.  But I believe my love for art helped me to overcome it.

This year I want to exhibit my art more than I did in  the past.

The painting below is titled as New Dawn (Acrylic and pastel on canvas, 36"x47")  You can see the light even in the darkness and dawn will come at last.  Also I would like to bless the beginning of the new year.  Wish all a very happy new year.


Happy New Year

I stayed at the seaside southeast to my city.  It is warmer, sky is clear, and air is more refreshing.

This is Shirahama town with many hot springs.  I enjoyed relaxing in the hot spring and fresh food with my family.   The sand of beach is so white because it is washed with ground water nearby.  I was enchanted by natural beauty.

ART365 Gallery

I have been featured as one of artists in ART365 gallery, which is an online gallery.   Lars Clausen is an editor.  Website is below:

http://art365gallery.com/kikuko-sakota/

Christmas tree

I went to Kyoto on business.  As soon as I arrived at the station, I recalled my young days.   I went to the university in Kyoto where I majored in English literature.  At that time, I wanted to be a writer or an artist.  But I was too immature to offer or present any works, or even came up with no ideas.  So one day I decided to be an interpreter to meet different people as far as possible to acquire knowlege, which I belived, would give me insights for artistic creation.

On this day, I was supposed to interpret about plant genetic resources, which sounds tough but the agriculture is the very first subject I worked on as an interpreter a long time ago.  Yet the more I'm into any art, the more I find difficult.   A week of cramming helped me little.   As a language specialist still I feel myself immature, which, I guess, shows in my paintings. 

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Long Time No See

I've just come back to my blog page after a long silence.  I've kept busy moving out of the former flat to the current house in Himeji.  It's a 40 year-old house.

Yesterday, I joined the English class of my mentor for the first time in about 20 years.  The teaching material was a movie, Three Musketeers.

The encounter with him has totally changed my life.  I can communicate in English with ease.

My mentor, Ichay Ueda earned Master's degree in US and even taught English there.  He is also an aritist, a great composer.  One of his songs is titled Into the Light.

The link below is his song.

Unpublished Work

When I plan a solo show, I tend to paint a lot and choose those fit the best.  So there are so many paintings of mine never been shared to the public.  They are like neglected children.

A several years ago, I had no idea to share my works on Facebook or my website.    Brick and motor galleries or museums have been the only probable places to show my arts, which was what I had believed.  But now I've changed my policy; I paint and share at any opportunities available.

The painting below is titled, Skydiving, Acrylic and pastel on canvas, 13.5"x9.6", 2009


OnSugar Project

Marie Kazalia featured my works at OnSugar site.

Please refer to the link below.

http://artistmarketingresources.com/2014/06/19/limited-edition-prints-and-paintings-on-paper-our-first-onsugar-artists/

Two of my works, Heart Series are being featured at that site.  I can ship Giclee prints to customers.

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Move on

I'd been through one of the toughest time in my life; my mom's illness and death for the last 7 months.  My life had been full of sadness and depression.  But I believe that period was a gift for me; I was given the last time to share with my mom.  I learned to forgive her and myself and came to thank her from the bottom of my heart.

My mom didn't like me to be an artist in the beginning.  There had been conflicts between us sometime.  But looking back at my memories, she has been one of my good friends and teacher.  Her criticism has made me strong.  She influenced me a lot.

During the past 7 months, unexpectedly good things also happened.  I was interviewed through skype as an artist, selected to participate in the group show at the Ueno Royal Museum of Art, and featured in Bijutsutecho art magazine. 

My mom doesn't want me to cry for her anymore.  She wants me to move on.

The painting below is titled as, Heart 3, Acrylic and pastel on paper, 8.5"x11.5"

Site for a solo show

I've been wanting to have a solo show, however, I've not decided where I should have a show.  Also I have had several opportunities to have it, but because of family issue, my plan has been stalled.  A local gallery, galleries in Tokyo, or abroad?

An art consultant said, "There is no perfect show!"  I agree.  I should prioritize my needs, and consider budget including logistics.  Could  you give me any suggestions?  I'm open to any comments.

The picture below is the photo of one of my solo shows in the past

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Heart: Memories

One month has passed since my mom was gone.  Our relations were not always good, but what I can remember are good memories.

I grew up in the suburb in Tokyo, and I used to play the small toy electric piano in the small house.  One day my mom bought me a very good piano and I started to have piano lessons.  She had save money for that.  I just can remember what she said, " I don't expect you to be a pianist, but I want to give you 'aesthetic sense'".  I didn't know that word, but now I understand that she wanted me to love art.

When I was four years old, my mom took me to her hometown, Himeji, her home is near the beach.  She took me to the beach.  That was the first time I saw the sea.  We gather shellfish, and my mom taught me their manes, picking them up one by one, spiral shell, pink-colored shell...  I saw a crab crawling on the sand.  I was too young to appreciate the beauty of nature, but what I saw was the natural uniqueness of creatures.

In March, two months before she passed away, we sowed seeds of a herb.  Now they have grown into vivid green leaves.  I put them into the soup of three of us, I and younger brothers.  

She had guided me where I am, to love art and nature.  The painting below is titled "Heart", it's about my memories of my mother.  Acrylic and pastel on paper, 8.5"x11.5"

Inspiration: Green Green Green

My mother passed away on May 6.  I had been taking care of her since last November and time has passed so quickly.  Now I miss her a lot.  

I thought that taking care of a parent was so tough, but I enjoyed spending time with her.  We celebrated New Year, her birthday, snowing, gardening, cherry blossom viewing, cooking, and so on.  I had not lived with her for so long so spending time with her was one of the precious memories of mine in my life.  

She had been strong and never cried, so I had been even encouraged and empowered by her.  I don't think I can be strong like her all the time.

She lived naturally and was gone peacefully just like cherry blossoms going.  But just like after cherry blossoms, there were a lot of greens around at the time she left.  As if she was telling us that she would be with us all the time.  I believe green is the symbol of life.  Even though she left from this planet, I choose to believe her spirit or life will be forever.

I painted the painting below, inspired by my beloved mom.  She was also an artist.  I dedicate this work to my mom.

Title: Green Green Green, Acrylic and pastel on paper, 13"x18", Kikuko Sakota, May 22, 2014.