Intuition

I  use canvases for painting almost all the time.  I use paper when I paint or draw casually just like keeping a diary.  Frankly, I prefer canvases, because I can push brushes hard.

Today it's March 1 and I can feel the beginnin of spring.  And I feel excited and I know something new is coming soon.   

Title: Coming Soon, Acrylic and pastel on canvas 21"x18" Kikuko Sakota, 2014,

Kikuko Sakota Art http://www.kikukosakota.com/

Online Sales

I heard that recently online art sales have grown rapidly.  I'm a bit conservative person, so I have been inquisitive about the use of online for selling art and presenting art. 

But in addition to brick and mortar galleries where  you receive face-to-face reaction of viewers, the online is a good tool to share your art more rapidly and widely.  Also you can sell prints and cards more conveniently. 

So I tried one site.

Work in Process: Day 4 (Completion)

After the distraction this week, I concentrated on working today.  There had been  more movement and conflicts in primary colors on the picture plane where I had stopped on the previous day. .  I had wanted to paint "Will power" but I found myself indecisive so I changed my mind and followed my heart.

I think there are two sides in a person; strong and weak.  I guess the weak and indecisive side of me was dominant today.

Title: Girl, Acrylic and pastel on canvas, 18"x21" http://www.kikukosakota.com/

Work in Process: Day 3

I starded with mostly light green and then painted it to pastel colors.  But now it came out like below. In the last week I have been distracted but am I full of energy?

Building I like

On the way to work,  I saw a beautiful building in Kobe City.  I just can remember I stayed in this hotel a few times before.  If my memory is right, the interior of one of rooms was just like a room of the ship.

Work in Process Day 2

There are more movement and colors.  It's just beginning.

Chelsea Fine Art Competition

I made an entry to Chealse Fine Art Competition held by Agora Gallery.  Hope I can win?

The Gold Medal

Japan won a gold medal in men's figure skating.  I was moved by his energetic performance and his endeavor to make his way to be a gold medalist. 

Hanyu's home was collapsed by the Great Tohoku Earthquake.  He almost gave up skating, but he overcame difficulty and now he won the medal. 

I was also strucked by his word,"To be a gold medalist is just a beginning to do something to recover the affected area."

Work In Process: Day 1

I've just started to paint a new work right now.  What I have uploaded the image of the work in process. 

Color of light green symbolizes something budding.  I have something new in my mind, but I don't know what is going to be next.  I have a rough image of my painting completed.

My Favorite Artist 1

In 1994, I visited Sydney Australia for the first time. I can remember the year because it was before the Great Hanshin Earthquake.   I have a koala teddy bear which was a gift when I was born.  So I had been wanting to see koalas.

I went to several sight seeing spots and when I was walking around the Rocks, I saw a gallery.

 I went inside.  What I saw was several paintings with bold composition and very attractive and cogent color deployment.  I was strucked by them, because I had never seen such great art before.  Then I decided to concentrate on painting as one of my life work.

It was Ken Done Gallery.  Later I learned that Ken Done had several shows in Japan, and painted the covers of one of popular Japanese magazines, Hanako.  Now my mom and younger brothers wear his sweaters and T-shirts.

The Way I Paint

Recently when I paint, I approach a space rather than figures.  Because now what I want to paint is energy, atmosphere, sound, and air.  They have no figures. 

In the paining below I tried to depict what I have experienced and felt in woods or forests.  While I try to recall the momonet I was there, I focus on the color contrast and composition on the picture plane.

In the beginning, I started with paint dark blue and unbleached titanium.  Then I have followed what I think the picture plane needed.  When I finished painting it, I could accept that it was in my mind, but at the same time I felt that I would prefer to paint a bold comosition next time.

Daybreak : Colors

I often choose to use primary colors, and people around me expect me to use them. 

I was wondering which colors should play an important role in the next painting. 

By the way, around 2009, I was a Larc en Ciel freak, a Japanese rock band.  I was inspired by one of thier song.  Daybreak's bell, which message is anti war. 

The way to express and composition is very simple.  Against the dark color of background, I put a star on top, sybolizing hope in the "bell" ringimg in the dawn.

Actually I painted again on the former work paintend in 2009 which had a lot of pastel scratches for improvement.  Hope it worked.

Next Work to Paint

Whenever I finish painting one work, I feel satisfied or feel ok no matter what work I complete.   When I look at my work completed, some idea come into my mind.  That is often the things that I cannot do in the current work.  I can think of the next step I should take or challenges for me to overcome. 

I tried to depict the image of budding of flowers or plants in the field.  I used pastels and brushstrokes to express budding.  But I wonder if the balance between the red portion and the rest in the composition is right.  So now I'm thinking I can paint the similar theme with the same expression but different color deployment and composition.

Color of Yellow

I tried to depict a cherry blossom blooming in the painting below.

I use yellow color to represent the reflection of the sun light. 

The color of cherry blossom petals are pale pink and look whitish, so I think they look reflecting  the color of sky and sunlight. 

Cherry blossoms bloom every spring and many of Japanese people wait for them to bloom.

The Witch's Woods

I like to walk in woods, because  I can feel fresh air.  Surronded by green, I'm relaxed.   When I look at nature, I never give any thought to witches of fairy tales or old belief.

But suddenly an  idea of the witch living in the woods came into my mind, when I was standing in front of the canvas.   The painting below is my attempt to depict the imaginary world.  The woods where a witch is living somewhere. 

Can you imagine where a witch is hiding in this painting?

Video of Group Show

Mr. Hashiyama uploaded the video of the former group show, Pou group show at Hyogo Prefectruarl Museum of Art in You Tube.

I uploaded that video to my web pabe, Art 2013 with his permission.  Please click the link below.

https://kikukosakota.squarespace.com/new-gallery/51fdvas76i0jcr58xvybpq01tp5iei

Hansel and Gretel

I was inspired by the story Hansel and Gretel. 

A poor parents had no choice but abandan thier children, while wishing them help of God.  They luckily found a house made of sweets and beat an evil woman living there, and finally brought back the treasure to their parents.

I depicted a house of sweets.  Cotton candy, chocolate. cream, cake...with different types of pink.  It is a house for an evil woman who wanted to eat children, so I put dark background to create some bizzar atmosphere.

The painting below is just titled Fairy Tale, painted in 2013.

Title of painting

I often use the word"new" to the title of my work.   "New melody" or "New landscape."  It shows that  I like to refresh my idea very often.  I may be I like "change".  But it's not so bad.

There is a song titled, "Forever Young".  Sorry to say, I do not know this famous song, but I like the meaning of its title.  Because its message is we can be born every day or we are a new person every day.  So I like the idea that we can be a new person every day.

The painting below is titled, New Melody.  I tried to depict the melody with different brush strokes and rhythm with composition.

2014

The first painting I published this year is titled "Red Mountain."  I am a plodder and I think I paint like climing up a hill.  You cannot run through the hill.  You go step by step.  This is my style.  Sometimes I get lost or sometimes an unexpected scenery comes up. 

The resolution of this year is to concentrate on making art more.  The choice of color of red symbolizes my decision.