Recently vaccination has started in Japan, and infection cases seem to be declining. Side effects are various but not so serious so far. Anyway no matter what has happened, the day is consumed. I don’t want one day to be spoiled . For me, if side effect is mild or less, I would be happy. The painting below is titled, “One Summer Day 2020”, Acrylic on canvas, 24”x29”, 2020
Peace of Mind
I haven’t painted for a couple of weeks to rest and I looked back at my recent works. Then I have come to realize one thing; that is, I feel peaceful and relieved when painting. I do not just paint but I explore, study and experiment colors and materials. Often, I paint in a rash, which result in unsatisfied works. In this sense, I may not a productive artist. Some day I could be a productive artist painting different themes.
The painting below is titled Pure Heart, Acrylic on canvas, 13”x18”, 2020, ©Kikuko Sakota Art
Turquoise Blue and Alizarin Crimson 2021
This is the work with limited colors: turquoise blue and alizarin crimson. Before I applied these colors, I mixed small amount from one color and big amount from the other, and visa versa.
I applied adsorbent and fiber paste on canvas so that canvas provide paper-like texture which absorb paints.
Here is the first work of 2021 titled Turquoise Blue and Alizarin Crimson, Acrylic on canvas, 13”x18”, 2021, ©Kikuko Sakota Art
2020/2021
2020 was a chaos where many businesses slowed down, sales and stock prices became half or lower. Tokyo Olympic Games were postponed. Now even we are afraid they will be cancelled next year.
Despite economic downturn, many of us work from home and no need to commute, so time spending at home has increased and better utilized. Online communications are more commonly used which has increased global -scale communication. You can work and study only everywhere.
Vaccinations started in US and UK, even mutations happen, I believe vaccinations will work so that the number of the infection will be decline. Despite some cases of allergy due to vaccinations, there were no deceased by vaccinations, I hope this approach will work to save the people. The painting below is titled Orange and Blue, 18”x24”, Acrylic on paper, 2021, ©Kikuko Sakota Art
Art Student League NY
3 months have passed since I joined Jill’s abstract painting class. I have develop my sensitivity of colors. Also it is a good opportunities to look at others’ works. Our teacher Jill often introduces art exhibition in N.Y.
Class starts at 10:00 a.m. but it is 12:00 p.m. Japan, so occasionally I fall asleep, before the class starts. But advices and comments of Jill and class mates are encouraging.
The painting below is titled “Red Dreamer”,Acrylic on papaer,18”x24”, 2020, ©Kikuko Sakota Art
Blooming
I think life is an endless learning process. I may interpret to my advantage, but I believe we can learn even from failures.
Also if I am to assume one particular learning with flowering, it starts with seeds and ends in flowering. Or we can harvest seeds at the end. Some seeds could die in soil before even germination and only a few or several, in some cases, plenty of them would flower. I am always hope many of our seeds will flower.
The painting below is titled Blooming I (it is a series that continues to II, III,…) Acrylic on canvas, 12”x16”, 2020, ©Kikuko Sakota Art
Green and Purple
This is my second month of the League. The combination of Green and purple are not the one I want to choose for my clothes and furniture in my room. But the project this time is to let them play leading roles in the picture plane. I struggled for a day…. The painting below is titled Green and Purple, Acrylic on canvas, 9x13, 2020©Kikuko Sakota Art
Limit Red 2
This is another painting of my Limit Red Project. Usually I do not use any blacks but this time I tried and realized they stand out and are very active. Use of black is challenging for me. Also while avoiding red, yellow becomes difficult for me to handle. While struggling, I am really getting into it. Below is the painting titled Fall 2020 2, 13”x15”, Acrylic on canvas, 2020, ©Kikuko Sakota Art
Limit Red
This is another experiment at the League where I attempted to limit using red, while depicting a space. I was trying to depicting an imaginative landscape that I can associate with the heavy snow fall against the background of pine trees along Japan Sea side. I just can recall that I was amazed by the beauty of the scenery which looks like traditional Japanese sumi ink paintings.
The painting below titled Limit Red, acrylic on canvas, 24”x29”, 2020,©Kikuko Sakota Art
SunSunSun
This summer is over. I almost stayed at home and did not go swimming, did not travel a long distance.
But when the sun is up in the morning, it is so refreshing to take a walk . Other than that, I am staying in the air-conditioned room, The air has been getting cooler since a few days before. I can see the sign of the coming of the fall. So no I miss this summer and the sun.
This painting is titled SunSunSun, 6”x9”, Acrylic on canvas, 2020,©Kikuko Sakota Art
Exercise
Recently I enrolled Abstract painting class at Art Student League, N.Y. to seek for new approaches.
The following paintings are exercises by limiting number of paints to be used. It was really fun. I really enjoyed and absorbed in painting.
Both are untitled, 8”x11”, Acrylic on paper, 2020, ©Kikuko Sakota Art
Blue
What do you associate with the color of blue? (Blue runs the whole gamut). The sky? I feel hope in the blue sky. The sea? I feel safe when looking at the sea.
The color of blue makes me contemplative, taking me away from day-to-day happiness or sadness. It gives me the time to look into myself.
Here is the painting titled “Blue”,Acrylic and oil stick on canvas, 6”x9”, 2018, ©Kikuko Sakota Art
Catalog 2006
Here’s the images of the catalog made by Gallery Gora, Montreal, Canada, in 2006. I used to paint birds and flowers. The first image is the painting titled Sakura(cherry blossom) an abstract painting. The idea is cherry blossoms are reflecting sun light, yellow color against the sky.
Thanks a lot-Kikuko Sakota Solo Show
I would really appreciate all viewers coming all the way for my show despite the heat wave and COVID 19 difficulty. I feel very sorry that I could not show up as an artist because I could not travel by Bullet train from Himeji to Tokyo, which is about 400 miles. I wish I could drive myself. I just can drive from home to the closest super market.
Also Takanashi san and gallery staff, thank you very much for managing my show. And Dr. Fukasaku, thank you very much for having my show in your gallery.
Kikuko Sakota Solo Show at Hideharu Fukasaku Gallery Roppongi
These are paintings exhibited in the show. Both are painted with acrylics and adsorbent. My attempt was to create depth and variation by thickness of acrylic layers, controlling the acrylic amount in the brush, and manipulating the brush. Size is 36”x47”.
Left one is titled After the Rain. Yellow indicates the sunlight coming into the rain and clouds.
Right one is titled Hand in Hand. I tried to make magenta and blue brush strokes look entwined. to express cooperation or collaboration.
I painted them quite recently during COVID 19 wishing to have hop all the time .and that many of us can help each other to overcome this difficult time.
Kikuko Sakota Solo Show 2020
I am going to hold a solo show at Hideharu Fukusaku Gallery Roppoingi Tokyo from August 11 to August 15. Opening hours is from 11:00-19:00(by 17:00 on the last day)
I will exhibit 18 pieces of paintings of which were painted during COVID 19 stay home. All works were thin acrylic layers applied on adsorbent applied on canvas, which creates depth, transparency, and imaginative atmosphere.
If you are in Tokyo, please join us for enjoying my paintings.
Stream 2020 Thanks for coming
Yoshimura san, and staff, thank you for letting me join Stream 2020, Group show at Art Point Gallery.
Also I would like to thank those who came all the way during this difficult time for viewing the show.
Mixed Feeling
Most of us tend to stay at home due to the recent pandemic COVID 19 and I’m no exception. I work at home, buy things online, and when going out, its grocery stores, and clinics which are in walking distance. I re-started to practice yoga in the class, which is very popular so I have to go to the gym very early to secure my position. The gym is limiting the number of participants to avoid infection. In another gym, participants have to draw a stick (lottery) to be selected, because there are so many participants wishing to join the yoga class in the limited space.
During this strange time, I do not have to travel by public transportation, in which as a result I have more time at home. I can cook and of course paint more at home.Also it is a good opportunity to straighten out mess at home. On the other hand, I feel scared and sad because still many people are infected. The painting below is titled “Mixed Feeling” 36”x47”, ©Kikuko Sakota Art. This is the one being exhibited in the group show, Stream 2020, Gallery Art Point, Tokyo now.
Stream 2020
One of my work will be exhibited in Gallery Art Point in Ginza, Tokyo. (Top right is my work)
Mr. Yoshimura, and staff, thank you very much for letting me join your group show.
The show will be open as follows:
12:30-19:30 Mon. June 29-Sat. July 4 (Closed at 17:00 on Saturday）
If you are in Tokyo during the above period , please join us for enjoying the art!
Iris
My American art teacher sent me her web site featuring katagami (stencils) for kimono collection before the wartime. I was just reading Iris in her website and I realized this is the season for iris. We can wear the kimono with iris patters at this time of the season. Otherwise, you don’t look chic.
May 5 is Children’s day of national holiday in Japan. We decorate worrier dolls wearing armors, iris, dumplings. One of the meaning is braveness. Iris is favorable design for armors, because of its meaning. Also we used to float iris in the hot water in the bus tub to repel evil spirit.
Below is one of my work in 2018, “Lights in the Dark”, Acrylic on canvas, 24”x29”, ©Kikuko Sakota Art It has nothing to do with “iris” but one of the message behind is power of nature which we always feel.
