Glitter & Gold - Am All Ears

I don't usually like to use metallic or glittery paints, but thought that it would be nice for this illustration in particular.  Am using for the first time metallic gold paint and glitter with my blotted line illustrations.  Though it's hard to tell from the digitized images, the original painting does have another more eye-catching feel to it.

For my July "tokyo trend" report "am all ears" about earrings--large glittering gemstone ear clips that cover much of the ear, and earrings with very large and visible pearl backs are what many are sporting these days, especially as a contrasting element to causal, sportive outfits.

Now, I have to add the text and submit it to the editors!

Bean-to-Bar

Love coffee and chocolate, and cannot be happy enough when the bean-to-bar trend hit Tokyo! This a preview of my "tokyo trend" report for June.

The bean-to-bar concept, no matter if it's the third wave coffee boom or the artisan chocolate craze, is transforming the foodie scene here.  Local roasters of coffee beans and coca beans are gaining momentum and lots of Japanese and foreign fans!

Nene: Sparkling Sake from Yamaguchi

Don't usually have sake, but received this lovely bottle of sparkling sake and had it with a friend last night. Makes a great refreshing dessert drink, especially in this warm weather! Love the name "nene" and the design of the label too!!

Please check out this wonderful sake producer from Yamaguchi Prefecture, Gokyo Sake!!

shop.gokyo-sake.co.jp/
shop.gokyo-sake.co.jp/junmai/junmai10.html

Tokyo Trend – The Bulletin Magazine Mar & Apr 2015

March's report is about "spring makeup--pastels & whites". What better way to welcome spring then with some fresh, shiny, sheer, and milky pastel colours? the limited edition collection comes in white packaging, making them even more eye catching!

While April is all about "80's blues". High waisted denim look paired with off shoulder lace top. It's the 80's again, but chicer!

jccabulletin-geppo.ca/tokyo-trend-10/ (Mar 2015)
jccabulletin-geppo.ca/tokyo-trend-11/ (Apr 2015)

Cheeses!!

In keeping with the foodie mood: for all the cheese lovers in the world--Ricotta, Pecorino Calabrese, and Burrata cheese!!  The real cheeses that I painted from were all Italian, but made here with loving care by hand in Hokkaido, Japan! 

Salad in a Jar

Here's the advance look into my report for May's "tokyo trend" in The Bulletin Magazine.  The final report is usually bilingual or just in Japanese, but I wanted to share with everyone the original English version here on my blog.  Have always found mason jar salads too pretty to pour out and eat!!

Anshindo x JS 2015 Zexy Shizuoka Ad

There are some pictures of May's issue of Zexy bridal magazine (Shizuoka version) that has a small ad featuring my campaign for renowned jeweller, Anshindo!! The campaign runs now Thu Apr 30!!

anshindo-bridal.com/form/reservation/

Louvre Museum: Genre Painting – Scenes from Daily Life

One of my favourite things about Tokyo is that there are always some great exhibitions featuring masterpieces from around the world, and the ones I must see are the paintings by Johannes Vermeer.  Of course, I didn't miss the chance to see his The Astronomer that is touring Japan now at The National Center of Art, Tokyo.

The paintings from the show, Louvre Museum: Genre Painting – Scenes from Daily Life, depicts exactly that--paintings of the everyday life.  Besides The Astronomer, several other works stood out and stole my heart per se, Jean-Baptiste Greuze's The Broken Pitcher, Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot's The Studio of Corot, and Martin Drolling's Interior of a Kitchen.

However, there was one that made me laugh and thought of myself, and that was The Monkey Painter, aka Interior of a Studio by Alexandre-Gabriel Decamps.  Yes, I can just as well be that monkey, though am thinking he probably paints better than me!!

Louvre Museum: Genre Painting – Scenes from Daily Life is on now until Mon Jun 1.  Please visit it, and say hi to Decamps' monkey for me!

www.ntv.co.jp/louvre2015/
www.nact.jp/

Seiko Tsuchimoto x JS

Was very fortunate to have worked with Ms. Seiko Tsuchimoto on creating a couple of small message cards for customers ordering her wonderfully handmade baby diaper cakes--decorative display cakes made from real diapers that are usually given to expecting mothers or new mothers as gifts.

Ms. Tsuchimoto was the first to bring baby diaper cakes to Japan, and even heads the Baby Diaper Cake Association of Japan.  Often featured in magazines and on TV, she is well recognized for her work and is as gentle and sweet as her creations.  Working with her on the project was an absolute pleasure for me!

I look forward to our future projects together.  Please see below for some examples of her work, and do visit her company's website--they ship internationally too!!

baby-shower.jp

Izumo-Taisha & Usagi-Chan

Recently I visited 出雲大社 Izumo-taisha or Oyashiro (Izumo Grand Shrine) in Shimane Prefecture.  It is one of the most important shrines in Japan, and is known for establishing good relationships that would bring happiness to people lives.

A symbol of the Izumo-taisha is its massive shimenawa ("enclosing rope" that are made of lengths of laid rice straw rope used for the purification rituals in Shintoism). The shimenawa at Izumo's Kaguraden (Kagura Hall) is the largest in Japan with a length of 13.5 meters and a weight of 5 tonnes, pictured here in the first image.

*All facts above were made according to Wikipedia*

A new symbol Izumo-taisha is usagi (rabbits), or as I like to called them usagi-chan.  Especially after the marriage of Princess Noriko back in October 2014, new stone sculptures of little usagi-chan can be found around the shrine--this is in addition to the other bronze ones  already a part of the Izumo landscape.  They reminded me of the ones I painted for a client last year, and I though it would be nice to share my usagi-chan too.

A quick note of the second picture, there was only one sakura tree in bloom when I visited there, though am sure they should all be in bloom by now.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izumo-taisha
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shimenawa

Photos of Works - Anshindo x JS Campaign

I always show the digital files of my work, so decided to take photo of some of my work today.  First, is the special message card I created for Anshindo. And then, this how the framed prints look like in real life--well, at a park and under the sun!!

it really has been a pleasure working with such a notable jeweller.  The Spring Marriage Campaign runs from now to Apr 30.  Please check it out if you haven't already done so!!

anshindo-bridal.com/form/reservation

Anshindo x JS 2015 Spring Marriage Campaign

Anshindo x JS 2015 Spring Marriage Campaign

It really is humbling, but back by popular demand (or so I hope!) from Mar 1 to Apr 30 2015, couples purchasing Anshindo's original weddings rings will received an exclusive solid wood framed print of my work. Again, it's limited to the first 100 customers, with a choice of 2 illustrations.

Anshindo is a renowned fine jeweller, founded in 1912 and based in Shizuoka, Anshindo has stores in Japan, as well as branches in Paris and Los Angeles.

Please do visit their website to see Anshindo's fabulous wedding collections:

anshindo-bridal.com/form/reservation/

tokyo trend – The Bulletin Magazine Feb & Jan 2015

Am going to do it backwards this time, starting with my February's report of "midi & midi" where longer silhouettes are popular during the cold winter season--midi coat worn with midi skirt.

January's report featured "japanese twist granola", anything from kinako & matcha, to yuzu & honey granola, with cashews and almonds, and even sakura & sake kasu granola, with whole cherries and preserved sakura flowers!!

jccabulletin-geppo.ca/tokyo-trend-9/ (Feb 2015)

jccabulletin-geppo.ca/tokyo-trend-8/ (Jan 2015)

Year of the Ram-Lamb-Goat

Happy Year of the Ram, Lamb, Goat, whichever one you prefer!  Yes, it's the Lunar New Year!!

I chose to paint a long necked goat here, in contrast to the fluffy lamb I did earlier, with an oriental white-eye birdy perched on a plum blossom branch--all symbols of a joyful New Year.  Wishing everyone All the Very Best!!

Valentine's Love

Happy Valentine's Day!!  While Urara-chan is baking up a storm for her loved ones, am reflecting on a different kind of love.  I love it when from time to time, I receive photos from people who took pictures of my original artwork in their homes & offices.  Honestly, it's much better than receiving chocolates.  Hahaha......Here, am sharing a few of them with you.  And thank you for the continual love and support!

Limited Edition Converse - Japan

I think by now, you all know about my love for leather shoes.  And it goes beyond oxfords.  Converse, especially leather the ones limited to Japan are something that I can't walk without, or so to say.

I starting wearing the "Made in Japan" hard leather One Stars (last two images above) over a decade ago, and still own a pair now.  The company did switch production to Indonesia for a few years at a certain time--which I never bought.  But I was extremely happy when they decided to bring it back into Japan.  They listened to what the consumers wanted.

The first 3 images are of the new pair of Leather All Star Chromexcel Hi I recently purchased to replace the worn out, but much loved All Star QL (OS) Hi (images 4 to 6) that was available exclusively at only one of their Converse store and online store in Japan back in late 2012/early 2013.

Though both pairs are not made in Japan, they have specially qualities, besides being limited, that are totally worth buying.  Both are made of more solid leather to give the shoes better shape of the years, have black rubber soles instead of the dark brown on see on most Converse shoes, and came with black laces.

The Leather All Star Chromexcel Hi are made with high quality leather from Horween Leather Company in Chicago.  And the logo patch is only black and white, whereas the usual one has a blue star and red font.  According to Wiki: Horween Leather Company is one of the oldest continuously running tanneries in the United States, and the only one located in Chicago. Isadore Horween founded the company in 1905, and worked in it until 1949.

The Leather All Star QL (OS) has black quilted stitching, a black leather logo patch, with brass eyelets instead of silver ones, and the rubber soles are off-white, not white.

Well, that's enough of Converse for today, and now, am heading back to work/painting!

A note on the images, they were all taken from the Converse Japan website:

www.converse.co.jp/products