This is part of a new series of work I'm slowly creating, as yet unnamed but I've been jokingly dubbing it 'Ukiyo-e without the wood'. Unlike the more airy Sumi-e paintings, I'm more interested in the rigid outlines of Japanese woodblock prints, but these are unique original paintings.
I love the woodblock prints by Imao Keinen, and wanted to see how I could do a master study with flat colours that replicate a print. The original painting has a bird as the main subject, but to simplify the piece and reduce the range of colours, I added a butterfly instead.
Regarding the hanko: Having lived in Japan, I return frequently to visit friends and family. This gives me the opportunity to view and study traditional Japanese art and materials in detail, and as my Japanese language improves, the doors to the last handmade material makers is opening up to me.
I was in Japan a couple of months ago, and as I'm beginning to explore both Nihonga and Ukiyo-e art in more detail for a painting series, I took part in some incredible experiences, two of which are directly obvious in this painting: I visited the Kobaien Sumi factory in Nara where I learned about the 500 year old ink-making process, and I had my hanko created at the behest of my close friends.
Back when I lived in Japan, 'Papa', who was actually more like 'grandpa' and whose family sort of adopted me, spent a lot of time with a huge kanji dictionary putting together characters for my name. He was a Shodo practitioner, and he wanted something that both fit my personality, but was also balanced and artistic. Papa is no longer with us, but the characters he gifted me will adorn my Japan-inspired art from now on.
This painting will be shipped rolled in a tube.
