Year of the Horse
Each year, I enjoy creating an ink painting of the "Chinese animal of the year". This "Year of the (Fire) Horse 2026 is all about taking bold new steps, trusting the unknown, and moving into a fresh cycle and enjoying all the positive attributes of the direction you take in life.
I was contacted by the Santa Cruz Japanese Cultural Fair president, letting me know that I was their design contest winner, with my Sumie horse painting! I am beyond thrilled that they will use my image on t-shirts and program brochure for the once a year fair, a fun family cultural festival held at the Mission Plaza Park in Santa Cruz. For schedule and more information visit: https://www.jcfsantacruz.org/
Blessings to you all, this "Year of the Horse 2026"
Year of the Dragon
Each year, I enjoy creating an ink painting of the "Chinese animal of the year". I finally finished my "Wood Dragon 2024" ink painting on wood a few days after the official "Chinese New Year" on February 10th, 2024.
In every aspect, It felt like this "sweet" dragon had a "life of its own" and evolved as S/HE wanted! Being the only mythological animal of the 12 zodiac animals, the dragon is wide open to a word/concept that I love: "ESORAGOTO ", a Japanese word meaning : "using artistic imagination/interpretation".
S/HE wanted a brush in his mouth to ink paint “2024”, and S/HE wanted to have sweet eyes and no wings or menacing claws…S/HE "got his way" …a real pleasure S/HE was…to paint with HER/HIS directives!
Blessings to you all, this "Year of the Dragon 2024"
I enjoy finding various wood to ink paint on…sometimes I go to a local cabinet shop and they welcome me to pick up any wood pieces I like from their "scrap pile". This wood happened to have a "knot hole imperfection" so it handily became the "eye of the rooster"…such fun!
