Enoura Observatory
I went to visit the Enoura Observatory, an art/architecture space in Odawara, just outside Tokyo last weekend. It was an amazing discovery. A truly beautiful place, on a cliff overlooking the sparkling sea, it made me slow down and thinking contemplatively about time and humanity…
There were large vistas and intimate spaces and I especially enjoyed all the many doorways and windows showing borders between places.
There was a lovely bamboo grove to wander through…
…with sculptures in amongst the trees.
And my favourite were these three little wise men, sitting calmly watching people go by.
I really recommend this as a day trip from Tokyo. I’m still enjoying the memory of the air and the tranquil pace now…
tori no ichi festival
This year I went to the tori no ichi festival at Otori Jinja in Asakusa. It’s observed every November in Tokyo, in order to pray for wealth and good fortune in business, for the year ahead.
Those coming to pray for good fortune line up and take turns to ring the bell at the shrine. It was so crowded, even though we went in the daytime!
There were kumade, decorated rakes, everywhere, so many different kinds and different sizes. The rake is meant to symbolise raking in good fortune.
I even bought my own, the littlest and cutest one I could find, all hand-made from paper. It has a crane, the Japanese flag, some red snappers, mochi, and Ebisu, one of the gods of fortune. They did the clapping ceremony for me, and I hope my business will prosper this coming year!
World Tsunami Awareness Day
November 5th is World Tsunami Awareness day, and to commemorate, the UNISDR has launched this free booklet which I illustrated, to educate children (and adults!) about tsunamis.
You can download the free booklet in PDF form here. Please share it with everyone you know! The more people who know how to recognise a tsunami, and how to be prepared, the better.
The booklet contains simple facts, history and advice about tsunami preparedness, and also a fictional short story featuring the COPE squad who get caught in the Japan 2011 tsunami.
HK x Japan toile
I was commissioned by the HKTDC to design a special version of my HK toile pattern, for a special gift for participants to the ‘think Global think Japan’ event in Tokyo this year.
I added my favourite Japan icons into my existing HK pattern. Here’s a little promotional video they made, showing the icons from the two places and how I mixed them into the design. This was shown at the presentation before dinner at the main event.
I was honoured to be invited to the formal dinner at the end of the event, and saw the boxes with my teacups at the dinner tables.
There was a little silvery booklet to go with the teacups and saucers…
…which explained the design of the pattern, and its meaning.
It was one of the most surreal moments of my life, to watch Carrie Lam, the current Chief Executive of HK, talk not only about my teacups, but about me, and how I represent the wonderful relationship between HK and Japan.
I loved making this design, to celebrate two countries that are such a big part of my heritage!
Chichibu - Saitama
This week I went for an overnight stay at an onsen in Chichibu, in Saitama, a few hours train ride away from Tokyo. It always amazes me that it’s possible to get away to the real countryside so quickly…
We stayed in a lovely little ryokan that was over 180 years old, with thick wooden beams and a wonderful rotemburo.
There was a beautiful temple nearby, part of a pilgrimage route, with hundreds of stone buddhas, all covered in moss.
The leaves were just starting to turn orange and yellow, and the air was full of a fresh Autumnal feeling…
Near Chichibu train station we also visited Chichibu Jinja, a much larger shrine, over 2800 years old, and recently awarded UNESCO World Heritage status. There were incredible wooden carvings in the roof, and I loved the famous owl carved at the back of the roof.
It was so easy to get to from Tokyo, I really want to visit more countryside places now!
monogatari zine
I was invited to create an illustrated story for the new zine produced by ToCo, on the subject of a ‘thing’ or ‘mono’ in Japanese, and as I’m not really a sequential artist, I had to think quite hard about what to make. What story did I want to tell? I’ve been drawing a lot of food while I’ve been in Japan, and decided to do something based on that.
I drew up sketches of a story without words, about using your own chopsticks, and taking them with you to eat out. I wanted to show that this works for every type of Japanese meal and then we don’t need to use so many disposable chopsticks.
For the final artwork I painted with black ink and drew with a fine black pen, and really enjoyed the monochrome process.
An exhibition of the artwork for the zine was held in Roppongi at Tokyo Chapter, and I framed up some digital prints of my illustrations.
Something about food in black and white really appealed to me and I’m thinking of doing a series like this…
Hope you’ll consider taking your own chopsticks too, next time you go out for Japanese (or any Asian) food!
Okinawa
I’ve just spent eight glorious days in Okinawa for the first time. It was the perfect moment and place for a break from work. We landed in the wake of a typhoon, which meant the days to start with were a little grey, but the sun soon came out, and the seas turned their famous turquoise blue…
We stayed in two beautiful airbnb places, both lovingly made of wood, to fit into the landscape, a mix of Japanese and Western aesthetic.
We visited the huge aquarium, and I loved seeing the weird and wonderful sea creatures, but am at the same time upset by seeing the larger fish, like whale sharks and manatees, in such confined spaces. Somehow it seems wrong…
I absolutely loved all the local food we tried, the shaved iced with tropical fruits, the ‘seagrapes’ that burst in a savoury tingle in your mouth, and the agu okinawan pork dishes.
I sketched here and there, taking in the glorious skies. This is the famous ‘heart rocks’ on Kouri Island. I’m not too sure they really look like hearts, but still liked them anyway!
I loved watching the sea and the sky changing …
I definately want to go back. Maybe next time to visit some of the outer islands and reefs, and do a little more looking at fish, but this time out in the wild.
Izu visit
Last weekend I took a trip to the Izu peninsula, not too far from Tokyo. It was a perfect day for a cable car ride to the top of a hill to look at Mt Fuji in the distance.
I did a quick sketch and had an icecream and enjoyed the wonderful sunshine.
We stayed overnight in a ryokan, and they offered us a private onsen rotemburo, which was wonderful! And then we took the little train past the rice fields the next day on the way back to Tokyo…
exhibition - artists books
I have two pieces in the show ‘Reading Between the Lines’ that’s opening tonight at the Launch Pad Gallery in Yokohama. I’m an honorary member of the Art Byte Critique group, who are holding the exhibition. I’m showing my first artists book ‘The Perfect Cup of Tea’, which is made of a long 12 block mokuhanga print, in an accordian-fold book.
I also have my mokuhanga piece ‘into the garden’ on display, waving slightly in the breeze.
There are so many lovely books to look at! I do hope you’ll manage to pop down and take a look.
Weekly Affirmations
My illustration agent Marlena Agency made a little book called ‘Weekly Affirmations’ with 52 positive affirmations left by Buddhist teacher Trime Lhamo. I was asked to do the lettering for the cover and inside headings.
Each affirmation is illustrated, and I chose to do this one with my peony etchings and hand-lettering.
At the moment it’s not a book that you can buy, but if you manage to get hold of one, hope you enjoy it and get the benefit of these mindful and thoughtful teachings!
Hong Kong
On my way back to Tokyo I stopped in Hong Kong for a few days of work, and spent alot of time looking out at the rain from buses, trams and taxis, going from meeting to meeting...
I was happy to see my HK toile products at HK airport, and also to sip tea from them at my friends house.
When it wasn't raining I enjoyed walking around Sheung Wan...
...and when it was, I sheltered in various places, like the Man Mo temple.
Even in the summer rain, I love Hong Kong!
Oxford - Tolkien
I made a trip to Oxford while I was in the UK, specially to see the J.R.R.Tolkien exhibition at the Bodleian Library. It was incredible to see the original artwork for the Hobbit, and all the notes Tolkien made , as well as the many fan letters he received. I loved the one from a Mr Sam Gamgee!
Oxford itself was golden and beautiful in the August sunshine, with cobbled streets and punts on the river.
We stayed overnight in St Stephen's College, an old monastery, and had our sandwiches in the quad.
The views of the dreaming spires were delightful, and the evening was warm and gentle.
We also visited Whittington Court in Gloucestershire, a delightful old house with beautiful interiors. I sketched some of the things in the living room as we listened to the history of the house.
The gardens were lush and a little wild, my favourite kind! Maybe I can visit again next time for a longer stay...
Brecon Beacons
A quiet, restful holiday in the English countryside was just what I needed, and our trip to the Brecon Beacons was perfect!
We stayed in a wonderful little cabin at Little Trewern Farm, in a meadow all our own, and I sketched happily every day.
We had fresh eggs in the morning with our breakfast, which we ate sitting outside, and then went walking and of course had plenty of naps!
We visited the site of Dinas Castle, the highest in England and Wales, and I painted the dramatic views all around.
I'm on my way back to Asia very soon, but I already miss the green of the landscapes in this part of the world.
London
A summer visit to London makes me so happy: meals with friends, a picnic in the park, and so many exhibitions to see. We stayed in a tiny hotel in Paddington, with a lovely view over the rooftops. Here are the sunset and sunrise...
We saw the incredible mastaba sculpture installation by Christo in the Serpentine river...
...and watched the sublime The King and I at the London Palladium with Ken Watanabe. It was such a joy!
The Great British Seaside exhibition at the National Maritime Museum Greenwich was inspiring and emotional, especially the photographs of Martin Parr, always a favourite!
I'm here for another week, so more London blog soon...
Hong Kong visit
I made a whirlwind stop in HK and managed to fit in an amazing amount of wonderful things. I always love the neon nights in the city...
We visited the HK Park aviary, which I haven't done in a while, and I enjoyed sketching the birds.
And whilst in HK Park, a visit to the Flagstaff House Tea Museum is always a special treat...
See you very soon HK!
blue exhibition
I have some prints in the upcoming show BLUE at CLOUDS ART + COFFEE in Koenji, Tokyo, which is opening this week. I coloured this teacup print with blue spots especially for the show.
I'll also be showing the blue version of my peony mokuhanga print.
The exhibition runs from tuesday 7th of August until sunday 12th August, 10am to 6pm
There is a reception on saturday 11th August from 6-8pm (I won't be there unfortunately) but I hope you'll still drop by! Everything is for sale!
All details:
CLOUDS ART+COFFEE
2-25-4 Koenjikita Suginami-ku, Tokyo 166-0002
03-5356-9358
birthday party!
I've had a lovely birthday week, with friends and treats and tea, it's been wonderful...
I love baking, and baking for my favourite people especially!
Thanks to everyone who came to party and eat cake and cucumber sandwiches!
I painted a little sketch afterwards of the delicious sponge cake my friend Alvin brought!
exhibition
I have two pieces in the group show journey's beginning at the Setagaya Museum Gallery, Tokyo, along with this list of fantastic ladies:
There's an artists reception party tomorrow night (saturday 21st July) and I'll be there. Hope you can pop along and meet us all!
I've never shown any of my paintings before, so I'm a little nervous. Hopefully it won't look too awkward. Here's a little detail of my Bontan Ame painting:
The artwork won't be for sale (it's a museum!) but I will put edition prints of my maneki neko for sale in my shop after the show ends.
See you there!
Gion matsuri
This weekend I went to the Gion matsuri in Kyoto and enjoyed all the many facets of this amazing festival. On the 17th, during the morning, there was a parade, with lots of different floats pulled along the streets for everyone to see.
This grand procession of floats (Yamaboko Junko) was fabulous and colourful, and I managed to do some quick sketching, but it was honestly just too hot to stand around for long! Kyoto in the summer is really no joke...
On the nights preceding the parade, all the floats are put on display with lanterns and music and shopping...
The packed streets are lined with games to play and food stalls, and it was so fun to try as much as possible!
Here are some boys in yukata playing bells and drums with long strings, sitting inside one of the floats.
I loved the lights and colours and the feeling of everyone out having a nice time together, but the temperatures of 38C made it a little difficult. It might be a while before I go to this again!
