'Tis the season everyone! Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and everything in between! Wishing you all an amazing & bubbly festive time will lots of love & joy that will go all the way into the new decade of 2020’s!
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas Everyone! Wishing you and your loved ones a beautiful holiday season, full of love, joy, laughs, great food, and cheers that will continue to 2019 and beyond! Am like the little boy in this illustration, eyeing the delicious buche de noel (Christmas cake!), waiting for someone to cut it and share it with me! Hahaha……
Happy 2017 & En
A Very Happy & Sparkling 2017 to my friends from all over!! Added some golden splashes to mark the special occasion! Also, えん for 縁 and all comes full circle. This was what I wanted to paint/write for 2016--thanking the universe & loved ones for all the en I have and will have received.
Purple for wine and gold for sparkles?! Hahaha......
Merry Christmas - Ain Soph Aur
It's a day late but, Merry Christmas Everyone! Wishing you a beautiful holiday season full of joy, laughs, and sparkles!! Ain Soph Aur means “Limitless Light” in Hebrew, from the Kabbalah—Tree of Life. Transcending beliefs and backgrounds, since we are wonderful & different, May Limitless Light Be With Us All!!
I learnt the phrase a little while ago. I loved it so much that I dug up my calligraphy pen nibs from high school to hand write it out and then later incorporated it into my holiday greeting! As for the blue bubbles they were painted with Vancouver's rain/snow as the inspiration. Am lucky to have grown up in a multicultural city with people of all sorts of background, and had the same wonderful experience in my 6 1/2 years in Tokyo. Thank you and really, Happy Holidays!!
Warmest,
Jo
Am Yours, So Be Mine
Am yours, so be mine! Happy Valentines'!!
Happy 2016!
Happy New Year everyone!! Well, it is the year of the monkey--staying warm at an onsen, hot spring!! Ah, how I want to escape to one right now......
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays everyone!! Wishing you all a very Fa "Lala" la la la la la la holiday season full of joy, love, laughs and great food! May 2016 be the best year yet!!
Tanabata - Star Festival
Tanabata (Star Festival)
July 7th is the annual celebration about the legend of the fated lovers, who are separated by the earth and moon, can only meet on this day every year. There is a tradition of writing your wishes on tanzaku, a strip of paper, and hanging it on sasa no ha, bamboo branches. Came across this spellbinding sasa no ha arrangement with a friend when we were visiting the Main Building of the established Hotel Okura, which will be torn down for reconstruction later this year.
Of course, we wrote our wishes, hung them on the branches, and are looking forward to the wishes coming true!!
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!
Happy New Year! Haru Ga Kita!!
Happy New Year!! Cheers to 2015 and you all!!
This illustration was possible only because the very talent Japanese calligrapher, Kanoe-sensei's wonderful writing haru ga kita, Spring is here!
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!! Warmest Wishes to you and your loved ones, and that the spirit of this beautiful holiday season continues well into 2015!!
Still, I can't believe that there are only 11 more days until the end of 2014......
A special note on the jacket on the left. It was the one I fell in love with when I visited the chic Italian men's fashion store, Astile House, in Aoyama a while ago. By the label, "THE GIGI", this tailored textured wool jacket is amazing! It was so impressive that I felt compelled to paint it, and share it with everyone I know!
Mother's Day - Tsubaki vs. Carnations
It's Mother's Day and I, trying to be a good girl am wishing from Japan, my mother a wonderful day. She deserves more than just one day of course, but hey, aren't we all a victim of commercialization of celebrations?
I decided to paint a tsubaki, Japanese camellia, not only because it is one of her favourite flowers, but also of mine and someone who I have great respect of. I know that carnations are "the" symbol of Mother's Day, but I really don't remember when I last gave carnations on this day. I almost avoid it, if possible.
Tsubaki are beautiful, and we used to have a pink camellia tree outside our first home in Canada. The flower brings back such wonderful memories, though my personal favourite is of the white varieties.
Well, Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers around the world! Yes, we children, just love to drive you crazy, so be the Queen for the day that is purely dedicated to you! And thank you for all the years you have put up with us!!
Happy 2014!
Decided to go with a four leaf clover to post on Jan 4 to celebrate 2014. Clovers are a symbol of Good Luck, so I wish everyone a healthy, lucky, and creative New Year!
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas everyone! Wishing you all a beautiful holiday season filled with laughter, good food, and joy! May 2014 be another exciting year!!