First release in 2019

My first release in 2019 is Phoenix pendant designed with Arabic word.
This is my customer request.

First I drew many sketches which are just motif shape.

Spreading wings, long tail, looking up, all details are consists of phoenix.

Next step is filling word in like puzzle.
How much I can deform the shape or letter...
I know this is phoenix so I can see this is it but for others?? I always ask myself.
Then I choose which shape looks best finally.

These step take long time. Sometimes I give up or put it in behind.
Someday I may think of.

This time I chose this one.



From right wing to left wing, you see the word which means phoenix.

For main capture photo is like below.

 

It jumps in flame when rebirth, I use this back ground, like fire.

You saw my sketches, now you see this is phoenix, right?(^_-)-☆

 

This pendant is available on etsy.

 

Escher exhibition

I visited Escher exhibition in Osaka.

He is one of my favorite artist.
He is well-known as an impossible objects and tessellation artist.
I don't remember my first encounter (maybe from art textbook) but remember I got his book in Italy.

Most of his art is flat like woodcut, lithographs, mezzotint.
However his works make us feel them 3D,or even more than 3D, almost next level of gravity.
Maybe because he has a background of architecture?
Every perspective is very accurate.
Still, we get confused which side we focus on.
That makes us not sure about the world how we see.
What we believe right may not be correct for others.
Are we right?

What we believe justice is wrong for others.
That makes conflict.
What makes it right is just majority.
How many people can get benefit from those conflicts?

At the same time, his expression would influence me a lot.
Reality is flat but doesn't look like just 2D.
How to make people feel more than one world is my next assignment.

   

Yayoi Kusama Exhibition

The other day, my friend posted Yayoi Kusama Exhibition in Kyoto on instagram.
I remembered it ends in 2 weeks!(Actually it's started in June, I kept forgetting(^^;)

This exhibition is hold at Forever Museum of Contemporary Art in Gion, Kyoto.

Speaking of Yayoi Kusama, most famous art is Pumpkin.
This welcomes you in front of gallery.
Like other museums, basically taking photo is prohibited, but some area, we can.

"Yellow Trees"

This is big painting, combined 3 panels.
One of most unique things here is these arts are displayed in tatami rooms, we take off shoes at entrance.

There is really nice garden, we can look around.

As you see, this building is very traditional property.
This is founded in 1913! Now this is registered as a tangible cultural property.

On second floor, this is displayed.

"A Boat Carrying My Soul"

 



Before seeing this, you'll see her 2D art named sprouting or something.(sorry, I don't remember(T_T))
After seeing that etching, you may have something different feeling.

There are other pumpkins, high-heels, butterflies etc.
I saw her exhibition in NY gallery, those are more abstract, I feel.
And years ago, another hers, that was even more abstract. (personal perspective)
These have obvious motif, maybe good for first visitors or people who is unfamiliar with her (like my dad).
Still, I enjoyed pretty much and got some inspiration.

Someday, I'd like to make her pumpkin design pendant!
 
 

New planner

I've been using same planner for more than 10 years.
That's Louis Vuitton very small agenda.
When I was in Italy, my friend had il bisonte planner, that was very small.
I felt it's very compact and stylish, I wanted that size.
After getting back, I looked for same size planner, I found LV one.
Not pink, red, I chose Damier.
Since then, I'm using this one.
Even when I got snatched my bag, at the end, police found my planner from snatcher's belonging and back to me.
Many memories on it.

Somehow I thought of renewal planner this year. (for next year)
Maybe because my life will be changed a lot next year.
It would be the good timing.

My new one!

My choice is Quo Vadis business prestige in coral pink.
I should know US holidays, world map, international size conversion etc.
This has useful information about above, not only for US.
And weekly vertical schedule.
Hopefully I will be busy with my business(^_-)-☆

I asked to stamp my name.

This color makes me cheerful.
I live next year with this loving one.
Wish it be filled with happy plans!

 

My jewelry making process

I show you how to make my jewelry.
My jewelry is, mostly "word picture" design, shaped with word.

First, decide a motif.
Here I picked up penguin.

The upper left is Arabic word that means "penguin".
Draw penguin sketch, try to fit the word, this way, that way, turn round, separate, combine...
Once come up with good balance, I draw it precisely on graph paper.
By then, it takes sometimes half year, sometimes 10 minute, sometimes seems never (T_T)

Attach designed tracing paper on metal sheet, drill holes, start to cut by hand saw.

My favorite time! This cutting process is like meditating moment.
My design has lots of curvy line, I break saw once in a while.

After cutting out, file the all edges. until cutting marks are disappeared.
That makes it look shiny.

Sand with paper from coarse to fine grid.
I drop some water to avoid clogging.

Buffing with Leutor (micro grinder).
It gets very hot quickly, I hold it wrapping with leather.
Around here becomes very dusty, I need mask and goggles because it spins very fast with splashing polishing paste.
If I go out after this work, I should change cloths, wash my face, makeup again (^_^;)
I wash it with toothbrush to remove buffing paste, wish I had ultrasonic.

Only plating, I ask plating factory where deals with fine jewelry, I can trust their quality.

This is the photo I use on my etsy page, Penguin pendant.Taking product's photo is another difficult thing.
I'm always looking for good idea, balance, small tools.

Basically this is how to make my jewelry.



 

The Tower of Babel exhibition

I take a break from Vancouver trip blog this time (please don't say I'm always taking a break from updating(^^;) )

I got a day off so visited The National Museum of Art, Osaka.
Now they have Collection of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen Bruegel's "The Tower of Babel" and Great 16th Century Masters.

You might have seen this famous painting?
This exhibition has started since July 18th, I expected now already quiet, especially, this day was weekday.
Without waiting, I could buy ticket and enter.
They have some sculptures, Jheronimus Bosch artworks, and other artists' paintings.
Last section, there is Babel.
In front of it, there was long line to only see it!

The reason is this masterpiece is like miniature.
Its size is 60 x 75cm, not big at all but it has over 1400 people on panel!
How precise!
Each person is drawn less than 3mm, we can see it clearly even 300% enlarged.
This lets the tower stand out enormously huge.

After exit, there is official character of this exhibition.

He's from "Big fish Eat Little Fish" by Bruegel.
If you look up this painting, you can find this imaginary creature easily. (more serious looking)

Besides him(?), on Bruegel painting, there are many monsters and unique creatures,
when you have a chance to see, it's fun to look for.


 
 

Vancouver trip Day 6

Everyday sunny day!
On day 6, we rented bikes, riding around the city.

Like Citibike in NY. There are many bike docks in city, we can leave bike everywhere.
Seems nicer bike than NY one...

Downtown in Vancouver is not so huge, with bike it's easy to look around, just be careful.

This is the narrowest building in the world. World record!
It's attached to next building, I wonder how to measure the width...what's the criteria to call "building".

Headed to Main street, stopped by Cartems donuterie.
Very open air, comfortable café.
Needless to say, donut was delicious and fresh.
(Personally, I prefer Lucky's doughnuts from yesterday.)

As this area is called Mount Pleasant, there are slopes, it was hard to ride a bike for me, had to get off a few times.

We walked around Main street area browsing some stores.
Clothes shop, record shop, yarn store, etc.

Then took bikes again, went to west, crossed the cambie street bridge.

What to do on this day was visiting Vancouver art gallery.
On Tuesday after 5, free entrance day! (Actually they recommend $10 for adult)

But everybody thinks same thing, the line was soooooo long, like forever.
After a long wait, we could enter.
Now they have Claude Monet's special exhibition.

In NY, there are some collections too but here, there are many others.

And this gallery's most famous property is Emily Carr's collection.

She is the one of famous Canadian female artist.
Her painting about tree is very unique.
I wondered how she did see the nature like that but next day we went to North Vancouver, I felt I could understand the reason a bit.

This is not huge museum, we could see all floors, though I recommend to line up earlier.

For dinner, went to Vietnamese restaurant close to our place.
We entered at last order time, I felt hurry, but tasted good.
Pho noodle, I expected shrimp or seafood, all are beef based soup.
This is another noodle, seafood mix. I don't see crabmeat like fish cake often in abroad(^^;

 

Vancouver trip Day 3



Today we were going to meet my friend since we were in NY, before meeting, visited Granville Island.

We got off bus too early, had to cross bridge, walked a while.
Here is very popular place for both tourist and local people.
There are fresh food market, local artists' stores, brewery, restaurants, and so on.

How do they build cherries like this!
We got fresh pastry and coffee here.


My friend lives near Vancouver,  we got know each other when we were English students in NY.
On this day, he offered to look around Vancouver Biennale .
According to this site, there are many sculptures in city, so called outside museum.
We moved to Sunset beach, found one.

This is named 217.5 Arc x 13.
Each semi circle is 217.5 degree. When we reached here, a boy is playing with his dad.
People can touch, climb, take picture on this.

We walked to next sculpture.

Huuuuuge engagement rings.
Next is close to English bay beach, famous one.

A-maze-ing-laughter. Someone may have seen these laughing guys on guidebook?

After having late lunch, took tandem bike in Stanley park, my friends went home, we were planning to watch fireworks!

We waited for 3 hours, but this view is worth it!

That was amazing! Show lasted 25 mins without break time.
(In Japan, event lasts longer but there are several gaps in between fireworks.)

One matter was after celebration of lights, we didn't know how to get bus(^^;