Sketchbook Project 2012

I sent in my second sketchbook a couple of weeks ago, for Art House Coop.  And haven't done any art since then.  February always seems to sap me of energy.

It is the "Encyclopedia of Whimsy."

I was born in Japan, but grew up in Toronto, Canada. 
I love to send mail (in envelopes). 
I wish I had a bunny.  I am a feminist.
Have lived through many bouts of depression.  Love quirky foreign films.
Love noodles.  And ginger.  Can't eat dairy.
Live for backscratches.  Lived in Melbourne.
Am in love.


More pages to come...

Nameless

Well, it's done.  And what I've learned about myself is that I eventually will fall back into working with bright cartoon-y colours.  This drawing is still nameless - I look at it every day though.

I have about 3 months until I submit my sketchbook for the Sketchbook Project!

Wednesday Night Doodle

Encyclopedia of Inner Life

I'm slowly filling the pages of my sketchbook for The Sketchbook Project.  This is the second time I've done this project.  The first time I found myself rushing at the very last minute to put stuff down and not think about whether it was "good" or "bad."  This time I'm thinking about it a little differently, as a place where I can turn off my brain and let the materials go to work.   And find out what I think is "good." 

I just finished page 4.  I have 26 pages to go...

I'm addicted to Work of Art, season 2 (a reality art show).  The artist Sucklord just said this, which I think I can relate to:

"I spent my whole life developing myself to being who I am, and now at this stage of the game to push myself into directions that I wouldn't otherwise go into was interesting, but at the end of the day confirm for me that the voice that I have is the voice that I should continue with."

I don't know if I can say the same for myself and taiko, but that's what makes taiko special for me - in a different way from art.

Sketchbook Project 2012: Encyclopedia of Bachi (Drumsticks)

BACHI is the name for the straight wooden sticks used to play taiko drums and also the plectum for stringed instruments like shamisen and biwa.  "Bachi" is also loosely defined as "What goes around, comes around."  Drumsticks made their first notable appearance in Asia in the 7th Century.  Drumstick is the leg of a bird.  Andrew J gave me the word drumstick.  He is a thoughtful and talented taiko player.

Also, a doodle that came out as I was watching the the tv medical drama, House. 

Sketchbook Project 2012: Encyclopedia of Mari

MARI is a Japanese girls' name.  Mari is also a girls' name in the Breton, Estonian, Hungarian, Finnish, Welsh, Swedish and Norwegian languages.  MARI can be written in the Japanese kanji charaters to mean "truth," "long distance," or "jasmin."  In Hebrew, MARI means "uncertain" or "bitter."  It is the Welsh form of "Mary."  MARI is also a decorative colourful Japanese ball (temari). 

MARI is a taiko player that I know who lives in Los Angeles.  Whenever I see her, she is smiling and seems to enjoy her life.  She makes me smile too.

Art Exchange 2

 I got a package in the mail yesterday.  It was from Megan - our art exchange!  She sent back my original doodle and scraps of paper.  (I added the stripe before remember to take a photo.)

Going to send this back.  So I just finished step 3 (Yurika - Megan - Yurika).

In other news, I just received my sketchbook for The Sketchbook Project 2012!  I have until January to fill it up and send it back where it will become part of a traveling exhibit of hundreds of other such sketchbooks.  Better get to work.

Wish Tree

My birthday is coming up so I asked Adam if he'd like to go look at some art with me again.  We went to nearby Villa Montalvo because I heard there was an outdoor sculpture display there.  One of the installations was Yoko Ono's Wish Tree.  It is her dream that every city have a tree like this where people could write down their wishes.

Yoko Ono's Wish Tree

There were many general well-wishes for the universe...

"I wish will be peace in all the world."

... and some more personal wishes.

"I wish I was pretty and my crush would like me."

Here is my wish.  (I know my grammar is a little weird.)

"I wish everywhere there was fun art like this."

Art Exchange

My creative friend Megan gave me some scraps to make something out of.  I gave her a doodle and paper.  It's the eve of Taiko Conference and my brain is full from planning...  I just made this.  I wonder what she made.  We trade this weekend.  Then we trade again and again.  I love this idea.

I'm talking on a panel discussion called "Tradition and Innovation:  Keeping the Faith, Exploring New Worlds."  More on that later...

And this is just something I saw in Mendocino and really liked.

A moment for art

These moments are precious.  To make, just because.

I cut off the leaves to press.

And wanted the twig to look less lonely.

I'm still making things with paper...

 ...Well, refurbishing with paper.


 Before...

After...

This is as close to fashion design as I'll get.