zen style | Connect Japan and the world through Japanese spirituality｜ Japan Cross Bridge

2020-10-072021-03-28

Sakura cherry blossom – Japanese beauty and sensitivity

Sakura cherry blossoms painting art Kimono silk kakejiku

Japanese painting calligraphy art hanging scroll Kakejiku wall decor landscape Sakura cherry tree

I am obsessed with Sakura cherry blossoms.

Sakura is Japanese symbol.

We admire Sakura cherry blossoms in many ways.

Sakura is connected to our Japanese culture deeply.

Since ancient time, Japanese people enjoyed watching Sakura, called “Ohanami” (meaning “watch flowers”)

Spring time, under Sakura trees were full of people, sitting and having picnic.

This “Ohanami” habit is still very popular in Japan.

We see “Sakura forecast” (when cherry blossom start to bloom) on the TV news.

When Sakura starts to bloom, people start going out to have picnic under the Sakura trees.

This is our major Spring event.

We also eat Sakura flowers and leaves.

Pickled Sakura flowers and leaves are used for sweets or tea.

Tea leaf container or other tools are made using Sakura trees.

We have music about Sakura, called “SAKURA”, and all Japanese should know this song.

We have color called “SAKURA color”, which is light sensitive pink.

Sakura is used as Japanese symbol in many situations.

Sakura is very familiar flower for Japanese people.

Sakura cherry blossom time is very short, about one week.

When it starts blooming, it goes very quick to be full bloom, and as soon as it becomes full bloom, leaves start to come out and flowers start falling.

So the short period in full bloom and the beauty of Sakura flowers are often likened to the fragility of human life.

That is why cherry blossoms are symbol of beauty and transience.

I love Sakura, and cherry blossom time makes me excited.

Painting Sakura makes me happy and this is a good meditation for me.

That is why I keep painting Sakura.

Japanese painting calligraphy art hanging scroll Kakejiku wall decor ZEN style SHIDARE Sakura

Japanese painting calligraphy art hanging scroll Kakejiku wall decor ZEN style Sakura cherry blossom art

Japanese painting calligraphy art hanging scroll Kakejiku wall decor landscape Sakura cherry blossom in full moon night

Japanese painting calligraphy art hanging scroll Kakejiku wall decor Sakura cherry tree in full bloom

Japanese painting calligraphy art hanging scroll Kakejiku wall decor Kimono style YOZAKURA night cherry blossom

Japanese painting calligraphy art hanging scroll Kakejiku wall decor Sakura cherry blossom

2020-09-272021-03-28

Drawing Japanese Koi pond

Japanese calligraphy painting of Koi pond Kakejiku hanging scroll

Most of Japanese gardens have Koi pond.

Koi pond is the symbol of Japanese garden.

There are stones around Koi pond, sometimes there is even a stone bridge over the koi pond.

Pine trees, bamboo trees and other trees are around the pond.

In the water, usually colorful koi fish called “Nishiki goi” are swimming.

The color is gold, white, silver, red, orange, black, etc.

And especially red & white combination koi fish is highly valued.

We consider Koi fish as a good luck symbol.

Koi fish is believed to bring us a good luck as well as prosperity.

Just looking at those koi fish swimming in the water is very soothing.

Drawing koi fish has the same healing effect as meditation does to me.

They are beautiful and always give me the enthusiasm to draw them.

extra large Koi pond Japanese calligraphy painting Kakejiku hanging scroll

2020-09-242021-03-28

From calligraphy art to colored Japanese painting

Japanese ZEN style Sakura cherry blossom painting wall decor

I was making calligraphy artworks for a while, and soon after, I started using color in my paintings.

I love the simplicity of Ink art, just black and white and its gradation color.

However, Sakura cherry blossoms should also look great with Sakura pink color, and I began using Japanese pigment and whitewash, as well as watercolor.

Using color expanded my painting world.

I can even paint in jewelry, using acrylic paint.

I can also create imaginary things in my painting world.

I knew I liked making jewelry, as I like miniature things and like to make small things.

But I realized I love painting so much as well.

My creation is now from 3D painting jewelry to Japanese painting mixed with calligraphy art.