Animals -my favorite subject

Humphrey and Zebra

sketch and handmade stamps on paper

I really like to draw animals. I had the aim of making a stamp of Humphrey after the sketch, so I made it with few details. The resulting stamp is one of my favorites. Humphrey is my brother's family dog. He is adorable. The photo I referenced is of him sitting on a chair with a toy on the seat beside him. It just so happened that I tested the zebra stamp on the same page. The envelope stamp is an idea for a future collage.

Piglet Feelings

pencil on paper

Maren and Hans told us many wonderful stories of their time being on the Alm last summer. The alm is a mountain farm in Austria, typical in the alps. For Maren, it was her second summer at the same alm and thus she was more prepared for the exhaustive days of labor. They had two pigs named Socrates and Napoleon. I was fascinated to learn that the pigs would coax the cows into feeding them. Maren described with gestures how the pigs would crouch low and make baby cow sounds to get close to the cows for nursing. In fact, cows are usually afraid of pigs. Maren said she would fine one of her pigs often drinking from her cows. She said if she did not catch them in the act, she would soon learn about their feeding frenzy by all of the white foam around their mouths and their tails spinning with glee.

FUN FACT

Did you know that pigs have the equivalent of a three year old child in brain function and emotion capacity?

Sketches from Trip to Koyasan, Osaka and Nara

Bus to Tanabe from Osaka, Ant Style

pen in sketchbook

I have been placing my pen on a sketchbook page while riding in buses lately. I periodically look to adjust and add accordingly. Since I get motion sick, I only look for a few moments periodically. I am calling it "Ant Style" since the mark moves along the paper in a seemingly purposeless manner, but in fact it is full of purpose.

(I just don't know the meaning). I like the effect.

Bus to Osaka from Tanabe

pen in sketchbook

Ant style.

Nara Park Study

pencil in sketchbook

We rested in the shade along the edge of a pond in Nara. The turtles sunbathed and the pigeons begged for food. The turtles, fish and pigeons would get fed by people at the corner we happened to choose to relax. It was fascinating how close the animals came to the people feeding them, much like the deer of Nara, very docile.

Sketches from Trip to Koyasan, Osaka and Nara

Okunoin Sketch

pen in sketchbook

Okunoin is Japan's largest cemetery. We have been there with friends about three or four times. It is one of Pyar's favorite places to take photos. I like to draw while walking. I first attempted this on the bus ride to Osaka in the last few months. I get car sick when I look anywhere else but the road ahead, so I started to draw in a kind of modified blind contour style. I liked the outcome, so I have been trying it in other ways. Here, I walked and drew so the scenery continued to change, just like on the bus, but I could stop when I found something interesting. Don't worry Mom, I walk very slow.

Okunoin Sketch II

pen in sketchbook

same method as above

Sketch at Osaka Station

pen in sketchbook

The trains come every few moments, so I had an automatic time limit to get the essence of the drawing and not fuss with details. It was fun.

Sketch at Osaka Station II

Salary Man

pen in sketchbook

Sketch at Osaka Station III

pen in sketchbook

This student had three large bags she had to carry. I was interested in how the straps draped her arms as she held two of the bags on her hip.

Flowers in June

Three Roses for Junpei

handmade stamps on paper

Our wonderful friends, the Komori family have one of the most amazing rose gardens that I have ever seen and smelled. They have been growing many varieties in their front garden for about seven years. They truly are stunning.

Sketch of Flowers , Mayumi

pencil in sketchbook

Mayumi gave us a beautiful arrangement for our exhibition's opening.

I put a few in a vase to create a still life for study.

Hydrangeas

handmade stamp on paper

Our friends the Kubo family gave us some lovely hydrangeas for our exhibition's opening day.

Hydrangeas

handmade stamp on paper

Two Years in Tanabe Exhibition

Two Years in Tanabe

collected works of Pyar Anderson and Cynthia White

We are exhibiting our works at Le Cafe Mail this month. The cafe is a great space with beautiful walls and an airy feeling. Pyar has 19 prints of his paintings framed in the show. I have many handmade stamps printed on wood pieces and the following paintings in the show (some featured in earlier posts). We are thrilled how the show came together. It was difficult for me to choose the pieces that are exhibited since I wanted to show the broadest array of works done in Tanabe while capturing a sense of place. However, I feel really good about how our works enhance each other as well as how the pieces depict our lives in Japan.

Special thanks to

the Yamamoto family for their space at Le Cafe Mail

Maren and Hans who so graciously helped us hang the works

and to all of our family and friends for their love and support

Tenjinzaki

acrylic on wood

various size about 3" round

Tenjinzaki No Fune

acrylic on wood

various size about 3" round

Kumano Kodo

acrylic on wood

various size about 5" round

Two Years in Tanabe Exhibition

Mikan

acrylic on wood

various size about 3" round

Sudachi

acrylic on wood

various size about 1" round

Tsuru

origami crane

acrylic on wood

various size about 4" round

Nasu

acrylic on wood

various size about 3" round

Ume Flowers

plum flowers

acrylic on wood

various size about 3" round

Two Years in Tanabe Exhibition

Winter

fuyu

acrylic on wood with handmade stamps

10cm x 10cm

Fall

aki

acrylic on wood with handmade stamps

10cm x 10cm

Summer

natsu

acrylic on wood with handmade stamps

10cm x 10cm

Spring

haru

acrylic on wood with handmade stamps

10cm x 10cm