Group Show at the Consulate General of Japan in New York

I will be showing one of my paintings alongside a group of wonderful local artists at a gallery inside the Consulate General of Japan in New York from Dec. 4-19. If you're in Midtown, please stop by!

"LOVE, FAMILY and FRIENDS"

December 4 – 19, 2018

CONSULATE GENERAL OF JAPAN IN NY | JIC GALLERY

299 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10171

18th Floor

(between 48 St and 49 St)

Hours: M-F  9:30am-  4pm

Closed Saturdays and Sundays

There will be no reception as it's inside the consulate (those uptight Japanese!), but friends, if you let me know you are coming, I'll try meeting you there. 

Group Show in Union Square

I will have a few new paintings in a group show in Union Square next month.

This year, a textile exhibition—of newly innovated sustainable fabric made from Kudzu plant—will be held by a group of students from Tama Art University (Tokyo, Japan; the art school I attended before coming to the US) at the same time.

If you are in the area, please stop by to see the show!
There will be some live music at the opening as well :)

Home Away From Home XIV 

October 22 – November 3, 2018

Opening reception: Thursday, October 25 from 7-9pm

TENRI GALLERY  map

43A West 13th Street, New York

Hours: M-Th 12-6, Sat: 12-3, Closed Fri + Sun

Our Okinawa trip

Hello! I took July off to spend some time with my family back in Tokyo, Japan.

This trip was a bit special as we decided to go to Okinawa, a group of small islands located in the very south end of Japan, close to Taiwan. (Usually I stay around Tokyo area.)

Okinawa used to be its own kingdom and has a very unique culture and language, nothing like the rest of Japan. We enjoyed swimming in the clear waters, the local food (Sohki soba—Okinawan noodle soup, sort of a cross between ramen and udon—is so delicious!), visited Shuri Castle, and my Mom and I challenged snorkeling for the first time and fed the tropical fish!

Here's some pictures from our trip. Hope you enjoy them.

Flying over Yoron Island, one of the islands of Okinawa.

Fu-champuru and Soki soba, local food.
At Kuko Shokudo at Naha Airport.

The best travel buddy: my sister.
She is so good at finding great local restayrants.

Tofu Champuru.

Kohreh Gusu: an Okinawan condiment.
REALLY spicy!!

Shuri Castle.
Sooo hot!

Warm and blue water.

Waiting for the noodles with people I love.

With my daughter under Banyan trees.

Took an workshop and made a Shisa (guardian lion) ornament.

Got my teacher's approval!

Sandanka: an Okinawan flower.

To the Blue Cave, here we come!

So blue and much deeper than I thought!

Inside the cave with Mom.

Getting the hang of it.

Feeding the fish!

My drawings from MET visits

This month, I've been going to the MET every week to polish up my observational drawing skills. I like drawing people thus drawing from statues is a great practice. The MET has a vast collection from all over the world and is a perfect place to do that.

Posting some of the drawings here:

Mourning Virgin from a Crucifixion Group; 1450-75; France

The Buddha
Statue from South India, ca. 3rd century

Bather
Marble sculpture by Jean-Antoine Houdon, 1782

I am excited that Sam, my good friend and one of the most talented & skilled artists I know, will be joining me to draw next time! We went to the MET yesterday to see the Heavenly Bodies exhibit together and it was so much fun. I love Sam's attention to details and her passion to study the craftsmanship. And I can never get enough of her charming British accent and her unique sense of humor! You can see Sam's amazing portfolio here.

Sam & me at the Central Park after a long walk in the museum.

Commission | Family Portrait for Anniversary

This was a commission I turned in last month. The client wanted a family portrait to gift to his brother on his anniversary. So lucky to have this opportunity to paint this lovely family!

I had a limited number of reference photos as it was supposed to be a surprise (my client couldn't ask for too many of them without them feeling suspicious) so that was challenging. I made different sketches and decided to make it simple with just some pop of colors.

The client's brother posted a comment on Instagram(at the bottom of this post) how they loved this surprise. Always so fullfilling when you make your client happy :)

Work info

Size: about 40cm x 40 cm

Medium: colored pencils, gouache, gansai(Japanese watercolor in pans), walnut ink on paper.

Detail #1

Detail #2

Detail #3

Detail #4

Love the metallic frame Kyota chose!!

Watercolor for Sale @ DaVinci Artist Supply

A small watercolor of mine "The Bunny and the Sun" will be on view at my go-to art supply shop DaVinci Artist Supply in its Chelsea location, starting today through May 31st. They are featuring some new works by local artist under the theme "May Flowers". 

Please stop by and take a look at my work if you are in the neighborhood :)

It's also a great little shop for all your artistic needs; the people are kind &  helpful if you have questions!

May 9 - May 31

DaVinci Artist Supply

132 West 21st St (btw 6th & 7th Ave)
New York, NY 10011
tel: 212-871-0220

hours: 

Mon-Fri  8:45am-7pm
Sat-Sun  11am-6pm

Another Birthday

Today was my birthday.

When I got up in the morning, Kiliko reached out her slender hand from her bed and told me "happy birthday" in Japanese. She then joined Randy and me and they sang a birthday song for me.

Back in March, someone I knew from my childhood in Tokyo has passed away. She was an older sister of one of my closest friends and she was only forty six. Because of the way it had happened, it has been an extremely difficult death for my friend—and for me and everyone who knew her—to accept and I cannot help but think what life is all about; if, all of a sudden, one's life can be taken so easily.

Maybe because of it, I am especially grateful I was able to greet another birthday this year, with my family and friends well. I am grateful to everyone in my life who enriches my everyday; each of you like a piece of a beautiful mosaic and it is not complete without you. Thank you.

Kili took this picture of me
and Sleepy the Fox on my birthday.

Muyu Market in Union Sq. this Sunday!

My daughter will be taking part at a kids entrepreneur market in Union Square this Sunday, April 15th. She will be selling handmade bracelets, hand-painted lanterns, screen-printed greeting cards with her own design. Customers will also be able to make 1" pins with their own drawings at her booth! So come on by!

SPRING MUYU MARKET
SUNDAY, APRIL 15, 2018

12pm-2pm
@NYC Baha'i Cetner

53 E. 11TH St.
New York, NY, 10003

Kaiju Big Battel in Queens

We finished another successful Kaiju show at La Boom in Sunnyside, Queens.

For those who doesn't know, Kaiju Big Battel is a monster fighting spectacle my partner Randy has been doing for 20 years. Randy also has been doing a fundraising show for NYC public schools since 2 years ago with a help from Tara Altebrando, my friend, a NYC parent, and a writer.

This time it was a fundraiser for three Queens charter schools: Our World Neighborhood Charter School, Academy of the City, and Growing Up Green! We donated 100 tickets to each school and tickets were sold out! That's 300 people right there and Randy also sold his own tickets to the public so we had about 700+ loud audience!

Big thanks to my friends Kazuki and Michelle for helping me with the merch table! You guys make the best team!!

Half-time dance show by kids from NYC schools.

With BFF Kazuki (left) and Michelle (right).
They both happen to be fashion designers.
I am a fashion designer magnet :)

Props for The Children's Place photoshoot

I made these cloud and heart pillows + soft cubes for The Children's Place SS18 Baby Bundle photoshoot. After being used as props, they are displayed at windows of one of their shops in Manhattan.