亥年!!! The Year of the Boar Nengajyo

Year of the Boar (inoshishi) nengajyosize: 210 x 297 mm / about 8 1/4 x 11 3/4 inches
medium: cut and torn paper on illustration board

Welcome to the Year of the Boar. The custom in Japan is to send out New Year’s greeting cards (nengajyo to friends, family, business contacts. Beginning last year, I am trying to come up with a new design for each of the animals of the chinese zodiac (you can see my Dog Year Nengajyo here).

Traditionally nengayo designs are light and loose, often using gorgeous Japanese fude brushwork. Paper (and my own art style) lends itself to a denser, more colorful style of art. I also try to squeeze in a bit of concept where I can. I wanted to give this piece a cool and wintry feel, while at the same time implying the rebirth that comes with spring – hopefully in the same way that the boar will bring prosperity and renewed life. The bamboo is used as a symbol of flexibility and strength and as such is auspicious, as is the red sun.

The boar itself (inoshishi) makes a great, bold image. Of course, being born in the year of the boar might make me slightly biased. With a little math, you can figure out my age now. Any guessers?

  1. South Ocean’s avatar

    Nice concept. This is a handsome boar. It reminds me of that gigantic inoshishi from Mononoke Hime :)
    hmm… 36?

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  2. Violet Wild’s avatar

    36, I guess. My daughter will be 12 this year, she is a “Wood Boar”. It is certainly a great sign to be born under. I am a Monkey; held in much lower regard, we’re usually considered the “loki” of the Chinese zodiac!

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  3. andrea’s avatar

    ciao, senza offesa, ti rubo il disegno per utilizzarlo, in maniera un poco variata come logo della mia attività di insegnamento delle arti marziali , spero non ci siano problemi, grazie e super stupendo.. :-) andrea.

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  4. andrea’s avatar

    Hello, No offense, will I steal the design for use in a Manner not be changed logo of my activities in teaching martial arts, I hope there are no problems, Thanks and super beautiful .. andrea.

    Reply

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