size: 8 x 10 inches
medium: cut paper on wood
Life in Tokyo is shambling in the general direction of normal. This is a good thing. Trying to carve a new routine out of this awkwardly balanced status quo is the challenge of the day. Thanks to all of my friends around the world who wrote, called, emailed, and smoke-signaled their love and support. If you haven’t had the chance to Donate to the Japan NGO Earthquake Relief and Recovery Fund, please consider doing it now.
Thunder is not, I believe, a happy-go-lucky guy / elemental force. When posing for his portrait, he had a tendency to slip into a sort of brooding contemplation. The Brontë sisters would’ve swooned. The only thing to bring a smile to his face was his pet salamander.
Yes, somewhere in the deep, primitive network of canyons that make up my mind, there is an instinctual, metaphorical connection between lightning and amphibians.
This past year, I have been experimenting more and more with the play of bright colors against dark. Thunder, the left side of a diptych, pulled inspiration from the Dutch masters, particularly a certain Mr. van Rijn and his masterful use of chiaroscuro.
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mr. van rijn would have been impressed.
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Outstanding, love it. Been waiting to see this one! Amazing work. Truly, hope all is well and improving post earthquake/tsunami craziness. Love the comment about the Bronte sisters swooning…exactly! What wit, and hopefully you and yours still have their wit about them. Take care,
Bridget -
This piece is incredible! Always enjoy seeing your new works. I love the papers you use, do you colour them yourself or do you buy them that way? I love how rough and loose your visuals are in comparison to your very refined papercutting style, It’s like showing us your thought process and makes me think of all the considerations you had to take whilst making these piece. Very glad you’re safe and I hope normality returns soon. Take Care.
S.J.-
Hey Stacey-
Thanks. Wait until you see his friend!I don’t color the papers. I look at it as a type of found-object art, and let the textures and colors dictate the way I work, to an extent.
Yes, my sketches tend to be pretty rough. I actually do alot of them, trying to work out just the right balance and composition to get across my concept without losing a sense of beauty of wonder or flowing movement. My thought process is probably as rough and sketchy as my drawings;)
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