Trip to Japan

I was in Japan for three weeks and during that time I smashed in as much as I could do.  Tokyo was my home base where I stayed at the Keio Plaza Hotel; if anyone connected with them reads this, please get rid of the pay per 15 min. internet access as in this day and age I believe it should be free (especially what I was paying for the room).  


Anyways from there I left to go to Kyoto, Kanazawa, Shirakawa, Hida Takayama, and onsen (hot springs) for four days.  Traveling on the shinkansen (bullet train) was so fast and convenient they should have that everywhere.  Since having been to Kyoto before I tried to go to all the shrines and temples and historical places I haven't visited.  I have never seen such deep gorgeous shades of green!  Nature is in huge abundance outside of Tokyo, but even then Japanese culture places huge emphasis on natural on goings and aesthetics.  Water flows out of natural springs and sounds beautiful and soothing against a backdrop of green moss and wise trees.

Irasshaimase~ to my blog:)  hehe.

My parents and me in Kyoto

I am obsessed with the Ojizo-sama, and me trying to be one...

This is in Shirakawa

The taxi driver was a nice guy and he took us around the entire day.  I was freezing my butt off even with two hokaron (heated pocket warmer thinggies), and one big one that stuck onto your clothes or wherever you decide to put it... I should've been a giant heat radiating hot potato but nope I was cold.  The mountains were snow capped.

I saw many carp on this trip and each one has its own funny personality.  These were taken in Kyoto.

The onsen (hot spring) was so relaxing; I even scheduled a 60 min. massage; aaaaaahhhh, the tension I always carry in my neck and upper back were relieved for that night and next day, BREATHE~  The big baths are always a welcome especially as it was freezing and rainy in Hida Takayama.  There was a whole array of shampoos, conditioners, body soaps and face soaps to choose from; one smelled of sake, another said something about either it being used on horses or maybe it was horse oil... that sounds scary, but something to do with horses and their goodness for our hair...  and the hot springs water is so gentle and good for your skin, especially good if you have sensitive  and highly reactive irritable skin like mine.  It made my skin silky smooth.  And I always enjoy my time in yukata (casual kimono that the hot springs hotel/inn/resort offers) sitting enjoying a cup of green tea on the tatami floors, the smell of shoji doors, and all the goodness of traditional Japan.  

Somehow being relaxed and so comfortable with such excellent food (THE FOOD IN JAPAN IS EXCELLENT BY THE WAY) and a lot of it always makes me get up to silly and naughty things; yes, I am not all serious Marie all the time, I am quite the goof if you get to know me well enough.

Don't even ask...

An English man in full Yukata mode; hi-ya!

View from the onsen suite.  

I can completely relate to the traditional Japanese aesthetic, well, obviously I am Japanese, but you get my drift; I LOVE IT!

Then I came back to Tokyo checked back in to the Keio Plaza Hotel met friends and relatives, went on Yukata Bune one night with my uncle Ryu-chan and his family, this is Rino his daughter and me in the picture:)

Oi, Rino, genki kai?  Tanoshikatta neeeee~ hehehe.

Oh my gosh, this is going to be so long if I keep on going... so next post will be the next latter half of my trip, where I took the shinkansen (bullet train) again out of Tokyo to Koiwai Nojyo (farm), the Ihatov Hanano-sato pension/inn, Morioka, and to Ofunato.  More photos to come, I hope you enjoy, and if you have any questions feel free to contact me!  

Audio Technica Ear Phones

Today I decided to start working on a piece I stopped working on a while back and so here I was glueing away the slivers of beautiful hand made Thai paper, listening to great music on my new Audio Technica earphones I bought in Tokyo, getting into the groove of things or so I thought... Glue usually gets everywhere so when I had this little smudge on my sleeve I was not fussed (although I looked for where it was coming from I could not find the source), I kept going with glueing, another sticky smudge, !!! grrrrr !!!, where the F*** is it coming from!?, oh well, next squeeeeze; gloop-di-daaaa!!!!!!!!  All down my hand, arm, on my sleeves, on the new ear phone cable STICKY MESS!!!!!!!  Great, just great.  Even so I don't give a rats ass until I am finished pasting all the pieces in place; then when things have started drying a little I go washing up the mess, everywhere, peeling and balling pieces of freakin' glue.  


So do you ever get your new gadgets mucked up in whatever you are doing?  I am not surprised; this is so typically me.  But hey, my new ear phones are still like new; the glue cleaned up fine.


I woke up at 4am this morning, jet lag, oh but life keeps going:)


Smile, GRIN.

Back in Toronto

I just arrived from Tokyo two days ago, am trying to sort out everything from the trip, and getting over jet lag.  I was in L.A. for a week then went to Japan for three weeks; so much went on while I was there and had such a wonderful time.  I will upload photos and update as soon as possible.  There are many things to do and share!  

Restless night with hot milk

Today I was able to take some photos of what I have been doing recently on the art front.  So they are as follows:

So recently I have been into the whole darks with gold look, especially navy...hmmm

Actual color much deeper more like below but hardly.

This is just something fun; I had sunflowers on my mind.  

So, I am still in the middle of these pieces, as well as others, but I feel drained lately and the colors and images are not coming to me as I would like so I am letting things BE.  It will come to me.  

I am also quite busy getting ready to go visit L.A. for a little 7 day stop, and then on wards to Tokyo for my Grandmother's first year memorial, as well as taking some much deserved time off with family for three weeks (while in Japan I'll be in Tokyo mainly but will be going to Kyoto, the hot springs somewhere in the mountains, Karuizawa, etc.).  This is the first time my boyfriend will be visiting Japan so it will be interesting to see how he thinks and feels about the culture.  Everything will come back to me once I'm there.  

Poor Clover, she'll be with a dog sitter for a month!  She is my little bundle of dark brindled Cairn Terrier cheer. 

Strangely enough right before the trip I have not been feeling to hot... far from it!  Uggh, I don't know what where when how why, this is the freakin worst time for this, and at 28, "why now god why now?"; acne on my face, more like crack-ne as its as if my acne is on crack!!!  What the #$%*???!!!  This is so frustrating and doesn't help my depression or anxiety what so ever.  GRRRRRR!!!  Great first impressions going to LA, huh!?  blah.  I wanted to enjoy the pool at my parent's condo but I guess not..... I feel out of control and I HATE that (although nothing is really under anyones control, ya know...but I'm just sayin).  

So no wonder I am not sleeping well; I've got lots in my head and heart.  Many things lurk in those deep dark waters of my soul; self awareness, being prepared, being (trying) grounded, deal with what comes, gain solutions and go with the flow.

I really should go to sleep.  Goodnight. 

 -M  

  

Books I am reading and loving right now.

Here are a few books I wanted to share that I am reading at the moment.  


THE COMPLETE ARTIST'S WAY by Julia Cameron; Creativity as a Spiritual Practice.  3 in 1 volume; The Artist's Way, Walking in This World, and Finding Water.  
-What a wonderful book, I can not say enough about the truths I completely relate to and agree with in this book; a great tool for anyone looking for a fulfilling creative career, and life.  Reaffirms many of my beliefs and thoughts.  There are step by step instructions and great techniques to further our inner artist and self.  Encouraging and very helpful.
THE ARTIST'S GUIDE by Jackie Battenfield; How To Make A Living Doing What You Love.
WHEREVER YOU GO THERE YOU ARE by Jon Kabat-Zinn
HOW TO MAKE MONEY AS AN ARTIST by Sean Moore
BUSINESS LETTERS FOR ARTISTS by M. Stephen Doherty
INTENTIONS + GOALS 
THE ART OF ENCAUSTICS by Joanne Mattera
-I love everything about encaustics, and I feel it would be the best medium for me to express myself.  With the kind of work I do it would be so right... but (I hate the 'but'), I just do not have the space, or money to really delve into it right now.  


And a huge stack of magazines for color, idea and inspiration porn!  


So looking at the list its quite obvious I am trying to get as much info as I can about the business aspect of being an artist; when I am truly interested and determined about something I study the heck out of it, research and keep my mind open.  Usually this is all of the time for me as my brain seems to never let up and is constantly curious and fascinated about anything.  Yes, I find it hard to sleep at night; but I'm down to 1 Ativan and half an Imovane!!!  and sleepy teas, although be careful as some will make your tummy upset... gurgle... not fun.


I want to start writing in my journal again; I used to be obsessed and have stacks of them stored away but now I hardly visit lined paper.


I will post my process, practice, ups and downs, trial and error progress in regards to being a self sustaining artist; although I'm not really there yet, I still come up losing (only money as I've gained more than I can say in terms of life experience and the self as an artist).  BUT, maybe sharing my experiences could help someone else out or make them feel less alone, etc.  It is a lot of hard work, but worth it.  


Will write again soon.  


SmiLe
-M

Recent Art Progress

Here is a wall of my 10 ft. x 14 ft. studio space; it can get quite cramped in here and the size of my work is limited; very frustrating to say the least as it would be wonderful to just let loose and do huge pieces.  But I do with and work with what I've got, I feel grateful and fortunate.  I am a major multi-tasker so I get a little ruffled when I can only have three pieces going at once; similarly with books, I think I am usually reading at least 5 books at a given time, except when I am traveling (I can imagine myself carrying all those books with me... back breaking).  

This is how my brain is organized, I guess it is all compartmentalized into specific sections, images and ideas that are created and slotted into its own little space.  I realize it is impossible explaining how my brain works or thinks; forget it, I don't even understand it at times.  Complicated.  

Recently I have been depressed; okay, that sounds a bit daft in that I am diagnosed with chronic depression... I have been managing it okay until recently when I discovered I am not as I would like to be.  I feel a huge imbalance in everything these days and that drives me nuts.  Life is unpredictable but this is more of a powerless-ness feeling I do not appreciate.  I will none the less persevere and this too shall pass.   

  

So I am feeling a bit down although this piece has to do more with the economy; and it is not close to finished.  We'll see where this goes.  

Fried Brains!

I can finally say my brain has been fried by computer use...  yes, lo tech me, on a computer!?  What the !@#$?  


First of all things to spill:


-I have been doing more art and I expected myself to be doing.  This is great!  
-Note to self; when working with pastels and/or pigments look in the mirror before leaving the front door!!!  Walking the dog, I literally looked like a chimney sweep!!!  Shock horror!!!  OMG!!!
-Paper design cut outs easily get tangled in dog fur; his nose is also very wet; not good (for the paper and my art)!
-Open window when drawing madly with pastels; sniffing the residue will make you high, re, not a good high but a toxic one... gag gag cough choke, oh great, more psychedelic war paint on face!!!
-The layer I am doing on one of my pieces looks like country, old lady house, quilt, deco... yuck, but this is the process and these layers, despite being harsh on eyes, are essential to get to end EXTRAVAGANT and BEAUTIFUL results:)
-I need to really wash my paint brushes... poor things they are drowning in colored stale mucky water.  
-The other day I was shredding credit cards and other sort of cards for another piece I am working on and without noticing I started smelling this burning plastic smell, they congealed together, MELTED!, uggh, great for security reasons I guess, but not for my art piece which needs shredded plastic strips!  
-My boyfriend often things I am completely nuts as I get excited about strange things... like the way in which the plastic pieces melted together from my shredding mess, and the likes.  
-I will be visiting L.A. for a week and then flying to Tokyo for a few weeks from there.  I have been looking for sturdy, will not rip or break luggage for the next ten years (or more); Briggs and Riley, life time warranty, I look to you.  Lol.  Yes, it is a bit expensive but I am a heavy traveller (in both weight and frequency).  
-There for I am researching art galleries like mad in the L.A. area and I haven't gotten to Tokyo yet...  I like to be thorough.  Right now I have 23 galleries on my list... in a week, hmmm, I should start cutting down; until next time, L.A.  
-I have not worn nail polish on my fingers in a while as I realized beautiful colors make me not want to get my hands dirty; impossible for me to do, making the whole process of applying polish and prettying them completely useless and exhausting.  


Yes, thats in a nut shell.  Oh, my website still is being updated (always;), the Japanese language section will be coming soon as well as maybe some flash movement (if I have money left, if at all)...


I need to go make some dinner now so I will post again soon:)  Photos will be coming soon too, I haven't forgotten, and also the illustrations on paper have been cleaned up so I will post those all in one.  


SMILE!!!


-M