The Japanese influences continue. I ventured away from using the torii image and have just featured the kitsune (sacred fox :a messenger of the god Inari)) . As always , I like to experiment with colors and textures .  
The Kitsune/Saito series (see right hand side) is based off the works of the print maker Kiyoshi Saito .These are my very latest paintings. I chose the palette from a previous painting in the Calder series . Primary colors were his feature (especially red). However you can see I veered from this idea in the Saito series #4 (bottom).used pop colors instead. 

On the left are works inspired from the show The Life of Animals in Japanese Art which I saw this summer in DC.

Here's what Three Stones Gallery is currently showing of my work. The blue Dual Owl has been recently updated. There are three paintings in the the Dual Owls series.The white Inuit figure is the 1st in my Calder Series. It's combining a section of an Inuit print called "Juggling Balls" with two images of Calder's mobiles.

My long term series Inuit Influences consists of a melding of artists,&/ or themes. They are about juxtaposition. They are also about color.
My paintings embrace the style/feel of an admired artist and incorporate that image directly or indirectly with an Inuit one. 
I often use the theme of transformation which is prevalent in Inuit mythology and many other cultures.

This latest painting, Inuit/Japanese Influences: Kitsune got started when I decided I wanted to use a sections of Shinto torii gates.
Prior to an entry of a shinto or buddhist shrine one passes through a Torii gate which let’s you you pass out of the material world into the spiritual.

Much is happening in this painting.
Kitsune tsuki is a fox messager for the god Inari. Kitsune are able to possess human beings which for humans can be good or bad.
In the upper left hand corner are images of the porcelain alter offerings. Often the statues at shrines have bibs. The white band through the center of the painting has an Inuit fox merging with Inukitut syllabics which say fox.
I have given him/her some of the Kitsune spirit indicated by the yellow ball and tip of the tail.

 I have used Inuit syllabics for many years as pattern integrating with the subject matter.Here I use both languages.
In Japan the color red is associated with the sun and happiness.
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Inuit/Japanese Influences:Kitsune pastel & oil on canvas:       44"Hx40"W      2019

I took several weeks of a life drawing studio held art the Munroe Center for the Arts here in Lexington. Very casual but serious artists doing their interpretations of two very different models.
I pinned a few up in the studio. Some I worked on when I brought them home, but improvement was about 50/50. I found it interesting to work with figures again..it's been a very long time.  I will continue with this diversion from painting in 2019. 

Meanwhile, my Japanese inspired painting, which will be called Inuit/Japan Influences: Kitsumi Tsuki will be finished soon....

This weekend was the Boston Baltic Centennial which included an art show. Because of my Estonian heritage, I had submitted three works. 

Last month Erik and I had a journey of a lifetime traveling to Japan. Tokyo and Kyoto were amazing but because of our guided electric bike tour, we experienced the rural Noto Peninsula which has retained a great deal of the Japanese landscape and history.

It has had a direct effect on my next painting. If you were on the Butterfield and Robinson trip with us you knew this was coming. When I finish it, I will post it immediately, hopefully in December. 

The show at Three Stones Gallery opened on Sept. 6th.  The reception was on the 20th. A good crowd convened and enjoyed the show. It's always great to talk to people about what my work is about. I am holding my special visitor, my granddaughter Olympia who is now age 4 months.
The Spirit of Place, The Spirit of Culture will be in the front gallery space, Azure, until Oct. 20th. After  that time some of my work will be on view in the Gallery Beryl at all times.

Below is my most recent painting: Inuit Influences: Transformation Totem: Contrasts . It's a diptych on canvas. It's been a while since I painted on canvas. It is different than paper but it has many attributes including not having to get it framed (right away anyway). The left panel is the mirror image of the right and it's a real play on contrasts. It has a yin/yang pulse to it. I felt that each panel wanted be to the more dominate one. The colors really sing . It has a great deal of texture which is hard to capture in a photo. The Inuktitut syllabics I selected translate to the words transformation (at the bottom) as well as the words shaman, spirit, bird and goose.