Kitani Chigusa

 I love the @monthofmasters drawing challenges and this month's challenge really appealed to me as it showcases the work of Japanese artist, Kitani Chugusa who was known for her delicate art dedicated to beauty and women.

I chose to recreate her 'Kuchi-e' painting which shows a delicately-painted woman wearing a loose kimono. I love the red butterfly motifs on her kimono and finely-painted strands of hair.

I chose to draw a modern version of this painting.

Fabric Friday

This Friday's fabric is not a physical fabric, but a series of fabrics that have been realised through art. They are the creations of Ikenaga Yasunari a contemporary Japanese artist I discovered whilst living in Tokyo and he has become one of my favourite painters. Each of his pieces depict a modern Japanese woman, in a state of repose or in dreamy contemplation.The colours are nearly always in shades of sepia and this, mixed with the use of traditional nihonga Japanese painting techniques on linen cloth adds to its dreamy nostalgia. The women are always beautiful, but what I love about the art is the layering of modern fabrics and prints to create an abstract quality to the artwork.

You can see more of Yasunari's work here.