Chihiro's Art Blog

I've started painting roses.

noreply@blogger.com (Chihiro) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:22:00 +0000

It's snowing in Seattle. I've started painted roses at my new home. It's been snowing so much so my daughter had no school for 2 days already! My dog was born in Chicago and it snowed a lot over there so my dog loves snow!

Still Life with Roses

noreply@blogger.com (Chihiro) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 14:25:00 +0000

Summer Memories

noreply@blogger.com (Chihiro) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 14:20:00 +0000

Still Life

noreply@blogger.com (Chihiro) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 14:16:00 +0000

Pray for Japan

noreply@blogger.com (Chihiro) — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 11:51:00 +0000

We are all safe. But it's terrible!! There's still minor earthquake continuing. Thank goodness our apartment was relatively sturdy. When the 1st hit came, I was on the 8th floor of my apartment, and everything fell from the shelves. Everything broke! and an old lamp was broken too. But it's not that bad. Some of the roads have cracks in them and some bricks are all over the place here and there. Its basically a little bit ruined.
It strained me very much because there was no earthquake for eight years in the US. When hearing that I was in an unprecedented large earthquake on the radio, I was very surprised and VERY scared.
For now I am safe but the nuclear plant explosion is effecting my life and others alot. :(

This is my watercolor painting video made by my daughter. I wish for people to take a look and feel an ease and calmness in their heart. :)

Cosmic Fusion Summer 2010 in Japan

noreply@blogger.com (Chihiro) — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 03:55:00 +0000

Cosmic Fusion Act2
July 30th - Aug 4h 2010
O Art Musium
2nd Floor Ohsaki New City No.2 Building
1-6-2 Ohsaki, Shinagawa ku, Tokyo, Japan
03-3495-4095

I was one of the artist who participated in the group exhibition in summer 2010 at O museum Ohsaki Japan. I owed much to Kimi Tamagami who organized this exhibition. He is an artist who created this exhibition last year. The artists/illustrators who showed works painted mostly peace and love for the theme. I was given excitement and inspiration from the exhibition. A few of the artists are very famous not only in Japan but also known in the world. I'm very happy that I could talk with them during the exhibition. I also appreciated all the visitors coming to see my works! Thanks!!

American-Japanese Cultural Concert

noreply@blogger.com (Chihiro) — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 03:12:00 +0000

Let me talk about a poster I recently worked on. I had a chance to support the American-Japanese Cultural Concert organized by Mr.Keisuke Wakao who is the principal oboist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra for April and May. He invites a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra to play this concert. In addition, he invites a top player from Japan to participate.

While I have experience as a designer, it seems more difficult for me to make a poster than to paint a painting. I painted this poster with an image of Boston and chamber music in my mind. You can find scenery of Boston in the lower right part in the poster. It is a shot of downtown Boston seen from the Charles River side and is one of my favorite shots from when I lived there.

Mr. and Mrs. Wakao were very pleased to see this poster, which made me happy. I'd like to express my gratitude to them for giving me this chance. I sincerely wish this year's concert to be successful.

If you are interested in this concert, you can get ticket information from the American - Japanese Cultural Concert, Inc. More information can be found from this link.

Abiding Memory

noreply@blogger.com (Chihiro) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 02:39:00 +0000

This work was painted with acrylic and collage. I want to work in various techniques and with a variety of matiere.

Copyright © Chihiro Yabe. All rights reserved.

Greeting Card

noreply@blogger.com (Chihiro) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 04:31:00 +0000

I'm selling my works at the GreetingCardUniverse Store. Recently, I added some new versions of dog sympathy cards.

Here are the best seller cards in my store.

Moving!

noreply@blogger.com (Chihiro) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 04:26:00 +0000

I moved to Chicago at the end of last Dec.! Chicago is too cold so I usually stay inside. I miss Boston and my friends very much! I still don't know if Chicago is so attractive. The roads are just flat and there are lots of cross roads. I hope I'll adjust to this town soon.

Group Exhibition

noreply@blogger.com (Chihiro) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 03:04:00 +0000

This month, the Newton Art Association has been exhibit at the Newton Free Library. I'm participating this exhibition for a piece.

The title is "Innocent Garden" which is the skipping down a colorful forest. And I really want to show the person looking at the painting that there future is glorious with all the colors and how they are in the present wearing leotards for there happy dance!!

I would expect to express innocence of girls playing under trees with short-lived glow and joy. It would be appreciated if you stopped by the gallery. Hopefully I will hear from you what do you like them. Thanks.

TuesdaySep 01 - WednesdaySep 30
Newton Art Assiciation Annual Awards Show
Newton Free Library
330 Homer St., Newton Centre, MA 02469

Children's Portrait

noreply@blogger.com (Chihiro) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 16:48:00 +0000

My personal portrait assignment has been completed!
A client hoped to have a portrait drawn with a green field background but not limited to a specific place. Clothing and color textures were free to be coordinated by me. I worked on composition, including the person's height, arm position and color texture. I kept close contact with the client, ending up with mostly retouching other aspects than the face. I'm happy to hear she likes it very much.

European pastel with dry weather is my favorable scene such as "Les Enfants du marais" "Le château de ma mère " or "Il Postino". I'd really like to visit there because I have been to France only once more than ten years ago. I remember the Notre-Dame Cathedral, Louvre Museum, Orsay museum, Castle of Versailles, and Sevres Ceramics Museum very well. Paris looked fascinating to me.

I would like to take a new trip, which would show me the texture each place has. That would be helpful for me to draw wonderful pictures. Since I went back to Japan last year, I am planning to take a short trip to see some beautiful scenes this year.

If you would like to see a larger image, you can see one in the Fricker's.

Group Show News

noreply@blogger.com (Chihiro) — Tue, 12 May 2009 19:00:00 +0000

Last week I stopped by the gallery where my art work is being exhibited in a group show. Unfortunately, I missed the reception party. When I saw my work hung up alongside the work of many others, it helped me learn a great deal in seeing my own work from a different perspective.

I recognized some of my future challenges through this viewing of the show. For the next assignment I will be working on increasing the impact of my work.

The exhibit will be on display from May 3 through June 14, 2009. It would be wonderful if you dropped by the show in Watertown and let me know how you felt.

”Anticipating the Spotlight”
Copyright © Chihiro Yabe. All rights reserved.

James King Bonnar Show

Armenian Library and Museum of America

65 Main Street,Watertown, MA 02472

Exhibition News

noreply@blogger.com (Chihiro) — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 17:55:00 +0000

The new member show is on! One of my illustrations is being exhibited. There will be a reception on March 24th. The show will close on March 27th. Feel free to visit. I would appreciate it if you let me know how you like it.

"Her Small Universe"
Copyright © ChihiroYabe. All rights reserved.

Scandinavian Living Center

206 Waltham Street West Newton, MA

Illustration West 47

noreply@blogger.com (Chihiro) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 05:32:00 +0000

This year is off to a good start. My work was selected into the Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles Annual Show. The winning entry was "The Coming of Spring with Tea". As I've been focusing on originality for a couple of years, I was not so active in participating in competition. My current goal is to publish Beatrix Potter and Tarsha Tuder.

Even while I thought my illustrations needed to be widely seen, I had no clue how to begin. I ended up concluding the shortest way is to challenge competitions as actively as possible. This is the first trial for me to submit my illustration to competition. My illustration is somewhat classical so that I'm wondering why my works could not beat others.

With that said, I am so happy to hear one of my works was selected this time. Dreams may be coming true?　The accepted work will be displayed in an exhibition at Gallery Nucleus in March at L.A, and the Society of Illustrators' website in the spring.

Winter Show

noreply@blogger.com (Chihiro) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:13:00 +0000

I joined a local art association. One of my illustrations was exhibited at the winter show. The rose painting here was drawn last year. I could not submit a new work because it would take time to frame. I should be ready at all times by framing all the works for exhibition as I complete them, but it costs a lot, so there are many "unframed" works unless they are sure to be displayed.

I'm happy to unveil the rose anyway because it had not been exhibited before.

Bright Roses

EYE ON NATURE
Jan 6th throw Feb 26th
Auditorium of the Newton Culture Center
225 Nevada Street, Newton(the old Carr School in Newtonville).
9:30am to 5:00pm

Children's Portrait

noreply@blogger.com (Chihiro) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 14:00:00 +0000

The portrait is done finally before holiday season.
One thing we need to pay attention to when we draw from a photograph is that photographs deliver very small images when the background object is located even a little bit further from the main foreground subject. That may make my sketch into a mess.

I remember the scene where my daughter has a dandelion stick to the hair. Dandelion reminds me of spring which leads to dogwood, which are put into the background. The season must be blooming May. Dogwood is set out in the background evoking late spring Boston.

As they wore swim suits in the photograph, I borrowed an image from the J-Crew catalog, which helped a lot because I don't have son.

Copyright © ChihiroYabe. All rights reserved. 12" x 16"(in)

Now they look cool? Hopefully Yeah!

*This drawing is posted in my web page with permission of the client. Thanks for the order.

Italy! Italy! Italy!

noreply@blogger.com (Chihiro) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:02:00 +0000

Italy, as an art nation, is THE destination that I've desired to visit. Everything can become an inspiration such as Italian cuisine, Renaissance art, historical buildings and fascinating boutiques. I've never had a chance to set foot there, but I will keep the desire until it gets off the ground. Actually, it's tough to arrange a journey except for summer vacation since I have a kid. The weak dollar also annoys me as well...At least for the present I enjoy the ambiance of the town by seeing Italian foods in my drawing, which are available here at Boston!

Approaching Halloween

noreply@blogger.com (Chihiro) — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 03:12:00 +0000

It's high season to see falling leaves. People start to prepare Halloween decorations, which I feel happy to see from my car window. Some are attempting to make us feel awful, others entertain people passing-by with bright decorations. There is a house where pumpkins are simply stacked in front, which motivated me to draw a picture. Of course there was no cat but I put a black one in my drawing.

Copyright © ChihiroYabe. All rights reserved.

Youth of Today (Newbury St)

noreply@blogger.com (Chihiro) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:16:00 +0000

Newbury Street is the most popular street in Boston for local people and tourists, too. On a sunny weekend day, I was taking a walk to watch people walking on the street. I was attracted to a scene where a boy sat on the stairs of an old building. He had head phones on his head. The boy fits the scene very much. An old building perfectly matches the young guy's t-shirt. I guess this boy is going to Berkelee Music School because this place is close to it. What was he listening to? Rock or a lecture which he recorded in the classroom? Tunes which he composed by himself?
This young man has ambition, dreams and hope. This is the painting which I would like to draw when I watched him.

Original painting - SOLD

Covered Bridge in New Hampshire

noreply@blogger.com (Chihiro) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:32:00 +0000

The first eye-catcher when I traveled to New Hampshire was a covered bridge, which is a wonderful motif. A covered bridge is one with an attached roof, looking like Madison's Bridge.

The roof would prevent snow accumulation on the bridge, which sometimes provided travelers with a shelter in a storm. The cover also contributes to expanding the life span of the bridge as long as 80+ years while a non-covered bridge lasts only for 9 years, which is amazing! I heard New Hampshire has more than 50 covered bridges.

The bridge in my drawing was constructed in 1850 and used as a souvenir shop since 1965. Many travelers love to visit the shop because knickknacks suitable for a country home are available. The view from the bridge inspired me as well.

Apple Picking and Squirrels

noreply@blogger.com (Chihiro) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:28:00 +0000

This illustration was drawn from an idea I had as I came across a show window while out for a walk on Newbury street in Boston. Squirrels are a frequent inspiration for my paintings because I see them here and there in town.

Apple picking season is starting in Boston now. Since schools begin in September, the end of August is the last shot kids have to enjoy summer. Picked apples will be turned to tart and jam, which they can take to school as a snack.

A Girl Sitting on Duck

noreply@blogger.com (Chihiro) — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 02:32:00 +0000

These bronze sculptures were inspired by a children's picture book written and illustrated by Robert McCloskey. The book title is "Make Way for Ducklings." I draw this illustration in the image of the Boston Public Garden.

Mother duck in the top of the line is very popular with kids because it provides good height for them to ride on. The statues are decorated in the Halloween and Christmas seasons, so that this is a famous spot in Boston.

Izu West Coast

noreply@blogger.com (Chihiro) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 07:41:00 +0000

It's the first time that I went to the west coast of Izu. I've never recognized that Izu was so very beautiful. When you happen to visit Japan, don't forgot to go there. I was surprised to see a couple of young French people visiting this place. They told me to go to a near by open-air bath (Onsen).

At first, I went to the Koganezaki (gold headland?). We can walk along the cliff and see the beautiful rock shelves on the sea. The bluff cliffs are so beautiful. You can eat a cup of delicious agar at the near by kiosk. This stand serves Tokoroten, which may sound unfamiliar to you but is a typical Japanese no-calorie snack made of seaweed.

We visited Dougashima, where we could enjoy entering a cave in a boat. You can see the sky from the ceiling hole in the cave. In return the hole can be seen through from the cliff to see the ocean. Both are so scenic.

These scenes reminded me of a film named 'My Neighbor Totoro' directed by Hayao Miyazaki. This place looks very similar to the hole that younger sister "May" fell into. In the movie the cave is exposed to intense light and also covered with green wild grasses, where colorful and delicate flowers bloom and butterflies float here and there.

Here is a photograph of Elephant Island which is named after its shape.

Next is the Toi Goldmine. This mine was developed starting in the AD 1370's, which stretches as much as 60 miles. It feels cool inside. I entered at 400 meters. There are puppets displayed to make visitors understand how people mined in the Edo era. The last highlight of the tour is to allow visitors to touch a 200kg gold block, whose market value is as much as about 8 million dollars. I tried to lift it but could not.

I stayed Kumomi Onsen Place. You cannot see Mt. Fuji in summer but can enjoy mountain viewing in winter season. I ate fresh fish with great relish, which must have been one of the most delicious dinners in my life! Thankfully the hot spring relieved the weariness of the trip.

Natural Beauty in Japan

noreply@blogger.com (Chihiro) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 10:55:00 +0000

I would like to talk about the natural beauty of Japan which I have encountered here, nearby Mt. Fuji. Plants, animals and so on... Everything looks delicate, simple, beautiful and Japanese. It makes a great impression on me.

I encountered Ohga Hasu (a lotus flower) at a temple. Ohga Hasu lotus is a variety of Indian lotus which was cultivated and nurtured by Dr. Ichiro Ohga from a two thousand year old lotus seed. I felt happy when I saw the tag labeled Ohga. I found it beautiful in shape and color.

Carps swimming in a river.

Stone statue (Jizo)

Amitabha Tathagata which is small but has a dominant presence.....

Infant swallows, which have lovely faces. They are to take off after this rainy season.

Black kites were flying around the air singing their songs. It was the first time I had seen this scene in many long years. They looked so graceful. I think there is little chance to watch black kites in Japan these days. I hope we will preserve our natural beauty.