EGGPLANT HARVEST
ACRYLICS ON CEDAR W/RED OAK FRAME
SUMMER 2022

     I look forward to the time of year when Japanese eggplants are available for purchase at our local Co-Op.  More commonly seen Globe eggplants are available earlier and for a longer period, but it seems that the Japanese eggplants are a bit harder to come by out our way.  So, when we see them at the store, we make sure to plan on using them during the week. One of our favorite recipes using them is miso-glazed eggplant (nasu dengaku) and it is an excellent side dish to include with the main course.  Consequently, I was inspired to do a painting celebrating Japanese eggplants. The artistic inspiration for this came from the Late-Edo Period Japanese master painter Ito Jakuchu.  Jakuchu came from a family of green-grocers and that, along with his being a devout Buddhist, led him to create many masterpieces featuring vegetables of all kinds. In particular, Jakuchu’s Snake-Gourds and Insects influenced my design. Japanese Rinpa School painting also influenced my work, especially with the use of a tarashikomi effect for the leaves.  The frame was made out of red oak using pegged, hand-joined, mortise-and-tenon construction methods.  The Japanese technique (shou-sugi-ban) of charring and oiling the oak was used to finish the frame.
 
DIMENSIONS:          HEIGHT:  24 ½ inches
                                    WIDTH:  11 inches

                                                                PRICE $450

SNAKE GOURDS & INSECTS: Ito Jakuchu

Ginger Pork Rolls with Eggplant

Gary Giovane
La Conner, WA
gioart13@yahoo.com