IN THE SPIRIT OF SERIZAWA & KUBOTA
ACRYLICS ON CEDAR W/RED OAK FRAME
SPRING 2015

     I love the linear shape and the lines of a kimono as well as the superior design and craftsmanship associated with them.  Recently I have been introduced to the works of two master Japanese textile artists associated with the kimono: Serizawa Keisuke and Kubota Itchikue.  Serizawa's stenciled designs ("katazome") for kimono were the inspiration for my painting Serizawa's Kimono (Summer, 2014).  I also just recently finished a painting entitled A Tribute to Itchikue Kubota: Ozette Sunset (Spring, 2015) where I was inspired by Kubota's landscape series of kimonos.  While sketching the design for this painting, I thought it would be fun to combine the styles of both of these artists in another painting, and this is the result of that effort.  The overall layout of the design is in reference to Kubota where his kimonos, when placed side-by-side, create a beautiful landscape scene.  I have chosen to use three of Serizawa's kimonos in my series with repetitive pattern being the driving force behind the design.  The upper portion of the design shows the combined influences of Serizawa's katazome patterns and the Celtic Revival style of Archibald Knox.  This design symbolizes clouds at sunset.  The design on the lower region of the kimonos symbolizes ocean waves and owes its inspiration to the Japanese screen painter (and member of the Rinpa School) Ogata Korin.  I made the frame out of red oak using pegged, hand-joined, mortise-and-tenon construction methods.  I used the Japanese technique (shou sugi ban) of charring and oiling the oak to finish the frame.


DIMENSIONS:     WIDTH:  30 1/8 inches
                             HEIGHT:  14 1/8 inches

                                                            PRICE $540

Keisuke Serizawa "Seabream" kimono

Itchiku Kubota landscape series of kimonos

Gary Giovane
La Conner, WA
gioart13@yahoo.com