WATER RABBIT
ACRYLICS ON CEDAR W/RED OAK FRAME
WINTER 2022-23

   The Chinese zodiac rotates through a 12-year cycle of animals and the traditional five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. Thus, according to this system, 2023 is the year of the Water Rabbit.  My latest painting is a celebration of this new year.  The white rabbit associated with waves is a common motif and refers to the story about the Hare of Inaba (ca.710). A kimono used in the Kyogen comic theater and now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art was the inspiration for my painting.  The design for my rabbit was influenced by both Northwest Coast Native and Celtic art traditions.  The floral lozenge pattern for the rabbit came from Japanese Costume and Textile Arts by Seiroku Nomam (©1980, insert after p.128).  In homage to the Japanese Rinpa School, I used tarashikomi, the “dripping in” effect, for the rocks and clouds by allowing wet paint to diffuse over the design.  The water design was influenced by both Japanese textiles and Rinpa School.  Its pattern is reminiscent of the raked gravel patterns seen in Japanese Zen-inspired dry gardens like Ryoan-ji.  I made the frame for this painting 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:          HEIGHT:  21 ½ inches
                                  WIDTH: 16 inches

                                                            PRICE $500

kyogen kimono with rabbits at the Met Museum

raked gravel garden at Saizoji temple, Hiroshima