It's April now, and the number of days when Ibusuki feels the strong direct sunlight of summer is increasing. This year, I made plum juice using the plums that grew in my studio. I'm looking forward to seeing it finished.
Since the beginning of this year, I have been trying to be more conscious of keeping my mind pure, rather than focusing on productivity or efficiency. I realized that in order to continue producing artwork that moves people's hearts, it is more important to paint with my heart, rather than focusing on scores or technique.
Before starting my day's work, I try to take a walk to a shrine or a place with lots of nature, which naturally calms my mind and quiets my mind.
My favorite spot is "Tenchi no Mori" behind Ibusuki Shrine. It is a biodope managed by the NPO "Let's Make Jomon Forests."
The word "biotope" means "a place where living things live," and in Japan it is common to create waterside areas in grasslands or forests where living things can make a home.
There are limits to protecting specific organisms in the natural world, but Biodope makes it possible to maintain the entire natural ecosystem, including the other creatures that those organisms prey on, as well as plants and breeding grounds.
A biotope is a great idea. I'd like to create one in my studio too.
In early spring, there were lots of tadpoles, and when I went to see them the following month, lots of little frogs had been born. Now, you can watch the process of the frogs growing little by little.
The creatures that appear change with the seasons, and you can see their development, so no matter how many times you come here you never get bored. Every time you come, you discover something new.
The "Ah!" feeling you get when you discover a living creature living as it is is hard to put into words; I feel like it's a bit similar to the feeling you get when you find a piece of work that really resonates with you, perhaps "moving" or "surprise."
Starting this year, I have begun to draw inspiration from nature, torii gates, shrines and sacred trees to create my paintings, and I have been receiving more and more requests to paint on these themes.
I would like to continue creating works that can move someone else's heart through the things that move me.