I have just uploaded comics i am making for a book me and a fellow ALT are making for new JET's teaching in elementary schools. They look much better at this smaller size and I realize the humor is pretty specific to those working in Japanese elementary schools.My friends back home emailed back blank stares

I have been pretty good at making a small painting a week, although it is closer to one every two weeks. I have started studying for JLPT2 but am not very good at evenly dividing up my free time.

I am now also applying for the Monbukagakusyo Japanese government scholarship and have put a full Saturday into it, taking a day away from painting. This will be the trend for quite a few months I feel, although i have done much work in establishing a relationship with teachers at Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku already, who have urged me to apply for the scholarship before applying to the University.

In hopes of padding my application for grad school I started looking into art galleries in Akita City Japan, close to where I live. The gallery system here are all rental galleries, where the artist has to rent the space to host a show in. The costs I have seen so far are $100 a weekday, or $500 for a F, Sa, Sun package deal. I would have to print my own cards though.

I'm going to keep looking at a few more galleries, but my dream is having an art show in a coffee shop like establishment. Some place people can come, have a cup of coffee, and leisurely enjoy the art.

My dream gallery would be a coffee shop/dinner in the center of a large circle. The dinning area would be on a slow moving lazy Suzanne and surrounded by glass. Outside the circle of glass would be the gallery area where the art could be displayed and viewed from the slowly turning dinning area. I suppose access to the dinning area would be a stair case in the middle. The whole establishment would be underground with skylights helping light up the whole establishment.

Oh yea, my art. Anyways, the weekly paintings look good. Pattern, memory, nature, and figures are still playing a major role in what i enjoy painting.

Bought a small acrylic set of like 10 colors (only use 4 of them).
Still lives seem to be my strong point, but so boring. Trying different sources for material and a different process.
I met a local artist who has paintings in every place I have been to in the city of Yurihonjo. He is just an old guy with a good eye for color. He paints local landscapes. He does several pencil drawings and than goes over the top of one for his painting. I'm trying that on a small scale of mock ups with my new acrylics. He has tons of quick paint sketches on paper and I like the freedom it potentialy has.
Problem is working over the pencil like that is taking away some spontaneity so I'll have to figure out a balance.
Still wanting to work desperately with more pattern but fighting the easiness of clicheing myself (Is that not a word?).
I am getting more weekends into my work, but miss the time I had at the university.
Trying to get a job closer to Tokyo so I can be around more art museums for inspiration, and be closer to the University i want to attend.
Still waiting on results from the Language test I took. Still splitting my time between my great Girlfriend, work, painting, and studying Japanese.
Lately I wake up with ringing in my ears. Guess I'll take the week off from any extra activities and relax a bit. Probably too much coffee.
Trying to stay in shape and fresh by swimming, Kyudo, and tennis. Just each one once a week, but keeps me feeling good.

Goals as of today: One small painting a week. Start the next 700 Kanji flash card set. Figure out how many Kanji I need to learn everyday to prepare for the next test in June.
Get rid of this ringing in my ears ~~~{*_*}~~~
Enjoy the Beach more

I am starting to paint again. I have two finished paintings here in Japan that I hope to get photos up soon.

I have just ordered another large canvas and have lots of ideas. I think the best thing about being in Japan is drawing nature and not having everyone say "Thats so Japanese". It's like Japan has a patent on any art with nature involved. There is different pressures and preconceptions here than in the states, and I think that is the most beneficial for me. It's helpful for identifying previous preconceptions I didn't realize I was subjecting my self to because of the environment I was in.

The JET program is calling on artists to design the T-Shirts for the new orientation. It specifies the art has to be Japanese style. This is always confusing for me. I just went to the new Museum in Towada that is full of contemporary art. None of which I could classify to any national style. Is Japanese style confined to the past? How does a nation change it's national style?

I saw a video on a Native American Jazz musician that claimed to only play Native American Music.
He drew a lot of criticism because what he labeled Native American didn't fit the stereo type of what a lot of people thought of as Native American. He argued it was time for Native American arts to progress, which required change. Listening to his jazz, you could actually here a distinct rhythm to what he did. He was playing Native American rhythms heavily influenced by Jazz giving him a chance to expand his own music.

This is what I hope to gain from being in Japan. A freedom from stereotypes in the creative process.

I am trying to buy a car so i can buy more canvas and continue painting.
Well, in Japan they have a class of car called a K car. With a 650cc engine, better gas mileage (kilo/liter), and cheaper tax's, it sounded like a great idea. But I have fallen in love with the F80 canvas size (112 x 145.5cm) but it just won't fit in the tiny cars.
Guess I'll be buying a soccer mom car. The things I'll do to keep painting.

I am still working on the same two paintings for the last few months. Although I am happy with the outcomes and feeling accomplished for moving my art forward, it is a frustrating slow pace.

I will post them soon as they are almost finished and I will be taking a few vacation weekends so I won't be able to paint. I have just discovered an orchestra hall not far from me and hope to find new inspiration listening to some live classical music.

I am still absorbing the culture of Japan and it only seems to reinforce my nature aesthetic i have always gravitated towards. I hope this proves worthy while and will try to get a gallery showing in the next 6 months.

Michael