Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Mt Fuji View 18 Waves, Waves, Waves







Waves, waves and more waves.

Hokusai's giant waves sketched in 3.5 x 5 watercolor moleskine and accordian moleskine. At the bottom is the Tuttle book of Hokusai's (24) Views of Mt. Fuji, printed in Japan, with it's protective slipcover box. The Amazon dealer described it as a 1967 edition but the inside page only lists the 1965 edition date (for those who enjoy old books). The paper is thin, printed on one side, folded to create two sides. This is the same book carried by Mari in Roger Zelazny's sci fi novella "The 24 Views of Mt. Fuji by Hokusai", written 1985. At that time, the internet was science fiction. I began my sketches before reading Zelazny's novella, completing the series of sketches in about 7 weeks.

Under the moleskine is a 1955 edition of "Hokusai" found at the Apple Box used bookstore on Clement in San Francisco. It also is printed in Japan by the Charles Tuttle company.

After doing the first 6 views I wanted a break from the small moleskine, sketching two views in the larger accordian moleskine, the cranes and the waves which move into a letter from Antarctica and the Antarctica star fish. Continuing the theme of oceans.

3 comments:

Emma said...

I love this! This is my favourite and it is great to see your interpretations of it. I hadn't heard of that novella before, but now I will certainly have to put it on my to-read list.

japochine said...

Thanks for visiting Emma. The novella is in a collection of short stories called Frost and Fire. I was able to find it in my library and Amazon does have it.

Margaret Ann said...

Gorgeous waves...stunning blues! :)