Mt Fuji View 22

22nd of Hokusai's 24 views of Mt. Fuji from the Sumida River. Micron pen in watercolor pocketbook moleskine.

Looking forward to the first day of a new year.

Mt Fuji View 21

21st view of Hokusai's 24 views of Mt. Fuji from the Totomi Mountains. Micron pen in watercolor pocketsize moleskine.

Mt Fuji View 20

20th of Hokusai's 24 views of Mt. Fuji from Inume Pass. Micron pen in watercolor pocketbook moleskine. I included the sketch before I added more color to the mountain.



20th view

Mt Fuji View 19

Like an elaborate scene from bunraku, the clouds are puppets playing a supporting role to Mt. Fuji. The waves are bent in a similar angle. The finger of land echoes the same curve, all movement in harmony.

19th of Hokusai's 24 views of Mt. Fuji from Shichirigahama. Micron pen in watercolor pocketbook moleskine.

Mini Santa

This is the extent of this year's decorations, a one inch ceramic Santa and his flip top house where he hibernates in the off-season. Other things took priority this month. Treated myself to this little sketch in a new small Pro-Art sketch book. Thick paper, okay for ink, not okay for watercolor. It soaks up the color and turns the color an antique less bright tint but I know that so I expect it. Does give a softer intimate quality. Done to scale, one inch to one inch Santa, looking up at me. Didn't plan this page. Just drew Santa then threw in his house. That's why Rudolph is rising off the page.

Behind in my cookie baking.

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.

Mt Fuji View 17

17th view from Lake Suwa.

"I lean heavily upon my staff. Live a little, die a little. I have reached my tenth station and I still do not know whether Fuji is giving me strength or taking it from me. Both, perhaps."

From the 10th chapter of "The 24 Views of Mt. Fuji by Hokusai" by Roger Zelazny. A novella of less than 80 pages, 24 chapters.