Whooping Cranes mate for life. Their beautiful courtship rituals include dancing and singing together. As part of the dance and after mating, they bow. My hanko or signature stamp on this piece says Body and Spirit.

The painting is on hand made Japanese washi, which is a most unforgiving paper. Once a brushstroke is made it is permanent and if incorrect, one must begin the painting again.

All elements in my sumi-e works are hand made - paper, inkstick or sumi (ground with water just before painting - I prefer a blue-black ink), brush (in the Japanese technique one brush is used from start to finish). I make many of my brushes myself.

This piece is in colour, although sumi is always present on my brush giving more depth to each brushstroke. The colour used is Japanese handmade and natural highly pigmented paint.
I hand-carve my name-stamps or hanko out of rock. Very ancient oriental characters are used for this. The hanko is part of the composition and the last thing added to the piece before mounting.

My husband makes my stretchers and frames.

I use only conservation quality materials in the mounting process including UV protection.