"Inspired by Hokusai..."

...are my entries for the Illustrated ATCs 2011 summer

"Choose A Theme" (C.A.T) Swap

Group #3...Landscapes.

First, " Fuji...Winter Serenity"...
next, "Fuji ...Through the Pines"...
next, "Fuji...Mountain Pass Springtime"...
then, "Fuji Reflected: Lake Kawaguchi"...

and finally, "Fuji and Sakura Blossoms".
Above is a group photo of the girls right before they were

set free and mailed out from

Sycamore, Illinois

to

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

yesterday morning.

Indeed,

time spent researching the striking art of

Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849)

including his famous wood cut block prints

of Mt Fuji...

along with his not quite so famous 100 Illustrated

Views of Fuji

allowed my Muse and I to a travel into a wonderland

of

old world Japanese beauty and serenity.

Painting these tiny cards

linked me to his Muse...and to the soulfulness of Japan.

'Twas quite a wonderful experience...
for sure!

“When you are inspired by some great purpose,
some extraordinary project,
all your thoughts break their bonds:
Your mind transcends limitations,
your consciousness expands in every direction,
and you find yourself in a new, great, and wonderful world.
Dormant forces,
faculties and talents become alive,
and your discover yourself to be a greater person by far
than you ever dreamed yourself to be.”
~Patanjali