Bonsai Scroll Order

This scroll is my only bonsai order for the year so far....

I worked hard on a larger piece of artwork, but the scroll did not work out. It was ruined in the final process. But the lemons are lemonade, because I think this is a more appropriate scroll to use for a bonsai display. It is still a little on the big side, but with a larger tree should work in a display environment well.

The sumie artwork was done by very talented Polish artist Mariusz Szmerdt. He has done several works for me, and I hope he felt that he got his money's worth. The cloudy moon is detailed, yet faint at the same time. I used the silver cloth with the large flower Karakusa (arabesque) pattern for two reasons.
a. To provide a good contrast between the very dark painting and
b. To encourage the viewer to feel the moonlight is completely enveloping them as well.
The style of the scroll is a Nidan Hyougu which is a Semi-formal scroll, and it should go well with any type of plant with which it is displayed.
The Ten and Chi portion is a Golden to be neutral and allow for either a summer or fall themed display.

One thing viewers will notice missing is the Ichimonji (cloth) bordering the top and bottom of the artwork. I chose to do it in the Nidan Hyougu (Two Step) style, because it is the most informal of the Semi-formal scrolls, and would allow flexibility to be used with any type of tree or plant.

It is finished with a Nezumi (mouse color) kakehimo to go along with the silver Chuumawashi and an Enshu Kokutan 遠州黒檀 jikusaki. The Enshu Kokutan has a little flare and lip on the outer edge which provides a subtle, old feel to the scroll. 

Size of the scroll:
Name in Kanji Name in English Size in Bun (Inches)


天 Ten 116 (13.84)

上中廻し Ue Chuumawashi 45 (5.37)

紙本の幅さ Artwork Width 118 (14.08)

紙本の長さ Artwork Length 262 (31.25)

柱 Pillars 20 (2.39)

下中廻し Shita Chuumawashi 35 (4.18)

地 Chi 76 (9.07)

掛け軸の幅さ Scroll Width 158 (18.85)

掛け軸の長さ Scroll Length 534 (63.70)

Gunlock Rainbow Wall Scroll

This scroll was done in co-ordination with Photographer and Gallery owner Nathan Wotkyns. He took this picture near Gunlock, which is a 40 Minute drive north of St. George, Utah. during the floods that ravaged Southern Utah in 2005.

Nathan Wotkyns was able to get into the Gunlock area before traffic was detained by the police department. This resulted in a beautiful rainbow over a rushing waterfall.

In the past, it was stated that the Hyousoushi must look at the work and try to determine how the scroll design can complement the work. I felt that a two-step scroll (Nidan Hyougu) would be the best match for this photo. I wanted to use the gold Chumawashi (Gold cloth that borders the work) to help complement the colors of the surrounding trees, but also to help bring to the forefront the faint rainbow as the centerpiece of the work. The white used has two symbolisms. One, it is used to extend the color of the waterfall. Meaning that although the water ends in the photograph, it is visually continued in the Ten and the Chi of the work. Secondly, this picture was taken in the late fall, and hence to help one remember the crisp, cool winter weather approaching. The Jikusaki are a beautiful ceramic pink with white flecks evoking the image of snowflakes and hence continuing on the winter theme in the white cloth. The kakehimo is a beautiful gold which is similar to the color of the Chumawashi.

This work can be viewed on location at Wide Angle Art in Downtown St. George, 51 North Main Street 84770.  For inquiries on purchase, please e-mail to sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com

Two-Step (Nidan Hyougu) Buddha Scroll

This Scroll is Sold.

This is a Two-Step Scroll called a 二段表具 Nidan Hyougu. Ni stands for the number two and Dan stands for step or process. This style is accomplished by setting a 中廻 Chumawashi around the work along with the additional Ten and Chi. It differs from the Sandan or Three Step scroll style in that there is no Ichimonji attached to the work.

This is a scroll that depicts a symbol of the Buddha, or 仏様 Hotokesama. It was created by Ben Strawn, an artist in Salida, Colorado. The artist painted on a strip of canvas. I put the Hada Urauchi (first layer of paper) on the cloth Silk 中廻 Chumawashi, which is the green cloth in the scroll. The Ten & Chi were requested to be an earth tone color. I had never tried to use corduroy fabric in a scroll before, and it actually turned out to be quite complementary with the heaviness of the canvas which with the work is placed. The work is complemented with black lacquered wood Jikusaki and the red color in the Kakehimo blends simply with the red of the corduroy cloth.

For inquiries in having us create your own custom scroll contact us at sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com