Sanso #65 Flowering Plum Tree in Moonlight

This is a print of the original that was painted by Tani Buncho, a Japanese literati (bunjin) artist. (谷 文晁, October 15, 1763 – January 6, 1841)

This was the most difficult scroll to make in the group because of the size of the painting. The resulting scroll took up an entire section on a 4'x8' drying board when making. Needless to say I spent a lot of time on my knees for this one.

I love the beautiful layering and depths of the different shades of sumi on this painting. It is very rich and complex. The simple scroll design with a brown cloth containing a very demure karakusa helps to bring out the beauty of this painting.

If you would like a scroll made for a gift, martial arts dojo, ikebana/bonsai display, or other occasion please email to sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com

Karate Dojo Scroll

This wallscroll was made for a martial arts dojo back  on the East Coast. It reads Taikyoku Budo Seiya Dojo. The writing is in Kaisho style. I am not happy with the way it turned out, because I only had about a week to make the scroll. This lends itself to many problems in the production process. I hope it hangs well in the long run. If you would like a custom scroll made please contact to sales@customjapanesecalligraphy.com (just give me more than 3 weeks to make it right!)

It has a brown ichimonji with a large karakusa pattern. The cloth is a benberugu green/gold color with a pine or cloud pattern (depending on who you ask). The scroll is finished with a black lacquer wood jikusaki that has a machined groove near the end. The Kakehimo is the Gold cloth, because it goes well with the Ichimonji.

The picture on the right is how it hangs in the customers dojo. I love how it turned out!

Dimensions are as follows:

Name in Kanji	Name in English	Size in Bun	Size in Inches
天	Ten	116	13.84
上一文字	Ue Ichimonji	16.5	1.97
紙本の幅さ	Artwork Width	55	6.56
紙本の長さ	Artwork Length	222	26.48
柱	Pillars	20	2.39
下一文字	Shita Ichimonji	9	1.07
地	Chi	77.5	9.25
掛け軸の幅さ	Scroll Width	95	11.33
掛け軸の長さ	Scroll Length	441	52.61

Fierce Grace & Dream Chaser

 

 These scrolls were made as companion pieces. They are beautiful, done is a Sandan Hyougu (三段表具）style with some good contrasting elements for a very soothing feel. They are both written in a semi-cursive style, but the second was translated by Yoshimi. The first character is fierceness 猛（もう）or mou can be greatly energetic, fierce or ferocious and 優美（ゆうび）or yuubi can be read as grace or refinement. Fierce Grace.

The Ichimonji is a white on gold, and the purple Chuumawashi cloth has a simple pattern. The Bone colored cloth is a strong contrast with the purple and the Deep Brown stained wood jikusaki. The kakejiku is finished with the Takuboku hanging string.

Dimensions as Follows:

Name in Kanji Name in English Size in Bun (Inches)


天 Ten 132 (15.75)

上中廻し Ue Chuumawashi 49 (5.85)

上一文字 Ue Ichimonji 7 (0.84)

紙本の幅さ Artwork Width 41 (4.89)

紙本の長さ Artwork Length 128 (15.27)

柱 Pillars 10 (1.19)

下一文字 Shita Ichimonji 4 (0.48)

下中廻し Shita Chuumawashi 38 (4.53)

地 Chi 63 (7.52)

掛け軸の幅さ Scroll Width 61 (7.28)

掛け軸の長さ Scroll Length 414 (49.39)


 

2 of 3 Dragon Scroll

This is a scroll for a dojo in the US. They are using the writing as a meditative practice for practitioners to contemplate what they have learned and put them in a higher plane of thinking. The dragon was drawn once again by my talented artist that I rely on, Ren Adams.This is written in a gyousho style, and if you compare the Panther with this one, there should be some obvious similarities.


This is in the Maru Hyougu style and is on a taupe cloth. The decision on the cloth was very difficult. Some swatches of different fabrics was sent so they could not only compare it to the wall onto which it would hang, but also how the cloth would look with the entire design was necessary. This was a very difficult and complicated project, but was very satisfying.

Tiger Scroll for Karate Dojo

This customer requested a gift for their dojo. The cloth selected is very appropriate considering this is the year of the Tiger according to the Chinese Zodiac. This is a Maru Hyougu  style scroll that is written in the Kaisho (Block Print) style by Ryugyoku. I decided to use a red accent Ichimonji (brocade) in order to provide depth of color to the black and white in the cloth.
The writing in the middle are for the principles students must strive for as stressed by this dojo.
Sonkei is Respect
Tanren is Discipline
Chuugi is Loyalty

The scroll has a black Kakehimo which is good for blending into the cloth color of the scroll. I really enjoyed making this scroll and feel that it turned out really well.