Temple Crane

As an artist one of my favorite things to do while traveling is view others art, especially that of the local culture. And by art, I do not necessarily mean going to a museum.  Certain countries and cultures live more artfully than others and Japan is one of those countries.  They are thoughtful in design right down to their breath mint dispensers. They live with art all around them as they have for centuries.  This painting of a crane was inspired by a screen I saw at a home temple in Kyoto. In Japan, the crane is often called the bird of happiness and symbolizes love, longevity and good fortune. And these days, who couldn’t use a little more of all those things.