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My paintings are based on the traditional Japanese kokeshi doll. This series of large paintings I use acrylic, ink and watercolor on paper to create an army of kokeshi is a hand painted, wooden, lathe-turned doll. The form of each individual is simplistic, limbless and often embodies the ideal of feminity. The kokeshi doll was first introduced to me in my home by my mother. Having spent her childhood years in Japan, she collected the dolls as gifts during the annual Girl’s Day celebrations. When I inquired regarding how she played with such a hard yet adorable doll next to the traditional needy, crying, arms flaying, western “baby doll”, she explained that her concern was with placement and correct coupling of the dolls. I have taken this insight and natural affinity for the kokeshi and created a language with the kokeshi-likeness to express myself as an artist.
These playful and whimsical paintings can be read, much like Japanese characters in writing, from right to left and up to down. The placement of each doll is important to my artist vision. I begin each painting by making a Zen-like grid formation then emphasize placement of each doll within that grid. I strive so that each doll could stand visually alone, but play with the idea of many tiny dolls coming together to form a larger patchwork, army of kokeshi. I find a tremendous amount of freedom and satisfaction within this form of repetition, measure and visual diversity of each doll being entirely different. Whether the kokeshi interact with each other, vibrate with a partner or are isolated solitary they are a visual haiku.