A Quarterly art newsletter featuring tips on using rice paper in painting or collage, along with stories of an artist's life in Japan. Join the mailing list to have it sent directly to your email or visit JuanaAlmaguer.com/newsletter.html to view the latest edition.
| Gallery Juana Newsletter for April 2009 |
| Slice of Life
Everywhere I go, I carry a small blank notebook with me. When I have a free moment, I take the opportunity to sketch my ideas.  I have been working on a new line of cat postcards for the past two weeks. The cat sketches had to come from memory. I wish I could take my cat everywhere with me, but I am sure she wouldn't enjoy being away from her comfortable catbed. My siamese cat, Sputnik, is my inspiration for my cat paintings and line drawings. She is my constant companion when I am sitting at my desk using the computer or drawing. I also love the Calico and Tortoise-shell cats. Mike Neko is Japanese for Calico Cat or Tortoise shell cats. They are generally considered to bring good luck in Japanese legends. The Temple Cat is a Japanese legend about a wealthy feudal lord who was taking shelter under a tree during a thunderstorm near Gotoku-ji temple. The lord saw the temple priest's cat raising its paw as though the cat were calling to him. The Fuedal Lord followed, and a moment later, the tree was struck by lightning. Grateful, from that day forward, the Fuedal Lord became the temple's benefactor. When the cat died, it is believed that the first Maneki Neko was made to honor the cat in the temple. |
| What's New! My latest postcards. Kirei ni-Making myself Pretty Siamese I Postcard 
Afternoon Napping Cats I Postcard  If you are you fond of cats like me, check out my Cat Notebooks and small - aceo Cat Paintings at GalleryJuana.etsy.com. |
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