Ray Tischer

So, I have actually been working on this painting a bit over the past month, but honestly, it is difficult to be motivated when the garage studio is 45 degrees. I have a space heater now but it costs a lot to run and it all the heat gets sucked out as soon as someone opens the garage door.

So, here you have the latest draft of this piece. The top kid on the top right is turning out to being the focus. I am struggling still with the faces a bit – specifically the eyes… but I WILL get them right. It is the most important part to get right. I hate seeing a painted face with one eye higher or farther to the side than the other…

Japan is a magical landscape of ancient bamboo and 500+ year old cedar forests, perfectly refined sculpted cypress, cedar, and other trees from which the profound art of bonzai grew. This fine, delicate and richly beautiful land has birthed the gracious, graceful, generous and spiritual people I have experienced every day of my month long tour of Japan with the Percy Faith Orchestra.