Here is a delicate Camellia that I painted in early February. A tentative step towards Spring.

Coincidentally I read this reflection from Junichiro Tanizaki:

"...Japanese paper gives us a certain feeling of warmth, of calm and repose... Western paper turns away the light, while our paper seems to take it in, to envelop it gently, like the soft surface of a first snowfall. It gives off no sound when it is crumpled or folded, it is quiet and pliant to the touch as the leaf of a tree..."
- In Praise of Shadows

This banner is painted on handmade Mitsumata paper from Japan which is unbleached and has a beautiful organic colour. The paper allows for smooth flowing brushstrokes and has delicate edges along with the watermarks of the paper makers Su or frame. in the finishing process the paper has been uniformly smoothed and wrinkled in a way that makes the piece look antique.

The banner is suspended from a simple batten and clear thread which can be removed on request if an alternative method of display is desired.