These eto, or 12 animals of the Japanese (Chinese) calendar have been made painstakingly by hand by my best friend Max (Masaki Yoshida) and his parents.
The artwork is exquisite, and everything is done in Japanese paper, or "washi"; with a metal wire frame underneath.
It can take up to two months to make some of the more difficult eto, but if you look closely you will understand why.
The colouring is an "urushi" or a lacquer produced from the urushi tree in japan.
11 years ago I decided to support their business by suggesting they make eto. My first purchase was the dragon. Ever since then, every year I have been adding to my collection.
I have one left to add: The Tiger; that will be 2010, and all 12 will be complete.
If you are interested in commissioning anything like this, please contact me. But PLEASE remember: THIS IS ART and it is not "cheap chinese junk", therefore if you are not willing to invest in art, please don't ask me the price.
One of the things Max does do, though, is create custom orders based on a customer's budget. So if you want to make something that costs ... say... $100, he can do that for you.
I will be starting an Etsy shop to manage their business so customers around the world can see, and make their own, this beautiful, and completely unique (there are no others doing this) art form.
If you are interested in finding out what "eto" you or a loved one belong to, you can look to the Japanese Eto Calendar. It's a little different from China, but as I don't live there I'm not interested in the Chinese calendar.
I love you!
Cam
(Year of the Snake)
yep that's me running over the buffalo to get to Buddha first lol.....twas my biggy last year....so which element am i?....i know do you?....don't give my age away lol
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing this is you with the available evidence above, my sisters a dragon....we get on well so do monkeys... my late mother................rats monkeys dragons are a pack apart lol
ReplyDeleteare you 45 ?
i dont see you as a fire dragon.....although you look the sam age lol
THE WOOD DRAGON 1964
Wood has a modifying influence and brings creativity to this sign. Questioning and liberal, Wood Dragons enjoy talking about original ideas and are open to other points of view. They are innovative, imaginative practical and appreciate art in each of its forms. Generally less pretentious than other Dragons, Wood Dragons have an ability to get along with other people. They have the essentials to build a prosperous and happy life for themselves. Still, Wood Dragons are outspoken and at times a bit pushy to quell everyone, even in the most friendly quarrel.
Di - As I wrote after my name, I was born in the year of the snake (1965) and am also "otomeza" or virgo.
ReplyDeleteDi - As I wrote after my name, I was born in the year of the snake (1965) and am also "otomeza" or virgo.
ReplyDeleteI can't look at the title without thinking you have a collection of Japanese people stammering, and trying to think of the next thing to say... :)
ReplyDelete(Oh no, I've become an "oyaji-gagu" person... shoot me now)
It's OK, Matt. We all get that way after about 8 years of living here, so I understand you PERFECTLY, as sad as that is....
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting. Beautiful weather these past 3 days, Old Man Winter coming screaming in for the next four in his final attempt at turning us into an ice age. Happens every year... bleh.
heha....didnt read the bottom bit....so much for speed reading lol....well only a year out...wood snake then....hates boars...gets on with rooster or ox.
ReplyDeletegot the wood bit right lol
Thats me Im the Rooster beautiful art workxx
ReplyDeleteHey Cam,
ReplyDeleteI was born in the "Year of the Horse" , but also if you look up the meaning of my name: Greek meaning "lover of horses", French meaning "loves horses" Odd, how 3 different cultures are tied together with a year and a meaning. What is funny about this, I don't care for horses, I think they are beautiful animals, but when I was young I was thrown off of one...not liked them since. I would rather have a dog, snake, rat, rooster for a pet, than to be around a horse....
I've learned quite a bit about the zodiac today. I love, Love, LOVE all of your Eto collection. I just showed James and he is absolutely amazed! I started looking some stuff up and learned this:
ReplyDelete"In Chinese astrology the animal signs assigned by year represent what others perceive you as being or how you present yourself. It is a common misconception that the animals assigned by year are the only signs, and many western descriptions of Chinese astrology draw solely on this system. In fact, there are also animal signs assigned by month (called inner animals), day, and hours of the day (called secret animals)." (source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_astrology)
After learning this, I decided to start doing some looking to see if I could find my own inner and secret animals also. Of course Google is our friend, right? So I found this site: http://chinese.astrology.com/ and I learned that I am a Horse (outer); Monkey (inner); and Ox (secret). Brennan is Monkey; Dog; Snake. James is a Horse; Horse; Sheep.
Thank you for (as always) peaking my curiosity!
Max's artwork is fantastic! I shall continue to admire these from afar until this storm passes. Then I shall see about acquiring such works of beauty! :)
Hmmmm... i LOVE horses... and i'm not thrilled with the sheep that's "supposed" to represent me.
ReplyDeleteThis may force me to make a difficult, but necessary confession here...
ahem... *deep breath*...
My name is Jen... and i am a ..... HORSE.
there i said it...
I'm done living that one year lie.
What's one year, between friends, huh?
Huh?
Beautifully crafted and nice mounting of the pieces, too. Lots of hours and dedication to their art form.
ReplyDeleteThanks Minx! I should show you the bonsai they made for me years ago!
ReplyDeleteThanks Tornado! I love to pique curiosity, as long as you aren't a cat! I love you!
ReplyDeleteJen - I love riding horses! Bareback! heeee! I love you!
Jalopy - "Jalopy" means all those things related to horses? Neeeiiiiigggghhhhhhhhh"
Jools - Cool! How is the sugar overdose coming along?
First and foremost, I LOVE YOU, TOO!
ReplyDeleteCuriosity killed the cat, satisfaction brought it back! And legend has it, the cat was left out of the Chinese Zodiac because it showed up too late to the ceremony that decided the order in which the animals would be placed.
"The animals stood in front of the king in no particular order. The Rat, being smaller than the rest, hopped on the Ox's back and proceeded to play the flute. The king was very impressed by this display. He gave the Rat first place. Second place was given to the Ox for its good sportsmanship, and third was given to the Tiger, who appeared so courageous. The Rabbit was given fourth place, the Dragon fifth, the Snake sixth, the Horse seventh, the Ram eighth, the Monkey ninth, the Rooster tenth and the Dog eleventh. By default, and due to the king's just nature, twelfth place went to the Pig. After the ceremony concluded, the cat (who missed the invitation) begged the king to reconsider. He was told it was too late. "
Poor Kitty Moo!
ReplyDeletePoor Poor Kitty Moo...but you know what??
ReplyDeleteThe Cat Came Back, The Very Next Day! ;)
HAHA!
I have had a wonderful time browsing through yr site. I hope you dont mind me leaving this message for you .. I thought you may be interested in this link from my page, so I have left it for you . Thankyou so much for such an interesting page, its been a real pleasure and very enlightening. Oh, and before I leave, yr friends creations are beautiful indeed. I am also year of the snake.( 1965... but ..ssshhhh lol). Angie
ReplyDeleteoops.. the link...
ReplyDeletehttp://yummmalishus.multiply.com/journal/item/70/Entry_for_September_11_2008
Angie - Thank you for posting this link and for visiting my site. I appreciate you. I am unable to access that link because you have set it to NOT be open to everyone. If you would like me to view it, would you please change the permissions to "everyone" and let me know again? Then I will be more than happy to visit your site. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteAppologies!!!... I have rest my settings. thanks for replying and taking the time to check the link out. Id love to come back and finish viewing yr albums..Im in Australia and its now almost 1am.. I ran out of time lol. Very informative such a pleasure to see everything you share on yr site. Thankyou again. Angie
ReplyDeleteAngie, that page is still set to private. I am unable to access it.
ReplyDelete