“Mashū” involved an unknown quantity of drafts and hours. I first started the canvas on 4th March making changes most days afterwards. Today I worked on the canvas for the last time before deciding to publish.

With the exception of my name centrally shown in Japanese (with English style reading from left-to-right) and the borders, this piece is entirely abstract without meaning.

Mashū is rendered asマシュー

The only perceivable idea I had after the first draft was seeing something like watch movement intricacies in the background. Pure chance.

The canvas is more beautiful than the image shown in my opinion. I am a perfectionist with my art as best as I can be. The disappointment through my drafts made this canvas hard work. It makes me happy to be pleased with the final result.

Gold, silver and bronze brushstrokes shine from the canvas.

I would like to share with you four digital versions of this piece:

“Mashū in Black with Turquoise Blue” is very striking.

“Mashū in White Monochrome” is black and white perfection.

“Mashū in White with Microscopic Organisms” is different enough for me to like.

“Mashū in White with High Red/Yellow Contrast” is included only to give you a sense of the shine the physical canvas has with light.

“Mashū” reminds me of some Pop Art pieces I did September 2023 in a Basquiat style. Not that this is in any way a Basquiat with his own specific and literal themes. Just that the freedom within the artistic construction has that sort of quality.

Interesting reading:

Lake Mashū (摩周湖, Mashū-ko) (Ainu: Kamuy-to) is an endorheic crater lake formed in the caldera of a potentially active volcano. It is located in Akan Mashu National Park on the island of Hokkaido, Japan. It has been called the clearest lake in the world. [courtesy of Wikipedia – Lake Mashū.