"" Japanese aesthetics inform my work. I fell in love with the Edo period (1600s to mid 1800s), and utilize the fan, ginkgo leaf, lily pad, cherry blossom, and butterfly as motif and metaphor. "Survivor" series uses the gingko; "Remnants" series uses the butterfly wing; "Fossilized" uses the lily pad; "Edo Influence" explores the balance of the inhale of activity and the exhale of solitude. The "Mask" series is a response to the pandemic; the fan is a metaphor for the mask. "Sakura" (cherry blossom) series is a reflection on the seasons. "Refuge" series' format is the tondo (circle) and uses botanicals to symbolize refuge in nature.

All images and text copyright 2024-2025 Christina Laurel.