Hatsuhana (by Horimatsu)

After a two year absence Viktor from Stockholm returned for in order to make progress on what  has to be one of my favourite pieces, depicting Hatsuhana doing pennance under the Tonowaza waterfall. During three days and the equal amount of four-hour sessions we touched up some of the shading on the back and started work on both gobu (5/10) sleeves.

 

This is the painting I did back in 2005 which forms the basic for this piece. Seven years is a long time when you constantly work to refine your work, and its interesting to see ones own development. This especially applies to the design of the background.

Above are two of the original woodblock prints (Ukiyo-e) that inspired me for this painting and they are still among my absolute favourites. Especially the lower one, designed by Utagawa Kuniyoshi.