Author Archives: Francis

I’m an amateur male soprano, and I love singing Vincenzo Bellini’s famous “Casta Diva”. I’ve been wanting to make a painting of a phrase from the aria, “spargi in terra quella pace” (peace all over the earth). I just began … Continue reading →

This is a famous saint, and I’m named after him. So, I just began this pastel painting of him and birds. As you see, I was inspired by Alexej von Jawlensky, one of my very fav painters in history. “St. … Continue reading →

I designed “No, Dad, please don’t!” below (June 30) to consist of two pieces. Shown on June 30 is Piece 1. I just began working on Piece 2. As I said back then, this is a protest painting. This last … Continue reading →

This is a 10-min croquis (quick drawing) from a drawing session held this April. Nothing much — just another “figure croquis”, i.e., a quick drawing to capture the shape of the model. Usually, croquis is meant for that — capturing … Continue reading →

  I showed Stage 2 below on June 20. I finished it off — then I found the sky over the horizon was so large it distracted the watcher’s attention off the motif, the azaleas. So, I cut off much … Continue reading →

This is an 80-min drawing from a drawing session of June 23. Some of you might think art modeling is easy — just stay seated for 80 minutes. That’s not it!! Even while you are comfortably seated, your arms, fingertips, … Continue reading →

This protest painting is to consist of two pieces, and its Piece 1 is done. As I said below on June 10, this last April, the Nagoya District Court of Japan gave a “not guilty” judgment to a father who … Continue reading →

  Below on June 22nd, I showed the front and back sides of a T-shirt I dyed for a friend. She wanted me to paint a message on it, and here it is! She wanted “Article 9,” the pacifist article … Continue reading →

Here is a 20-min croquis (quick drawing) from June 16. I experimented using pink wax pastel (crayon) against a reddish brown background. The result, as you see, is the vague contrast between the “two reds.” This was something I expected. … Continue reading →

So, this one is done! The original “real stuff” was a pot of congestion, consisting of leaves of dark green and flowers of dark purple. I wanted to turn it into something brighter and more vivacious. “Convolvulus sabatius”, done Wax … Continue reading →