Kimono

KIMONO, originally uploaded by g2slp.

This photo is stunning, the hair and flower are gorgeous! So inspiring, especially for my work!

I wanted to point out the kimono, and how the fabrics are such a contrast. On one hand there are the flowers, with the black background, quite minimalist. Then there's the busy yet beautiful gold contrast of the Obi. This usually means she is a Maiko, and apprentice Geisha, the red "under kimono" or nagajuban, also tells us she is an apprentice.

Green Tea KitKats

Green Tea KitKats, originally uploaded by selva.

Yes it is true, and I wish i could have some!!

Jubei Tshirt

Stunning tshirt design by 180ronin called Jubei, straight from the Japanfluence Group on Red Bubble.

I really love the simple vector artwork to really create something quite powerful! Adore the samurai!

Kimono Sleeve

A beautiful and delicate shot by Jenny Hall titled Kimono Sleeve.

This truly captures such a wonderful fluidity!

Tea,Chinese Style

Tea,Chinese Style, originally uploaded by ShamsD.

Although Chinese, I couldn't resist to share this with you. There are no sushi platter cupcakes, and lets face it there should be!! There is some amazing cupcake work out there!!

cube apple

cube apple, originally uploaded by fortyone!.

I had to do 2 - this guys stuff it truly brilliant!!! :)

cyan color bomb

cyan color bomb, originally uploaded by fortyone!.

Came across the superb work of Fortyone! recently. LOVE his work, look at those thick black outlines, making everything sing!! :)

GeishaB&W

GeishaB&W, originally uploaded by CrystalChroma.

A piece done for an Adobe Illustrator exam!

Girl-045

girl-045, originally uploaded by gyoul.

STUNNING vector excellence here.

Japan Sticker Art

Japan Sticker Art, originally uploaded by Jim Atwood.

Here's a great shot - with some great info - especially in the comments, if you have a moment, have a little read - perhaps you'll find some inspiration today?

Myumi Cuteness

Superb tee from Chris Wahl, check it out on Red Bubble here, and his own very cool blog here.

Such a great tee here, in the true essence of Kawaii - with a little twist!

Spring in full effect

spring in full effect, originally uploaded by thericerocket26.

Stunning composition for this one, with the cherry blossoms taking up most of the space, which really makes this work so well!

Oriental Coffee

I'm partial to a good pattern, this one which I have design, was inspired by the Chrysanthemum flower, commonly found on fabric for Kimonos and Obis.

Check it out here, on The Bub.

Maneki Neko 12

Maneki-Neko-12, originally uploaded by ChocolateLog.

Such a great find on Flickr! is ChocolateLog's series of Lucky Cats! :) Their whole portfolio is great, really recommend you check it out!

Tako Theif

To encompass everything Japanfluece, IS KID9!

I can see so much Japan-Love in this piece, Tako Theif its perfection! The colours, the style, the monsters, the tako, the pattern... :)

Nikko Lanterns

Gorgeous shot by Michael D'Andrea Diaz

The perspective and the composition is so inspiring! Thank you for sharing this one Michael! :)

As seen in the Japanfluence Group on RedBubble.

Mike Shinoda, of Linkin Park

Still stunningly buzzing from last night's Linkin Park concert, I thought I would ride the wave, and highlight the fine sir that is featured on the sidebar over there.

Mike Shinoda used to have some awesome pieces on skateboard decks, but they all sold out :( but more cool stuff can be seen here. A site I like to keep my eye on!

This piece is titled "Persona Non Grata"

Samurai

Again not so much info about this one, found on an irish blog!

Love the movement and power of this, and the textures are stunning

Tokusa 5

Tokusa 5, originally uploaded by type665.

The story of Motonari, is one that's close to my heart.

Shinjuku at night

Shinjuku at night, originally uploaded by rendomthoughts.

I had to put this, as an ode to John Brack, Collins St at 5pm.
Shinjuku at Midnight?

Such colour and energy, you can see how you can be under the influence!

Heavenly Sword

I don't know much about this game, but I do know that is some of the greatest hair I've ever seen!!

This is the main character, Nariko, who's name means Hard Working Child, in Japanese.

Samurai

Unfortunately I don't have much info about this piece, I came across it off an Aikido site.

I must make mention of these brush strokes, absolute fluid precision, a true master of his craft! A legendary swordsman!

DJ Endangered

I don't think I could keep going, without starting to mention tshirts from the Japanfluence group!

The first tee off the rack, is one of Jumpy's!

There's the simple lines of all your favourite Sanrio characters, and a hats off to Buddha himself! Superb stuff!

a painting nightmare

a painting nightmare, originally uploaded by hanmei.

I'm a big fan of silhouetting - quite minimalst, this looks pretty cool, and there's a bit of a story behind it as i'm sure you could imagine from the title!

Hitachi, Snow at Tsukuba, Princess Takiyasha

I came across this site via Drawn.ca. It's a library of these stunning japanese woodblock prints. Claremont Colleges Digital Library have compiled these examples of late 17th century to early 20th century Japanese woodblock prints from the Scripps College Collection of Japanese Prints by the artists Chikanobu (1838-1912) and Yoshitoshi (1839-1892)

At times these are humorous, but the way they are set up is beautiful. I picked this one in particular by Chikanobu b/c its showing these amazing panels of a story! There are a few that are set up this way, and its really something I'd like to explore in my own work! Loving the way elements overlap and extend over the bounds of the piece!

There are 200+ woodblock prints in this collection - I'm going through them still!

Big Fat Robot with Victim

One of the many awesome pieces by Mike Hepburn, aka Big Fat Robot!

Happy Birthday Mike! :)

tokyo street art

tokyo street art, originally uploaded by tim rudder.

You'll get two today, as I was a little busy yesterday!

This one really says it all!!

Samuari: Heaven & Earth

So yesterday I was trying to find some more details about this amazing piece!!

Its by an artist called Luke Ross, who illustrates for a graphic novel called Samurai: Heaven & Earth, written by Ron Marz.

The premise of the stories are about a Samurai and his journey to rescue the woman he loves.
The title refers to an oath he swore to return to her "I will allow nothing in Heaven or on Earth to come between us." (Wiki)

I came across this piece, where bloggers were talking about Samurai vs. The Three Musketeers, which this piece portrays, the majority of this story is set in 1700s France, where the Samurai's love has been kidnapped to, from his native Japan! You can take your Pirates vs. Ninjas and your Werewolfs vs. Vampires...... this works for me!!

Samurai Bunny 2

Samurai Bunny 2, originally uploaded by j_hodgie.

I was actually looking for something else to post, but I came across this and just couldn't resist!! I think everyone needs a Samurai Bunny!!

Fabric and Art

Found this on the Fabric and Art website - there are so many Japanese inspired fabrics around.

It's so good to see ones like this, but a lot of influence can be drawn from the sort of designs on kimonos themselves!

Care for some tea?

care for some tea?, originally uploaded by hem sytangco.

I don't think that there would ever be a closer photo, capturing the essence of what I try to do with my own geisha vectors, than this shot.

Truly stunning!!!

Geisha Bunny

A truely inspired print, by Huck Gee.
He's found a big fan in me!!

Geena

A Stunning Vector Image by Aaron Booth.

From the Red Bubble Group Japanfluence.

Geisha

One of those "Why didn't I think of that?" pieces, by a great artist called Ronzo.

This piece is a Limited edition (only 50) Hand pulled screen print, see more info here.

Geisha and Cat

Gorgeous Image of a Geisha and Cat from www.downloadthat.com which can be downloaded as a part of a screen saver.

It includes 55 woodblock prints of the Geisha from master Japanese artists of the mid to late 1800s.

Death Becomes Her

Vector Illustration by thickblackoutline.