Part 1 Japanese History Expressed through Alliterate: Watercolor

Thank you all so much! It's been an exciting two weeks thanks to all of you. The project has raised over 60%, with 17 days still left in the campaign! I'd love your continued help sharing this project with your friends and acquaintances.

I hope you and others will enjoy all the history, culture, and hope that I've packaged into my small box of cards.

A Rainbow Born from Ash

The watercolor I used for each of the illustrations was made by company called Kuretake, which was established in 1902. They began by manufacturing sumi ink sticks or “charcoal” ink for Japanese calligraphy and black ink paintings. Today, Kuretake is an international arts and craft brand boasting Posterman chalk markers and bright watercolors.

I must say that their experience of over 100 years has certainly paid off. I was pleasantly surprised because a light a coat of their paint glides smoothly and settles evenly and thickly on paper. It also has a shimmer I didn’t expect.

Colors and Social Hierarchy

Kuretake’s color palette also tells another story about traditional colors in Japan. For example, certain colors, including imperial purple, could only be worn by top ranking officials in ancient Japan. Colors woven into hats and kimonos were used to separate people into ranks. While social hierarchy certainly continues to contribute to modern problems, in this case, it was also used to reward and promote people for merit and loyalty and not just clan membership like previous systems. By the 17th century even imperial purple was fashionable and worn by ordinary people.

Today, Astronaut Alligator is conducting research in space enveloped in Kuretake's imperial purple. I like to imagine that she made it there through pluck, perseverance, and fearless dreaming. How far we’ve come and how much farther we can go.

Letter  A. Astronaut alligator analyzing asteroids.

In the next post, I'd love to tell you about sashiko, a special sowing pattern that I painted on the backs of the cards. It's a form of art that rose from necessity and expresses the ingenuity of Japan's peasant class.