Can you imagine the horror they must have felt

There is something truly magical about hanami (flower viewing) season in Japan. Weeks beforehand they will have ‘sakura’ trackers on the news, it’s like the weather predictions, they show a map of the country and exact dates when they expect the sakura to start to bloom and when they will be at their peak, in each part of the country. 

And then, as soon as those first cherry blossoms start to show their faces, people will go out in the middle of the night to spread out their tarp to reserve their picnic spot under their favorite tree. When you go out during this time of year you will see people sitting on tarps eating together, even if there’s only a single tree!

Especially in the larger parks hundreds of people will gather, there will be food stalls and the alcohol often flows freely, especially at night, when the trees are all lit up. What I love most about this is how neat and tidy it all is. These amazing people will always bring a blanket or tarp to sit, they will always take off their shoes before stepping onto said tarp and they will never, ever leave any trash behind! 

Can you imagine the horror these wonderful tidy people must have felt at seeing me and my original artworks just sitting there like that, on the dirty ground! 

Learning these quirky cultural rules can really enhance your appreciation and make the beauty of Japan feel even more meaningful. Don’t you just want to step into one of my paintings to experience this beauty for yourself? 

What is ONE thing you learned that gave you a new appreciation for a foreign country?

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Wishing you a wonderful day!
Denise

A truly magical moment.

 

One of my favorite memories from my time in Japan is the time we got to see a live calligraphy performance. This event was held at a local temple, we climbed a narrow mountain path lined with huge cedar trees and when we reached the top we were rewarded with the most beautiful temple building surrounded by Sakura (cherry blossom) trees in full bloom.

Underneath the trees we saw a group of children of all ages, they were all dressed in traditional clothing and they were laying out this enormous sheet of paper. Then two of them came around the corner carrying this huge bucket of black ink and a brush the size of a broom! When everything was set they all lined up and started their performance. It was absolutely mesmerizing to see them using their entire body to create the Kanji characters on that scale.

Seeing this was a once in a lifetime experience but to see it in the spring, surrounded by the abundance of blooming Sakura trees and delicate floating flower petals made the experience truly magical. It has been such an inspiration to me, ‘Performance’ and ‘Balance’ are pieces that are directly inspired by it.

What is your FAVORITE memory of spring?

Join the conversation and post your answer in the comments on Facebook or Instagram.

Wishing you a wonderful day!
Denise

No pain no gain

While I was in Japan I thought it would be really nice to take some pictures with my paintings in quintessential Japanese settings and what’s more quintessential than cherry blossoms in full bloom? So I made a plan, picked out some of my favorite pieces, closely followed the national ‘Sakura’ tracker and waited for that magical moment to arrive in Nagoya.

When the time finally arrived I shoved my paintings into their carry bags and drove to my favorite Sakura spot, a beautiful river with huge overhanging trees on both sides. It was a gorgeous day, blue skies, no wind, absolutely perfect. I had walked the path by the river before but I hadn’t quite anticipated how much more intense it would be to navigate the narrow streets and crowds of people lugging two heavy and unwieldy art bags, a field easel and a camera around.  

I spent a good three hours walking up and down the river bank, looking for the perfect places to take those glamour shots, I was sweating and my shoulders were so sore from carrying all that stuff but the results were absolutely stunning.

These are by far my favorite artwork shots I have ever done and I am looking forward to expanding this idea and finding some local Canadian beauty for my next glamour shot series. 

One of my favorite shots from this trip is this picture of ‘Sakura’.
 

What is your number ONE favorite spring spot?

Join the conversation and post your answer in the comments on Facebook or Instagram.

Wishing you a wonderful day!
Denise

Bringing Spring into your home

While the world outside my studio is still covered in snow I am letting my mind drift back to those early spring days in Japan. In the spring the Ume (plum blossoms) are the first to bloom in Japan, they are less flamboyant then the Sakura (cherry blossoms) and the trees are usually not as tall but they are my absolute favorite! I fondly remember walking through gorgeous Japanese gardens surrounded by hundreds of weeping ume trees in full bloom, the smell is intoxicating! Oh how I miss those days! I know that right now, in Japan, people are walking these same pathways, smelling those smells and every time I think of this I feel a pang of longing. 

But spring is around the corner here in Canada as well and it will come with it’s own beauty and it’s own set of wonderful smells! I already brought some Hyacinths to get a little sneak peek of spring into the house and I have been including plum blossoms in my paintings as a way to bring the memories of spring into my studio.

What is ONE way you like to bring Spring into your home?

Take part in the conversation and post your answer in the comments on Facebook or Instagram.

New giclee prints are available now!

 

Did you know I sell giclee prints of all of my paintings? You can even order a giclee print of a painting that has already been sold! Giclee prints are an affordable way to add some beautiful art to your space and right now it is even easier, you can order your print right from my website! When you're browsing my artworks you can just click the 'Buy a Giclee Print' link on the artwork page (see bellow). This will bring you to the order page where you can fill out the order form to get a giclee print of your favorite artwork. All giclee prints are made to order, once your order has been received, we will calculate shipping based on your location and the size and type of print you ordered. After payment a beautiful print will be created just for you!

What is a giclee print you ask well let me explain. A Giclee print is a high quality reproduction on an original artwork, using archival inks and papers. These prints are created on large format inkjet printers that use small spraying devices that can both match color and apply ink precisely, resulting in a high-quality print of the original artwork. In the fine art world, giclee reproductions have to meet strict expectations regarding precision, color matching and longevity, standards usually not expected of, or met by, inkjet prints on canvas.

All of my giclee prints are limited edition, they are signed by the artist and come with a little certificate of authenticity. Limited edition giclee prints on paper start at $35 CAD for a small sized, unframed print, image size of these prints is approximately 5”x7” (6’x6” for square pieces), all prints have a 2” white border all around. Of course, if you would like something a little larger you can also order a custom sized print.

My giclee prints are printed on a gorgeous, high quality, archival, textured fine art paper with archival OEM inks that, with the proper care and conditions, are rated to last over 100 years. The prints are made in Quebec, Canada. It is also possible to order a custom sized print on beautiful, archival, poly cotton canvas. Prints on canvas can be ordered either stretched or un-stretched, un-stretched canvases will be shipped rolled, therefore the shipping costs for framed canvases will be higher. Prints on stretched canvas have 1 3/4”, black borders.

So what are you waiting for? Find your favorite piece on my website and order a beautiful print and as always, if you have any questions don't hesitate. You can leave a comment below or shoot me an email, I'm always happy to help!

How to buy Art during a pandemic

We're all spending most of our time at home these days so maybe you're in need of some new art to brighten up your space. Unfortunately there are no upcoming shows at the moment, most things have been cancelled and many galleries are closed. Luckily I have a wonderful selection of pieces available and there are several ways to get your hands on one right now. 

Art Galleries

Here in Canada I am working with two wonderful art galleries, although they are closed for physical visits at the moment they both have websites and online stores and you can contact them directly for some personal advice, they are always happy to help you find the perfect piece for your space, they offer curbside pickup as well as local delivery and international shipping. If you are looking for a special piece for your collection buying through one of these galleries helps support not just the artist but a wonderful local business as well.

• Viva Vida Art Gallery (Montréal)

• Latitude 44 Gallery (Toronto)

Online Galleries

If you are more comfortable shopping online I am affiliated with three reputable online galleries that offer an amazing and safe shopping experience and worldwide shipping.

• Singulart

• Saatchi Art

• BBuzzArt

Artist Website

Of course you can always visit my website and contact me directly, I am always happy to help you find your ideal piece. If you have trouble finding something that fits I can always create a commissioned piece that is completely customized to your specifications. You decide the subject matter, color palette and size and we would work together on the composition to create a one of a kind personal artwork. I always enjoy working with my collectors in this way, it is a wonderful experience and makes the final piece extra special.

• ArtistAbroad.com

Giclee Prints

If you have a tight budget I also have Giclee prints available for al of my pieces, they start as low as $35 CAD for a small 5"x7" print (unframed) but if you are looking for something larger ordering a custom size is always possible. My prints are created by an amazing printing company right here in Quebec, they are very high quality and always come out looking gorgeous. Most of my prints are done on high quality, textured, watercolor paper but prints on canvas are also possible. Giclee prints are made to order so you can get a print of any artwork you choose no matter if it has already been sold or not, just shoot me an email (info@denisebuismanpilger.com) with the title or image of the piece you would like to order a print of and the size you would like and I'd be happy to make that happen for you. 

• info@denisebuismanpilger.com

New works

We're still in lockdown with curfew here in Quebec so days start to bleed together a bit luckily I have a wonderful home based studio space where I spend most of my days. This means I'm getting stuff done :) I have a nice bunch of new pieces to show you! They're already up on the website so don't hesitate if there's something that catches you eye! Just click the title link underneath the image and it will bring you right to the artwork page on my website, where you can find all the information and if you have any questions you can always email me at info@denisebuismanpilger.com I'm always happy to answer your questions. 

Sakura (桜) 48"x24"

Family Fun 36"x24"

Seoul Streets 48"x24"

Wedding Walk 48"x24"