These art cards have been created using a centuries-old Japanese stencil-dyeing technique known as "Katazome," which has traditionally been used to create the intricate patterns found on Kimonos. Each design is an original art piece, inspired by the flora and fauna of both my native Japan, and my current home on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, Canada.
Each card is created using all-natural materials. The smoked mulberry paper in which the stencils are carved, the rice-bran paste applied as a colour resist, and the natural dyes applied onto the hand-woven linen are all a veritable feast for the senses.
It is my hope that the deep respect I have for traditional handcraft and nature comes alive through my art, and that it is a reflection of the balance, rhythm, and patience required to create it.
Yukiko Blackwell
Blue Leaf Textile Studio, Sunshine Coast, BC yblackwell@dccnet.com
