Step into the warm water and soak in the Onsen (hot spring)…
RELAX the shoulder.
UNCLENCH the teeth.
BREATHE OUT a deep sigh.
WARM your cold and tired body.
STOP striving.
REST in the water of trust.
BE FREED from self-reliance 自信 & fears.

The reason I soak in onsen is to REST my eyes and mind/brain. So I intentionally omitted the reflections in water, a flowering tree, and the bamboo spout with water pouring out… As artists, we sometimes choose NOT to be ‘visually accurate’ in order to communicate the feelings & experiences. I kept simplifying until there were only 3 elements: Water, Lantern, and Rocks.
温かいお湯につかる時は目を閉じるから、水面に映る木の影などはあえて描きませんでした。

A month into painting this piece, a tragedy broke me so hard that I couldn’t see colors or imagine a healing scenery. It took 5 months for vitality to return to my soul.

A long journey in search for REST:
—> A rough sketch in yellow “essence of light”
—> Rocks underwater (black, navy, jade green, gold, and various shades of blue): I painted details on the rocks, knowing that they will be barely visible at the end. In parallel, I persevered in EMDR trauma therapy, knowing that internal freedom will not be visible. BUT in reality, the unique water-like effect is possible ONLY when there are layers underneath. Healing in mental health is possible ONLY when trauma is released out of the brain and the body.
—> Water surface: I had to keep alternating between “flowing water” and “rigid rocks.” Used coarse pigments (particle size 7) and finer pigments (size 11) to create a blue ombré. Some parts blended nicely but other parts hid the texture of the coarse pigments, oops. I love experimenting, ‘trial & error’ in safety, learn from mistakes, and enjoy the process!
—> Lantern’s glowing light (thin layers of yellow, alternating with thin layers of blue): Had to extend yellow into the blue water and dark rocks. Wait for the pigments to dry. Check the colors. Paint the blue to overlap on the yellow. And keep going back & forth. It reminded me to not be afraid of darkness as I moved between dark and light, like a conversation to listen to both sides.
—> The center of the lantern: the brightest part (thin layer of #胡粉 oyster shell pigment, which looks translucent but becomes very white as it dries).

Nihonga slow art teaches me to embrace
BOTH grief AND grace;
freedom AND pain;
suffering AND joy;
fear AND rest.

Two years after painting this peace, I learned about the “hidden onsen hot springs of war lords” (武将温泉) that was built to HEAL the battle-worn/wounded soldiers under them. Yes, onsen has medicinal effect from the minerals from the earth; as well as mental effect from the warmth, quiet, away from our battle fields.

この絵を描いた2年後に武将温泉について学びました。人を栄えるため・兵士たちを癒すために作られた武田信玄の隠れ湯。。。ほっこりしますね。温泉は医療的な癒し以外に、メンタルヘルスにも優れています。みんな各自の「戦場」に出陣するためには、暖かさと静けさに浸からなくては！

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“The traditional North American Indigenous people often refer to water as ‘the first medicine.’ Water in most Indigenous tradition is considered sacred... every ocean, every lake, every bog and slew and estuary, every creek, every waterfall, every spring and even the rain, perhaps especially the rain, are considered as gifts from Great Mystery [God].” — Dr.Randy Woodley

“… I long for you to enter this wide-open, spacious life… Your lives aren’t small, but you’re living them in a small way… Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively!”
‭‭2 Cor‬ ‭6:11-13‬