MESSEGE FROM ARTIST
What made me wanting to draw Buddhist figures was the encounter to one picture on the trip to the countryside of Japan. I met a Buddhist painting in an old temple. It was a painting without colors. The Buddhist figure was drawn simply with Sumi Ink (墨/black ink). It was hard to say that the painting was so skillful, however, the paining existed there as if it was telling its story to me by giving off gentle halos.
The Buddhist painting drawn only by the use of Sumi Ink on white paper is called "Hakubyouzuhou (白描図法)". The practice of "Hakubyouzuhou" had been taught by the master to his trainee monks. Many of "Hakubyouzuhou" artists did not have the artistic background as their profession so that many paintings often look amateurish. However, amateurishness even brings the painting more vividness and freedom.

Although I am not well informed of Buddhist and/or Buddhism, I had been inspired by the simply drawn figures of "Hakubyouzuhou (白描図法)". It's been said that the Buddhism is purity and it teaches mercy and charity. Therefore, a man who draws the figure of Buddhist must be pure-minded. It is very difficult for me to become pure-minded, especially, I am full of worldly desires. It also has been said that the Buddhist paintings are the forms of Buddhist figures sprung out and it should never be drawn by the artist's free spirit.

Still, my desire wanting to draw Buddhist figures did not disappeared.
One day, when I was in deep thoughts with a book in my hand, I happened to find lines talking about one of Japanese drawing techniques, called "Tessen-byou (鉄線描)". "Tessen (鉄線)" means steel wire in Japanese. With the use of this technique, the picture was depicted in a same size of thin line drawn in a constant pitch --- like a steel wire, the stroke is straight without hesitation or anxiety.

As a graphic designer, I have used a various drawing tools, such as, pencils, charcoals, a painting brush, ruling pens, markers, etc…. And now, I am with this drawing tool of our time, computer mouse. I wondered if I were able to challenge "Tessen-byou (鉄線描)" with this digital tool….

I became enamored with Buddhist drawings and digital tools.
Though there was only a desire that it wanted to draw and I did not know even the distinction of the Buddhist image either, I started out with collecting and researching materials of Buddhist figures and spent times learning and drawing from the collected resources. Rough sketchs were the practice of figure proportion and placement of its belongings. I chose well-composed drawings, scanned and brought into the computer screen, and then, I started to draw the lines with computer mouse.

Comparing to the hand-drawn lines, I was afraid that the digitally created lines would become devoid of personality. However, I noticed that "Hakubyouzuhou (白描図法)" practice is not just focused on thinness or fineness of the lines. Also the combination of rounded and angular lines creates complicated and sophisticated graphical figures. I became attracted by the mysteriousness of the complete image.

I draw the face of the Buddhist image, a crown on a Buddhist sculpture (天冠), heavenly garment (天衣), lotus seat (蓮華座), and convert into the vector line graphic of the modern "Tessen-byou (鉄線描)" style. I draw and continue drawing by zooming into the deep details of the body. The image of the Buddhist figures of my own way was found from among the time of bliss of nothing but drawing.
Although my drawing may have some quality that differs from the traditional Buddhist drawings, I am hoping that we all share the moment of relaxation and refreshment through my artwork.