Good morning.

I woke up and stepped outside.  This was a view. What a gorgeous view.

471. Morning Shadows Oil painting by Mariko Irie

The river always changes the appearance. It was nice curve.

And blue shadows on the beach made testy morning view.

My painting “Lotus and Butterfly”

154. Lotus and Butterfly Watercolor painting by Mariko Irie

was invited to this project.

Please take a look.

Dear Friends,

Please share widely this Collective Spring Poem (Haiga) that now includes close to 100 poets and artists from all over the globe. We all are truly one. We all share the same dreams and aspirations of world peace, tolerance, and understanding with the whole humanity in balance with nature. There are no borders for poetry. Best wishes to you all–Francisco X. Alarcon <franciscoxalarcon@gmail.cpm>

http://www.facebook.com/notes/francisco-x-alarcon/share-widely-this-collective-spring-poem-haiga-in-celebration-of-the-vernal-equi/10150724811015734

Share Widely this Collective Spring Poem (Haiga) in Celebration of the Vernal Equinox and World Poetry Day (March 21, 2012

Mariko Sumikura chose my “Lotus and Butterfly” for her poem:

HAIKU　　俳句
Mariko Sumikura すみくらまりこ

Falling butterfly
Spirit of the lotus
Embrace in thin air

蝶ですら
香りに落つる
蓮の精

We all pray for Peace to celebrate spring.

474. Trial on the Headlands Oil painting by Mariko Irie

This is one of my favorite trails on the Mendocino Headlands.

I park my car on the Headlands, then I start to walk toward the North is this one.

I lived in Mendocino Coast for twenty-seven years. I lived inside of Mendocino Village for six years. At the time, I used to run almost every morning along this trail.

This trail is too much holes and stuff, so it was hard to run, so I run on the road. Now I just walk.

464. River Entrance Oil painting by Mariko Irie

It’s a beautiful morning.

I love to stare waves are coming and going.

The sun comes out and casts shadows on the beach.

The river meets the ocean.

What a nice place to live.

I painted  “Spring Time”, is same location as my painting “ Sunny Mendocino Coast”. It’s much smaller painting 6” x 6”.

469. Spring Time Oil Painting by Mariko Irie

Tomorrow I’m coming to Mendocino Coast.

I will replace several paintings at my show:

Mariko Irie solo show, “Mariko Irie 2012”

Show dates: March 2 – April 3, 2012

The Northcoast Artists: 362 North Main Street, Fort Bragg, CA

Open everyday, 10-5 p.m.  (707) 964-8266

And on March 17, I will be at the Northcoast Artists gallery 10am-5pm to meet you.

Please stop by.

I feel a little nostalgic today.

I came from Japan. You can tell from my lousy English. I’m sorry about that. I try hard to write proper English.

I saw this scene, very foggy day at Jug Handle Beach at Mendocino Coast California.

468. Pine by the Beach Oil painting by Mariko Irie

It grabbed my heart.

So I painted very simple. Pine tree branches and the sun in very foggy sky.

Does it remind you a kind of Japanese painting?

I love how it came out. Colors, composition is perfect for me.

Today clouds are going in blue sky.

467. Clouds are Going oil painting by Mariko Irie

I feel so good with this painting.

Nice warm spring day, Looks like cotton candy, fluffy white clouds are going.

My student asked me how to paint clouds.

All clouds are different. So just watch clouds and paint how you want to express.

This one, so fluffy looking, so I used very very soft sable round brush. Buying brush through Internet is difficult, because I can’t feel it. This one is too soft for regular painting. So I didn’t use this brush since I got it. Now I found this brush is good –for- something.

It was cold day today. I hope that this painting makes you warmer.

Thank you for stopping by my blog.

466. Rain Clouds oil Painting by Mariko Irie

This is other Rainy day painting. I love these clouds.

This painting’s undercoat is Magenta/Pink. It worked very well. It was cold rainy day, but this painting doesn’t make me cold.

Do you think this is my way to pray for rain?

I’m really enjoying warm nice days in Santa Rosa now.

My show, Mariko Irie 2012 is up at the Northcoast Artists Gallery in Fort Bragg CA.

At the opening reception, so many people came to see my works and me. The gallery is so big, and it was packed. What a supportive community. I was absent in Mendocino Coast for two year, so I wondered if they forgot me. No, they didn’t and even we didn’t see each other more than ten years, these friends came too. What a wonderful feeling. Thank you so much whoever came to see my works and me.

The show runs through April 3^rd. if you don’t come to see my show, please come. I replace paintings for sold ones. So please come back to check out as well.

During the week, I stayed at my friends’. Their house is Oceanfront. It’s a gorgeous ocean view. One all morning, I just sat facing the ocean, staring weaves coming and going. What a soothing.

And my friends are so nice and fun people. I had a great time with them.

It was breathtaking morning glow there. What a beautiful morning of starting a day.

462. Morning Glow Oil Painting by Mariko Irie