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| "Nightmare": junk collage, ink. |
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RIP Kimiko Nishimoto:
Japan’s Most-Creative Obachan
I and many were saddened to learn that Kimiko Nishimoto, well known for absurdist self-portraits, passed away on June 9, 2025. She was 97. Nishimoto’s creative journey began, unexpectedly, at the age of 72 when she decided to take a photography class. She immediately fell in love with the medium and began taking humorous, comical and sometimes surreal self-portraits.
10 years later, at the age of 82, she was given her first solo exhibition at a local Museum in Kumamoto, where she lives. Her passion for photography and humor proved contagious, and she soon became an internet star. Nishimoto took pride in her art, and committed to taking all her own pictures using a tripod and timer. All the digital enhancements and alterations are also done by Nishimoto herself.
“My mother always enjoyed creating with a smile. With the desire to bring laughter and joy to many people, she produced numerous works,” wrote her daughter in an Instagram post.
Nishimoto’s works will live on. And so too will her spirit, which inspired and taught us that it’s never too late to begin something.
🙏
Ever in a yucky mood? Have work to do but don't want to? I am sharing a technique I often taught in my collage, mixed media & painting classes.
It's mark making, a fun, quick, mindless activity to create papers to be torn up and used in future collage. Use any shape or kind of mark,
drawing or even writing. An easy warm-up.
There's no need to be precise or make sense,
as it will eventually be torn up to be used in a painting, collage or any kind of mixed media.
I mark on tissue paper & have the text sheet directly
beneath to catch the ink that seeps through the tissue,
so you get 2 for 1. It's hard to say which I like best.
The tissue is a dark clear print and the white of the tissue somewhat disappears when adheres to collage.
The text sheet has random ink thickness, which I like a lot, and of course the added text background.
All you need is tissue paper & a text sheet
from a dictionary, book or whatever, (I am using an old Physicians' Desk Reference) and a fresh ink marker. I often use a double ended oil based marker from Daiso, (Japanese $1.50 store) 3 in a pack for $1.50. (Not odor free)
I guess this form of mark-making might be compared to a very, very sloppy version of Zentangle, only you don't have to be precise.
Probably not for everyone, but it does work for
a lot of us. Rx for a yucky day or to warm up.
* Did you notice today's lead art (at top), where I used mark making on tissue paper and markers?
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| Magnolia Warbler |
Monday's Smiles ...
