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GenkiGoth — welcoming spring
Published: 2009-01-12 01:12:49 +0000 UTC; Views: 1101; Favourites: 33; Downloads: 16
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graphite, watercolor and gouache on watercolor paper
I can't believe how many work in progress pieces I've done throughout the semester. Even with a christmas break, there's been no real rest. But with the break nearing its end and our commission to ~AkuMusou ready to be shipped out, I felt I really needed to have at lease one work for pure enjoyment.
I can't begin to describe how pleased I am with this. I've never been good with water based media; it's so very temperamental and unless you're very comfortable with it, dealing with its unpredictability of it can be a real hassle. This one took alot of patience on my part, but I really had fun from beginning to end. Maybe it's because I haven't done something for myself in a good long time. Still, I rocked that shit XD
(I'm kidding, I'm kidding!!)
I made sure to do a little bit of research just to make sure I got the maiko right, like year and experience and stuff like that.
Ok, I'm gonna stop babbling. Critiquing would be awesome. I really want to know what I'm doin' wrong, or what to look out for next time.
Genki
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Comments: 37
hmmm even though i have you on my watch list i somehow missed this. I like it its really cool. Kabuki style
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I really like it, the colors you chose are beautiful and youthful, perfect for a maiko. My critique is that the position of the ougi kanzashi and the hana kanzashi are reversed, with the flowers on the right (our right) and the ougi on the left. And, while I adore the detail work on the inside of her collar, there isn't any juban collar. But that's all I notice. I really love this work.
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No, thank you very much for the honest critique. It's definitely something that I will have to keep in mind next time I tackle this. I do have a question though about the adornments and the...juban collar? I thought that the collar wasn't solely white. Or am I confusing that collar with the other under kimono that signifies status?
And for the adornments, alot of places say that the longer you (a maiko) are in the business, the more subtle the decorations. Now, how subtle is subtle?
Oh and forgive me if I don't use actual terminology, I'm still trying to commit all these names and stages to memory, lol!
Genki
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Well, on the juban collar (called a haneri), as a maiko progresses, it will go from predominately red to pure white with a swath of red at the back, and when she becomes a geiko, that swath of red will disappear. You can see it here, [link] . My critique was that I couldn't discern if you had drawn a juban or not, so I thought I should mention it. In the pic I showed you, you can see the kimono collar is lower than the juban collar, so it's something you might want to consider in your next pic.
For the adornments, a maiko in her first year will wear hana kanzashi with the dangling part and only paint her lower lip, like here [link] , and in her second year, she'll wear a hana kanzashi without the dangling part and paint her upperlip, but she'll still wear the wareshinobu hairstyle and have an all-over red collar, like here [link] . During some time between her second and third year, she'll have her mizuage, and start wearing the ofuku hairstyle, her collar will be mainly white, and her kanzashi will switch from being a lot of little flowers to a maybe one or two flowers, like here [link] . It'll stay like this until a month before her erikae (debut as a geiko), in which she will wear the special sakkou hairstyle and speically made kanzashi with a design of cranes and bamboo, like here [link] . The hana kanzashi are also seasonal, and there are some special ones worn only at certain events, but those are the same for maiko of all levels (more or less).
Don't worry about the terms, you'll pic them up as you go along 
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Thank you so much! I'm glad you like it!!
Genki
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She's very pretty! I'm a sucker for maiko. My only critique is that I think the kimono is almost too busy. It takes away from her face a bit. The obi, however, is gorgeous. Keep up the good work!
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Actually, the kimono for maiko tend to be very busy, especially upon how old she is and how long she's been in the business. For this maiko in particular, she's about a little over a year in training. She's not wearing the red under kimono anymore signifying status, but she's still too green (sorry for the unintended pun, lol!) to wear more mature colors and patterns so they have to be busy.
Sorry, that wasn't meant to be a lecture!! I'm very glad you like the painting though and at least I know now that I can tone it down a bit...I was actually a little worried that there still wasn't enough! lol!
Genki
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Actually, I'm pretty much on the up-and-up when it comes to maiko. I've been studying them for years! I could tell right away from her kanzashi that she was a junior.
Anyway, just some suggestions! Keep up the good work!
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See, I was wondering about that! Because through photo reference and watching videos of people applying makeup, it was always an optional thing. I'd see one person with blush all over the sides of their face and then some who omit it all together. Even through readings it was either stated that it was optional or wasn't even mentioned at all. VERY frustrating when you're trying for a little bit of accuracy! LOL!
Genki
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I think a lot of blush is generally used for more junior girls, or for special occassions like public dances or festivals. And maiko will always wear more blush than geiko, who generally don't wear much at all. But I also think it has something to do with personal preference. Every geisha applies her makeup differently!
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You're right on that one. After a maiko becomes a geisha, it's up to them if they want to be made up or not.
Btw? Thanks for all the comments. It's neat that someone's bringing up some of this stuff, and it's a little nicer to know that I didn't totally screw up on its execution either, lol!
Genki
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No problem! I'm maiko-and-geiko obsessed and I love discussing them.
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o.O
Wow! That is just simple, clean and beautiful! Oh how I wish it was spring right now!
But noooo! I have to drive back to campus in the beginning of the coldest season of Winter!!! *thud*
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If it makes you feel any better, we're going to be driving from one cold state to one colder in the end of January, LOL! So we'll be suffering right along with you!
I'm super glad you like the piece...I'm very happy with how it came out and I'm thrilled with how it has been received so far.
Can't wait to see you guys this week!! Looking forward to catching up and seeing how everyone's break went!!
Genki
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The only critique I could possibly think of is to make your pencil lines a little lighter next time, other than that it turned out beautiful. The Kimono in particular is a great contrast to the washed background, not to mention the pattern turned out great.
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Good point. I was really trying not to use pen for this one and I completely forgot to erase the pencil lines that I've done!! *slaps forhead* Thankfully that's actually fixable still! Thanks for pointint that out to me!
Do you think the flowers on her head are too close in color to the background? It looks alot different in real life than it does scanned in. I mean I can see the differences, but that's because I've been looking at the thing for hours. What do you think? Should that be touched up as well?
Genki
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You could probably pull some of the dark violet from the poof on her head down to the dangling petals. That would fix any similarities to the background. Other than that the flowers on her head get much darker than the background does so they're fine, I'm afraid if they get any darker it may start to mix with her hair.
I haven't done watercolor in so long I'm a bit jealous as what you've achieved here. Now-a-days I'm painting with words
Erik
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You mean make the petals along her face a little more violet? That's actually not a bad idea. I know I was trying to make some light patterns of purple throughout the background but it got ugly and I had to blend it into the pink again.
Thanks alot for the suggestion! There's a convention coming up soon. I'll try work on it before that thing starts.
Genki
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Are you going to Megacon? I'll try to be there, but not having a car puts a damper on any long distance travel. Hope to see you there
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GRRRR!!!
No *sob* I just got back to mpls yesterday. School starts monday and I think MegaCon is...when, febuary or something like that? I might be able to go to it over the summer though *crosses fingers*
Genki
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Hehe, Megacon sucks anyway 
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Oooh wizardcon? That one sounds pretty good!
Genki
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Ooo...lovely details and patterns in the dress. Looks fantastic!
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Thank you! I'd actually like to do some more water art like this. I may not be able to make more as detail oriented as this one, but I really want to push for more patterns and textures and stuff. 'Specially after seeing what you and Heather did this semester!
You two inspire me ^_^
Genki
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woooooow this turned out really nice! I think this is probably one of the best peices you've done and I'm not just saying that cause I'm a Japanophile xD
The face is just beautiful, and the patterns on the kimono are awesome. She looks very beautiful and mysterious, like she has that modesty of youth but at the same time begs for your interest.
Maiko's are so darn cute~
Awesome job, Genki! I add to my faves now lol
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Thank you so very much for the kind words!! Seeing some of the stuff you and a couple others I watch have really been making me want to push myself for some more detailed art and more experimenting with traditional media, something I haven't been able to do for awhile.
Oh and thanks for the favorite too, lol!
Genki
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Love the kimono and obi colors. Wonderful piece!
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Thank you very much!
Genki
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It turned out beautifully! I really like how the hair and face turned out, especially. Awesome work.
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yay!! Thanks alot!!
So girl, how's the permanent break going for ya?
Genki
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Hey, you! 
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Things have been busy, but good. I actually had to take off work a couple weeks early just so I could see friends. It was really tiring me out, but I at least got one good paycheck out of it, lol! I'm going to miss being here to be honest, but I'm itching for class to get back in gear. One more semester to knock off, and one semester closer to graduation, LOL
Genki
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LOL!
It's cool, I'm super glad it's liked, because I had a super good time making it, LOL!!
Genki
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