I was born and raised in Kyoto, Japan, and lived in Europe, the Middle East and now in Canada. I studied ethnology at the Freie Universitaet Berlin, Germany.

When I lived in Kuwait, I attended - almost by chance - a watercolour painting class.  I liked the feel of the brush in my hand remembering Japanese calligraphy lessons in my childhood.  Since then, I taught myself through practice and later by visiting workshops with Charles Reid, Ken Howard, Alvaro Castagnet, Herman Pekel and others. I moved to Nova Scotia, Canada, where I fortunately found regular life drawing sessions, and in Ottawa as well, where I live now.

I love drawing, especially figure drawing which has gradually led me to figure painting. I try to capture fleeting, yet intense and beautiful moments of figures.  I continue drawing and painting with great joy.

I am a signature member of Transparent Watercolor Society of America, Watercolor West, Pennsylvania Watercolor Society, Louisiana Watercolor Society, and an elected member of Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour.

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Selected Awards:

  • Merit Award, Louisiana Watercolor Society, 49th International Exhibition, 2019

  • Edgar A. Whitney Memorial Award, Transparent Watercolor Society of America, 42nd National Exhibition, 2018

  • First Prize Award, Pennsylvania Watercolor Society, Member’s Online Show, 2018

  • Weimer Congemi Memorial Award, Louisiana Watercolor Society, 48th International Exhibition, 2018

  • California Watercolor Association Reciprocal Award, Watercolor West, 49th Watercolor West
    International Juried Exhibition, 2017

  • Excellence in Figure Award, Pennsylvania Watercolor Society, 38th International Juried Exhibition, 2017

  • The Heinz Jordan Canson Award, Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour, Open Water 2016, The 91st Annual Open Juried Exhibition of the CSPWC/SCPA, 2016

  • American Frame Award, Louisiana Watercolor Society, 45th International Exhibition, 2015

Published:

  • Splash 19: Illusion of Light, North Light Books, 2018

  • Splash 18: Value / Light + Dark, North Light Books, 2017

  • Southwast Art Magazine, July 2017