Belated New Year Greeting and Hummingbird Profile

New Year 2013, a photo by Fergiemoto on Flickr.  (click on photo to enlarge)

I’m popping in to wish you all a belated Happy New Year.  (At least it’s still January!)  I haven’t posted for a while, but I’ve really appreciated your visits, comments and well wishes on my blog and by email.  Healing in general is slow, and even slower when there are already existing health issues.

This is my Japanese New Year postcard for 2013.  I have been creating these postcards, called “nengajo” for the last few years, and with my own twist!  (Click here to see my nengajo from last year.)  In Japan, these cards are traditionally delivered on January 1st, but there is no mail delivery in the United States on that day, so my cards arrive after the 1st.

• Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu 明けましておめでとうございます – Happy New Year!
• Nengajo 年賀状 – Japanese New Year’s card
• Etegami 絵手紙 – Japanese word meaning picture letter/message, traditionally done in a postcard size meant to be mailed
• Hachidori  ハチドリ – Hummingbird

This is an image of a female Rufous Hummingbird, which I created from a photo I took last summer.  Hummingbirds have different symbolisms in different countries, but the more common ones I’ve found are the following:

“Tiniest of all birds, the hummingbird is quite spectacular.  It is the only bird that can come to a dead stop in mid-air.  It can hover, fly backwards, forwards, up and down.

A common symbolism of the hummingbird is joy.  It also symbolizes powerful energy, the ability to accomplish the seemingly impossible, and flexibility in life circumstances.  They are reminders that life is meant to be savored.  When in the air, their wings are continually in motion, which symbolizes tirelessness and perseverance.  The hummingbird wings move in the pattern of the infinity symbol (figure 8) and are often thought to symbolize eternity and everlasting life.”

 Wishing you a happy new year full of JOY! 

Linking up with:
NATURE NOTES
WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY
BIRD D’POT

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Related postings:

• https://creativityaroused.wordpress.com/2012/09/07/i-challenge-impressive/
• https://creativityaroused.wordpress.com/2012/08/14/g-challenge-graceful/
• https://creativityaroused.wordpress.com/2011/12/31/new-year-2012-greetings/

E! Challenge: Etegami – Wisdom

Etegami – Wisdom, a photomanipulation by Fergiemoto on Flickr.  (Click on image to enlarge).
Linking up with Creative Exchange and  Our World Tuesday.

>>:::<<
Organic antique
Increasing its worth with age
Wisdom’s patina
>>:::<<

I’m posting this for the “E” Challenge by Frizztext (“E” is for Etegami).

Old tree & canyon —> Age —> Wisdom —> Patina (figurative) —> Increases value

The original photo used for this photomanipulation was taken at Dead Horse Point State Park in Southeastern Utah, USA, near Canyonlands National Park.  The discovermoab website states that “The view from Dead Horse Point is one of the most photographed scenic vistas in the world,” the panorama of the Colorado River Canyon.

Etegami 絵手紙 – Japanese word meaning picture letter/message, traditionally done in a postcard size meant to be mailed.

Related articles:

• A-Z Archive: E Challenge – flickrcomments.wordpress.com
• Creating My First Digital Etegami and Hanko
• Ocean Etegami
• Etegami – Vanity
• Etegami – Gratitude
• Etegami – Celebrate
• New Year 2012 Greetings

New Year 2012 Greetings

New Year 2012, a photomanipulation by Fergiemoto on Flickr.  (click on image to enlarge).

>>:::<<
Dragonfly whispers
Softly hug inviting hearts.
Enlightened vision
>>:::<<

I have been creating Japanese New Years postcards called “nengajo” (with my own twist!) for the last few years.  In Japan, these cards are traditionally delivered on January 1st, but there is no mail delivery in the United States on that day, so my cards arrive after the 1st.  This image is my nengajo for 2012.  (See my other blog, Ichigo Ichie, for another of my new year 2012 images and haiku.)

• Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu 明けましておめでとうございます – Happy New Year!
• Nengajo 年賀状 – Japanese New Year’s card
• Etegami 絵手紙 – Japanese word meaning picture letter/message, traditionally done in a postcard size meant to be mailed
• Tonboトンボ – Dragonfly

The dragonfly in the image was one with quite a personality.  It warmed up to me very quickly and was very trusting.  It had no problem letting me touch its wings and body, many times, and even gave me several nice poses for the camera!  I don’t know what the scientific explanation for this behavior is, but it was so refreshing that I had to use one of the photos for my nengajo.  I used Photoshop Elements to give the original photo more of a woodblock print look.

Meaning of dragonfly in Japan:

“In Japanese culture, dragonflies are considered as a symbol of strength, happiness and courage. They are often mentioned in Japanese literature and art, especially haiku…..In Japanese paintings, dragonflies represent new light and joy.  Dragonflies help you see through your illusions and allow your own light to shine in a new vision. They remind us to pay attention to our deeper thoughts and desires…..A dragonfly lives a very short life and it tries to live to the fullest with what it has.”  (http://www.buzzle.com/articles/what-does-a-dragonfly-symbolize.html)

Have a happy and enlightening new year!

Weekly Photo Challenge: Between

Etegami – Joy, a photo by Fergiemoto on Flickr.  (click on image to enlarge).
Also linking up with 12 Days of Textures, World Bird Wednesday  and Camera Critters

>>:::<<
Between this and that
Which one should I choose?
Rejoice!  I get both!
>>:::<<

I created this image last night to post on my other blog.  I had a different topic in mind for it, but it applies to this week’s photo challenge as well.  I will still post the same image on my other blog, but with a different haiku.

• Etegami 絵手紙 – Japanese word meaning picture letter/message, traditionally done in a postcard size meant to be mailed.
• Yorokobi 喜び – Joy

Wishing everyone joy and happiness.  Happy Holidays!!

Etegami – Celebrate

Etegami – Celebrate, a photomanipulation by Fergiemoto on Flickr.  (click on image to enlarge)
Also linking up with Illustration Friday and Texture Tuesday

“True friends and family will hold your hand in a hurricane to keep you from drifting away”.  ~ Fergiemoto

I came up with this quote and image yesterday, and coincidentally, Frizztext posted a cute story today about sea otters that hold each other’s hands while they’re sleeping to prevent the loved one from drifting away.  Check it out.

Etegami – Gratitude

Etegami – Gratitude, a photomanipulation by Fergiemoto on Flickr.  (click on image to enlarge)
Also linking up with Illustration Friday’s topic of “Round” and Texture Tuesday’s topic of “Gratitude”

>>:::<<
Tender hearts forward
sweet cocktails of gratitude.
Endless thanksgiving!
>>:::<<

I hope everyone who celebrated Thanksgiving had a great one.  Also, thank you to those who follow my blog, provide “likes” and kind comments, or stop by for a visit.  All are appreciated.

Etegami – Vanity

Etegami – Anemone, a photo by Fergiemoto on Flickr.  (click on photo to enlarge)
Also linking up with Illustration Friday’s topic of Vanity.

>>:::<<
Autumn has risen
I’m still determined to shine.
Blooming vanity
>>:::<<

Etegami 絵手紙 – Japanese word meaning picture letter/message, traditionally done in a postcard size meant to be mailed.

Ocean Etegami

Ocean Etegami, a photomanipulation by Fergiemoto on Flickr.  (click on photo to enlarge)

>>:::<<
Ocean rainbow forms
Sashimi aquarium.
Rejuvination!
>>:::<<

Etegami 絵手紙 – Japanese word meaning picture letter/message, traditionally done in a postcard size meant to be mailed.
Sashimi 刺身- A Japanese dish of very thinly sliced fresh raw fish, traditionally served with soy sauce and wasabi.

I’m attempting to give my etegami more of a watercolor look – still need more practice. (See my original post on digital etegami.)  

Creating My First Digital “Etegami” and “Hanko”

Etegami – Dragonfly, a photo by Fergiemoto on Flickr.
(click on photo to enlarge)
Also linking up with Illustration Friday’s topic of Fuel. “Food = Fuel”  “Creative Juices = Fuel”

>>:::<<

Crimson wraps and gleaming beds

Meditate on autumn beds

Awaiting fast food!

>>:::<<

I recently came across a blog called Dosankodebbie’s Etegami Notebook that really intrigued me and has inspired some creative juices to flow in a slightly different direction.  It involves another form of traditional Japanese art called “etegami”.  Etegami is a Japanese word which means picture message/letter, which are “simple drawings accompanied by a few apt words.”  According to Dosankodebbie, the blog author, the size is generally 10cm by 14cm (roughly 4 inches by 6 inches).  There needs to be both an image and words, and be mailable, like a postcard.  There are few rules for etegami, which are traditionally done by hand.  I have broken a rule already by producing a digital adaptation of etegami…..but…..I’m pursuing new creative avenues!  If I size my image to 4×6 and print it, it would then be mailable.  I have made many greetings cards from my photos and images in the past and mailed them.

Perusing her blog even more, I found that she has carved her own personalized Japanese hanko stamps that she uses on her artwork (click here).  A hanko is a name stamp, or a name seal, which is pressed into a document or, in this case, artwork in red ink.  It is a way to sign your name.