Overnight rain has created the atmosphere so tranquil on the first morning of October..  Beginning of the new month and the new season.  The Stanley Market show in the early September seems to be a so far away memory already.  I thank you everyone who came to support my last summer show of 2019.  The show was a success and memorable,  uniquely.   During the show packing up, an enormous size storm passed through over 'my tent" (Yes, it looked that way!) and Tom and I held onto our dear life. I had never been soaked that much while holding the one tent leg with my entire weight and full strength protecting from the whole tent being blown away.  I almost wished I could video tape myself for the record!  We and the tent were spared, thankfully.   As a little note I am currently taking screen printmaking class and here is my sketch, tracing to a mylar for each color selection.  I want to experiment something I cannot do on my normal plexiglass plate, more simple drawing like a premature element.  Tonight we will be printing for the first time.  Anxiously prepping things to bring for the class. Something new is always uplifting my creative spirit.  Happy October to everyone.  Life is good. 

Labor Day Weekend, already. "'No more white clothings" my friend Nancy used to say. It is a transitional month for many and myself.  I have harvested my basil plants a few days ago and made a few jars of pesto source. I see a bunch of crabapples across the street from my living room window, tempting to harvest those too for jerry or a big pie even. My husband school has began too last week and I surely had a hallelujah moment! As for my printmaking world, my last summer2019 show, Stanley Arts Festival, will be next weekend and I am so ready.  After the show, I must be applying for a big juried show for MoPrint 2020 at Arvada Center.  I am already nervous about this one since I really want to get in. I see more than "normal" number of printmakers at the ASLD studio working hard to produce good prints for this same competitive show. Before "lovely October" September will be busy itself for serving us many bridges, creating safe and happy passages for the good rest of the year to welcome.  Life is good, keep on printing!

​The first year at Cherry Creek Art Festival over the past Fourth of July weekend was memorable in so many ways.  It was certainly a dream come true show and having my own tent on the Second Avenue was almost unreal for the three days.  As I had been a faithful patron of the show telling myself "someday" word all these years, when that someday really arrived to my life, my excitement was unmeasurable.   The show ended with a big success and now I am really hoping to be accepted again next year, as attending a two-consecutive year means an even higher achievement for me. My last summer show of 2019 is approaching in a month at Stanley Art Festival. This is my second consecutive year show and feel so hopeful.  The festival is relatively new and small but the crowd last year was purely enthusiastic and genuine.  One more to go, Mami!  Life is good and keep on printing!
P.S.  I have been interviewed by Voyage Denver lately and the article is now up.  Please visit at:  http://voyagedenver.com/interview/conversations-inspiring-mami-yamamoto/

First my sincere gratitudes for everyone who came to my show at this year Summer Art Market. I had another very successful show and thank you immensely for your continuation of support.  Three and a half weeks almost have passed and now I am heading out to my first time show at Cherry Creek Art Festival here in Denver. As it had been one of my goals to be accepted to this show, the preparation for the show has been a very nervous process.  So being selected for its show ad like this image on this month Moutain Living has been such a stunning reward and holding the actual magazine in my hands was so surreal. Step by step, I feel the positive confirmation on my new path, while it may be so subtle to everyone else.
I am ready again for the show and will do my best. Happy 4th to everyone!  

May Day, May Day! Folks, it's May Day today. 
It is also the very first day of the new Japanese imperial rein newly named Reiwa, after the Heisei Emperor Akihito abdicated yesterday.  Oh, I am back to Denver now by the way after the unimaginably packed most three and a half week visit in Japan.  My sincere apology for skipping the blog for April due to this same reason.  The nationally symbolic cherry blossoms season fortunately extended this year because of the unusually cold spring weather that covered all over Japan.  Our dear friends in Tokyo prepared the most delightful picnic lunch for us and we indulged the cheerful cherry blossom viewing lunch on the lawn of the Tokyo Garden Art Museum after we viewed the exhibition that Tom had looked forward. Traveling to Ise Shrine was a memorable one and we enjoyed the spiritual tree hugging "rituals" with enormously grown cedar trees that accentuate the shrine property. I was also grateful to be able to celebrate my mother's 86th birthday with her in Osaka.  She still loves being "colorful" and that is the way I love about her. Visiting Japan certainly an inspirational in so many ways no matter how many time I visit.  The root of myself begins to giggle when I step in the land.  I know these people, I know these color and shapes, I know this scent.  I understand this and I get this...A little over a moth to go to my kickoff show, Summer Art Market 2019.  I am in and keep on printing!
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Happy Lunar New Year!  Today by accident I learned that it is LUNAR Year not LUNATIC year! How funny. At least I began with a big laugh! I had an eventful weekend, a popup show reception  at Slo Curio in the Rino district here in Denver. G, the owner of this lovely boutique gallery, , opened just the Fall of 2018, orchestrated the show so beautifully with her precise aesthetics. The First Friday Art Walk crowd filled the lively space and the conversation and laughter continued through the late evening.  My sincere gratitude to G and Ryan. Oh one more,  I have one more announcement to share.  Yes, I FINAlLY got accepted by Cherry Creek Art Festival! Wohoo!  It seems to be that the most positively "lunatic" New Year has just began after all and I am so ready for the occupied studio time! Keep on printing!
 

Happy New Year and happy 2019!  Whew, what a eventful holiday season it was! Gatherings with all kind faces over tasteful meals are always how I remember my holidays and as usual I am glad to be over too.  I am heading back to the studio tomorrow for the first day this year and continue to create my colorful world to bring hopefully to multiple shows this year again.  Getting into a show is a costly process and needs a grade size good luck but once you are accepted to the show, it is all your show, do your best to create your own universe under a 10' x 10' "mobile gallery."  A kind invitation from a new boutique gallery in the Rino district, Slo Curio, for a pop up show in February is  a certainly exciting event to fulfill early this year.  My sincere commitment to this printmaking world is just as same as the one I had four years ago, believing in what I do with my hands, senses, and visions. Keep on printing!

First of the 2018's last month.  I receive countless holiday show &sale invitations  everyday through e-mail, instagram, and "analog" mail. This social media society certainly has helped the small arts/crafts markets to be much more recognizable entities in a larger market and so many people here in Colorado are so conscious about supporting these small entities with a pride. While I am not quite in the loop of this show/sale market right now, I have been creating new prints steadily in the printing studio since the end of the last summer show.  Rebuilding my good work inventory for the shows in 2019 is the sole  focus of my everyday now.  I sincerely thank you everyone for your genuine support this year. I feel so comfortable with where I am now and I will be continuously printing as long as I am feeling this way. Life is good, keep on printing.  And happy holidays!