Fuki Statement

My latest series of prints is based on a neighborhood patch of fuki (foo-key), a vigorous perennial plant with very large leaves.  Fuki is the Japanese name of Petasites japonica, sometimes called butterbur or sweet coltsfoot. I walk by the plant colony daily during its growing season, watching its development and taking photos with an eye to intriguing and complex compositions. The foliage reminds me of lotus leaves, the inspiration for so many Chinese and Japanese literati painters. As I near the end of this series, I’m concentrating on images of the leaves wilting and dying back.