花文字で描くお名前「香琳」さん・色紙。

About My Hanamoji Artwork for “仙”

This artwork was shown at the 2nd Hanamoji Exhibition, which was held in Tokyo in 2023.

When I received the theme character “仙” (sen, meaning “hermit” or “spirit”), I wanted to make the piece more colorful and elegant. So I decided to include a flower cart in the design.

The flower cart is a traditional and graceful motif in Japan. It often includes many kinds of seasonal flowers, so it usually needs a certain amount of space on the paper. For this artwork, I used a large shikishi (colored paper board), which gave me enough room. Also, the character “仙” does not have many strokes, so I thought I could balance the character and the flower cart nicely. That’s why I decided to take on this challenge.

On top of the flower cart, I drew various flowers from different seasons, such as roses, nadeshiko (pinks), kikyo (balloon flowers), and plum blossoms. I also added asanoha (hemp leaf pattern) and bells to make the whole design feel more lively and decorative. At the very top, I placed a small uguisu (Japanese bush warbler), which brought a cute and playful feeling to the piece. Thanks to these details, I think the character “仙” became more dynamic and beautiful—just right for an exhibition.

At the Hanamoji Sommelier Association, we often include traditional Japanese patterns in our artworks. This piece is one of them. By using the flower cart, a lucky and elegant motif, I hoped to share happiness with the people who visited the exhibition.

Traditional wagara (Japanese patterns) have a quiet beauty and warmth that can heal and comfort people. I hope this artwork helps to share that charm and brings a little joy to everyone who sees it.