Original sumi ink on watercolor paper

Years after planting the Japanese persimmon tree at my parents’ home, they were finally able to enjoy the fruit. What fascinated me beyond the exceptional taste of ripe, fresh persimmons, was the leaves that came along with the fruit. They looked like wings!

Around this time I was nose deep into studying Chinese ink painting and wanted to apply some principles, primarily the expressive potential of black ink, to my painting so I intentionally stayed away from color for a season.