Shoji . 36x57 inches . 2010

The first of my Gen Kai series. :o) This piece is done on four separate 12x36 inch canvases.





1. natural lighting (near a sunny window)
2. artificial lighting (regular interior lighting)
3. combined uv and artificial lighting
4. uv lighting only (with a black light)
5. no light (glow in the dark)

Oh, Gen Kai. :o)

This would be my first white painting. I'd been wanting to do something all white for a long time.

Before the fire burned down the entire front room of the restaurant, there had been a shoji window on this exact wall for decades. The head sushi chef mentioned this to me when we were there to hang the art, but of course I remembered. It was my inspiration for making this piece. Now there are shoji windows on both sides of the lobby. :o) (I didn't get a picture of the one facing the outside.) Also, the lobby area tends to get a bit dark (and romantic) at night, so I wanted something to brighten it up. It kind of feels like an outdoor space now. Maybe that's because I adorned their wall with a gigantic moon.

I've been calling these my "Japanese Fusion paintings" although Colin reminds me that in all likelihood I will make more like them outside of this series.

I have one more to show you this week, and then a few others later on. Make sure to stop by Gen Kai in Dana Point to see them in person!

Gen Kai has really great lunch specials and it's super crowded on weekends. They even had a sake tasting last Friday that I desperately wish I could have attended. Very happy they're back. :o)



Gen Kai Japanese Restaurant
34143 Pacific Coast Hwy 
Dana PointCA 92629 

(949) 240-2004

5 comments:

Xenotees said...

Wow, Shayla- you are an inspiration! Love your new work!

Anonymous said...

Fun direction, Shayla!

Shayla Maddox said...

thank you both! :o)

HMH said...

I loved the one you posted before the fire. I couldn't imagine what you could possibly do to match that. But, you have. It's beautiful. Nice work.

Shayla Maddox said...

thank you very much!