Serenity

Kazuyuki Ohtsu's tranquil landscapes of the Japanese countryside come alive with crystalline color and fine detail. The woodblock prints feature neatly raked stone gardens, cherry trees in bloom, and views of Mt. Fuji. Buildings and cats may appear as well, but people rarely do. After serving as a printmaker's assistant for 40 years, Ohtsu began his own artistic career at age 62. Working in the sAsaku hanga (creative prints) tradition, he handles every step of the process: painting the original pictures, carving the woodblocks, and printing the images. Twelve of Ohtsu's harmonious artworks, reflecting the changing seasons, are reproduced in this calendar.