Edo Japanese Steakhouse, in Port Chester, NY commissioned me to create the centerpiece for their dining room.  Much of my work is strongly influenced by a Japanese aesthetic, so I was thrilled at the opportunity to contribute artistically to this legendary restaurant.  The space the painting would occupy was large, very large, so I knew this painting had to make a statement.  After much research, I decided to use a character from Japanese Kabuki theater, Kamakura Gongoro Kagemasa, from the play Shibaraku.  The costume, makeup, fan and sword hilt or tsuka are all taken directly from the character himself.  I used a dramatic pose in which the fan is held back in the right hand as the tsuka sweeps before him, scattering maple leaves and blossoms throughout the composition.  I love the finished piece and am honored to be part of the generations of customers who have enjoyed it over the years.

The original painting measures 24' x 7', acrylic on canvas.