Shoosty East West 2023

Shoosty East West 2023

“WE HAVE FOUND A WAY TO NATURE AGAIN, IT LIES THROUGH JAPAN. NO LONGER DOES THE LIVING ART OF OUR TIME TAKE ITS NURTURE FROM PAST STYLES, NO LONGER DOES IT SEEK ITS MODELS IN THE PATTERN BOOK OF THE RENAISSANCE OR THE ROCOCO...

THE WONDERFUL ART OF JAPAN OFFERS A RARE COBINATION OF UNTARNISHED NATURAL FRESHNESS WITH THE MOST REFINED DECOARATIVE TASTE AND THE HIGHEST STYLISIC ASSURANCE: LET US BE GRATEFUL TO IT FOR SHOWING US THE RIGHT PATH TO FOLLOW AND FOR OPENING THE EYES OF THOSE THAT HAVE EYES TO SEE.” AEMIL FENDLER 1897

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Shoosty - 2023 Copyright Shooster Publishing Makers of Fine Art Books www.shoostyandco.com 441 South State Road 7 Margate, Florida 33068 954-537-1200

me an electric blanket. That worked great. I also I turn 65 years old this year. For my birthday I had Kerosene heater, but they are problematic. was given a card written in Japanese. I could not They only radiate a few feet; you must keep a read it; Google Translate could. It said You Go window open. Did I mention it was zero deTo Japan! grees? The funny thing is that you get used to the cold once you have thermal underwear and I was floored. Diane would come with me for a heating blanket. two weeks to help get me started, and Jason, my son, and his wife would join us during the Once I figured that out, I had both studios at the first two weeks. Diane could not go, so it was artist residency until midnight, and I used them just Jason, Anna, and I for two weeks. Jason was the whole day. My ten days were like twenty at in charge. He kept us very busy. We must have the rate I was going. walked 20,000 plus steps daily: walking tours, Subways, constant walking. Near the end of two What I learned is that woodblock printing is not weeks, we went to a Chinese foot massage. That for me. I like carving wood, but I wouldn't say fixed everything!

I like the printing results or losing control. The whole exercise needs to be faster for my modern The only thing I planned for my trip was an art- techniques. I can create millions of colors on my ist residency in Woodblock Printing. The rest of iPad Pro and print them exquisitely with perfect the trip, I had no plans, no hotels, no planning graduations and more. I even coined a term for or assistance. I was going to figure things out on this: Chromatic Fusionism. The science of art my own. mixed with humanity.

It worked out well except for Yamanashi District, Kofu. I choose a hotel on a main road far from the city center. I fixed that the next day, moving downtown. I chose this place because it said I would get access to Mount Fuji. What I was looking for was to paint the mountain. I need my perspective. Kofu is still far from Fuji. I had to take a bus. What I didn't expect was how crowded it was. Crazy!

Because I was in the region, I was also offered a trip to Thailand, specifically to Pai. Pai is 762, which curves up the mountain from Chaing Mai in the country's northwest corner. Pai is a terrific place with young Europeans playing music and living large for little.

One of the highlights was the Florida-Wakayama Cultural Alliance. We met top people in the association, had a fine lunch, and did a ceramic Plus, worse, it turns out the city is depressed. workshop with the vice president. We will be 80% of the stores never open. Japan is overrun forever grateful for that event. At the end of my with people, and this zone is depressed. I made trip, I wanted an art show; instead, I was allowed the best of it. I spent a few days at the Kofu to spend time with a high school class.

Takade Shrine. It was perfect for painting, uncrowded with lots of traditional elements.

I also loved Tokyo and spending an afternoon with the Urban Sketchers. That group is so dedThe other thing I should have prepared for was icated they are drawing and constantly making the traditional Japanese house at the woodblock friendships. residency in Karuizawa. It was much colder, located about 1 mile from a ski resort. I didn't know that traditional homes have no insulation and no heat! It was just about 0 Celsius or 32 degrees Fahrenheit. It was freezing! I went to bed that night with all my clothing and jackets.

It was still tricky. The next day, I planned to get a proper sleeping bag or a hotel. The school gave 3

SHOOSTY - 2023 NAKANOSHIMA MUSEUM OF ART, OSAKA, JAPAN 6 7 8 8

Purple Dragon Gypsy Jazz Japan Shoosty Bugs, Osaka Museum Dynastinae Sracabaeidae

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SHINGEN MUSEUM 48 49 50 52

OSAKA CASTLE 11 12 14 15 16 17

Osaka Castle Wall Nakamura’s Bar The Best Sushi Kaiyodo Figure Museum Jason with the Band Haiku / Poetry

WAKAYAMA, JAPAN HIROSHIMA, JAPAN PEACE DRAGON 22 23

The Mac Bar Jazz Rokudenashi

MIYAJIMA, JAPAN 24

Iconic Tori Gate

KYOTO, JAPAN 26 26 27 28

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Parade of the Ages Stephen at the Parade of Ages Parage of the Ages Kowadarski

HOZUGAWA KYOTO

Rag Live Spot Rag Live Spot 2

NARA, THE OLDEST CAPITAL 33

WellSpring V1

NARA DEER PARK SHRINE 35 36

Genshen Nara Lake

NARA CRAFT MUSEUM 38

Mask Painting

OWNER OPERATED STORES JAPANESE MOLA ARTISTS KOFU, YAMINASHI, JAPAN 43

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Komainu

The Red Bridge Tori Gate in the Rain Samurai Uniform Traditional Home Yokihiro Isso & Band FuJiSan with Stamps

FUJISAN 53

FujiSan

HAKONE 54 55

Hakone Vista Fu-Ji-San

KARUIZAWA, JAPAN 56 Karuizawa Mokohanga Woodblock Printing School 61 Longhorn Beetle Woodblock 62 Longhorn Beetle Woodblock Prints 65 Terry Mckenna Works 66 Woodblock Peace Dragon 67 Woodblock Print Peace Dragon 69 Woodblock Print Custom Painting 69 Orange Bridge Woodblock Print 70 The Mad Scientist Woodblock 70 Trees Woodblock

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MOTOSOTO CASTLE AND THE U-KIYO MUSEUM The Black Castle Paper Making, Echizen

WAKAYAMA 74

Keifu High School Teaching

TOKYO 76

Hachiko

TOKYO CITY VIEW 80 81 81

Stephen and Golow Golow Kajigaya Stephen by Golow

NATIONAL TOKYO

HISTORY

MUSEUM,

82 Dinosaurs Blue/Green 83 Dinosaurs Red 84 Koko’s Tokyo 85 Abby Road, Wakayama 86 Kabuki Maked Singers with Dragon playing Harmonic

87 89 93

Komainu Protecting the Band Satin Doll Dragon Fountain

140 Jason Shooster 140 Madame Machine 141 Dark Star Studio

CHAING MAI, THAILAND 94 94 96 96 97 97 100 101 102 104 105 105

Sanggadee Exhibition in Nature Pairie Pook’s Campfire Ganesh with the Band Campfire Before Night Campfire at Night Seahorse God with Whale and Band Common Grounds Jason’s Tattoo Ink Therapy Three Girls Ganesh in an Ink Storm

THE SPIRIT BAR 106 CC as a Thai Queen 107 CC as a Caphlopod 107 Garuda having a Beer as the Dragons Guard his Godly body 108 Learning Thai Myths of Thailand 109 Rabbit Riding Seahorse 110 10 Rai Sunset 110 Pixel Art Portrait 111 DJ Waben 112 Jazz House 112 The Gods Band 112 White Jesus 113 Madame Machine / Jazz House 114 Marc Hastenteufel Photos 116 The Dancers 117 The Dancers Garudah and Naga 118 Pai Sketch 119 Music Stencils 120 Grateful Dead Tapestry 122 Sunset in Pai 122 Katie Dancing 123 Two Huts at Night 124 Chang 127 Jazz House Painting 128 Ganesh with Gypsy Guitar 129 Naga Confronts with a Gypsy Guitarist 131 The Colors of Thailand 132 Love Fiasco 133 Supermoon 134 Sarena and Jason 135 Magnifying Glass 136 Various Sketches 140 Thorbjørn Kaas 140 Mikkel Hermansen

BAAN PITTALEW ART GALLERY 142 144 144 145 146 146 147 147 150 151 151 152 154 155 156 157

THE FIRE DANCERS Chaing Mai Jason with Mustache Guitar Four Humble Men Boy Blues Bar Blues Beyond Borders Boy Blues Bar 2 Blues Beyond Borders 2 Harmonic Player Jason Thorbjørn Kaas Thapae East Chaing Mai Temple God Muscian Hands Mountain Supermoon Khun Kae’s Juice Bar

THAI MODIFED TEMPLE ART 158 158 159 159 160 161 162 162 163 164

Thai Procession with Gypsy Guitar Violin Temple French Horn Machine Praying to the Gypsy Jazz God Flying Elephant and Gypsy Guitar Thai Godess Blessing a Gypsy Guitar The Scribe Clarinet Conjuring a Flying Elephant Servant holding Guitar and Fiddle Thai Angels Blessing Music

BACK HOME 168 Dedicated to You 169 All The Jazz

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Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka, Japan

DRAGON ON SIX FUSUMA PAPER PANELS NAKANOSHIMA MUSEUM OF ART, OSAKA NAGASAWA ROSETS 1786

THE TRICK TO LEARNING HOW TO MAKE A DRAGON IS TO FIND A GOOD MODEL.

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Purple Dragon

, WATERCOLOR ON PAPER, SHOOSTY 2023

Gypsy Jazz Japan GYPSY JAZZ TRIO, 10-14-2023, RASTRO 845, OSAKA, JAPAN DIGITAL INK, 12” X 12”, SHOOSTY 2023

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clockwise, Dynastinae Scarabaeidae, Water Color on Paper, Shoosty, 2023 UnCommon Fly, 50” x 50”, 18 mm silk twill Megascolia of Mariupol, 50” x 50”, 18 mm silk twill

Shoosty Bugs, Osaka Museum

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Dynastinae Sracabaeidae

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Osaka Castle

ANNA AND JASON SHOOSTER

VARIOUS VIEWS OF OSAKA CASTLE

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OSAKA CASTLE MANHOLE COVER

Osaka Castle Wall

VARIOUS VIEWS OF OSAKA CASTLE

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Nakamura’s Bar

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Sushi Dokoro Miyamoto JAPAN, 556-0016 OSAKA, NANIWA WARD, MOTOMACHI, 2 CHOME−4−15

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Kaiyodo Figure Museum

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Gypsy Jazz Meet-Up Osaka

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Haiku / Poetry

OLD POND FROG JUMPING IN SOUND OF WATER

GOOGLE TRANSLATE CAN READ PHOTOS.

The Miracle of Google Translate!

I can’t speak a word of Japanese. Luckily, I met some people thta could speak English. I learned that the Asian people want to learn English but they have thier hands full with three written languages, Hirokami, Katana, and Chinese. The first two have 46 syllables each. The Chinese has 3,000 symbols. Meanwhile Google translate can read images, like menues and monuments, as well as allow me to speak English and share either written or spoken Japanese. I became very reliant on my phone for this reason.

I met a fellow that is part of the Hiaku society. He taught me my first Haiku, an old and fmaous one. I used Google translate to understand him.

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Wakayama, Japan

We were invited as guests of the Florida Wakayama Cultural Alliance. We met the presient at her expansive fruit stand, our translator Maki, and the vice president, at his ceramics studio where we got to each make a piece of pottery. Afterward we are brought to the #1 ramen resturant in Japan.

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ANNA

JASON

STEVE

ANNA

JASON

STEVE

THE #1 RAMEN RESTURANT IN JAPAN

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Hiroshima, Japan

Peace Dragon INSIDE OF PEACE PARK WHERE THE NUCLEAR BOMB DETONATED 14” X 19” INK ON WATERCOLOR PAPER, SHOOSTY, 2023. CREATED

DURING WW2. THE DRAGON HOLDS A NUCLEAR BOMB IN ITS CLAWS AND THE WINGS A FULL OF BOMBS. THE TORI GATE ON THE TOP LEFT HAS A PEACE SIGN HANGING OFF OF IT, MARRYING EASTERN AND WESTERN CULTURE. ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT ARE TWO PEOPLE TRYING TO PUT THE GENIE BACK IN THE BOTTLE.

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THE ONLY BUILDING THAT SUSTAINED THE NUCLEAR BOMB AND KEPT STANDING

HOROSHIMA PEACE PARK, HOROSHIMA, JAPAN

JASON AND STEPHEN AT THE TRAIN

GROUND ZERO FOR THE NUCLEAR BOMB. IT DETONATED 1,000 FEET ABOVE THIS SPOT.

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12” X 12”, INK ON PAPER, SHOOSTY 2023

The Mac Bar THE MAC BAR IN HIROSHIMA HAS A WALL FULL OF CD’S. IT IS RUN BY YURI SUZUKI AND HER PARTNER.

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INK ON PAPER, SHOOSTY 2023

Jazz Rokudenashi

RESIN JAZZ SCULPTURES

JASON ADDING TO THE CD COLLECTION

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Miyajima, Japan

Iconic Tori Gate

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TEMPLE DETAIL

12” X 12” INK AND WATERCOLOR ON PAPER, SHOOSTY 2023

TORI GATE

MIYAJIMA DEER PARK

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Kyoto, Japan

Parade of the Ages

Stephen at the Parade of Ages

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Parage of the Ages

INK ON PAPER, 6” X 12”, SHOOSTY 2023

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Hozugawa

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Kowadarski

WHITE WATER EXPERIENCE, 12” X 12” INK ON PAPER, SHOOSTY 2023

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Kyoto

Rag Live Spot

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12” X 12” INK ON PAPER, SHOOSTY 2023

THIS DRAWING IS DESIGNED TO BE TURNED 180 DEGREES.

Rag Live Spot 2

12” X 12” INK ON PAPER, SHOOSTY 2023

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Nara, The Oldest Capital

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PLEIN-AIR PAINTING NARA

WellSpring V1 WET-ON-WET NEON ACRYLIC PAINT ON CANVAS, APX 16” X 20”, SHOOSTY 2023

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Nara Deer Park Shrine 34

Genshen

GENSHEN MEANS WELLSPRING

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Nara Lake

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ACRYLIC ON CANVAS, CHROMATIC PAINTS, APX 16” X 14”, SHOOSTY 2023

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EIGHT OF US, EVERYONE WEARING THIER FINEST OUTFITS, SUITS AND TIES FOR MEN, AND DRESSES FOR WOMEN. AS A TOURIST I HAD FEW CHOICES OF WHAT TO WEAR, BUT NORMALLY A PAINTING CLASS MEANS OLD CLOTHING. WE HAD A FEW PEOPLE MONITORING US, AND A FEW PROVIDING SUPPORT. I WAS TOLD WE ARE TO PAINT TWO COATS OF GREEN AND ONE OF ORANGE FOR THE HAIR AND MOUTH. I HAD NO IDEA WE WERE PAINTING A DIETY. “I SAID, I AM A PAINTER CAN I PAINT IT HOWEVER I WOULD LIKE?”

KIGEITEN - THE GOD OF ART MASTERY

THE RESPONSE WAS NO WAY. YOU CAN’T MAKE ANY CHANGES. AS AN ARTIST I WAS UPSET. AS A GUEST I WAS POLITE AND FOLLOWED THE PROGRAM. IN THE END I REALIZED THIS WAS A CLASS IN CONFORMITY AND PERHAPS SOLEMINITY, TOO BECUASE I CAN’T UNDERSTAND THE RELIGION. ONE OF THE BIGGEST TAKE-A-WAYS I LEARNED FORM MY JAPANESE EXPERIENCE IS HOW NOCE THESE PEOPLE ARE AT EVERY AGE GROUP. I FELT SAFE ALWAYS.

Nara Craft Museum

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Mask Painting

KIGEITEN THE GUARDIAN DEITY OF MASTERY OF THE ARTS AND HAPPINESS, BECUASE WHEN SHIVA, THE SUPREME GOD OF HINDUISM, WAS ENJOYING MUSIC, HE APPEARED FROM HIS HAIRLINE AND GAVE A SPLENDID PERFORMACE. IN JAPAN, THERE IS OLNY ONE AKISHINOJI TEMPLE, AND IT IS ALSO CALLED THE “MUSE OF THE EAST.” WHEN YOU LOOK UP AT ITS APPEARANCE, YOU CAN SENSE ITS EXTRAORDINARY DEEP BEAUTY.

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Owner Operated Stores

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Japanese Mola Artists

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Kofu, Yaminashi, Japan

THE GUARDIAN DOG OF THE TORI GATE.

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Komainu

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The Red Bridge

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TAKADA SHRINE, KOFU

THE TAKADA SHRINE ENTRANCE

THE TAKADA SHRINE ENTRANCE

STEPHEN STANDING WITH ORANGE BRIDGE

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HIROSHIGE - OHASHI BRIDGE IN THE RAIN PRINT POSTER

Tori Gate in the Rain ACRYLIC ON CANVAS, PAINTED DURING A RAINY DAY, A COMMON THEME IN JAPANESE ART HISTOY. I WAS REALLY PLEASED TO SEE THE IMPRESSION OF THE RAIN ON MY PAINTING.

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Shingen Museum

Samurai Uniform

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SHINGEN MUASEUM, KOFU, JAPAN SHOOSTY 2023

Traditional Home SHINGEN MUASEUM, KOFU, JAPAN SHOOSTY 2023

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Yokihiro Isso & Band

12” X 12” INK ON PAPER, SHOOSTY 2023 SAKURAZA, KOFU, JAPAN TRADITIONAL JAPANEESE FLUTE MERGED WITH CONTEMPORARY BEATS. EXCTING MUSIC! AS YOU TURN THE ART THE IMAGE CHANGES. HERE ARE THREE TURNS.

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2

3 50

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Fujisan

MT. FUJI WORLD CULTURAL HERITAGE

FuJiSan with Stamps SHOOSTY 2023

FUJISAN BASE CAMP 4

FUJISAN PEACE MONUMENT BASE CAMP 4 FUJISAN SHRINE

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MOUNT FUJI

FujiSan

FUJISAN, MOUNT FUJI, PHOTO

BY STEPHEN SHOOSTER, 2023

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Hakone

Hakone Vista

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WE TOOK A FERRY AND A GONDOLA TO GET TO THIS HIGH POINT.

Fu-Ji-San

MONKEY GODS TEASE SYLLABLES OUT OF A LOTUS FLOWER (FROM THE BOTTOM UP) FU-JI-SAN (FUJI MOUNTAIN), BETTER KNOWN IN THE WEST AS MOUNT FUJI. SITTING ON

TOP OF THE WORLD IS A BUDDAH WITH MAIDENS SITTING ON CLOUDS. THE BUDDAH IS PLAYING A VIOLIN WHICH IS MY SMALL ADDITION TO THIS ICONIC IMAGE.

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Karuizawa, Japan Karuizawa Mokohanga Woodblock Printing School

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SKETCH DRAWN TO SCALE

TRANSFER PAPER

PREPARE TO CUT

PREPARE TO CUT

CUTTING WOOD

LEARNING CUTTING TECHNIQUES

PRINTING STATION

PAINTING TOOLS

STARCH GLUE

PUSHING A BAREN AGAINST PAPER / TEST PRINT

REGISTERING THE PAPER

PRESSING THE BARON

CUTTING THE BASSWOOD

CUTTING IN PROCESS

CUTTING COMPLETED

INKED BOARD

FIRST PRINT

SHOOSTY BUG

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CUTTING A WOODBLOCK

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LONGHORN BEETLE WOODCUT, BASSWOD, PAINTED WITH CHROMATIC PAINTS WITH HANDMADE PAPER STAMPED WITH CUSTOM SHOOSTY STAMP. 4” X 6”

Longhorn Beetle Woodblock

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Longhorn Beetle Woodblock Prints

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Terry Mckenna Works

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Woodblock Peace Dragon

WOODBLOCK CUT PEACE DRAGON

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Woodblock Print Peace Dragon

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CUTTING A BASSWOOD WOODBLOCK

ORANGE BRIDGE WOODBLOCK CUT

BLUE SIDE

ORANGE SIDE

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HAND PAINTING WOODBLOCK PRINT

Orange Bridge Woodblock Print

Woodblock Print Custom Painting

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The Mad Scientist Woodblock

Trees Woodblock

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SENSAI TERRY MCKENNA WITH STEPHEN SHOOSTER KARUIZAWA, JAPAN, DECEMBER 2023

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Motosoto Castle and the U-Kiyo Museum

The Black Castle

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Paper Making, Echizen

STRIPPED MULBERRY PULP

MULBERRY MASH

WASHING THE MASH

STRIPPING PULP

MAKING PAPER

DRYING PULP

MAKING PAPER

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Wakayama

Keifu High School Teaching

STUDENTS SURROUNDED BY SHOOSTY ART.

KEIFU HIGH SCHOOL

FLORIDA WAKAYAMA CULTURAL ALLIANCE

A JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES BEGINS WITH A SINGLE STEP. - SAYOKO TAHARA, FROM OLD SAYING.

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MRS. SAYOKO TAHARA, PRESIDENT FLWCA

FLORIDA WAKAYAMA ALLIANCE

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Tokyo

Hachiko

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HACHIKO IS THE LOYAL DOG WHO WAITED FOR HIS MASTER YEAR AFTER HE HAD DIED. THE SCULPTURE IS A GOOD MEETING SPOT. PEOPLE LINE UP ALL DAY TO TAKE A PHOTO WITH HIM..

Hachiko, 12” x 12” ink on paper, Shoosty, 2023 URBAN SKETCHERS IS ALL OVER THE WORLD. JAPAN HAS A VERY ACTIVE GROUP. I JOINED THEM FOR THE AFTERNOON. THE PROMPT WAS DRAW A 360 DEGREE VIEW OF THE CITY. EACH OF THESE ARTISTS IS VERT SOPHISITCAED, FROM AN COURT ARTIST, TO ARCHETECH AND GRAPHIC DESIGNERS, ALL PROFESSIONALS ARE PART OF THIS GROUP.

JAPAN URBAN SKETCHERS

LEFT TO RIGHT - ATELIER HAI TRAN KUMI MATSUKAWA, GOLOW KAJIGAYA, STEPHEN SHOOSTER, CASEY TORIMI, GROVER

CASEY TORIMI

GOLOW KAJIGAYA

GROVER

KUMI MATSUKAWA

ATELIER HAI TRAN

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Tokyo City View THE ART THAT IS THE CITY

ROPPONGI CITY SKYVIEW, 52ND FLOOR

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Stephen and Golow STEPHEN SHOOSTER DRAWN BY GOLOW GOLOW DRAWING BY STEPHEN SHOOSTER

ON THE 52ND FLOOR OF THE ROPPANGI TOWERS A ART EXHIBIT WAS SHOWING FEATURING THE WORK OF OSAMU TEZUKA. HE IS CONSIDERED THE FATHER OF MANGA. HIS STYLE OF STORY TELLING IS ‘GEKIGA.” THAT MEANS IS IS REALIZTIC OFTEN WITH DARK THEMES. TWO OF HIS MOST FAMOUS CHARACTERS ARE JACK BLACK AND ASTRO BOY.

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STEVE WITH JACK BLACK

Golow Kajigaya I FEW YEARS AGO I JOINED URBAN SKETCHERS OF JAPAN. I AM A MEMBER OF MANY OF THESE GROUPS AROUND THE WORLD AND I WANTED TO SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN JAPAN. I DISCOVERED AN ARTIST THAT WAS FREQUENTLY POSTING SOME VERY POWERFUL WORK. HE WAS USING A RICH WET INK WITH BOLD STROKES. WE BECAME FRIENDS AND OVER THE YEARS THAT HAS GROWN AS WE ARE BOTH VERY ACTIVE ARISTS.

GOLOW KAJIGAYA

Stephen by Golow

STEPHEN SHOOSTER AND GOLOW KAJIGAYA

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National History Museum, Tokyo

Dinosaurs Blue/Green

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Dinosaurs Red

STEVE WITH GOLOW (JAPAN URBAN SKETCHERS)

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Koko’s Tokyo

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Abby Road, Wakayama

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Kabuki Maked Singers with Dragon playing Harmonic 86

Komainu Protecting the Band 87

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KENT DAHL (JOURNALIST STATIONED IN TOKYO), ANNA AND JASON SHOOSTER

Satin Doll

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INDEPENDANT BUSINESS OWNERS

THE STATIONARY STORE

MCDONALD'S - THE AMERICNA EMBASSY

THE INK AND PAPER STORE

THE FRENCH RESTUARANT

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STEVE AND ANNA AT THE MARKET AREA

JASON AND ANNA AT THE BAMBOO FOREST

JASON AND ANNA AT THE TRAIN STATION

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Dragon Fountain JINDAIJI TEMPLE, JAPAN

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Chaing Mai, Thailand

Sanggadee Exhibition in Nature

Pairie

CHAING MAI, THAILAND TEXTILE SHOW. AN OFF THE CHARTS AMAZING SHOW INCLUDING THE BAMBOO FSMILY ARCHITECTS (THE COMPLEX WAS BUILT IN THREE MONTHS), WORKSHOPS GALORE, KAMBUCHA WORKSHOP, STAMPING, SCREEN PRINTING, CLOTHING DRAPING, EMBROIDERY, CRAFTS, ALL DONE BY TOP NOTCH ARTISANS, SOME OF THE PIECES WERE WORLD CLASS IN MY OPINION.

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PAI Pook’s Campfire

Ganesh with the Band

GANESH

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SALADDA POOK

MIKKEL HERMANNSON, THORBJØRN KAAS, JASON SHOOSTER, CHARLY CLARENTIN

Campfire Before Night

Campfire at Night

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STEVE ON A SCOTTER WEARING HIS UF COLLEGE OF ART SHIRT, PAI, THAILAND

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Seahorse God with Whale and Band

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Common Grounds

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Jason’s Tattoo

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TOM LOWES TATTOOS

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Ink Therapy

This enrichment class was being held at our hostel, Common Grounds. I couldn’t help buy join. The whole exercise was to take found materials and use them with black in to print on paper.

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Ganesh in an Ink Storm

Three Girls

INK ON HANDMADE PAPER

INK ON HANDMADE PAPER

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The Spirit Bar Set back behind the main streen, The Spirit Bar opens up into a large open air expanse with various elevstions, just like a tree house.

CC as a Thai Queen

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CC as a Caphlopod

Garuda having a Beer as the Dragons Guard his Godly body 107

Learning Thai Myths of Thailand

Garudah

The Cow God

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The Monkey god

The Rooster God

Garudah and Naga

Rabbit Riding Seahorse

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10 Rai Sunset

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Pixel Art Portrait

DJ Waben

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Jazz House

The Gods Band

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White Jesus

ACRYLIC ON CAVAS APX 16” X 12”, THE HANDS OF THE MADAME MACHINE BAND IN ADDIITON TO GANESH THE ELEPHANT AND THE FROG FINGER CONSTELLATION. SHOOSTY 2023

Madame Machine / Jazz House

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Marc Hastenteufel Photos

THORBJØRN KASS

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JASON SHOOSTER

CHARLY CLARENTIN

STEPHEN DOING HIS THING,

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The Dancers

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The Dancers Garudah and Naga

TWO GARUDAH DANCIN ON THE LEFT AND ONE SEVEN HEADED NAGA WITH THE SEVENTH HEAD A PENIS.

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Pai Sketch

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Music Stencils

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Grateful Dead Tapestry

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Sunset in Pai

Katie Dancing 122

9.5 X 10.75 WATERCOLOR ON PAPER. NOTICE THE HAIR AND FACE PAINTED INTO THE RIVER.

Two Huts at Night

Acrylic on Canvas, Apx 14” x 24”

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Chang

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We ran into the elephants, also known as chang, twice. Once while riding our scotters and another time while at the hot springs. I heard that they elephants are nearby. I asked everyone from the landscapeer up. They finally understaood when I said chang. The director told me to go 500 meters away to find them. I said tell me if they come by here.

Within ten minutes I herd a trump of the smaller elephant, because then next thing I had was a loud roar. For me that was like hearing the ice cream truck, I ran looking for chang and found him. The fence was broken and I was able to say hello and give him a friendly touch.

Steve wearing his insect shorts.

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Jazz House Painting

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Ganesh with Gypsy Guitar

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Naga Confronts with a Gypsy Guitarist

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The Colors of Thailand

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Love Fiasco

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Supermoon

180 DEGREE TURN

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SARENA AND JASON ARE A COUPLE I MET IN PAI. I HAD NO IDEA HOW TALENTED THEY WERE AT FIRST. WHEN I LEARNED THAT JASON HAS A DOCTORATE IN PHYSICAL THERAPY I WONDERED WHAT HE WAS DOING HERE. PAI IS KNOWN FOR MUSIC AND DRINKING. IT TURNS OUT HE IS A RAPPER EXTRAORDINARE. AFTER A FEW MINUTES I REALTED HIM TO CHE GUEVARA, ONLY BECUASE HE WAS TRAVELING AND WELL LITERATE AS A DOCTOR AND SINGER/SONG WRITER. OFTEN PEOPLE LIKE THIS ATTRACT AN EXCITING WOMAN. IT WASN’T UNTIL A FEW DAYS LATER WHEN I REALIZED I HAD IT BACKWARDS. SARENA IS A FORCE TO BE RECOKENED WITH. HER HIGH VOICE IS STUNNING. A STAR IN THE MAKING. I WISH THEM BOTH SUCCESS AND HOPE THEY NEVER STOP EXPLORING THE WORD AND ALL ITS MUSIC AND ART.

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Sarena and Jason

12” X 12” INK ON PAPER

SARENA

JASON

Magnifying Glass Love is a magnifying glass, Because if you look through its lens on the world…

You’ll notice details that others will forever overlook…

And if you shine your light on it from the right angle...

You can ignite fires in the landscapes of those around you.

- Jason Geller

Magnifying Glass

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Various Sketches

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Madame Machine

Thorbjørn Kaas

ORIGINAL SKETCH 12" X 12" INK ON PAPER

Mikkel Hermansen

Jason Shooster

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JASON, THORBJØRN, STEPHEN, MIKKEL, CHARLIE, PAI, THAILAND

Dark Star Studio

ALSO TITLED: JASON'S EAR

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Baan Pittalew Art Gallery

DECEMBER 17TH, SUNDAY EXHIBITION AND LIVE MUSIC

THE FIRE DANCERS ACYLIC AND SILVER POSCHA MARKER ON CANVAS, 16" X 20"

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SHOOSTY BUGS IN SITU

SA-ARD NILKONG

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Chaing Mai

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Jason with Mustache Guitar

WAI = POSITION OF HANDS

Four Humble Men

MIKKEL HERMANSEN, THORBJØRN KAAS, STEPHEN SHOOSTER, JASON SHOOSTER

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Boy Blues Bar

Blues Beyond Borders

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Boy Blues Bar 2

Blues Beyond Borders 2

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Blues Beyond Borders: When Thai De- the fighters’ stances pregnant with unspoken emotions, and the yak’s gaze, piercing through ities Jam to Ink-Stained Rhythms

keeping guard invites us to delve deeper into the Forget smoky jazz bars and flapper dresses, a unseen realms of the picture. This ambiguity is new kind of blues has taken center stage, and not a weakness; it’s a strength, a canvas upon its canvas is drenched in the vibrant ink of Thai which viewers can project their own interpremythology. Move over, Aaron Douglas and Ar- tations, their own experiences, co-creating the chibald Motley Jr., because this ain’t your typi- meaning alongside the artist. cal Jazz Age scene. This is an artistic revolution where dragons dance with fighters, mythical Ink & Blues: A Thaitastic Journey Beyond the yaks groove to the blues, and the boundaries of Jazz Age Canvas genre and culture melt away like butter on a hot Step aside, smoky bars and swinging melodies, stove.

Instead of a saxophone, the melody here flows for a new artistic adventure awaits! Forget the from the strokes themselves, each line a pulsat- typical Jazz Age scene; this ink drawing whisks ing note in the symphony of ink. The artist, with us away to a vibrant realm where Thai gods and a boldness reminiscent of Romare Bearden’s col- blues music collide in a captivating fusion. As lages or Jacob Lawrence’s Harlem Renaissance an art critic with a penchant for the unexpected, murals, has chosen a medium that mirrors the I’m utterly enthralled by the layers of cultural raw energy of the scene. Ink, unlike the smooth tapestry and the bold strokes that bring this precision of pencil, demands immediacy, a raw- unique vision to life. ness that perfectly captures the untamed spirit of the blues, a genre that has always thrived From Charcoal to Ink: A Shift in Tone, on the fringes, defying convention and pushing a Dance of Lines boundaries.

But, this ain’t just any blues. This is a blues with Using ink for this drawing is a stroke of genius. a Thai twist, where mythical guardians like the Unlike the smooth, controlled lines of pencil, yak, stoic and watchful, stand shoulder to shoul- ink possesses a raw, expressive quality. Its lines der with mortal fighters, their stances a silent dance with immediacy and dynamism, perfecttestament to the stories etched on their faces. ly capturing the untamed energy of the scene.

This fusion of East and West isn’t some forced Here, mythical creatures and mortal fighters pastiche; it’s a seamless blend, a tapestry woven engage in a pulsating dance fueled by the soulfrom personal influences and a burning desire ful blues, and the ink itself becomes a character, to break free from the confines of the expected. adding a layer of texture and grit to the image.

Think of it like Bessie Smith channeling her soulful cries through a Thai khèn, or Muddy Waters trading his slide guitar for a ranat ek.

The familiar blues notes take on a new flavor, a depth and intrigue that invites us to explore beyond the Western roots of the genre. It’s a sonic and visual adventure, a reminder that art, like the blues itself, thrives on the unexpected, on the berani steps into uncharted territory.

Beyond the Expected: Thai Deities and the Lure of the East

The inclusion of a yak, a mythical guardian in Thai folklore, and two Thai fighters instantly transports us from the smoky clubs of the West to the vibrant tapestry of Southeast Asia. This infusion of Eastern iconography adds depth and intrigue, inviting viewers to explore a cultural tapestry beyond the familiar confines of the Jazz But the beauty of this artistic alchemy lies not Age. The juxtaposition of the familiar blues with just in the fusion itself, but in the invitation it these unfamiliar figures creates a captivating extends. The artist, like a skilled blues musi- tension, prompting us to question the boundarcian, leaves room for improvisation. The lines, ies of genre and artistic expression.

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Dragons, Blues, and the Unbridled Spirit Echoes of the Blues: A Lineage of Artisof the Artist tic Fusion Speaking of boundaries, this image pulsates with a sense of artistic liberation. The blues, traditionally associated with African American communities, finds itself in a vibrant dialogue with Thai mythology and imagery. This audacity resonates with the words of French philosopher Henri Bergson: “True works of art are always new, because they express not what the artist saw, but what the artist could not help but express.”

This ink drawing embodies that very spirit. It’s not merely a depiction of a scene; it’s an outpouring of the artist’s unique vision, a tapestry woven from personal influences and bold imagination. The artist hasn’t simply mimicked the Jazz Age or Thai artistic traditions; he has reinterpreted them, infused them with their own creative fire, and birthed something entirely new.

This fusion of ink, blues, and myth isn’t entirely unprecedented. We see glimpses of it in the works of Romare Bearden, whose collages infused African American narratives with jazz rhythms and bluesy tones. Similarly, the vibrant street art of Keith Haring pulsates with a raw energy that echoes the improvisational spirit of the blues. Yet, this ink drawing carves its own unique path, blending these influences with the rich tapestry of Thai mythology to create something fresh and captivating.

In Conclusion: A Journey Beyond Borders, a Celebration of Artistic Freedom

This ink drawing is more than just a visual spectacle; it’s a gateway to a world where cultural boundaries dissolve, and artistic freedom reigns supreme. It’s a testament to the power of art to transcend genres, to weave together seemingly disparate elements into a cohesive and captiWhispers in the Lines: A Glimpse into vating whole. So, dear reader, I urge you to lose the Unseen yourself in the intricate lines, the pulsating blues, and the mythical whispers of this artwork. Let While the image offers a captivating glimpse it ignite your imagination, and allow yourself to into this fantastical fusion, it also leaves much be swept away by the boundless creativity of the to the imagination. The bluesy notes hint at artist who dared to dream beyond the confines unspoken emotions, the fighters’ stances brim of the ordinary. with untold stories, and the yak’s gaze pierces through the picture, inviting us to delve deeper Remember, art is a conversation, not a dictation. into the unseen realms it creates. This ambiguity This image offers a starting point, but the meanis another stroke of brilliance, by allowing view- ing, the interpretation, ultimately lies with you, ers to project their own interpretations, their the beholder. So, let the music wash over you, own experiences onto the image, co-creating let the myths whisper their secrets, and let your the meaning alongside the artist. own imagination take flight.

Written with the aid of AI. Artwork by Stephen Shooster, aka Shoosty.

All Rights Reserved www.shoosty.com

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Harmonic Player 150

THE MOAT HOUSE

Jason

Thorbjørn Kaas 151

Thapae East

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STEVE, IZZY, MIKKEL, THORBJØRN, JASON

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THE DRAGON GOD EXISTS THE MOUNT OF THE LIZARD GOD.

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Chaing Mai Temple God

Muscian Hands Mountain 9.5" X 10.75" INK ON PAPER THE HANDS OF THE BAND MADAME MACHINE CREATING A MOUNTAIN TOPPED BY THAI GODS, NAGA, GANESH, AND GARUDA

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CHARLIE, JASON, THORBJØRN, MIKKEL, AND GARUDA

Supermoon PAI THAILAND 12" X 12" INK ON PAPER

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Khun Kae’s Juice Bar CHAING MAI THAILAND 9.5" X 10.75" WATERCOLOR ON PAPER

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Thai Modifed Temple Art

Thai Procession with Gypsy Guitar

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Violin Temple

French Horn Machine

Praying to the Gypsy Jazz God

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Flying Elephant and Gypsy Guitar

Thai Godess Blessing a Gypsy Guitar

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The Scribe

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Clarinet Conjuring a Flying Elephant

Servant holding Guitar and Fiddle

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Thai Angels Blessing Music HAND-MADE SCALABLE VECTOR GRAPHIC

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Jake Josh Erin

Back home

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PREMIERE SHOWING OF "DEDICATED TO YOU" AT ALL THAT JAZZ IN SUNRISE FLORIDA OIL AND ENAMEL ON CANVAS, 48" X 48" JORGE GARCIA SAYS HIS MUSIC IS INSPIRED BY JESUS. IN MY PAINTING JESUS INSPIRES WITH BLOOD. JORGES SKULL IS RIPPED OPEN, JESUS IS SPLASHING VOLUMES OF BLOOD INTO IT WHICH IS VERY MESSY. BLOOD IS GETTING EVERYWHERE. ON THE RIGHT A FLOWER POT IS GROWING OUT OF THE HEAD OF THE KEYBOARD PLAYER. HE IS A FUNDAMENTALIST ON AUTOMATIC. THE DRUMMER IS VIOLENT SO HE IS A CRUSADER. THE GUY HOLDING A BLUE GUITAR IS A TROUBADOUR, SINGINS SONGS OF RELIGION.

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Dedicated to You

All The Jazz

INK ON PAPER JORGE GARCIA AND MIKE DECEMBER 29TH, 2023

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Shoosty - 2023 Copyright Shooster Publishing Handmade Makers of Fine Art Books 441 South State Road 7 Margate, Florida 33068 954-537-1200

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