Jar #1
Acrylic on canvas
30 X 42 cm

Blue and white is one of those classic combinations that I will never tire of.  My passion for collecting dragons led me too illustrative ceramics where dragons are found curling around and leaping from the beautifully illustrated jars.  Most of the Far Eastern ceramics, especially the Temple and Ginger jars have a dragon or two on them and so a love affair began.

Jar #2
Acrylic on canvas
30 X 42 cm

Jar #3
Acrylic on canvas
30 X 42 cm

Jar #4
Acrylic on canvas
30 X 42 cm

Jar #5
Acrylic on canvas
30 X 42 cm

Jar #6
Acrylic on canvas
30 X 42 cm

Originally, ginger jars were used for storing and transporting spices in Ancient China. They were used as containers for salt, oil but also rarer spices such as ginger, hence their name when they began entering the Western world. Their utilitarian purpose was replaced in time by a decorative one. Temple jars are actually the jars that have a protrusion or some kind of decoration on the top and have a more of a fishtail shape. Many say these were originally used to hold the remains of loved ones. Just like ginger jars, however, they were eventually used to hold spices, herbs and salts and now serve a decorative purpose.

The carefully arranged blobs of paint on the temple jars and lids in these paintings represent guardian lions, also known as komainu, shishi, or foo dogs. They are intimidating, mythical, lion-like creatures seen across a breath of art forms, ranging from architecture to tattoos, and of course my jars. They symbolize prosperity, success, and guardianship, and are full of meaning and mysticism.