I have always been fascinated with ancient Japanese animism as revealed through their myths, superstitions, and religions. This past winter, I had the pleasure of spending 3 months abroad working in Japan at the Shigaraki Ceramics Cultural Center as a resident artist.  While researching how these stories have continued to weave their way into the present day consciousness, I began to focus on creating portraits of the mysterious Japanese spirits, called “Yokai.”  They haunt the everyday life and psychology of the people unfortunate enough to encounter them.