Paul Binnie (Scottish, b. 1967), L-R: Japanese Zodiac: Dragon (Junishi no Tatsu), hosoban 13 by 5 1/2 in.; Ukiyo-e Sky (Ukiyoe Sora), hosoban 13 1/4 by 5 1/8 in.; A Day At the Beach: Paddling (Hamabe no Tsuika: Hamabe no Tsuika: Soso), hosoban 13 1/8 by 5 1/2 in.

Scholten Japanese Art is pleased to announce the release of two new print designs (as well as an unexpected bonus print) which are the first works launching two separate print series by Paul Binnie: Japanese Zodiac and A Day at the Beach.

Japanese Zodiac depicts men and women with tattoos that represent each of the twelve Japanese zodiac signs. The first print, Dragon, showcases the zodiac for 2024 and is inspired by an ink painting by Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) to which Binnie added his own colors, and each of the subsequent prints will have a different background color which will give a rainbow effect when finally completed and assembled in order.

A Day at the Beach features nude figures before a beach and skyscape background. The figure was created from the same block set that was used to create Dragon from the Japanese Zodiac series, however, in Paddling an additional block was used to add a sheen of pale blue mica on the figure’s leg to suggest she is still wet from paddling in the ocean.

In Ukiyo-e Sky, the print references its name from the 19th century ukiyo-e prints, where only a slightly shaded strip of color along the top of the sheet was used to depict the blue of the sky.

To learn more about these three enchanting prints, click here.