Juka Araikawa’s - In iso

Favourite things to do recently:

All the hiking spots and beaches are closed in Los Angeles, so I’ve been taking long walks by myself around the older, hillier Elysian Heights neighbourhood (while wearing a mask and keeping distance from others). The hills are beautiful with gardens in full bloom. I don’t think I’ve ever looked at plants and flowers so closely in a long time. I usually walk for an hour, spending the time tuning in to what is around me. Perhaps plants and flowers will appear in greater abundance in my new paintings.

I was initially hesitant to go back to my studio and resume working with oil paint, because so much was unknown about the virus. But over the last month I’ve started going regularly. Los Angeles has no traffic at the moment, which is nice, though occasionally you do get a crazy driver overly excited by the wide open roads.

Otherwise I’ve been chipping away at household tasks (getting our AC fixed; hanging artwork that’s been leaning against our walls for 5 years) and imaging where I’d like to go once we can all travel again.