Kanzashi Pillows

Inspired by the designer hair ornaments/kanzashi of Japanese designer Sakae.

Kanzashi is a hairpin with small ornaments. Traditionally it used in Japanese traditional hairstyle with kimono setup, but nowadays it also used in casual occasions among young girls.

A colourful play of contrasts defines the second in a series of portraits inspired by floral hair ornaments.

I fell in love with the Angel on the Street

Third in a series inspired by kanzashi hair pins, taking delicate florals and pairing them with bold colour choices.

Bio: Luke Gray is a surrealist/symbolist illustrator and painter. Born color blind he was forced to use an almost exclusively black and white colour palette, working with patterns and textures rather than color. Influenced by multicultural art techniques he works in traditional mediums of Graphite and Ink often combining and integrating techniques and patterns from different countries and cultures into his work.

Based on an original watercolor painting by Maria J. William.

Bio: Luke Gray is a surrealist/symbolist illustrator and painter. Born color blind he was forced to use an almost exclusively black and white colour palette, working with patterns and textures rather than color. Influenced by multicultural art techniques he works in traditional mediums of Graphite and Ink often combining and integrating techniques and patterns from different countries and cultures into his work.

Based on an original watercolor painting by Maria J. William.

For maiko, or geisha in training, the elaborate and beautiful headpieces they wear often correspond to the seasons and the months, in which each month traditionally represented by certain flowers or other ornaments, and some months even have multiple. These designs celebrate the gorgeous kanzashi and the maiko that wear them! January - Pine, plum, and bamboo February - Plum blossom March - Peony April - Cherry blossom May - Iris June - Willow July - Uchiwa (round hand fans) August - Pampas grass September - Bell flower October - Chrysanthemum November - Maple leaf December - Mochibana (this kanzashi is adorned with mochi/rice cake flowers and maneki tags)

For maiko, or geisha in training, the elaborate and beautiful headpieces they wear often correspond to the seasons and the months, in which each month traditionally represented by certain flowers or other ornaments, and some months even have multiple. These designs celebrate the gorgeous kanzashi and the maiko that wear them! January - Pine, plum, and bamboo February - Plum blossom March - Peony April - Cherry blossom May - Iris June - Willow July - Uchiwa (round hand fans) August - Pampas grass September - Bell flower October - Chrysanthemum November - Maple leaf December - Mochibana (this kanzashi is adorned with mochi/rice cake flowers and maneki tags)

For maiko, or geisha in training, the elaborate and beautiful headpieces they wear often correspond to the seasons and the months, in which each month traditionally represented by certain flowers or other ornaments, and some months even have multiple. These designs celebrate the gorgeous kanzashi and the maiko that wear them! January - Pine, plum, and bamboo February - Plum blossom March - Peony April - Cherry blossom May - Iris June - Willow July - Uchiwa (round hand fans) August - Pampas grass September - Bell flower October - Chrysanthemum November - Maple leaf December - Mochibana (this kanzashi is adorned with mochi/rice cake flowers and maneki tags)

For maiko, or geisha in training, the elaborate and beautiful headpieces they wear often correspond to the seasons and the months, in which each month traditionally represented by certain flowers or other ornaments, and some months even have multiple. These designs celebrate the gorgeous kanzashi and the maiko that wear them! January - Pine, plum, and bamboo February - Plum blossom March - Peony April - Cherry blossom May - Iris June - Willow July - Uchiwa (round hand fans) August - Pampas grass September - Bell flower October - Chrysanthemum November - Maple leaf December - Mochibana (this kanzashi is adorned with mochi/rice cake flowers and maneki tags)

For maiko, or geisha in training, the elaborate and beautiful headpieces they wear often correspond to the seasons and the months, in which each month traditionally represented by certain flowers or other ornaments, and some months even have multiple. These designs celebrate the gorgeous kanzashi and the maiko that wear them! January - Pine, plum, and bamboo February - Plum blossom March - Peony April - Cherry blossom May - Iris June - Willow July - Uchiwa (round hand fans) August - Pampas grass September - Bell flower October - Chrysanthemum November - Maple leaf December - Mochibana (this kanzashi is adorned with mochi/rice cake flowers and maneki tags)

For maiko, or geisha in training, the elaborate and beautiful headpieces they wear often correspond to the seasons and the months, in which each month traditionally represented by certain flowers or other ornaments, and some months even have multiple. These designs celebrate the gorgeous kanzashi and the maiko that wear them! January - Pine, plum, and bamboo February - Plum blossom March - Peony April - Cherry blossom May - Iris June - Willow July - Uchiwa (round hand fans) August - Pampas grass September - Bell flower October - Chrysanthemum November - Maple leaf December - Mochibana (this kanzashi is adorned with mochi/rice cake flowers and maneki tags)

For maiko, or geisha in training, the elaborate and beautiful headpieces they wear often correspond to the seasons and the months, in which each month traditionally represented by certain flowers or other ornaments, and some months even have multiple. These designs celebrate the gorgeous kanzashi and the maiko that wear them! January - Pine, plum, and bamboo February - Plum blossom March - Peony April - Cherry blossom May - Iris June - Willow July - Uchiwa (round hand fans) August - Pampas grass September - Bell flower October - Chrysanthemum November - Maple leaf December - Mochibana (this kanzashi is adorned with mochi/rice cake flowers and maneki tags)

For maiko, or geisha in training, the elaborate and beautiful headpieces they wear often correspond to the seasons and the months, in which each month traditionally represented by certain flowers or other ornaments, and some months even have multiple. These designs celebrate the gorgeous kanzashi and the maiko that wear them! January - Pine, plum, and bamboo February - Plum blossom March - Peony April - Cherry blossom May - Iris June - Willow July - Uchiwa (round hand fans) August - Pampas grass September - Bell flower October - Chrysanthemum November - Maple leaf December - Mochibana (this kanzashi is adorned with mochi/rice cake flowers and maneki tags)

For maiko, or geisha in training, the elaborate and beautiful headpieces they wear often correspond to the seasons and the months, in which each month traditionally represented by certain flowers or other ornaments, and some months even have multiple. These designs celebrate the gorgeous kanzashi and the maiko that wear them! January - Pine, plum, and bamboo February - Plum blossom March - Peony April - Cherry blossom May - Iris June - Willow July - Uchiwa (round hand fans) August - Pampas grass September - Bell flower October - Chrysanthemum November - Maple leaf December - Mochibana (this kanzashi is adorned with mochi/rice cake flowers and maneki tags)

For maiko, or geisha in training, the elaborate and beautiful headpieces they wear often correspond to the seasons and the months, in which each month traditionally represented by certain flowers or other ornaments, and some months even have multiple. These designs celebrate the gorgeous kanzashi and the maiko that wear them! January - Pine, plum, and bamboo February - Plum blossom March - Peony April - Cherry blossom May - Iris June - Willow July - Uchiwa (round hand fans) August - Pampas grass September - Bell flower October - Chrysanthemum November - Maple leaf December - Mochibana (this kanzashi is adorned with mochi/rice cake flowers and maneki tags)