Shinrin-yoku (森林浴) which literally translates to “forest bath”—is the Japanese practice of “bathing” oneself in nature with the intention of receiving therapeutic benefits. This painting was custom created for a private golf club in Japan. They asked me to create a painting that I felt best represented myself as an artist. After some time brainstorming, I circled back to my original idea of creating a jade painting with Kintsugi inspired elements. It just felt so fitting, especially with the painting being displayed in Japan. Jade, also called “the stone of heaven”, has many meanings far beyond just a stone. It symbolizes prosperity, success, and good luck. It is believed to eliminate any bad spirits and bring good luck and fortune to whoever wears it. Meanwhile, Kintsugi, meaning “golden joinery”, is a traditional Japanese art form that uses gold to repair broken pottery. This repairs the brokenness in a way that makes the object more beautiful, and even more strong than it was pri...