I have just completed these six pieces with some of my favourite Rengetsu quotes. First let me tell you a little about Rengetsu and why I relate to her work. Otagaki Rengetsu, (1791 – 1875) lived through some of the richest times in Japanese history, the Edo period. Broken-hearted by divorce, the death of her second husband and subsequently her children, she became a Buddhist nun. Rengetsu was a potter, a painter, a calligrapher and a poet/author. Her works are characterised by honesty, charm and simplicity of style. It is Rengetsu’s honesty and charm which attracts me. In her works, she shows wisdom and a great awareness of people, society and nature. Rengetsu speaks in her work about her own aging and connection to the natural world. My works here represent a few of her gems. In these I hope to capture some of her timeless spirit. As I mature I find I can express ever more clearly through my work, my feelings on the aging process and its effects on my...