The SAVE THE FROGS! Art Contest invites you to create your coolest frog artwork. The contest raises awareness of the amphibian extinction problem by getting people involved and interested, and the artwork is used on t-shirts, stickers and posters, and in greeting cards and books, to both publicize our cause and raise money for SAVE THE FROGS! amphibian conservation efforts.
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​I encouraged my students to participate in this competition this year. And by involving students, there was an opportunity to communicate with the organizers. They were very sincere and gave prompt answers. I live in the East and their organization is in the West. I've never met them in person. However, if you look at their sincere and truthful attitude, I can get a good idea of what kind of organization they are and what kind of people they are even without meeting them.

I recommend everyone who loves nature and wants to protect endangered species, especially frogs, to participate in this competition. I will also actively participate in this movement to save endangered frogs.
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​Today I would like to introduce a book called Biscuit by Alyssa Satin Capucilli. Like this, the cover of the book only features a cute puppy. The content and pictures are very simple, but they give a feeling of depth and warmth.

The dog's behavior reminds me of the relationship between a mother and her baby. So it's even more friendly.

Children often read to their pets, such as dogs. ​Such details and daily life are well depicted.

​Looking at this picture automatically makes me smile. A lovely girl with a dog.

​The girl tries to put the dog to sleep, but the dog doesn't want to sleep. Perhaps the dog wants to be with the girl.

​So the dog follows the girl up the stairs.

​In the resilience of trees, I find an undeniable beauty. They stand tall, weathering the storms of life, their branches reaching out like brushstrokes against the canvas of the sky. Each twist, bend, and scar tells a story of survival and growth.

Like life's journey, we, too, face challenges that shape us. We may stumble, break, or feel lost amidst the winds of adversity. Yet, deep within, an unyielding spirit resides, urging us to rise again. Through these trials, we discover our inner strength and learn the art of perseverance.

Our experiences, though sometimes painful, become the palette from which we paint our lives. Like a master artist, we create something extraordinary from the broken pieces, transforming them into a mosaic of resilience and wisdom. Each step forward becomes a stroke of bravery, each setback an opportunity to refine our artistry.

Just as the tree grows into a sturdy presence, we, too, have the capacity to rise above our challenges and flourish. Our scars become a testament to our endurance, our roots digging deep into the soil of life's experiences. We become living embodiments of art, shaped by the very storms that once threatened to uproot us.

Some day, I received tremendous energy from a curved, formed tree on the street. When I drove in my car and was trapped in a traffic jam on the road, I started to find some exciting points to release my annoyance over the window. At the time, I found a strange-shaped tree on the street near my car.

​This arboreal anomaly, with its sinuous form resembling a tightly wound spring, captivated my attention. Why did this tree defy the conventional expectation of standing tall and straight? What forces had shaped its eccentricity? Questions swirled in my mind, and in that moment, the tree became a silent storyteller, revealing life's profound lessons.

​The tree, twisted and turned by forces unseen, spoke to me in a language only nature could convey. It stood shorter than its neighbors, a testament to resilience in the face of adversity. Perhaps the winds of countless storms had blown against it, bending its trajectory in a dance with survival. Or maybe some unseen obstacle had disrupted its growth, forcing it to adapt and persevere in unconventional ways.

In the midst of my frustration, the tree became a metaphor for life's challenges – an embodiment of the beauty that emerges when we confront obstacles head-on. It wasn't a pristine specimen, adhering to the norms of symmetry and straightness; instead, it was a testament to the tenacity of life. The tree didn't complain about its crooked path; it simply adapted and endured.

​And so, the acrylic strokes on canvas tell a story not just of a peculiar tree but of the profound lessons it imparted – a testament to the indomitable spirit that resides within every living being, urging us to overcome.
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In the silent language of nature, I found a profound mentor in the form of a tree. "Overcome," an acrylic piece from 2012, encapsulates the timeless wisdom I gleaned from the arboreal giants that grace our landscapes.
Trees, with their stoic presence, became a metaphor for life's trials. The strokes of my acrylic brush sought to capture the essence of their resilience, their ability to endure twists, transformations, and even falls, all while maintaining an unwavering pride in their existence. It's a lesson in resilience that resonates with the human spirit.
Much like these trees, we navigate a world filled with challenges, setbacks, and unexpected turns. The tree, twisted and transformed by the elements, refuses to relinquish its identity. It stands as a solitary witness to its own history, writing the narrative of survival without borrowing the helping hands of others.
The metaphor deepens as we reflect on the autonomy of trees. In a world where independence is a precious currency, the tree teaches us the value of self-reliance. It refuses to succumb to the control of external forces. Similarly, when our individual energies wane, and our minds become susceptible to external influence, our lives risk being shaped by the intentions of others.
"Overcome" communicates a powerful truth: the importance of preserving one's independence. Just as trees don't yield to the orders of others, maintaining our autonomy ensures we live freely and authentically. The acrylic strokes echo the strength and resilience found in nature, urging us to resist the manipulation of our thoughts and plans.
In the silent dialogue between artist and canvas, "Overcome" serves as a reminder that, like the enduring trees, we can weather the storms of life with grace. It prompts us to stand tall, even when twisted by adversity, and to inscribe our unique stories on the canvas of existence. The painting becomes a visual hymn to the spirit of independence, an enduring tribute to the silent mentors that surround us in nature.

It seems like it was just yesterday that we were counting down to 2023. But now I'm looking ahead to 2024.

2023 was a grateful year that brought me many challenges.

As an artist, I began my graduate school studies in earnest with the wish to escape from my narrow and stuffy studio and go out into the wider world, and eventually graduated successfully.

I also taught Myanmar children online. While attending graduate school, I published five children's books in my spare time. Above all, I attended 11 large and small exhibitions while studying. I taught students during this period. Several of these students achieved outstanding achievements through international competitions. Another student, like me, published a children's book on Amazon. Another student wrote a 28-chapter children's book.

My students took on challenges together and upgraded themselves with sparkling eyes. I am happiest when I see them. All of these things happened in one year.

These things are more precious to me than anything else because I have achieved them while living a busy life as an artist, mother, and wife. All of these things were possible because of the help from those around me.

And as I achieved each achievement, I fell in love with art even more. I hope my 2024 will be like 2023. I hope 2024 will also be filled with challenges and rewards.

Among the new challenges I took on this year, what I remember most is a local event with students. With my students, I participated in a local annual event: making a scarecrow and decorating a Christmas tree. Although I was worried that the students' works might fall to the floor due to the wind and rain, this process was also very valuable to me.

This event is meaningful because I participated with a pure heart, regardless of a rank. My students and I strive to beautify the area and showcase our work as guardians of the arts.

​I know very well the value and importance of working consistently and patiently every day. This can also be clearly seen through the surrounding nature. Just as a sprout grows little by little and becomes a big tree, we grow like that. I put these wishes into the form of the video below.