Picture: Yamato Songs

Yamato songs!*
You grow out of one seed - the heart, and grow into myriad petals of speech - into myriad words.
The people who live in this world are entangled in a dense overgrowth of worldly affairs; and everything that lies on their hearts, they express all this in connection with what they hear and what they see.
And so, when you hear the voice of a nightingale singing his songs among the flowers, when you hear the voice of a frog living in the water, you think - who, of all living things, of all living things, does not sing his own song?..
Without any effort, she moves heaven and earth; captivates even gods and demons invisible to our eye; elevates the union of men and women; softens the heart of harsh warriors. That's the song...

(Ki-no Tsurayuki, "From the preface to the collection "Kokinshu")

Yamato* - the ancient name of Japan itself (yap. "great harmony, peace") is a historical state formation in Japan, which originated in the Yamato area (modern Nara Prefecture) of the Kinki region in the III—IV centuries. It existed during the Yamato period of the same name until the eighth century, until it was renamed Nippon - "Japan" in 670.

The miniature is made in the author's mixed technique, with pastel pencils according to the sketch in colored ink, on embossed linen paper with a fabric texture. Halftone colors change depending on lighting. Pastel is on the verge between drawing and painting and requires very good lighting. Then the infinity of shades appears, the game of translucent layering. Best of all - the light of day, but diffused, falling on a tangent. In different lighting will produce completely different impression.