Invincibelle Profile
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. The Beginning
What were some challenges of growing up in an ethnically diverse environment?
My childhood was doubly enriched by an early awareness that two cultures were better than one. My parents felt that I sat in the enviable catbird seat looking East and West. This vantage point allowed me to look in more than one direction and see a panoramic horizon. I feel my artistic direction has been shaped by being privileged to draw upon the beauty and richness of a Japanese and American heritage. The land of the Rising Sun and the Land of the Stars and Stripes are in my work.
What problems did you face when you got here?
Problems or challenges can be opportunities turned upside down. A problem and its solution are intertwined. Mystery and clarity are in an inextricable embrace just as the beautiful ebony Sumi ink and rice white scroll are inseparable. If I encountered a challenge, I tried to draw upon my artistic background to conceptually pick it up in my mind and see it from all directions. Inevitably positive possibilities reveal themselves.
What were some of the things you learnt on the way?
I don’t think of knowledge gained in the past tense. Learning begins now. For me, learning is always in the present tense, building on the past, but in a mode of accelerating to the future. Tomorrow always brings a new dawn filled with the possibilities of a blank shikishi board.
. The Transition
What challenges did you face in the transition to get to where you are today?
Each moment is a transition filled with motion in a positive direction. If it isn’t you are standing still. Movement is precious in the Zen art form of Sumi-e.
If given an opportunity, what would you have done differently?
No Regrets, the title of one of my Jazz paintings sums up my feeling. I look back to the past only to be enriched or inspired. The best brush strokes are the ones that are fearlessly released.
What kept you inspired to do better?
An internal voice of artistic intuition provokes me. This intriguing nudge keeps me up at silky midnight and wakes me up early in the glistening dawn. Imagining the powerful voices of my ancestors and those who came before me empowers me to tackle the biggest challenges.
. The Present
What are your current personal & professional pursuits?
I am a Master Sumi-e artist. Zen exists in the now, and my most current activities are chronicled on my blog, ValleyZen.
The ancient art of Japanese brush painting has been my destiny. I first had a brush in hand at the age of 3. My parents were taking me to see the masterpieces of Japanese art when I was still in a stroller. I was drawn to the beauty and quiet power of these strokes at a young age. Painting always seemed as natural as breathing to me. I was blessed to be inspired by a depth of artistry in my family that stretches back over many generations. As the only child of the first male heir of the Kataoka Samurai line, I inherited the magnificent Kataoka Samurai Sword in a special ceremony. The word Samurai derives from a Japanese verb meaning “to serve.” True to my ancestry, I strive for an exceptional standard of performance and technical mastery. The Samurai values of loyalty, integrity, and discipline are at my artistic core. I commit to my client’s goals, which become my goals.
I have private and corporate clients that commission original works of art. My creative process begins by listening carefully to my clients and continues with serious research of the subject matter they would like me to capture. Along with the original work of art, I often pair an original commentary, poem and digital component. The project usually culminates in an unveiling or a presentation/performance.
What are your hobbies? How do you relax? Are you able to manage work life balance?
The way of the Samurai is to be in the spirit of readiness 24 hours a day. I follow in this tradition in that I am in a creative mode 24 hours a day. I don’t think of my work and non-work as diametrically opposed divided parts. I relish every opportunity to see and experience the world in an intensely beautiful way. Perhaps I am not in my studio. I may be somewhere talking and relaxing over fine wine and music with friends. I observe and enjoy the honeyed light falling about their shoulders, I think of the fragment of a new poem. I let ideas come to me when it is convenient for them.
. The Future
What is next in your life?
Exciting projects are on the horizon. Here are a couple:
I was commissioned by Fenwick & West LLP to create an original work combining art and technology. The project pays tribute to Fenwick & West’s stellar client network and contributions to Silicon Valley.
I just launched a new blog Valley Zen – At the Intersection of Art and Technology. Tim Draper, Managing Partner of DFJ was exhilarated by his recent video interview with us. He put it best, “ValleyZen is the ONLY way to start your day!” I welcome the Invincibelle community to this fresh, unexpected and invigorating blog.
What resources at Invicibelle.com do you think would help women who wish to come to this country?
Invincibelle can be a great resource for women as well as men. Anytime we share our stories and experiences in a creative dialogue we are collectively strengthened.
. The Guidance
From your vast experience, what is your message for women who wish to either move to this country or are already here?
I celebrate their ambition and encourage them. The American dream is open to all
What should a multicultural woman do to grow as a leader?
A multicultural woman should embrace her unique experiences, heritage, and cultural knowledge. In so doing she brings a valuable perspective for an increasingly diverse and fragmented world.
Every woman has to keep up with one or more roles – a mother, a wife, a professional. What advice you have for multicultural women who need to keep a healthy balance between these roles?
Multi-cultural women have the task of balancing roles and cultures. Sharing advice about balance gives me great pleasure and it is a theme covered in my interactive Seminars and Workshops inspired by Sumi-e. Balance is central to the art of Sumi-e and to flute playing. The blissful feeling of balance is often difficult to reach because it is successfully achieved in counter-intuitive ways. Opposing forces as different as midnight Sumi ink and bright white open space must be not simply reconciled but brought together in harmony.
