Hi! Hoping some one could help me out with this Nobuo Watanabe serigraph. I have been searching for weeks and am unable to find any older works by him. His 'new' limited editions run to 1000. I would love to at least pin down the year. Signed by the artist in pencil, numbered 38/80. The printed part is 12 3/4" by 16 1/2. The paper has an embossed mark...Gendai Hanga Center...Tokyo, Japan Titled "Country Fair" with Japanese and other symbols throughout (love the flying octopus!). There is a newer "Country Fair" print, which is more American and homogenized than this. "Born in Japan in 1937, Nobuo “Nicky” Watanabe has made a life for himself as an artist. Although he began his creative career as an actor and an advertising film director, he eventually turned to painting. While obtaining a formal art education, Watanabe studied color techniques in California, eventually falling in love with America and moving to San Francisco."
Are you sure this is his work? The signature doesn't match. Looks like it reads Kailuo Balu or something similar. Have to admit that it looks like his work but I certainly can not find this one. Here is his signature .....
Hi! Yes, I forgot about that...I couldn't even make it out when i got it, so i googled something like...Japan Naive Folk Art Serigraph. I saw the similarities, too, and went with it. I googled his signature, and it looked just like the one on mine. I never saw the one you posted. I'm 99.99% positive it's him...maybe a different siggie for the Japanese market?
here one that sold on ebay...the 'N' is the same style http://www.ebay.com/itm/Skinny-Dipp...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
Yours has a K and a B. I don't see any resemblance to an N or a W. Plus the style is totally different. I'm an artist and I do not think this is by Nobuo at all.
