The Rōnin

“The Rōnin” is a piece I made in the spring of 2024. I’ve always been interested in and fascinated by samurai tradition, and I wanted to explore it in this piece. A Rōnin, in feudal Japan, is a “masterless samurai”; The term translates to “wandering man” in Japanese. You’ll find the Rōnin in this piece alone, wandering amongst an empty field accompanied by a singular cherry blossom tree. In this case, the cherry blossom is a sign of renewal, as the Rōnin journeys into a new life.

I really enjoyed researching and learning about Japanese history and culture as preparation for this piece. I wanted everything to be right, from the hair to the clothing, even down to the type of knot tied around his waist.

I illustrated this piece traditionally, with my mechanical pencil and ink pens. Once inked, I scanned in my work to be colored in Adobe Photoshop.

I hope you enjoy!