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Hitomi
Nakatani
An Interview with
Hitomi
Nakatani, Artist of the
Week
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 Q: Tell us about your family and pets.
I met my hubby online and have known him since 1994. At the time we met online,
I lived in Hollywood, CA and he lived in the Bay Area. Once we got serious, I
made the move to the Bay Area. We got married, just the two of us and an
officiate, on a beach in Half Moon Bay, California in July 2000. We currently live in
Foster City, California, but are in the process of moving to Murietta in Southern
California. My parents, sister, brother-in-law, niece, nephew and the rest of my
mom's family all live in Southern California. My dad's family all live in Japan.
My husband's family live in Texas and New York.
We don't have any pets at the moment, but did have a wonderful Sheltie named
Sky. Once we move, we plan on getting another dog.
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Hitomi and Husband
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Hitomi and Family
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Hitomi and her favorite bunny.
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Hitomi and sister.
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Hitomi playing taiko.
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 Q: Tell us about your childhood, where you grew up, and when your creativity
began.
I was born in La Jolla, California and grew up in a beach town called Solana
Beach where my family had a flower farm. The sixteen acre farm was started by my
grandparents, then split between my uncle's family on one end of the farm and my
parents on the other end. We could visit each other by walking the dirt road
between the homes. Once we were old enough, we even got to ride around on the
electric carts we used to haul flowers. I also remember my grandmother's huge
vegetable garden and fruit trees. My sister and I spent many hours playing in
the plentiful dirt.
It was interesting and sometimes hard being one of the only Asian kids in
school. And I'd say I was a "geek" (liked math, science, and took piano lessons)
before it was chic. I chose to go to college in Los Angeles, where I had total
culture shock when I found myself among crowds of Asian students.
I don't recall a time when I wasn't doing something creative - doodling,
drawing, playing music, dancing around, singing in the shower, sewing,
crocheting. Creativity even lead me to my first jobs after college in theatre
doing costumes and stage managing.
Q: To what do you attribute your talents and what inspires you?
I think I attribute my talent...what there is of it, to a long line of family
who had to make do with what we had. My family having had almost everything
taken away from them during WWII, and having to make a new life for themselves,
has been a huge inspiration to me. I am also inspired by everything in
nature...flora and fauna.
Q: How did you find PWA?
I found PWA through Barb Lindsey (Barb911). We "knew" each other from another
group and she told me about this group and the classes PWA had online.
Q: When did you begin stamping?
I think I started stamping about 6 years ago. I had been doing dry embossing,
but was getting kind of bored with it. I decided to try to add stamping with the
embossing. Once I caught the stamping bug, I had to have any and everything that
had to do with it and card making.
Q: What is your favorite stamping technique?
My favorite stamping technique is usually the one I learned or tried most
recently. So, I can't name a favorite. Lately I have been playing with my
alcohol inks and colorwash sprays in conjunction with masking fluid.
Q: Do you have any other hobbies or interests, besides Stamping?
I like to try lots of new things. At the moment, I am trying to teach myself to
knit. So far, I have only had success in making scarves, but I am fancying them
up with bead handmade bead fringe. I am much better at crocheting. I have
crocheted things like sweaters, little totes, and my favorite - baby afghans. I
try to make a baby afghan for anyone I know who is having a baby. I still do
some sewing, making myself an outfit when I can't find anything in the stores I
want to wear.
Q: Will you show us some pictures of your stamp/craft room?
Well, I will show you pictures of what it used to look like before partially
packing all my crafts for the eventual move. It's been hard creating out of
boxes. |
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Hitomi's favorite picture of
the Statue of Liberty
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Hitomi, hubby, SPCA officer, and cabbies in
Central Park (New York City).
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Hitomi's favorite picture from Hawaii's Big
Island.
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Hitomi at the Bonneville Salt Flats
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