Lola Jovan Art Musings and Random Thoughts

Hakken

7/14/2025

Hakken

LISTEN to the blog by clicking the DOWNLOAD link above

Hakken
(Japanese Werewolf)
pen and ink on wood panel
8 x 12 x .75 inches
This item is unframed but ready to hang
(click on the image to purchase)

Man is to man either a god or a wolf -Desiderius Erasmus

I keep returning to werewolves.

Maybe because they are openly very human. By which I mean they are savage and they know it, and also good and they know it. Sometimes they are overcome by the moon and do savage things. But mainly they are just everyday folks like you and like me.

I mean, a werewolf wants to fall in love, to build a life, to raise a family or have an illustrious career (or both), to find peace in the world and to find fulfillment as a being. She just gets tripped up by the moon sometimes.

On my on-going journey of embracing self-compassion as a lifestyle, I look my own inner werewolf in the eye daily. At first I could not. I could not look at that part of me directly - had to slyly skirt around the side if you know what I mean? But now I can (usually) look at her with an open mind and an open heart, understand what her triggers (full moons) are and why they are there. And accept her as a worthy being regardless.

It isn't always easy, of course.

It is, however, always messy.

Werewolves just aren't that neat, and we don't expect them to be.

About the art: last week reader Carol mentioned the written description of the art process for these pen and inks on wood panel wasn't exactly clear (my words, not hers, but that's the gist of it) and I agree! Thank you, Carol, for pointing it out.

So here is a video - soup to nuts, how to do it, and a little animation bonus at the end!

If you have trouble with this imbedded video loading, here is a link to it on Youtube.

The July Reader Giveaway continues! Leave a comment on any blog post this month to be automatically entered to win a piece of original art - free!

And thanks for reading, subscribing and sharing this blog. You, dear readers, make this little space sparkle! xo

10 Comments

Author

Lola Jovan

Dorothy H Seiter

7/13/2025 04:35:25 pm

WOW. FABULOUS video of your FABULOUS (inner!) werewolf. OMG I LOVE watching your process! And I'm fascinated by your innate sense of how to ground a piece.

What a gift through your blog to be privy to your creating with pen, ink, paint, wood, paper, yupo, found objects, and words. THANK YOU, Lola!!!!!

lola

7/14/2025 03:12:41 pm

Dotty!! Hoooooraaaaaay! Thank you so much for your feedback and for enjoying the video! I will do more of them in the future. If. my inner werewolf lets me - ha ha! xoxoxo

Thea Fiore-Bloom link

7/14/2025 02:33:27 pm

OMG OMG OMG I loved the video, it made me run down to my studio to try stuff.
You are a light, a vision. Thanks for making that.
My jaw literally dropped watching you draw! You are so good!
And the animation made my jaw drop even wider!
GO YOU!
You are amazing.
Thanks for being my hero, and flying fearlessly.

7/14/2025 03:13:37 pm

Thea!!! Woooohooooo! If the video made you want to try stuff, then it was a huge success! HUZZAH!

Thank you so much for your feedback, your support and for running to your studio to create! yay! xoxo

Carl Stoveland

7/14/2025 04:18:46 pm

What a great image. It’s very powerful. My inner werewolf’s triggers I may need to stand in front of a mirror and figure that out. It’s useful info on the journey.

7/14/2025 04:32:03 pm

Carl!! Thank you. And yes, we have to know the inner werewolf. Not only to love him or her, but to utilize its powers. Mighty wolves - channeled, they are game-changers! xo

Carol Edan link

7/17/2025 05:39:52 am

Thanks so much for the video! Yes, I understand the process better now! Alas, my panels were sealed with a white primer so no natural wood.
We do all have a bit of the werewolf in us, we just don't want to look him/her in the face, rather the werewolf of others.
Oh, those animations! WOOOOOOOOOOOW

7/18/2025 03:17:21 pm

Carol!!! Yay! Thanks so much for inspiring the video! I appreciate you!!!! White primer is also beautiful through the pen and ink. I hope you will try it?

And yes! We all have an inner werewolf...that just may want to be ANIMATED! Yeeeehaaaaaw!

Sara Van Horn

7/21/2025 11:11:42 am

This was a really cool video to see! I had no idea of your process, but I really enjoyed watching it! I wouldn't have thought of the idea of the cutout!

Maybe I need to spend a little time looking my werewolf in the eye as well. Maybe that's the way to learn how to grow past the place I am stuck at. Focus on the things that aren't right and how I move beyond those things that hold me in place. I like that idea.

7/21/2025 05:34:49 pm

Sara!!! Thank you for enjoying the process video! A little peek behind the curtain, so to speak. :)

I like to imagine you eye-to-eye with your inner werewolf! A powerful moment. Moving beyond the things that want to grab us by the ankles and hold us in place is part of our own hero's journey. It is not easy! But bravely do it anyway, fierce woman! xoxoxoxo

Hakken

Leave a Reply.

Author

Categories

Hakken

Leave a Reply.

Author

Get Mail!

Categories