The Year of The Monkey

I have always been charmed and fascinated with the Chinese Zodiac.  Every year I create an image to celebrate the Lunar New Year.   This year, the painting is hand painted on wood to create a soft warm texture that shows up in our high quality digital print.

Represented are some of my favorite monkeys – the flying monkeys from “The Wizard of Oz” and the Hear No Evil monkeys along the top.

It is available on my Etsy Page as either post cards or a gallery quality print

(Click on Image to link to Items)

 

2016 is the Chinese Year of the Monkey. This Chinese New Year 2016 starts from February 8th, 2016 up to January 27th, 2017. This year belongs to the element Fire. And the Chinese lucky color for 2016 is symbolized by the color red.
The Monkey is the ninth sign in Chinese astrology. Number “9” is associated with ambition, activity, smartness, mischief and adventure.

“The Chinese New Year of the Fire Monkey will start on February 8, 2016 – the second New Moon after the Solstice. Although a lively, optimistic and progressive year where finances, politics, and real estate should see an upturn, there will be a decided undercurrent of insecurity. Everyone wants to work the shrewdest angle, get the best deal, and win big. However, business decisions made this year should be based on fact, not emotion. Problems and chicanery abound, so nothing this year should be taken for granted, whether politically, financially, professionally, domestically or emotionally.
A particularly auspicious time for new inventions, the Year of the Monkey is for taking risks and being rebellious, a year where agile, inventive minds, sheer guts and bravado will win out. Now is the time of courage, action, anarchy, and true devotion to even the wildest of schemes, a time to start new endeavors, for they are destined to succeed under Monkey’s influence. But a word to the wise: those who can hang on for the wild ride, outsmart the confidence-trickster, and bluff their way through will come out unscathed. Those who are dull or slow witted, and can’t handle the stress will come unglued.
On the individual level, do go ahead with your life. Move forward, make strides, and stretch out for what may lay ahead. The Year Of The Monkey 2016 is a time for business considered as risky, and here the seeds of unplanned success lays. Run with ideas, embrace the inventive, and don’t look back.
Remember that this year will reward the individual effort and those who place their trust in the group collective will face disappointment.” from Chinese Horoscope

Fire Element
Elements of Fire include:
• Color: Red
• Symbol: Phoenix
• Season: Summer
• Day: Tuesday
• Planet: Mars
Fire is passionate about life. Fire years are often thrilling, passionate, full of parties, joy, quick wit and charm. Highly Spirited.

 

Maneki-Neko

 

Commonly referred to as Lucky Cat or Beckoning Cat.  Maneki-Neko is the name of this  Japanese lucky charm or talisman often believed to bring good luck to his owner. The cat appears to westerners to be waving but, this is the Japanese gesture for “come here” – a beckoning gesture. Maneki-Neko has been represented here in the colors blue, white and gold as these are the colors of good fortune for the lunar year 2016 or The Year of the Monkey in the Chinese Zodiac.
Many shop keepers traditionally will place Maneki-Neko in their windows to insure successful business. At home it is best to place him in bedrooms or places of study to bring about favorable results and life success.

Lucky Cat is available on my Etsy Page as a 16″ x 20″ print.
This is a great gift to give a loved one as they are beginning a new endeavor such as college, marriage, or business.

Cheers for more luck in the coming year!

Love,
Daisy