Mikio Watanabe - About the Artist
Mikio Watanabe was born in Yokohama, Japan in 1954. After graduating from the Ecole des Beaux Arts of Tokyo in 1977, he was drawn to Paris to perfect his mezzotint technique. Admission to the prestigious Atelier 17 of Stanley William Hayter soon followed and he studied engraving there from 1979 to 1981. In 1989 he was awarded at "Salon de la Gravure Originale" in Bayeux , France and in 1992 at "Miniprint International" in Cadaques, Spain. Mikio is a member of the International Academy "Greci-Marino" in Italy. He has dedicated his work to mezzotint since 1981 and after over 50 one man exhibitions, one can now find his work in public and private collections internationally. His hand-rocked, copper plate images are Mikio's sensuous, reverent, and intimate homage to the female form, with a fine quality that bespeaks the artist's many years of devotion to his craft.
