Real War is Messy

This begrimed, worn and battle-weary Samurai can never give up, only keep striking til death or victory is achieved.
 

Unlike the stylized art that prevails in Nippon this Samurai know that war is dirty, bloody and leaves one looking nothing like a beautiful warrior hero.

This Samurai has an additional secret, for behind the battle mask he is actually a she -Tomoe Cho a distant relative to the famous 12th century female Samurai hero Tomoe Gozen. Gozen now knows that while war is thrilling it is not a beautiful painting. 

Tomoe Cho is a plastic piece that I painted last week.