Reference image: Five Named Osaka Geiko 1910's

Geiko, more commonly known as Geisha, are traditional Japanese artists who dance, sing and play music. The black kimono is the most formal kimono a Japanese married woman may wear. But Geiko don't marry a man, they "marry" their profession. This is why, on the day they become Geiko, they wear this black kimono, and have a ceremony which has similarities with traditional Japanese weddings.

Earlier I made a skin of a Maiko. A Maiko is an apprentice Geiko. Whereas the Maiko is made to look colorful, with more pink in their make-up, flowers in their hair and vibrant patterns on their kimono, Geiko dress themselves more subtly. A Geiko can dance, sing and play so beautifully that she needs no excessive accessories, and no (excessive) colors either. Some older Geiko don't even wear a wig, make-up or a long kimono when they perform, and purely rely on their skill.




With a white face and black kimono, a traditional Japanese Geiko felt like a perfect subject for a skin in the grayscale contest. Especially since Geiko are beautiful for their performance and not for how colorful they look. I took forever to finish this skin. I started with a black canvas and painted on it with transparent grays and white. The gray "dots" on her shoulders are okiya (geisha house) crests. I really wanted to have great contrast in this skin, much like the reference image. I used the blackest black and whitest white. Hope you like this skin as much as I do! :D