Be Legendary

This is an entry for the Sapporo CANvas contest. 
And the full title of this piece is technically "Sapporo x Yoshitoshi: Be Legendary." 

The contest's theme is to incorporate the Sapporo beer can or elements of the can in a piece that combines both classical and modern elements. It's a tall order for such an legendary beer. But this is what I came up with. The classical elements is represented by the black centrepiece. Kiri-e (切り絵) is a classical form of Japanese art which involves cutting patterns into a single piece of paper in order to create a scene. The black centrepiece was completed from a single black piece of paper and features not only elements of the Sapporo can, but also the artwork of legendary Ukiyo-e (浮世絵) artist Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (月岡 芳年). The height of Yoshitoshi's fame coincided with the founding of Sapporo beer in the 1870's. The modern elements frame the classical centre and expand out into a digitally rendered background with a post-modern take. The words not only encompass the creed of the Samurai, but also that of a truly legendary company. 

I hope you'll like it. 

Artist's Note:
1. Centrepiece Equipment: Cutting board, artisan cutting blade (#11), Paper: Recollections Card Stock by Michael's Inc. (65lbs/176gsm)
2. Background completed in Photoshop CS4
3. More about Tsukioka Yoshitoshi: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoshitos…
4. Brushes used: "Particle Smoke" from pstutorialsws "Blood Splatter" from nathradas "Decorative swirls" from www.obsidiandawn.com/
5. You can find the centre piece by itself here: Sapporo x Yoshitoshi: Be Legendary