Atsu Harada has recently made a bold change in both his art and his life. Born in southern Japan in 1962, Atsu followed the traditional path for Japanese men and spent more than 20 years in Tokyo's demanding corporate world. No matter how hectic life became, however, he never gave up the painting he has loved since childhood. Over those same years Atsu devoted his evenings and weekends to creating wildlife art, and from 1996 to 2001, he contributed pieces to the Howard/Mandville Gallery in Seattle, Washington.

About three years ago, Atsu began to feel limited within the wildlife genre and by his strictly representational approach. He has since turned to a more abstract style, creating portraits of water, trees and other natural beauties. His greatest leap, however, came in December 2002, when Atsu left the business world to devote himself to art full-time. It was not an easy decision, leaving a stable position as a director of marketing amid Japan's current economic troubles, but it has opened the door to a vibrant new world of inspiration and opportunities.