Ginko Otaka MDA, TDA was born in Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture, Japan, a city known for its abundant water and greenery. Since she was a young child, she has had a deep love for flowers. She would often stand still, captivated by blooming flowers, losing track of time.

During her kindergarten years, her mother gifted her watercolor paints. She was naturally drawn to the world of imagination, color, and expressing herself through art. Before she knew it, Ginko had become engrossed in artistic activities.

While working as a decoupage artist, she discovered the art of decorative painting using acrylics. In 1991, she attended a painting convention in Salt Lake City, Utah, for the first time. The town seemed to be immersed in a festive atmosphere of painting, as decorative painting was flourishing in the United States at the time.

For the next 26 years, Ginko participated in painting conventions held across various locations in the United States. To deepen her knowledge, she made numerous trips to the U.S.

In 1997, she passed the certification program exam for decorative painting, and in 2003, she achieved success in the final category of still life, earning the title of Master Decorative Painting Artist. 

The following year, Ginko began participating as a member of the judging panel from Japan. She has been a member of the judging panel six times and continues to contribute to this role. 

Ginko has a deep love for floral painting, still life, and stroke work. She works with both oil and acrylic paints, and primarily paints on enamel materials, glass, and miscellaneous items that can be used in everyday life. She aspires to create art that brings excitement and joy. Every morning, her day begins with being woken up by her two cats, who bring her comfort.

Currently, Ginko is dedicated to spreading the joy of painting, making it accessible to everyone and incorporating it into their daily lives. As she is fond of enamel, she primarily paints on enamelware, which she refers to as “Enamel Painting.” She uses various materials such as metal, glass, ceramics, and tin, highlighting the base color of each material and painting on top of it. Therefore, sanding and basecoating are not necessary.

Ginko uses Pebeo’s Porcelaine 150 paints, which offer beautiful color reproduction. After baking in a household oven, the colors become permanent, eliminating the need for troublesome varnishing. 

She also enjoys capturing photographs of her artworks. Ginko paints with excitement, not only for the pleasure of creating and admiring, but also to incorporate the artwork into daily life. She aims to capture the atmosphere and actions surrounding the artwork through photography, creating an experience that excites those who see it.

She also has a passion for growing plants and cooking. As she lives in an apartment, Ginko enjoys balcony gardening, mainly cultivating small flowers, mint, basil, and other herbs. She uses these balcony herbs to enhance her cooking and enjoys them in teas.

The world has entered a new era due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Ginko’s activities have also shifted online, allowing her to connect with painters from all over Japan without leaving her home. Eventually, she hopes to expand her paintings to an international audience through online platforms.