Create a kamon that represents your family.
1. Think about a symbol that could represent your family as a group. Here are some ways that you might come up with your symbol:
a) Think about a direct link to your last name. Perhaps it has a relationship to a specific image. For example, the sakura (cherry blossom) crest is used by the Sakurai family and the torii (shrine gate) crest is used by the Torii clan.
b) Think about an indirect link to your last name. For example, the Yoshino family adopted the sakura pattern because a place called Yoshino is famous for cherry blossoms.
c) Create a pattern based on a plant that represents this area or an animal that you may have as a pet.
d) Represent a wish for your family such as good fortune, longevity, good health. You can look up the kanji characters for these wishes and use them in your crest.
e) Commemorate a family event. For example, tradition says that when the Nanbu clan fought against the Akita clan, two cranes landed in the Nanbu’s encampment, after which the Nambu clan was victorious. So they adopted the pattern of a pair of cranes as their family crest.
2. Sketch five ideas in your sketchbook. Find pictures of each thing you are drawing in magazines or on the internet. Even if you are going to simplify them, it is important to work from observation. Color the negative space (background or empty space) in black and leave the positive space (the objects or designs) white.
3. Show your five ideas to the class, explaining the symbolism of each. Share suggestions with each other for improving the sketches.
4. Choose one sketch to revise and use for a final crest. After revisions are made in your sketchbook, draw your final draft onto contrast-o paper.
5. Cut out black areas and peel them away.