While working on my Ancient Warriors collection, I knew I wanted to include a strong female figure, and I also knew that I obviously had to paint a ninja in this collection. I have also been fascinated by geishas for as long as I can remember. As I started to do some research, I learned about the Kunoichi, female ninjas who were skilled in infiltration and espionage. They often posed as actresses or prostitutes, and I thought it would be interesting to imagine a Kunoichi who was also a geisha. In the painting, the geisha is shown from behind, with her back and profile showing and her vibrant cheeks looking down at her sword. This adds to the sense of mystery and emotion that I wanted to convey. The name of the painting, Clandestine, reflects this idea of secrecy and hidden identities. The background of the painting is also important. I wanted to create a sense of luxury and opulence, with gold dripping down and splashing onto the geisha’s short sword, her shoulders, and her head. Overall, I hope this painting captures the beauty, danger, and mystery of the geisha and the Kunoichi.