In Yasuo Araki's acrylic paintings, hearts, birds, stars, fish and fairies are featured often.
His ethereal artworks represent symbols of peace and have been seen at galleries around the world including in his native Japan, a country where at the age of six he witnessed the horrors of the Second World War.
The middle child of six, Araki learned his craft from his father, a watch maker, who would teach his boy about watercolours and would share his dream about living in the United States one day.
After graduating from high school, Araki moved to Tokyo, where he worked and, at night, studied graphic design through the Musashino Art College.
But he always remembered his father's words and tried to get a visa to the U.S.
When he was rejected, Araki turned to the Canadian Embassy for help. After three years of being told 'no' because of his profession as an artist as well as his lack of contact in Canada and language barrier, officials gave him the OK to immigrate.
In 1968, with a small suitcase full of paint brushes and a bit of money from his family, Araki flew from Tokyo to Vancouver via Alaska, and hoped he would land with a job as soon possible. Within the week, his prayers were answered. During a visit to Powell Street - commonly known at that time as Japantown or Little Tokyo - he saw a sign in a shop window, written in Japanese characters, calling for a gardener. Araki got the contract for eight months, labouring 10 hours a day for seven days a week. He loved the greenery - a change from the concrete walls he was used to in Tokyo. "I was so glad to come to Canada," he said.
In the meantime, he painted every chance he could. When the job was over, Araki poured over English books and tried to look for employment.
In 1969, at the age of 30, a door opened for Araki when he was hired as a graphic designer for Pier One Imports in Vancouver. It was a steady job for a while until the business went sour and it wasn't able to pay him. Araki asked the company to use part of its space to open a gallery in lieu of a salary.
Around this time, Araki struck luck again when he was invited to take part in a show at the PNE called Wonderful World of Art, highlighting the skills of artists from Canada, China and Japan. Araki gained media attention and built up his network."I got a lot of confidence with this," he said of the exhibit that he was part of for six years.
With sales at his Vancouver gallery unsteady, Araki - now a Canadian citizen - took a job as a graphic artist with B.C.'s Ministry of Education. During that decade, he exhibited regularly in Metro Vancouver, Seattle and Japan. As well, he founded the Century Art Group to promote cultural understanding through art.
But with Expo 86 came another chapter in his life: At the newly built Pan Pacific Hotel, the father of three displayed many of his paintings, which were seen by international visitors.
Three years later, the Port Moody resident signed a deal to open Araki Gallery International in the hotel lobby - a space that has doubled as a studio and a retail shop for the past 25 years.
And he has done well, welcoming international purchasers mostly from the United States. Araki has also had a visit from Brian Mulroney, then prime minister. It is his gallery guests from whom he draws his creative inspirations.
"People have great potential," Araki said. "I talk to them and I can pick up their beautiful heart When they speak, in my mind I'm making an image of what to paint next."
Tomorrow (Thursday), the 74-year-old will exhibit 25 new works at the Port Moody Public Library, a display that will remain for a month - and the first time Araki has displayed in his hometown since he moved to the Tri-Cities 26 years ago.
Asked when he plans to retire, Araki said, "Why? What shall I do? I have had a good life. I don't have any regrets As an artist, our message is peace and I hope to do this forever."
