"Maiko Satohana", won 1st place in the Winter 2013 Charvin Painting Contest!

http://www.jerrysartarama.com/galleries/2013/charvin-winter-painting.html

Japan sketches 2012

I became much more interested in painting from life than drawing from life in Japan in 2012, nevertheless, I still took out the sketchbook from time to time.  These are a some of the drawings I made.

bare sakura tree in autumn in Pontocho, one of the most famous Kyoto geisha districts

sakura blooms in Aomori

 

flower studies

part of a temple in Tokyo

museum sketches

Rodin bust in at an exhibition in Tokyo

another Rodin bust  in Tokyo

Van Dyck study and hand study at the National Musueum of Art- Tokyo

Springtime in Kyoto, Japan - 2013

Warmer weather is beginning to arrive in the valley where Kyoto lies and the temperature is perfect for painting outdoors.  Here are a few paintings I've done over the past couple of weeks in the various districts of Kyoto.

plein air painting in Arashiyama, about 45 minutes by bike from my apartment. The sakura were just starting to fall off the trees

bridge to Arashiyama

Daikumo-in - 6" x 11" plein air painting in Higashiyama

This is a really unique part of a temple in the Higashiyama neighborhood. It resembles the enormous, traditonal  wooden floats that are built every year for the Gion Matsuri, one of Japan's largest festivals.

Ume (plum blossoms) in bloom at Kitano Shrine.

   Plum Blossoms