Painting pagodas in Kyoto

There is a saying in Japan that if you throw a stone in Tokyo, you'll hit a subway and if you throw a stone in Kyoto, you'll hit a temple.  There are over 1600 temples in Kyoto and over 400 shrines.  What is the difference between a temple and a shrine?  A temple is for buddhism and a shrine is for shinto.  I am fascinated with the Japanese temples' and shrines' unique architecture, in particular the pagodas that can found at some of them.  As summer is quickly approaching in Kyoto, I decided to take advantage of the last "cooler" days in the city and paint some of the local pagodas.

Hokanji pagoda

 Hokanji  pagoda

Kiyomizu pagoda

these are some more pagodas I painted earlier in the year

Toji Temple pagoda- the tallest in Japan

Kiyomizu pagoda

April 2013 BoldBrush Painting Competition Finalist Award!

This month, my painting, "Young Maiko (apprentice geisha)", was awarded the April 2013 BoldBrush Painting Competition Finalist Award!

Painting by the Kamo river

April weather and clear skies make for a nice day painting by the river in northern Kyoto.

6" x 9" oil on canvas board

 "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

                  

Japan Sketchbook 2011

  These are some sketches from my first arrival to Tokyo, Japan as well as drawings I did in Kyoto and Nagoya, and drawings I did in between plein air painting in northern Japan.

section of a gate at Nijo castle - Kyoto 2011

Greek statue at an exhibit in Tokyo

quick sketches at a cafe in Tokyo

popular canned coffee brand

art neuveau ash tray

 Harold Speed drawing study

Bust studies

quick Tori gate study for a painting

shishi (lion dog) statue in Kyoto

Torou sketch

paper lanterns in Kyoto

shishi statue study at Yasaka shrine - Kyoto

Rhino studies at the Ueno zoo in Tokyo

goldfish study