Phil Couture: Art Daily: 2013

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Short poses in Osaka, Japan

This morning I traveled to Osaka, about an hour away from Kyoto, to check out a nude figure drawing class at Osaka Art Center. After a bike ride, two train rides, and a taxi, I arrived at the class just before it was about to begin. It was a 3 hour session of 10 minute, 5 minute, 3 minute, and 1 minute short poses of a nude figure. It's been over a year since the last time that I drew from a live model and I always forget how incredibly beneficial it is. I wish I found this class sooner. Overall, I was happy with my sketches and I'll be going back twice a week for the other classes they offer, hopefully improving my drawing skills each time.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Osaka, Arashiyama, and Kobe

These are some sketches and paintings I did over the past few weeks while visiting Osaka, Kobe, and Arashiyama.

Watercolor attempt of Shitennoji Temple - The oldest temple in Osaka

Bouzouki Sketch

Arashiyama - Western Kyoto

Jinriki-sya sketch at the Kobe City Museum

Kobe Mosque - It started to rain, hence the warped paper

Female japanese hairstyles throughout the 18th and 19th century.

Bamboo forest in Arashiyama - 6" x 9" - oil on canvas

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Painting in Amsterdam, Athens and the Greek Islands- 2013

This summer, my wife and I took a trip to Greece for three weeks. After flying into Amsterdam from Japan, we hopped on a plane to Athens, spent a couple of days there, then took ferries to the Cycladic Islands of Milos and Santorini and rented apartments by the sea. The next couple of weeks were glorious days of painting, swimming, lamb and ouzo.

1st painting upon arrival in Milos.

"Afternoon off the Coast of Milos" - 6" x 9" oil on canvas board

quick lamppost drawing in pen on a canal in Amsterdam

"View of Mt. Parnitha" - 8" x 10" oil on canvas

Athens, Greece

The perilous paradise that is Papafragas beach. Getting down to the bottom is an "enter at your own risk" situation.

Papafragas Beach

"Papafragas Beach" - 9" x 12" oil on canvas board

time for a swim!

a face carved into the side of the cliff

" Mitakas Beach" - 6" x 9" oil painting on panel - north Milos Island, Greece

Baglama (small Greek instrument) sketches

Santorini

"Oia Village, Santorini" - 9" x 12" oil painting on panel

a quick sketch of one of the many blue-domed churches perched on the mountains of Santorini.

plein air painting in Plaka, the capital of Milos Island in Greece.

Graphite study of the Head of Anytos at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, Greece

Statuette of a Boy

Head of a boar 350 BC

horse detail of wall relief 1st c B.C.

This was part of a special exhibition featuring sculpture and artifacts found from the Antikthera shipwreck at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. The sections of the sculptures that were buried in the sediment of the sea bed were well preserved while the other parts, that were left exposed, had eroded over 2000 years. The effect of the eroded sections contrasting with the preserved sections were really stunning and were my favorite pieces in the museum.

"The Acropolis" - 8" x 10" oil on canvas

quick Diana sketch

more greek sculpture

wild lily

"Evening off the Coast of Milos"

"Papikinou beach" 8" x 12" oil painting on Milos Island

At Red Beach on the southern part of Santorini. The beach and surrounding mountain was a beautiful rust red. The juxtaposition of the turquoise water and the red beach was stunning and surreal.

6" x 9" -1 hour oil sketch on the shores of Red Beach. These small paintings are fun because I don't feel pressure to make something amazing. They are meant to be quick records of light and color and left looking loose and immediate.

"Red Beach" - 8" x 10" - oil on canvas board

The beaches of Santorini are known for their unusually colorful volcanic beaches.

Some beaches, especially Tsigrado Beach, were actually quite dangerous to get to, especially with painting gear. This picture doesn't do it justice, but we basically had to use a rope to hoist ourselves down the narrow, slippery passage till we reached the ladder. The only way to and from the beach, except by boat.