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