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Plein Air in the Emerald Isle

9/2/2018 6:44:41 AM

I just returned from 10 days of intense painting and fun in Ireland, resulting from receiving the honor of being one of the invited guest artists in the 11th Art in the Open. This international plein air painting event was held in Wexford in Ireland's South-East region and has grown into the largest of its kind in Europe. Together with other guest artists and 200 participants from 14 countries, I painted city scenes, charming villages, castles, harbors, beaches, animals on a farm, and the typical Irish rural landscape, every day, from morning till night. I also taught 2 workshops. A variety [...]

Journey Home 2017

12/13/2017 11:32:46 PM

I couldn't believe my eyes when I picked up newspaper on the first morning at my mother's, whom I visited after a year, in Kyoto, Japan last month. My father, a scholar of French literature and philosophy, deceased ten years ago, was mentioned in the front-page column. It was with the quote of Simone Weil, a French philosopher whose work my father translated into Japanese, about factory workers she chose to work with after quitting her teaching job: "The temptation to give up thinking altogether is the most difficult one to resist:one feels so clearly that it is the only way [...]

Travel Down Under

9/13/2017 9:19:41 PM

My first trip to Oz (Australia) last month was heaps of fun and an awesome learning opportunity with a few doses of culture shock. I started my adventure in Sydney, met up with my artist friend who organized my first 2 workshops in Newcastle and Mittagong, spent a mini holiday with her in the spectacular and very windy Blue Mountains, taught another workshop in Brisbane, met up with other friends in the balmy Noosa, taught in Adelaide, took a little trip to Hahndorf, and taught in Fremantle a.k.a. Freo. At the beginning of my 5-week trip it felt like winter there [...]

Grazie Mille, Associazione Romana Acquerellisti!

7/31/2016 1:02:25 PM

I must have left my heart in Rome because I can't stop thinking about it. From a daily walk to a neighborhood bar for my morning (strong Italian) coffee, to hauling all the plein-air painting gear across town in the 98-degree heat (and in the sun), to an evening stroll (with a gelato) to chill out feeling a breeze from the Tiber, to a nightly summer rock concert in Piazza del Popolo - just to name a few. There was so much to experience, discover and learn in this city that is simply amazing on so many levels; the best way [...]

Beauty is Right Here All Around Us

3/13/2016 11:50:09 PM

"Where's your favorite place to paint (en plein air)?" This is one of the questions I get quite often from people I meet. Behind their curiosity, there are facts that I like painting outdoors and also that I travel frequently for my art and work. When I say "San Diego" (that is where I live), that seems to take some people by surprise. Perhaps they were waiting for me to say something like "Tahiti" or "Corsica"? Not that I don't like these exotic islands or other places I choose to go sometimes, it's obvious they didn't expect me to pick my [...]

Venice Without a Mask

1/28/2016 2:23:39 AM

Every winter Venice celebrates its famous Carnival (Carnevale di Venezia). I was fortunate enough to be there this year while doing work in and around the city. During the festivities, you see some people walking on the street wearing masks, elaborate gowns and beautiful dresses from the old times. There are events, balls and banquets to attend. It’s one of those times when Venice really shines with its glamour and splendor. The whole atmosphere feels almost unreal when this city shows its magical side. When I travel, I like getting to know people who live there. For a short “living like a [...]

London Calling - Making Art is Therapeutic -

11/25/2015 1:31:56 PM

After generations, London Calling (1979), a hit song by the UK punk rock band Clash, is still iconic of London. We still enjoy this song maybe without thinking too much of what the words really mean. I was a bit surprised to find out, however, when I read its lyrics because they actually portray a pretty gloomy state of their troubled times back then, and speak about their anxiety of the world going to pieces. When people stop and think about the words, it still sends us a message after decades. Perhaps that is what the songwriter intended. We often hear creative [...]

Springtime in Kyoto, Japanese Landscape Paintings

4/19/2015 7:36:51 PM

I travel around the world to conduct workshops, and no matter where I teach, I always enjoy painting the place where I happen to be at. But when it's in Kyoto, Japan (my favorite city and my hometown) and in the springtime (my favorite time), I was thrilled even before I got there. I just finished a 10-day plein-air watercolor course in Kyoto for a group of 18 people who came from many different cities and countries. When we all arrived there at the beginning of the month, cherry blossoms were in full bloom and the weather mild and pleasant. We couldn't [...]

Festival International de l'Aquarelle in Aiguillon, France

10/24/2014 2:12:02 AM

A few days ago a friend who lives in Aiguillon took me to the top of a hill behind a small village of Nicole. Just before the sunset on an unseasonably balmy day, the view from there was stunning. I could see the town of Aiguillon far down below, the vast valley where it lies and the two rivers, Lot and Garonne, which meet near the town. I felt blessed to be able to spend a marvelous week in Aiguillon, in southwestern France, to participate in the 7th International Festival of Watercolor as invited guests of honor with French artists, David Chauvin and [...]

Have Fun with Your Imagination

8/27/2014 8:20:30 PM

When it comes to choosing a subject of plein-air painting, I think I'm fairly easy. What it means is that I am pretty relaxed about what I can find to paint in most situations, even in a new place in a foreign country. In a plein-air workshop situation, it is usually a person who organizes this that is more worried than me if I like a particular view or if I see anything that is paintable for my group. As a realistic painter, I find it somewhat important to be situated in an ideal spot where there is good light and [...]

The Land of Smiles, Thai Landscape Paintings

7/1/2014 11:03:40 PM

While I am on the road teaching or for an exhibition, there is something I try to do whenever I can find a little free time. That is going to a non-touristy, ordinary neighborhood where local people live. Even for a very short time, I like and enjoy "living like a local," walking on the same street, smelling the same smell, shopping in the same market, visiting the same park with people that live there... In such a place, especially in a non-English-speaking country, it is expected that only a local language is being heard. I must admit that I would rather [...]

Northen Guangxi Province, Chinese Landscape Paintings

12/6/2013 4:51:03 AM

In Sanjiang County in the northern part of Guangxi Province, I spent some time learning about culture and traditions of some of China's minority groups. Predominantly inhabited by the Dong minority people, this region seems a bit different from the other parts of China. Perhaps because the Dong speak their own language or perhaps because of their traditional wooden architecture that still exists such as drum towers and wind and rain bridges. Most people in small villages are farmers and they were friendly to a foreigner like me. Today's painting is some of my small studies done in this region. Studies, Sanjiang [...]

San Giorgio, Venice I, Italian Landscape Painting

7/1/2013 11:21:18 AM

Painting en plein air in Venice may be every painter's dream. But, compared to painting in the comfort of an indoor studio, painting outdoors has more elements to factor in, so it can be quite challenging. For one thing, in Venice, there is a constant flow of people, mainly tourists, virtually everywhere. Yet with careful planning and a bit of luck, we can manage to set up an easel and paint without fighting a crowd even near a popular spot like San Marco. Get up and go out to paint before tourists finish their breakfast, or try it when day-trippers leave at the end [...]

Published: My Interview in InSevilla

5/2/2013 5:14:19 AM

"En Andalucía me siento como en casa"- so I was quoted in the recent interview by a journalist from InSevilla, a digital newspaper of cultural events in Seville, Spain (April 29, 2013). The article of my interview was just published in time for my watercolor workshop there. Clearly the interviewer was someone knowledgeable of watercolor painting and there were very good questions. The interview was made possible by my dear friend María José Barrera Garrido, an artist and a teacher who is well respected widely in Seville and its surrounding region. She is having a watercolor painting exhibition in May at Plaza [...]

Venice Reflections XI, Italian Landscape Painting

1/25/2013 12:02:25 AM

I am delighted and honored to announce my participation in the Les Aquarellades 2013, an international invitational watercolor exhibition. It takes place in Mons, Belgium, about 50km SSW of Brussels, from today through February 10. Four original paintings of mine, including this one, are on exhibit, together with works of other fine watercolorists selected for this show. I will also have the pleasure of doing a 2-day workshop, Saisir l'atmosphere et la lumiere en aquarelle and a demo during the event. Venice Reflections XI Click for an enlarged view. Media: Original watercolor on paper Image Size: 29 x 10 inches (74 x 25 cm) Frame/Mat: Yes Purchase: Available during exhibition. Please send me an [...]

A Room with a View - Italian Landscape Painting

1/21/2013 2:19:06 AM

A Room with a View - when a young English woman and her cousin/chaperone didn't get a room with a view they had requested at a hotel in Florence, Italy, fellow guests from England, a father and his son, offered to trade their room. Theirs had a view and the older man believed that "women like looking at a view and men don't." The view in question was the one with the Arno River and cityscape of this Renaissance city. The movie A Room with a View, based on the novel by E.M. Foster, was beautifully done, making viewers want to visit [...]

Sevilla IX, Spanish Landscape Painting

8/21/2012 7:11:06 PM

In the age of internet, it has become so much easier to "meet" other artists and enjoy each other's creations online. Despite the language barrier or the long distance, it is now possible even to make "friends" with those who live on the other side of the planet. In this sense internet is not just technology but is a useful communication tool for many of us. But it doesn't really replace face-to-face encounter which is no doubt more powerful. In Seville, Spain, I recently had a chance to meet with several watercolor artists whom I had known only via computer. They invited [...]

San Pedro Shipyard I, California Landscape Painting

5/18/2012 3:47:56 AM

Soaring high in the gray sky, the Vincent Thomas bridge looks impressive. One of the longest suspension bridges in California, it connects San Pedro and the largely industrial Terminal Island, carrying significant truck traffic for the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Seen from the San Pedro side, Terminal Island doesn't look so inviting as the nearby Catalina Island. While Catalina, known for its pristine landscapes, is a popular vacation spot in Southern California, Terminal Island is... not. Here all we see seems to be colossal cargo vessels, heavy equipment, and lots and lots of containers being loaded and unloaded. To [...]

La Seine, Paris V, French Landscape Painting

4/9/2012 8:30:32 AM

Cities like Paris seem to have such charm that they make you dream of things both ordinary and extraordinary. For instance, thinking of Paris makes me dream of strolling down a street with a baguette in hand or living on a luxurious houseboat on the Seine. In Paris I always enjoy walking along the river banks to see all the boats, especially the ones with their owners living inside. What a life it must be to wake up to a view of the Eiffel Tower and be able to take your house out to sea! La Seine, Paris V Click here for an enlarged [...]

White Lovers II, Japanese Landscape Painting

3/13/2012 6:31:07 AM

For many people, last month's Valentine's Day may be a thing of the past. However, in some Asian countries, the whole thing doesn't really end until March 14, which is called White Day. In Japan, for example, it is expected that you know the unwritten rules: if you're a man and received chocolate from a woman on February 14, you are supposed to reciprocate one month later by giving her something equally nice or better. I think it's safe to say the overall tone of this practice is fairly light-hearted, which is enjoyed more like a game by most people. Depicted in [...]

White Lovers, Japanese Landscape Painting

2/14/2012 4:15:27 AM

I remember all the excitement surrounding February 14 when I was growing up in Japan. On Valentine's Day, it was customary for girls to give chocolate to boys. So, for days (or perhaps for weeks, it seemed) before the big day, candy stores were packed with girls looking for a perfect box of chocolate for their someone special. But that was not the end. Men and boys who received a gift were supposed to give women something in return on March 14, which was called White Day. I wonder if this tradition still continues today? In today's painting is a couple walking [...]

Monterey and Carmel Beach Paintings

9/3/2011 4:28:39 AM

"What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness." -- John Steinbeck (From Travels with Charley: In Search of America) In the U.S., when Labor Day comes around, we feel summer is coming to an end. Or at least some of us seem to be mentally programmed to believe so. At a day's end on this small beach near Cannery Row in Monterey, shadows thrown by the setting sun were getting longer every minute, looking as if they were playing with waves. Who said summer never ends in California? As days get shorter, we do feel [...]

More Paintings of Istanbul, Turkey

7/5/2011 4:02:02 PM

In Istanbul, it doesn’t take long for any first-time visitors to notice a loud melodic male voice coming from a mosque several times a day. My Turkish friend told me five times a day this Islamic call to prayer is announced via a public address system. Since there are so many mosques, or camii as they are called in Turkish, chances are you are almost always within an easy reach of one, especially in the old part of the city. As soon as you hear the "song," you will see many local people, mostly grown men and some boys, cleanse their hands and feet and [...]

La Seine, Paris II (Le Petit Pont), French Landscape Painting

6/15/2011 4:29:10 AM

On the coat of arms of Paris is a silver vessel that sails on the rough waters. We may not see a ship like this from the Middle Ages on the Seine River any more, but the importance of the river in trade and transportation hasn't changed throughout Paris' history. Le Petit Pont (The Small Bridge), connecting the the Île de la Cité and the Left Bank, is one of the first bridges built over the Seine when Paris was still called Lutetia in the Gallo-Roman era. It was a wooden bridge back then and served as a strong fortress protecting the [...]

La Seine, Paris I, French Landscape Painting

6/5/2011 5:48:28 AM

There are two Paris must-do's that I haven't done yet despite numerous visits there over the years - a cruise on the Seine and the Eiffel Tower. It may be that a part of me thinks they are just too touristy so I keep avoiding but another part of me, I admit, wonders if I'm missing out on a lot. I always walk down to the water's edge or cross some of the bridges to enjoy watching people along the quays and boats traveling up and down the river. I just love being part of the scene that is full of life [...]

Eiffel Tower, Paris II - French Landscape Painting

4/12/2011 7:34:01 AM

Eiffel Tower, Paris II You say it's an absolute beauty and one of the first things you must see in Paris? Rather, you are of the opinion that it's such an eyesore you can't stand it? There seems to be two kinds of visitors to Paris when it comes to their opinions about the Eiffel Tower. Whether you take one side over the other (or fall somewhere in between), wouldn't you agree that Paris wouldn't be the same without it? Weighing 10,100 tons, soaring 324 meters tall, it is a massive structure, and I must say that getting an up-close-and-personal look at the [...]

Carnevale in Venice

3/3/2011 11:05:35 AM

It's time for carnevale in Venice. This year's festivities have already begun last month and will end on March 8 with a huge party to end all parties. People walk on the streets, wearing costumes and traditional Venetian masks. There are extravagant balls, concerts, parades on canals. This is a big winter celebration, 40 days before Easter, when Venice transforms itself into a mysterious world of elegance and magic. Gondolier, Venice, Italy XI Click here for an enlarged view. Media: Original watercolor on paperImage Size: 10 x 6 inches (25 x 15 cm)Mat: Yes (15 x 10 inches; white) Frame: No Purchase: Sold Venice Reflections X Venice Reflections [...]

Gondolier X, Venice Italy Painting

2/28/2011 7:02:09 AM

San Bartolomeo is a church tucked away behind the Rialto Bridge. Some time after its foundation in the 9th century, it became the church of the German trading community that enjoyed an active commerce in this area. The bell tower was constructed when the church was rebuilt following the 1688 earthquake. The onion shaped dome with an octagonal drum is visible from the Grand Canal. The traffic on the Grand Canal, Venice's main waterway, is always very busy near the Rialto Bridge, with all kinds of boats going up and down and across the corridor. But skilled gondoliers would just paddle their [...]

Awajishima Island, Hyogo, Japan

1/9/2011 2:39:30 AM

To begin crossing the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge is an exciting moment. And rightly so because it is the world's longest suspension bridge that connects the city of Kobe on Honshu the main island and Awajishima Island, more than 2 miles away. The day I traveled to Awajishima was quite windy, making me wonder if it was safe to cross. But I was assured by my travel companion that the bridge was constructed to withstand gusty winds and even strong earthquakes. This engineering marvel already looked very sleek from far away and its up-close views impressed me even more. I couldn't help but notice, [...]

Takayama, Gifu IV & V, Japanese Landscape Paintings

1/4/2011 2:41:51 AM

When I, as a child, first saw a tree caged in a pyramid-shaped structure made of ropes, I thought they were for Christmas decorations. Later I learned that it was a horticultural technique called yukitsuri (meaning "snow hanging") to protect tree branches from the weight of wet, heavy snow. The idea must have been invented out of necessity but it is simply a unique form of art by itself, especially to someone like me who grew up in a place where snow was rare. Recently when I visited a morning market in the town of Takayama, I saw yukitsuri already set up [...]

Takayama, Gifu, Japan

12/26/2010 7:15:13 AM

Over the mountains and past small villages, getting to Takayama can be an enjoyable trip in and of itself. During winter months, thick snow can be seen on the ground, and the frigid temperature can often be expected. A fairly large town in the remote region in the northern part of Gifu Prefecture, Takayama welcomes visitors with its unique charm that has especially attracted those looking for the image of Old Japan. In all of these three paintings, everyday scenes in the old section of the town are depicted. The bright red bridge (Nakabashi) in the first painting, is one of the [...]

San Diego Workshops

12/10/2010 8:28:34 AM

Last weekend I had so much fun with a group of 25 very enthusiastic students who attended my workshop at the Education Center of the San Diego Watercolor Society. I did four demos over two days and in between everyone was busy painting, learning, critiquing, exchanging ideas, socializing and inspiring each other. Here are some photos and some of my demo paintings. I am scheduled to do another weekend workshop, Capturing Light and Atmosphere in Watercolor, at the San Diego Watercolor Society in September, 2011. Register early at the SDWS website. Firenze, Italy IX Julian VII Barrio Logan, San Diego II Click [...]

North American Watercolor Artists To Represent the U.S. in the 9th International Watercolor Biennial in Mexico

11/13/2010 6:02:56 AM

It is with great pleasure that I announce that Kathleen Alexander, Carol Carter, Mark E. Mehaffey, Thomas W. Schaller, Nicholas Simmons and myself have formed the North American Watercolor Artists, a group of six U.S. watercolor artists, to represent the United States in the IX International Watercolor Biennial in Mexico. The exhibition will be held at the National Museum of Watercolor in Mexico City, December 5, 2010 through February 13, 2011. Artists representing countries in five continents are participating in the Biennial, which is invitation-only. Begun in 1994, the purpose of the Biennial is to establish or enhance friendly relationships among watercolor [...]

Izumo Canal II, Japanese Landscape Painting

10/7/2010 2:46:53 AM

Whether they are plein-air studies or studio creations based on my reference photos, my paintings are my emotional response to the inspiration. Although I am constantly looking for a new idea, I stop and look or listen whenever the old inspiration speaks to me again. I painted the same canal in Izumo, Japan last year (click here to see the painting). Revisiting the same subject matter is rare for me but I enjoy it, or rather I cannot deny the urge to respond when the old inspiration has resurfaced. Technically speaking, it's like musicians remixing their song to create [...]

La Jolla Art Association 1st Annual Southern California Black & White Juried Exhibition

9/25/2010 10:32:54 PM

The artists' reception for the 1st Annual Southern California Black & White Juried Exhibition attracted a huge crowd on September 24 at the La Jolla Art Association (LJAA) Gallery. I am pleased to have my watercolor "Zhouzhuang, China V" chosen to be in the show by Manuelita Brown, a juror. This is a very unique exhibition where only works devoid of any colors other than black, white or shades of gray were eligible. If you're in the vicinity, I hope you will visit the show, which runs through October 10 at the LJAA Gallery. Zhouzhuang, China V Click here [...]

Santa Barbara III & IV, California Landscape Paintings

9/7/2010 2:35:11 AM

Just being at a beautiful beach is a treat in and of itself, but spending some time there doing what we really love makes it an unforgettable, rewarding experience. For me, it is of course painting. I saw many catamarans landed on this beach while visiting Santa Barbara and couldn't resist doing what I love. The weather was a little fickle, foggy one minute and sunny the next, but at a place like this, any time is a good time for some quick paintings. Santa Barbara, California IV Santa Barbara, California III A larger digital file [...]

Malibu II, California Landscape Painting

8/24/2010 3:11:45 AM

Malibu's geographical setting is so dramatic that an opportunity to paint any part of it is just too hard to pass up. A little further north on the Pacific Coast Highway from Santa Monica, the city of Malibu lies on a narrow strip of land between deep canyons and beaches. When my eyes caught a view of Malibu from this angle, I really liked the way it gave me a strong sense of place and that everything seemed to flow from the canyon side toward the ocean in one gentle, sweeping motion. Malibu, California II Click here for an enlarged [...]

Zhouzhuang, China IV, Chinese Landscape Painting

8/20/2010 2:26:40 AM

In an ancient water village like Zhouzhuang, narrow waterways and bridges are well integrated into daily life. Here's a painting of a boat sliding under one of the stone arch bridges. I don't know exactly why but I love painting bridges - not just because of their beautiful shapes, but perhaps because of what they signify as well on a broader sense. In fact, I was touched when I learned of an interesting story about a painting of one of the bridges in Zhouzhuang. The painting was done by a well-known Chinese painter Chen Yifei (1946-2005). Here's what happened after [...]

Zhouzhuang, China III, Chinese Landscape Painting

8/18/2010 2:11:00 AM

Zhouzhuang is one of the remaining ancient water villages in the south of Jiangsu Province in China. Surrounded by lakes and rivers, the village with more than 900 years of history offers a glimpse of what life used to be like in the olden days. Fairly accessible either from Shanghai or from Suzhou, it is a popular place with day-trippers who visit to enjoy a boat cruise up and down on the canals inside the village. I don't think comparing it to another famous canal city further west would do it any justice, but Zhouzhuang or the nearby region is [...]

Bridges over the Tiber, Rome, Italy

7/25/2010 2:12:55 AM

It is interesting to see on a map how Rome is divided into two sections by the River Tiber. Compared to the bigger east side with all the famous monuments, the west side may be less well-known but has a distinctively unique character. When I'm in Rome, I like walking through back alleys to come to the riverbanks of the Tiber. In Roma, Italia XXXII is one of the bridges near the Castel Sant'Angelo, and Roma, Italia XXXIII shows a view from it. Watching the river run and taking in the surrounding scenery from this bridge, I think of [...]