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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 [...]

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 [...]

Quick studies made even quicker with W&N markers

10/22/2015 6:56:54 PM

It is a huge honor that I was named a brand ambassador by Winsor & Newton earlier this year. One of their products that I have become particularly fond of is their watercolor markers. Colors so vibrant and of fine quality are a pure joy to play with. I have also found its versatility incredible, and its portability hard not to love, especially for a constant traveler like myself. Being an avid plein-air painter, I prefer setting up on site to do even sketches with paints and brushes. There is no problem in most cases as my landscapes subject doesn't move and [...]

The Truth in Us Artists

8/13/2015 3:44:56 PM

"I paint my own reality. The only thing I know is that I paint because I need to, and I paint whatever passes through my head without any other consideration." - Frida Kahlo Have you ever found yourself deep in thought, wondering why in the world you paint? There are millions of other things to choose from but yet we painters choose to pick up a brush and paint. Each artist may have his own answer to this question but I think the single truth in the core of it is this: because we need to. As an international watercolor workshop instructor, [...]

World Watermedia Exposition & Workshop in Thailand

6/17/2014 3:13:12 AM

The World Watermedia Exposition in Thailand (WWET) is truly a world-class watercolor event. In recognition of the importance and popularity of watermedia, the Office of Contemporary Art and Culture (Ministry of Culture of Thailand) organized the first international exhibition in Bangkok where 289 watermedia works are currently on view. 116 international artists and 30 Thai artists have been selected to participate in the show which runs until July 20 at the Ratchadamnoen Contemporary Art Center in Bangkok. I was deeply honored to be invited by the Director-General of the Office of Contemporary Art and Culture to participate both in the exhibition and [...]

Dim Sum, Hong Kong III, Interior Painting

12/11/2013 8:31:06 AM

Eating with a family or friends means sharing some time together over a meal but in some cultures it is literally sharing the same dishes among those present. In Chinese culture, people normally sit at a round table and put several dishes in the center. In each dish there is a different kind of food - stir-fried meat and vegetables, steamed fish, roasted chicken, dumplings, soup, for example. There may be a pair of communal chopsticks for serving but it's quite common that they use their own chopsticks to take whatever they want. This way everyone sees each other and both [...]

Man Mo Temple, Hong Kong I, Interior Painting

12/5/2013 8:34:55 AM

Life in Hong Kong is fast-paced. In the downtown financial district it is even more so. Not far from this busiest part of Hong Kong, Man Mo Temple stands among high-rises. But the inside is a world apart from the outside. It is a quiet place of worship for people who come here to pray to the Gods of literature and of war. Large cone-shaped coils of incense are hung everywhere with people's wishes written inside. Smoke from these coils slowly escapes from the opening on the ceiling as the light filtered through smoke comes in to add mystical ambiance. Man Mo Temple, [...]

On the Road (4) - France, Interior Paintings

11/28/2013 5:26:21 PM

Recently I wrote a blog post about my workshop experience in southern Spain - how a lunchtime is taken rather seriously over there. Another country where lunch is enjoyed with vigor is France. I have taught quite a number of workshops in this country. I have found the time they take for lunch may not as long as in Spain but on many occasions lunch is a sit-down ritual, starting with a serious look at the menu and ending with a plate of various kinds of cheeses and/or incredible sweets. Bottles of wine are also a common sight on the table. Even if we don't [...]

On the Road (3) - Spain, Interior Paintings

11/27/2013 3:31:13 AM

It is interesting to note how we spend a lunchtime differs from culture to culture. In the workshops I do in the U.S. and Japan, for instance, we take a fairly quick lunch. And it is not unusual to see some students painting, while nibbling a sandwich, throughout a lunch break, which lasts one hour or less. I went to Seville in southern Spain earlier this year to teach 2 workshops for local watercolor artists. Over there a lunchtime seemed to be taken a bit more seriously. In the morning, we worked from 10am to 1pm. Then, we had lunch. For one hour? No. [...]

On the Road (1) - U.S., Interior Paintings

11/21/2013 10:35:58 PM

I spend a considerable amount of time on the road as I travel to different locations to teach a workshop. This means I always have a new group of people to work with and, most of the time, I meet them for the first time in class. For me, it amounts to at least a couple of hundreds of them a year. It is expected to speak out in America. Perhaps because of that reason, sometimes I hear from a student beforehand, telling me he's nervous. Sometimes, on my arrival, a student comes up to me and says she's worried if she's [...]

Fish Market, Venice, Italy I, Interior Painting

7/17/2013 9:11:21 AM

Being an artist, by and large, is a solitary profession but it is good to get together with other like-minded artist friends from time to time. When I do, I may paint with them, visit an exhibition, attend an opening, exchange information and ideas or share a meal. Whatever that may be, the experience can be really inspiring and uplifting. Last year, I spent some time in Venice, Italy, painting together with my artist friend, Eugen Chisnicean. We did a lot of painting en plein-air in many spots in the city, and made a book VENICE AND VERONA with those paintings, including [...]

Fish Market, Venice, Italy II, Interior Painting

6/29/2013 6:18:39 AM

One thing watercolorists should never forget when painting outdoors is a bottle of water. Water to paint with, that is. I always pack a bottle for painting and another for drinking. But when we are outdoors, we often face a situation where we need more clean water than we brought. Sometimes it's readily available but sometimes we have to look really hard. I have used water from a kitchen of a nearby restaurant, somebody's backyard, a sprinkler head in a public park, a canal, a mountain stream, etc. Sometimes a friend who's painting with me spared some. Here at Mercato del Pesce, [...]

Dim Sum, Hong Kong II, Interior Painting

4/1/2013 5:19:23 PM

I met up with my friends in Hong Kong's busy Central district one morning. They had invited me to join them for authentic dim sum breakfast at an old tea house, and I was full of anticipation to see the place and taste what they think was the best in town. As we passed a small bakery near the entrance of the tea house and walked upstairs, I felt like I was instantly transported back in time for several decades. There was a huge dining hall with traditional Cantonese flair, brimming with local people who gathered to eat breakfast, meet friends or just [...]

Dim Sum, Hong Kong I, Interior Painting

3/22/2013 9:51:29 AM

If you visit Hong Kong, you have to do dim sum for an unforgettable culinary experience. And if you do it at an authentic tea house with local friends, that's even better. My dear friends who live in Hong Kong took me to one of the oldest and most popular dim sum restaurants in town for the ultimate culinary and cultural experience. There are do's and don'ts in a place like that: if you don't know the rules (and obviously their language), you are not going to get any of those steaming goodies, or even a seat. Thanks to my friends, I enjoyed [...]

Loving You the Way I Do by Ron Savage

11/26/2012 12:00:42 AM

I am pleased that my watercolor "Torino, Italy II" was chosen as the cover art for Loving You the Way I Do, a new book by Ron Savage (ISBN: 978-0-9826364-3-5; Black Lawrence Press, New York). The book is now available online. "We don't love each other the way we'd like. We love each other the way we do." - Ron Savage [...]

My Solo Exhibition in Izmir, Turkey Closes on November 21

11/19/2012 4:23:39 AM

It's been wonderful three weeks since the October 30 opening of my solo exhibition in Izmir, Turkey. I am extremely grateful that I was invited to show over 60 original paintings of mine of Turkish and Japanese landscapes and cityscapes at the Izmir Painting and Sculpture Museum (İzmir Resim Heykel Müzesi Ve Galerisi). Many people, including my friends and their families, joined me at the opening reception, and many more have visited the exhibition in the days after that. I also spent three days painting in my workshop with talented painters who came from all over Turkey and overseas. Originally, my show [...]

Tea House, Shanghai, China IV, Interior Painting

10/9/2012 9:37:56 PM

I am pleased to announce my participation in the First International Biennial of Watercolors that is currently being held in Narbonne, France. It is an honor for me to be among exhibiting artists who are known for their unique styles and therefore playing the leading roles in today's watercolor world. For this exhibition, I have chosen paintings from my last trips to Shanghai/Zhejiang province of China, including "Tea House, Shanghai IV." I am particularly fond of the historic tea house I depicted in this painting (click to read related post: Tea House, Shanghai I). The exhibition runs through October 28 in several different [...]

Hotel Alfonso XIII, Seville, Spain, Interior Painting (2)

8/31/2012 4:04:58 AM

Inspiration… where do we artists look for it or does it just come to us? We all suffer from a creative block from time to time and we know that's when we struggle to find it. But other than that, if we stay open-minded, we just know when we have it. When I visited Hotel Alfonso XIII in Seville, Spain with my artist friends, we were all so excited with the lovely atmosphere inside and got in a sketching frenzy immediately. No doubt there we had it - we were fully inspired (click here to see a painting I did there). I just [...]

Hotel Alfonso XIII, Seville, Spain, Interior Painting (1)

8/24/2012 2:59:58 AM

Daytime temperature reaches about 40 degrees Celsius (104 F) before noon and stays that way well into the evening. Being outside constantly reminds us that we need to somehow cope with this relentless, intense heat. I suppose that is a typical day in Seville during summer months. I got together with several local artists on such (in other words, brutally hot) a day to paint around town (click here to read related story). First we headed to the Alcazar Gardens. Simply a divine environment for plein-air painters like us. Sometime after lunch, just when I felt like seeking some cool shelter, I [...]

2012 Salon Biennale d'Aquarelle de Rochemaure

7/6/2012 4:52:08 PM

I am participating in the 2012 Salon Biennale d'Aquarelle de Rochemaure, July 7 - 15, in the Ardèche region, in the south central France. Along with this painting, up to 18 works of mine will be on exhibit. I will be also doing a demo in the afternoon on July 7. If you happen to be in the neighborhood, please drop by! Nazare Market, Portugal I Click for an enlarged view of this painting. Media: Original watercolor on paperImage Size: 14.25 x 21.5 inches (36 x 54.5 cm) Frame/Mat: No Purchase: Sold - Join me on Facebook and follow my blog on NetworkedBlogs. - Follow me on Google+.- Visit my gallery [...]

Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan III, Interior Painting

6/10/2012 1:08:26 PM

The people in this shop are busily making ningyo-yaki, one of traditional Japanese snacks sold along Nakamise Street in Asakusa. Asakusa is a temple town with a feel of Old Japan and is always fun… and crowded. Although it's in Tokyo, the area around here has quite a different atmosphere which gives us small glimpses of how life used to be. With the completion of Tokyo Skytree, now the world's tallest tower and not far from Asakusa, the area has seen a surge in tourism and is even more vibrant. Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan III A larger image of this painting is available on request. Media: [...]

Dans La Cuisine I, Interior Painting

5/28/2012 4:29:55 AM

Too many cooks spoil the broth? It shouldn't happen... if a chef de cuisine would communicate orders to his sous-chef who would manage the entire kitchen staff well; if each chef de partie would make sure that his cuisiniers and commis prepare specific dishes in a certain manner that recipes call for; and if a saucier, a boucher, a rotisseur, a poissonnier, a garde manger, an entremetier and a patissier would do their best for their sauces, meats, fish, soups, salads, hors d'oeuvres and desserts. I made this painting, inspired by what saw in a busy kitchen at a restaurant in Mont [...]

San Pedro Café, Interior Painting

5/11/2012 9:02:28 AM

Six or seven hours you typically spend in a day in a painting workshop can be pretty intense and you feel exhausted when it ends. In all of my previous workshops, almost everyone I taught was such a hard-working participant some of them even wanted to work through lunchtime. With or without the "no pain, no gain" mentality, I believe it's mostly a drive from within and everyone comes away with a good kind of pain. Spending several days in a room full of enthusiam and with those who share passion for the same thing (in my case, that is watercolor painting) is both rewarding [...]

Kitchen (Seoul, Korea) II, Interior Painting

11/2/2011 2:23:09 AM

As soon as I sat down in this restaurant, I couldn't help noticing cooking flare-ups from the partially open kitchen (Click here to see another painting of the kitchen). It didn't take long before my curiosity got the better of me and I peeked inside. One of the cooks was heating up black stone pots or what they call dolsot in Korean. Dolsot bibimbap must be one of the most popular Korean dishes. Several kinds of colorful, tastefully-prepared ingredients neatly arranged on top of cooked rice, the dish is foremost a visual delight. When it's served in a piping hot dolsot, the [...]

Kitchen (Seoul, Korea) I, Interior Painting

10/31/2011 10:39:12 AM

One thing I like about eating Korean food is the wide variety of soups and stews in their cuisine. They can be pretty much a main dish as a bowl of rice and many side dishes are usually served together. From a simple cup of miso broth to a hearty meat-and-vegetable stew and anything in between, choices are usually many it is not easy to decide especially if you are a fan of delicious (and often spicy) soupy dishes. In this busy kitchen, a couple of cooks were churning out all kinds of sizzling hot bowls of soups and stews every few [...]

Fanta's Café, Prague, Czech Republic

9/6/2011 3:56:15 AM

When you arrive in a foreign city and the first thing you see is an Art Nouveau-style café like this, whatever anxieties you may have about being new to the place will disappear. Fanta's Café, named after the architect Josef Fanta, is housed inside the main railway station in Prague. The station looks like it has seen its better days but it still holds its charm and beauty. Before heading out to the city, it is worth spending a few minutes here with a cup of coffee, to enjoy artistic decorations all around. Praha Café I Click here for an enlarged view of this [...]

Making a Mark by Katherine Tyrrell

5/7/2011 3:07:14 AM

Making a Mark is one of the most popular art blogs in UK written by UK artist and writer Katherine Tyrrell. In just five years or so, her blog has attracted more than one million visitors, and artists and art lovers regularly check on what she has to say as she covers a wide variety of topics: drawing, painting, art blogs, visual artists, art competitions, art exhibitions, art history, art technique, art business, etc. Last week Katherine chose me in her weekly "Who's made a mark this week" post, and talked about the acceptance of my painting "Marseille St-Charles II" into the [...]

National Watercolor Society 2011 All Member Exhibition

4/25/2011 1:26:43 AM

It is with a great pleasure that I announce the inclusion of my painting in the upcoming exhibition of the National Watercolor Society. I am honored that Juror Marciano Martinez has chosen "Marseille St-Charles II" for the 2011 NWS All Member Exhibition. The show runs from May 15 to June 12 at the NWS Gallery (915 S. Pacific Avenue, San Pedro, CA). The opening reception will be held at the gallery on May 15, from 2 to 5 pm. Marseille St-Charles, France II Click here for an enlarged view of this painting. Media: Original watercolor on paperImage Size: 15 x 22 inches (38 x 56 [...]

Paris Café LII & LIII, French Landscape Paintings

3/11/2011 4:13:57 AM

As I was writing today's blog post, I received a call from one of my family members in Japan who was horrified about a massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake that had just hit there. It took me some time before I was able to get in touch with the rest of my family (and they were all ok). However, as I see more news reports on this biggest tremor in the history of Japan and think how extensive the final damages can be, my heart goes out to those who have been affected. And I feel I want to do something, however small, [...]

Santa Fe Depot, San Diego Paintings

2/17/2011 3:36:34 AM

I can't think of a better place than Santa Fe Depot (Union Station) to welcome visitors to San Diego. It's such a beautiful place and I even think making a trip to see just that is worthwhile. The architecture, reflective of the city's Spanish Colonial heritage, is breathtaking. When passengers get off a train and walk alongside the historic building and rows of majestic palm trees, I see them just smiling. Once inside, then the interior makes anyone stop and say wow. The high ceiling, brilliant tile work throughout, cozy benches, and a little cafe... all create a very inviting atmosphere. As light [...]

La 12ème Biennale du Salon de l'Aquarelle de Belgique 2011

10/29/2010 6:58:33 AM

I received great news a few days ago that 4 paintings of mine have been juried into the 12th Biennial Salon de l'Aquarelle de Belgique. I am honored to be selected by a panel of distinguished judges for this prestigious watercolor biennial exhibition in Europe. The 12th Biennial takes place in Namur, Belgium, from May 7 to May 29, 2011. The exhibiting artists represent 12 countries, including Belgium, Spain, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Canada, the U.S., Lebanon and Lithuania. Collioure Bar, France III Click here for an enlarged view. Media: Original watercolor on paper Image Size: 14.25 x [...]

Clam Bar, Santa Barbara, Interior Painting

8/31/2010 1:12:23 PM

If any popular seafood eatery is right next to the busy harbor, you can bet their fish is as fresh as it can get and their food won't disappoint. This clam bar facing the picture-perfect Santa Barbara Harbor is such a place. While I was there just before lunchtime, more small fishing boats had returned from the sea with their catch of the day, and some kids were watching fishermen unload their ships, amazed and curious. I like painting cafes and restaurants, and especially enjoy a cozy one, like this, that is filled with light. Clam Bar, Santa Barbara, [...]

Yuyuan, Shanghai, China IV, Interior Painting

8/22/2010 2:57:27 AM

Xialongbao that I had was filled with crab meat. It was not just any crab but the much sought-after kind from the Yangtze Delta (read related post and see another painting of this restaurant). In Chinese cuisine, crab meat is considered yin because of its cooling characteristics. Therefore, it is often eaten together with something else that has a warming (yang) effect such as vinegar. Yin and yang - they are two opposites that interconnect and interact, and together make a whole. Whether conscious or not, we painters think in terms of yin and yang when we design [...]

Tea House, Shanghai, China II, Interior Painting

7/15/2010 2:09:07 AM

"Drinking a daily cup of tea will surely starve the apothecary." -- Chinese Proverb "Tea is drunk to forget the din of the world." -- T'ien Yiheng The first cup moistens my lips and throat; The second cup breaks my loneliness; The third cup searches my barren entrail but to find therein some thousand volumes of odd ideographs; The fourth cup raises a slight perspiration-all the wrongs of life pass out through my pores; At the fifth cup I am purified; The sixth cup calls me to the realms of the immortals. The seventh cup-ah, but I could take [...]

Tea House, Shanghai, China I, Interior Painting

7/13/2010 2:32:46 AM

After a walk through an overcrowded shopping area in a hot, humid climate, what could be more relaxing than sipping an afternoon tea inside a cool, elegant tea house built over the pond? This is the city's oldest tea house where textile merchants used to gather back in the 18th century. They have all kinds of Chinese tea (traditional, flower, herb...) to choose from. Tea leaves come in a tiny glass pot filled with hot water and can be enjoyed several times over by adding more hot water. With tea, they usually bring 4 or 5 different kinds of snack [...]

Yuyuan, Shanghai, China III, Interior Painting

7/11/2010 2:27:58 AM

Through the steam coming out of stacks of bamboo baskets, cooks were seen busily moving about to make their signature dumplings - thousands of them a day, I'm sure, to meet a huge demand. They had no time to rest as a long line of hungry people waiting eagerly to get the authentic Shanghai-style Xiaolongbao didn't seem to get short any time soon. Xiaolongbao, steamed dumplings filled with meat and scrumptious soup, is what many people actually travel to this corner of the Old Shanghai for. I very much enjoyed not only my first taste of this delicacy but also the sight of [...]

Paris (#28) - Place de la Madeleine, French Landscape Painting

6/12/2010 2:07:32 AM

Looking at the Madeleine Church (in the background) from this vantage point, I was able to see Cafe Madeleine's inside and outside and felt like seeing two movies side by side. So I decided to fill one half of this painting with an interior scene of the cafe and the other with its exterior. People inside seem to want a little bit more privacy, and they are more interested in eating, drinking, chatting with friends. They may be more sensitive to outdoor dust or traffic fumes. Those sitting outside love watching people (and being watched, too). Or they may [...]