Keiko Tanabe - Blog: Swiss Landscapes

Market Day, Basel, Switzerland, Swiss Landscape Painting

8/14/2009 12:41:39 AM

Rain or shine, people come to a weekly market on a town square. Not just in Basel but almost anywhere in Europe and many parts of the world, people know when their local market day is and they shop there for whatever they need for the next few days. I was lucky to be in Basel on their market day. It was drizzling at times. But the cloudy sky didn't put a damper on me at all. To me, an outdoor market like this is a fascinating place to learn about local people and their culture. It is one of my [...]

Lausanne Train Station, Switzerland, Swiss Landscape Painting

8/13/2009 12:26:49 AM

Lausanne Train Station, Switzerland I It was almost the end of a day and the last rays of sunlight were gradually coming into tracks at the Lausanne central station. The station serves as a hub, so trains come and go at all times. Normally it's a very busy place, but at this particular moment, there was eerie quietness with only one train at the next track and a handful of quiet passengers around me. Soon another train arrived from Geneva and two more followed, each time accompanied by an announcement in several different languages. The station was busy again. Lausanne Train Station, Switzerland A larger [...]

Geneva, Switzerland III, Swiss Landscape Painting

8/12/2009 1:01:33 AM

Geneva, Switzerland III Water from Lake Geneva flows into the Rhone River near here. Wondering what it would be like to journey down the river all the way to the Mediterranean, I crossed the bridge to get to the Left Bank. There were many swans and ducks, and children were having fun feeding them. People, young and old, were relaxing in the lakeside park. Boats were neatly docked at harbor. And of course, there was blue sky and blue water. What a peaceful day! By the way, what is visible at the back of the boat, right-hand side, in this painting is Jet [...]

Geneva, Switzerland II, Swiss Landscape Painting

8/11/2009 1:07:47 AM

Geneva, Switzerland II When it comes to public transportation, Geneva has all the comforts a traveler can ask for. First they offer a complimentary transportation from its airport to the city center, which is minutes away. From the main station, trains take us to other major cities all over Switzerland and some in France. And they are clean and punctual. Access to a railway track from the underground passageway is made easy by a gradual slope so we don't have to lift our luggage up and down the stairs. A little thing like that makes traveling a pleasant experience. Trams, such as the one in this painting, get us all [...]

Geneva, Switzerland I, Swiss Landscape Painting

8/10/2009 12:25:12 AM

Geneva, Switzerland I Near the city center of Geneva, morning commuters had just started to fill the streets. Quite a few businessmen were riding motorbikes to work. The morning light was coming in from the direction of Geneva Lake, bringing with it a nice breeze. The light was still hazy but I could feel it in the air that it would soon be very strong like the day before. Geneva, Switzerland I Media: Original watercolor on paper Image Size: 8.25 x 11.5 in. (on 9 x 12 in. paper) Purchase: Sold [...]

Chateau Chillon, Switzerland, Swiss Landscape Painting

6/29/2009 4:38:27 AM

Chateau Chillon, Switzerland I'm on the road again... A little jet-lagged, but I feel good because the weather in Geneva, Switzerland is gorgeous today! Tomorrow I am going to meet an artist friend who lives here and start traveling in Europe. I'll paint and blog along the way. I may not be able to post my paintings here every day, but I hope you'll follow me. Chateau Chillon, Switzerland Media: Original watercolor on paper Image Size: 8.25 x 11.5 in. (on a 9 x 12 in paper) Purchase: Sold [...]