Blog

Follow this Blog

Paris Café XXV & XXVIII, French Landscape Painting

4/29/2010 1:22:10 AM

Paris Café XXVIII Sorry there has been no post of new daily paintings for a few days as I was working on commissioned pieces. I'd like to post here today two small paintings from my Paris Café series (2009) that have never been shown before. Please enjoy! Paris Café XXVIII Media: Original watercolor on paper Image Size: 8.25 x 11.5 in. (on 9 x 12 in. paper) Mat/Frame: No Purchase: Sold Paris Café XXV Paris Café XXV Media: Original watercolor on paper Image Size: 7.5 x 9.5 inches Mat/Frame: Yes/No Mat Size: [...]

Paris (#24) - Gare de l'Est, Interior Painting

4/26/2010 1:41:04 AM

Gare de l'Est (Paris East Station), not far from Gare du Nord is one of the main railway stations in Paris. With the beginning of high-speed rail service a few years ago, this station is busier than ever as the sleek TGVs and ICEs come and go, whisking passengers between Paris and cities northeast of Paris. Only five minutes before the scheduled departure of our TGV train for Strasbourg, our track number was not announced yet. Many people around me here in the airy Central Hall were looking at a departure information screen rather anxiously. They had to be waiting [...]

Little Italy Sunset V, California Landscape Painting

4/24/2010 12:55:58 AM

It was announced yesterday that my painting "Little Italy Sunset V" was chosen as the Finalist - Outstanding Watercolor in the FineArtViews Painting Competition (March 2010). I am very pleased with this honor and would like to thank Clint Watson, founder of Fine Art Views and judge Ned Mueller. Little Italy Sunset V Click here for an enlarged view. Media: Original watercolor on paper Image Size: 15 x 22 inches (38 x 56 cm) Purchase: Sold [...]

Paris (#23) - Quartier Place Vendôme, French Landscape Painting

4/22/2010 1:49:05 AM

Paris (#23) - Quartier Place Vendôme It doesn't take long to notice this is a posh neighborhood when we walk through an area just north of the Tuileries Garden leading up to Place Vendôme. Mainly a commercial and business district that caters to a wealthy clientele, the area certainly has a classy atmosphere, with Place Vendôme as a perfect example of elegance from the 18th century. Never say no when a client asks for something, even if it is the moon. You can always try, and anyhow there is plenty of time afterwards to explain that it was not possible. The customer [...]

Paris (#22) - Pont Neuf, French Landscape Painting

4/20/2010 8:43:09 AM

Paris (#22) - Pont Neuf Pont Neuf, one of the bridges that connect the left and right banks of the River Seine, is my choice for No. 22 of my Paris Series. Completed at the beginning of the 17th century, it is the oldest standing bridge across the Seine in Paris, and perhaps one of the most famous and beautiful. Back then, it was a novel idea to make pavements for pedestrians crossing on a bridge. A designer for Pont Neuf took up that idea, and how Parisians liked it can be seen in past artwork such as Le Pont-Neuf, Paris [...]

Avignon, France II, French Landscape Painting

4/18/2010 1:32:11 AM

Avignon, France II Even if one doesn't have eyes of Van Gogh, Cézanne or Matisse, it is hard not to see the luminescent quality of light abundant here in Provence. Once you see the Mediterranean light and what it does to Provençal landscapes, it is easy to understand why many artists have come to this region of France to work. Provence is by far one of my most favorite places for the same reason. Cloudy days are ok, too, but when everything gets kissed by the sun, inspirations are everywhere. It was one of many inspirational moments when I saw this [...]

Lyon, France X, French Landscape Painting

4/16/2010 5:41:09 AM

Lyon, France X I like almost any city view of Lyon with the hill of Fourvière and the Basilica as a backdrop. I am happy to add this painting to my growing collection of Lyon series. Please click to read related posts about Lyon and Fourvière and see more paintings of the streets in the Old Town of Lyon: "Lyon V", "Lyon VI", "Lyon VII". A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral. - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, French writer/aviator from Lyon Lyon, [...]

Paris (#20 & #21) - On the Seine I & II, French Landscape Painting

4/14/2010 2:30:08 AM

Paris (#20) - On the Seine I At any time when I am fortunate enough to be in Paris, I like to just sit down on the riverbank of the Seine and enjoy watching the river run and all kinds of boats pass by. I like just about anywhere if it's close to one of the beautiful bridges. On my last visit, this handsome sailboat caught my attention, so I decided to spend a little time there admiring her beauty -- smooth, long curves of the body and soft lines of all the ropes, accompanied by sharp straight lines of masts [...]

Paris (#19) - Hotel du Nord, French Landscape Painting

4/12/2010 1:36:53 AM

Paris (#19) - Hotel du Nord A short walk from the East Railway Station, Hôtel du Nord sits quietly by the Canal Saint-Martin. I had heard about this place being a setting for the 1938 French movie "Hôtel du Nord" which I have never had a chance to see to this day. But I had read some reviews and always wanted to see the actual hotel (Today it's no longer a hotel but a restaurant). When I finally got there, I almost missed it because it was small and looked rather plain, as was the surrounding neighborhood. I didn't quite [...]

Paris (#15) - Jardin des Tuileries, French Landscape Painting

4/10/2010 1:28:57 AM

Paris (#15) - Jardin des Tuileries A spacious and quiet park, the Tuileries Garden is just a perfect place to be in after what can be a very intense, demanding visit to the Louvre. Situated on the west end of the Louvre, this urban park seems to have everything you need to unwind and stretch your legs -- benches under shady trees, cafes, fountains, sculptures, and, yes, ice cream vendors on a hot summer day. Paris (#15) - Jardin des Tuileries Media: Original watercolor on paper Image Size: 8.25 x 11.5 in. (on 9 x 12 in. paper) Mat/Frame: No Purchase: [...]

Paris (#18) - Salon de Thé, French Landscape Painting

4/8/2010 1:51:26 AM

Paris (#18) - Salon de Thé I am not so difficult when it comes to eating when I travel. I am willing to try local food and drink and I think I adapt well most of the time. But tea is something I cannot live without no matter where I go. Stereotyping the French as 100% coffee drinkers, I was both surprised and relieved to find a salon de thé (tea house) in Paris during my first visit there a long time ago. It is said that today more than 140 tea houses are in Paris alone. I subsequently discovered that [...]

Paris (#17) - Bistro, French Landscape Painting

4/6/2010 3:44:43 AM

Paris (#7) - Bistro This bistro was near the place where I used to stay in Paris on several occasions. Because this neighborhood was away from any tourist sights, I enjoyed "living like a local" every time I was there. On my way to a nearest Metro station every morning, or when I went out for grocery shopping in the evening, I passed by this bistro. It was never too crowded but locals were always there, stopping by to spend some time as if it was their living room or a kitchen nook. Although this may [...]

Rise and Shine (Italian Alps), Italian Landscape Painting

4/4/2010 12:12:31 AM

"The resurrection gives my life meaning and direction and the opportunity to start over no matter what my circumstances." -- Robert Flatt "Let the resurrection joy lift us from loneliness and weakness and despair to strength and beauty and happiness." -- Floyd W. Tomkins Rise and Shine (Italian Alps) Click here for an enlarged view. Media: Original watercolor on paper Image Size: 14 x 21 inches Mat/Frame: No Purchase: Sold [...]

Paris (#16) - Brasserie, French Landscape Painting

4/3/2010 1:54:53 AM

Late afternoon as the sun goes down, people (mainly young) have gathered in this casual brasserie, enjoying the last rays of sunshine and company. A lone bicycle parked to the lamppost is casting a long shadow, and I imagine someone in this neighborhood just hopped on a bike to come here to have a drink with his friends. For many residents, their favorite cafe, favorite bakery, favorite hair salon, etc... they are all there within a walking distance or a few minutes by bicycle from their apartments. Life in a big city can be stressful but in Paris, living in [...]

Spring in Kyoto, Japan III, Japanese Landscape Painting

4/1/2010 1:24:45 AM

April 1 is one of the most important dates in Japan. A new fiscal year starts, and so does a new school year. As new recruits begin their working life, school children are busy getting to know their new classmates. These changes and many more are associated with cherry blossoms, or sakura as they're called in Japan. Along city streets, in school playgrounds and neighborhood parks, on mountains and river banks, sakura trees are everywhere, displaying their pink and white flowers in abundance almost always around this time of the year. To know exactly when the flower opens up [...]

←