Mountain Stream 1

Watercolour 180 x140mm

Along the path

Watercolour

This was inspired by a trip into the mountains south east of Kanazawa to a historic village named Shirakawa.  It was raining so the light was subdued and the top of the mountain was shrouded in clouds.  Nevertheless it was beautiful.  Although I do think it must be very strange for the locals to step outside and have busloads of tourists clicking away at their every move!

I might also add that the locals make a very nice green tea ice cream.

Shadows and light

Watercolour 190 x 140mm

My aim with these sketches is to keep them as loose and as simple as possible.

In the Park

1

Watercolour 150x105mm

2

Watercolour 200 x 128mm

Water's sound

Watercolour 190 x 133mm

Steps

Watercolour 190 x 133mm

Autumn avenue

Watercolour 200 x 128mm

Stream

Watercolour 190 x 140mm

Autumn in the park

Watercolour 140 x 190mm

Reflection

Watercolour 133 x 190mm

I found this haiku on the internet at a site named Poetry Soup.

Still water surface

casting back painted sketches

of nature's muses.

Michael D Johnson

Vegetable garden

Watercolour 190 x 133mm

It seems like everywhere you turn in Japan there is a vegetable garden.

Where there are humans

You'll find flies,

And Buddhas

Kobayashi Issa

Shrine

1

Watercolour 105 x 150mm

2

Watercolour 200 x 128mm

3

Watercolour 190 x 133

These little paintings were inspired by the wonderful Heritage garden: Shukkeien (which translates as shrunken garden scenery) in Hiroshima.

Shukkeien was first built in 1620, destroyed by the American atomic bomb.   

 and then over a period of 25 years, from 1950 to 1975 the garden was totally rebuilt.  It is now a place of utmost serenity, beauty and peace.

Forest

1

Watercolour 180 x 140mm

2

Watercolour 190 x 133mm

3

Watercolour 200 x 128mm

Autumn Leaves

1

Watercolour 150 x 105mm

2

Watercolour and oil crayon 190 x 140mm

3

Watercolour 200x 128mm

Still waters

Watercolour 150 x 100mm

This is based on the memory of Japanese gardens where, with their use of water and reflections they are able to create an atmosphere is tranquility.

Lotus leaves

6

Water colour and ink

7

water colour

8

Water colour

9

Water colour and oil crayon 200 x 128mm

Lotus leaves

4

Watercolour  150 x 105mm

5

Watercolour  and gouache  190 x 133mm

Lotus leaves

1

Watercolour  150 x 105mm

2

Watercolour 150 x 105mm

3

Watercolour 190 x 133mm

We took a walk on our first day to Ueno to the Lotus pond.  Last time we were here it was very early spring and there were only a collection of dead stalks.  This time the pond was a sea of green leaves, taller than me,  just starting to die off. Beneath were turtles and koi and on the surface of the water were deep purple shadows of the leaves and reflections of blue sky.  Even though we were too late for the lotus flowers, it was still very beautiful.

Autumn, Japan

Watercolour

Flew to Tokyo yesterday on the start of a 5 week holiday travelling around Honshu.  I have reserved the afternoons to sit down and do some watercolours, so the influence will be autumn and Japan.

Ranunculus

Oil on canvas board  41 x 51cm

My mother used to grow these beautiful flowers.