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Travel sketchbook art classes in Kyoto, Japan and home kits/courses

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Painting plumeria on the beach with a friend yesterday in Okinawa. Although an approaching typhoon forced us to change our original plans, we still got very lucky and were able to enjoy some time snorkeling and chilling on the beach. I'm now back in Kyoto and thinking of what to paint this rainy season...

Usually my mind is busy doing so many things at once: noticing, planning, considering, making connections, remembering, worrying... This can be a source of creative ideas and inspiration, but it can also be overwhelming.

The amazing container gardens found in front of houses around Kyoto are one of my favorite parts of spring. These lovingly-tended pots bring touches of nature to an otherwise urban environment.

I'm honored for some of my paintings to be included in the upcoming issue of @kyotojournal100, which celebrates the flora of Kyoto in its various forms, from the mountains and forests which surround it to the seasonal flower-shaped hair ornaments worn by maiko.

Painting some plants with sumi (ink) outdoors last week under the cherry blossoms 🌸

This tunnel of sakura along the Kamo River is one of my favorite cherry blossom spots in the city. After days of rain and cold, it's finally sunny and warm.

A tunnel of cherry blossoms frames the row of bridges over the Takase River along Kiyamachi, the center of Kyoto's nightlife. The lights, lanterns, and restaurant signs are barely visible through the fluffy white clouds of flowers.

Trains and power lines might not be the first thing that comes to mind when we think of the beauty of Kyoto in spring, but it's a part of the city's lanscape all the same, and I believe there is still much to appreciate in such scenes. The dense rows of blossoms on either side make an effect like clouds, with the train flying between them. I also love the teal color of this Keihan Railway train, which is the model used for the slower local trains. I've taken countless rides on these trains, watching the seasons and weather change through their windows.

Took my tiny sumi set for a spin under the cherry blossoms today, but I decided to paint the horsetails I saw instead.

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