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Swipe for more ➡️ Painting a maiko was a huge challenge, but the opportunity to draw from a live model was a chance I couldn't pass up! Maiko Katsuharu of Kyoto's Gion Kobu posed in her formal New Year's ensemble. I was able to finish two pencil sketches on-site during the session. At home, I used layers of watercolor and gouache to try to capture her oshiroi (traditional white makeup). I haven't really drawn/painted people since I was an art student. It was really tough for me but I learned a lot. Living in Kyoto has allowed me to encounter and learn about geisha and maiko (trainee geisha). Not only do they dedicate themselves fully to their various traditional art forms from a young age, but they themselves support an entire community of other artists/artisans who make their exquisite kimono, hair ornaments, etc. I could write an essay about how much I respect then and why, but I express myself better with paint so I hope this piece conveys the admiration I have for these talented and hardworking women.

Here's an old painting from Hieizan that I never posted. I really love red contrasted against snow. Yet again with this one I struggled with snow falling on the paper and my paint and water literally freezing, but I like to think of it as Mother Nature putting her fingerprint on my work. The ice crystals leave a unique pattern on the painting. These two temple halls connected by a walkway were said to have been carried by the legendary warrior-monk Benkei on his shoulders. I think I'll stick with painting....💪🏋️

Finally snow! Downtown Kyoto hasn't seen snow this winter but yesterday it snowed on Mt. Hiei, famous for the storied temple complex Enryakuji and its legendary warrior/marathon monks. 1️⃣ This cedar-lined stairway through the forest might be my favorite spot. The snow fell *all* day and you can see that it was sticking to my painting. The water in my brush was clumping from the cold as well so I gave up without finishing it completely. 2️⃣ A quick sketch of a Jizo statue wearing some bright red handknit accessories as well as a blanket of snow. I had the same problems with snowflakes and freezing pens/fingers so...It might not have been my best day for painting results but it was a relaxing and peaceful day. 3️⃣Video of the snowfall and monks clearing the way for visitors. It being a weekday morning, I nearly had the mountain to myself. I saw no one but monks and temple staff until lunchtime! It was certainly the snowy retreat I'd been looking for all winter. Now I'm ready for spring...

I haven't tried drawing people since I was an art student and had to do it as a part of coursework. I'm always encouraging my students to try things ("it's the best way to learn!" and "anything you draw is better than blank paper!") so I'm going to take my own advice and try to develop this skill, one that I never felt any confidence in. This is a practice sketch based on an adorable photo taken of three Nara maiko at the Tsuruya Okiya (which kindly gave permission to share my sketch; thanks also @geishamaiko for sharing the photo!) I certainly have a lot to learn about likeness and portraits, but I had fun drawing this and will be trying more over the next week or two... More to come... 😊✏️

Celebrated Christmas Eve (day!) by painting with a talented individual who joined me for one of my "Travel Sketchbooking in Kyoto" classes and chose this angle for our last painting of the afternoon. I think the vermilion and green tree is a beautiful riff on the classic Christmas colors, don't you think? Best wishes to all of you this holiday season ⛩️🌲♥️

This picturesque pagoda perched on the jagged rocks was a fast and fun sketch. The wind was pretty strong (swipe to see what it did to my hair...) but perhaps thanks to the wind and overcast skies there were few other people sharing the sweeping views of karsts, rice paddies, and rivers.

This elegant banana flower caught my eye while I was visiting a bird sanctuary. Perfect for a quick sketch so that I could get back to spying on all the cool animals 🕵️🐦🦆

It's been cloudy for most of my trip, but around sunset the sky cleared up just enough to create a yellow glow behind the misty layers of karsts. (These formations are similar to Halong Bay/Bai Tu Long Bay, but they are inland hundreds of kilometers to the southwest.) The famous rice paddies of this area have been harvested and flooded, and the combination is quite striking.

I was exploring Ninh Binh by bicycle when the threatening grey sky made good on its promise and started pouring rain. Luckily there was a cafe nearby with hot coffee and colorful Vietnamese lanterns. I'd been wanting to sketch lanterns since I got here so everything worked out after all.☔☕🎨😊

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