Blog

 

If I were to make a video of my travel bloopers, I should definitely include footage of my visit to Tai-O.  Tai-O, a small fishing village in Hong Kong, will be one that I will never forget because of what happened there.

 

I was already excited to see the village even before I arrived there, so imagine how I was when I got there.  In short, I lost myself in the sights and fell in a canal.  I wanted to get a perfect viewpoint and walked down the steps to get close to the water surface.  When I noticed the last few steps covered with moss, it was already too late.  I slipped and started going down in water, which was not too deep but mucky.  There was nothing for me to hold on to, so I kept slipping while desperately trying to keep my camera above the water, and by doing so cut my wrist on the stone step.  I still don't know what stopped me from sinking further but miraculously only my pant legs were soaking wet.

 

A friend of mine who traveled there together was horrified and ran to a nearby cafe to fetch a first-aid kit for my wound.  I truly felt sorry for her because my carelessness scared her.  To a small circle of my close friends, I am known for doing pretty daring things to find a better view or get to a perfect spot for a painting.  I think now she is one of those friends (but, dear friend, if you're reading this, I am really sorry..).

 

 

Tai-O, Hong Kong II

 

Click for an enlarged view.

Media: Original watercolor on paper

Image Size: 15.5 x 11.5 inches (39 x 29 cm)

Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Please send me an email for details.

 

 

- Join me on Facebook and follow my blog on NetworkedBlogs.

- Follow me on Google+.
- Visit my gallery at Daily Paintworks.
- Follow me on Twitter
- FASO Artist Websites - Easy, Professional Art Websites for Artists who Sell

 

Hong Kong's urban areas are growing bigger so fast that the entire place may be soon dominated only by high-rise buildings, it seems.  This is happening not only in the heavily-populated downtown and surrounding areas but also out in what used to be a sleepy countryside.  So before it's all gone, I wanted to see an old village or two and find a remnant of the past.

Tai-O is one such place I chose to visit.  This small fishermen's village on Lantau Island is particularly known for stilt houses standing over the rivers that run through it.   During a day, however, it's far from being a quaint, sleepy place because many visitors come to see sights, tatse seafood, watch rare pink dolphins, etc.

 

One might assume that it is easy to find a traditional fishing town in Hong Kong, but the truth is no, especially now it seems development is the name of the game there.  I didn't see a pink dolphin, but I felt pretty lucky to be able to see a traditional way of life in Tai-O .

 

 

Tai-O, Hong Kong I

 

A larger digital file available on request

Media: Original watercolor on paper

Image Size: 8.25 x 11.5 inches (21 x 29 cm)

Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Please send me an email for details.

 

 

- Join me on Facebook and follow my blog on NetworkedBlogs.

- Follow me on Google+.
- Visit my gallery at Daily Paintworks.
- Follow me on Twitter
- FASO Artist Websites - Easy, Professional Art Websites for Artists who Sell

 

I got contacted by a Turkish watercolor artist who lives in Bodrum.  I happened to be in a nearby city with my friend and we were traveling down to Bodrum the day before.  The Bodrum artist heard that I was in the neighborhood and offered to show me around the Bodrum Castle by the ocean.  Did I know her?  Yes, but we were only facebook friends and had never met in person.

 

On a very tight schedule with only 30 minutes to spare, I met up with her for a very quick tour of the castle and a conversation, literally, on the run.  It was so nice of her but frankly I was suprised that she was willing to show me - virtually a stranger - around her town.  Yet it's also true that this kind of encounter is happening to me more often lately as I travel and visit a far-away place where I have online friends.  In some cases, these casual meetings can lead to true friendship or important business opportunities.  Online social networking has its pros and cons; however, I'd like to believe a lot of good things can happen that broaden our horizons and even help our business.

 

 

Bodrum, Turkey I

 

Click for an enlarged view.

Media: Original watercolor on paper

Image Size: 11.5 x 8.25 inches (29 x 21 cm)

Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Sold

 

 

- Join me on Facebook and follow my blog on NetworkedBlogs.

- Follow me on Google+.
- Visit my gallery at Daily Paintworks.
- Follow me on Twitter
- FASO Artist Websites - Easy, Professional Art Websites for Artists who Sell

 

I am delighted and honored to announce my participation in the Les Aquarellades 2013, an international invitational watercolor exhibition.  It takes place in Mons, Belgium, about 50km SSW of Brussels, from today through February 10.

 

Four original paintings of mine, including this one, are on exhibit, together with works of other fine watercolorists selected for this show.  I will also have the pleasure of doing a 2-day workshop, Saisir l'atmosphere et la lumiere en aquarelle and a demo  during the event.

 

 

Venice Reflections XI

 

Click for an enlarged view.

Media: Original watercolor on paper

Image Size: 29 x 10 inches (74 x 25 cm)

Frame/Mat: Yes

Purchase: Available during exhibition.

Please send me an email for details.

 

 

- Join me on Facebook and follow my blog on NetworkedBlogs.

- Follow me on Google+.
- Visit my gallery at Daily Paintworks.
- Follow me on Twitter
- FASO Artist Websites - Easy, Professional Art Websites for Artists who Sell

 

If anyone has traveled with me, they know that I don't generally rely on maps.  Even in a new place, I may look at a map just to get an idea in which direction to go, but after that I venture out while maps usually stay inside my backpack.  It is not due to a lack of spatial ability or my gender that I don't like them.  I think it has more to do with my adventurous nature, or wanting to be surprised by unexpected discoveries.

 

I don't normally plan my route following tourist attractions, so that's another reason maps are not particularly important to me.  Of course I get lost easily by exploring a foreign place in this manner, but the truth is, I like to allow myself to be lost.  I can say, in my past travels, I have found more interesting things walking down back alleys with locals rather than on main streets with tourists.  In fact, most of the time I might have not fully realized that I was lost... it does take time before I finally admit it myself.  But getting lost is ok with me because it gives me a chance to find a local person to ask for directions.  Usually people are very kind and such an interaction with locals, however brief, become precious travel memories for me to take home.

 

 

Venice Canal XII

 

Media: Original watercolor on paper

Image Size: 11.5 x 8.25 inches (29 x 21 cm)

Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Sold

 

 

- Join me on Facebook and follow my blog on NetworkedBlogs.

- Follow me on Google+.
- Visit my gallery at Daily Paintworks.
- Follow me on Twitter
- FASO Artist Websites - Easy, Professional Art Websites for Artists who Sell

 

After a long voyage at sea all the way from Japan, an expansive view of Marseille was the first thing my father saw as his ship pulled into the harbor.  Back in the early 1960s when travels to a foreign country were so rare and expensive for most Japanese, my father, still a young scholar, was invited by the French Government to spend a year in Paris as a guest researcher.  I can imagine what the experience really meant for him as his lasting impressions never faded and he devoted his academic career to the teaching and research in French literature and philosophy for decades after that.

 

There's no doubt I love visiting France because of my father's influence.  In Marseille I always enjoy walking around the Old Port (Vieux-Port) watching beautiful boats sailing on the Mediterranean.  So what I depicted in this painting is definitely one of my favorite subjects.  But for me personally, because the Marseille Vieux-Port was my father's first sight of his beloved country, it has a significant meaning.  And I wanted to create a mood and a sense of timelessness that would transport me back to a time long ago.

 

This painting is currently in the San Diego Watercolor Society 32nd International Exhibition.  The show opened yesterday and runs through October 31 (the opening reception on October 5).

 

 

Marseille Vieux-Port, France V

 

Click here for an enlarged view.

Media: Original watercolor on paper

Image Size: 21 x 29 inches (53 x 74 cm)

Frame/Mat: Yes

Purchase: Please send me an email for details.

 

 

- Join me on Facebook and follow my blog on NetworkedBlogs.

- Follow me on Google+.
- Visit my gallery at Daily Paintworks.
- Follow me on Twitter
- FASO Artist Websites - Easy, Professional Art Websites for Artists who Sell

 

I am pleased to announce that "Marseille Vieux-Port, France V" has been juried into the San Diego Watercolor Society 32nd International Exhibition (judge: Nicholas Simmons).

 

The exhibition will open at the SDWS Gallery on October 1 and run through October 31.  The opening reception will be held at the venue on October 5, with many exhibitors and visitors attending.

 

 

Marseille Vieux-Port, France V

 

Click for an enlarged view of this painting.

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 21 x 29 inches (53 x 74 cm)

Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Available during the exhibition through gallery

 

Please send me an email for details.

 

 

- Join me on Facebook and follow my blog on NetworkedBlogs.

- Follow me on Google+.
- Visit my gallery at Daily Paintworks.
- Follow me on Twitter
- FASO Artist Websites - Easy, Professional Art Websites for Artists who Sell

 

"I was lucky to come from a difficult area.  It teaches you not just about football but also life.  There were lots of kids from different races and poor families.  People had to struggle to get through the day."  - Zinedine Zidane, French soccer legend, native of Marseille, son of Algerian immigrants

 

For almost two thousand years, Marseille has been a gateway for people arriving in France from other countries.  Immigrants have come from virtually an every corner of the world but mainly Greece, Italy, Turkey, and in later years from North Africa such as Algeria and Morocco.  With many settling there, Marseille has rapidly become a large, ethnically-diverse, multicultural city.

 

It is the city's Old Port (Vieux-Port) that received people who traveled the Mediterranean to come to France.  Today, the port area serves as a marina for hundreds of leisure boats and looks just lovely with seaside cafes, restaurants and the warm Provencal ambiance.   But if we walk past it and a little deeper off main roads, we will see the reality of the city as a melting pot of immigrant communities, some of which are definitely not on a tourist's map.

 

 

Marseille Vieux-Port, France IV

 

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 8.25 x 11.5 inches (21 x 29 cm)

Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Sold

 

- Join me on Facebook and follow my blog on NetworkedBlogs.

- Follow me on Google+.
- Visit my gallery at Daily Paintworks.
- Follow me on Twitter
- FASO Artist Websites - Easy, Professional Art Websites for Artists who Sell

 

Spend 10 minutes on top of the Rialto Bridge overlooking the Grand Canal, and you will perhaps see a dozen different kinds of boats that go up and down this city's major water corridor - waterbuses, taxis, barges, private boats of local residents and of course gondolas, etc., all navigating their way through each other.

 

The Grand Canal is said to follow the course of an ancient river and the area around the Rialto Bridge is the place of the first settlement that later became the city's center of trade.  From what we see today, the area is still the scene of busy life in Venice.

 

 

 

Canal Grande, Venice, Italy VII

 

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 11.5 x 15.5 inches (29 x 39 cm)

Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Sold

 

 

- Join me on Facebook and follow my blog on NetworkedBlogs.

- Follow me on Google+.
- Visit my gallery at Daily Paintworks.
- Follow me on Twitter
- FASO Artist Websites - Easy, Professional Art Websites for Artists who Sell

 

From the top of the cliff at Cape Kiritappu in eastern Hokkaido, I could see several fishing boats bobbing in rough water.  As its Japanese name implies, the area around here is often foggy but on the day I was there it was mostly clear - only freezing cold.

 

On a small boat three fishermen were hard at work but I couldn't tell what was caught in their nets.  No matter what, their catch must have been of excellent quality.  Hokkaido, Japan's nothernmost island, is surrounded by the three oceans and has the most fertile fishing grounds in the country.  Salmon from there, among others, is no doubt the best in Japan.  If you get a nice cut of salmon next time, eating this dish originally created by Hokkaido fishermen will make you feel like you're there (recipe courtesy of Powderlife).

 

 

Kiritappu, Hokkaido, Japan I

 

A large digital file available on request.

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 8.25 x 11.5 inches (21 x 29 cm)

Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Please send me an email for details.

 

 

- Join me on Facebook and follow my blog on NetworkedBlogs.

- Follow me on Google+.
- Visit my gallery at Daily Paintworks.
- Follow me on Twitter
- FASO Artist Websites - Easy, Professional Art Websites for Artists who Sell

 

Soaring high in the gray sky, the Vincent Thomas bridge looks impressive.  One of the longest suspension bridges in California, it connects San Pedro and the largely industrial Terminal Island, carrying significant truck traffic for the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

 

Seen from the San Pedro side, Terminal Island doesn't look so inviting as the nearby Catalina Island.  While Catalina, known for its pristine landscapes, is a popular vacation spot in Southern California, Terminal Island is... not.  Here all we see seems to be colossal cargo vessels, heavy equipment, and lots and lots of containers being loaded and unloaded.  To me, however, this is just as exciting as a painting subject.

 

 

San Pedro Shipyard, California I

 

Click here for an enlarged view of this painting.

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 8.25 x 11.5 inches (21 x 29 cm)

Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Sold

 

- Join me on Facebook and follow my blog on NetworkedBlogs.

- Follow me on Google+.
- Visit my gallery at Daily Paintworks.
- Follow me on Twitter
- FASO Artist Websites - Easy, Professional Art Websites for Artists who Sell

 

I like visiting the waterfront area in San Pedro.  A seaside promenade walk while admiring beautiful boats and cruise ships is always nice, but, for me, to see a gigantic industrial zone of the Port of Los Angeles in the background adds a sense of excitement to an otherwise tranquil scene.

 

There's also a working harbor for fishing vessels that I love to paint.  Here's one of my attempts showing some of the hard-working fishing boats anchored for the night.  The sun had just set behind the hills in the back while the fog was rolling in.... it was a golden opportunity for a painting I couldn't pass up.

 

 

 

 

San Pedro, California II

 

Click here for an enlarged view of this painting.

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 11.5 x 15.5 inches (29 x 39 cm)

Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Please send me an email for details.

 

 

- Join me on Facebook and follow my blog on NetworkedBlogs.

- Follow me on Google+.
- Visit my gallery at Daily Paintworks.
- Follow me on Twitter
- FASO Artist Websites - Easy, Professional Art Websites for Artists who Sell

 

If anyone wants to paint or learn to draw elegant boats, I'd say, go to La Rochelle.  Signs of heritage and tradition as an important seaside town in the French maritime history are everywhere.  Especially if you approach La Rochelle by boat, you will understand it immediately as you are welcomed by massive medieval towers that were built to protect the town from enemies coming from the sea.  Then you see hundreds of boats and yachts in their ports behind the fortified walls, and beautiful houses of shipbuilders and merchants in their historic old center.  A jewel of all towns dotted along the Bay of Biscay, La Rochelle is a North Atlantic port town with the unique French flair at its best  - a perfect place for francophile maritime painters.

 

 

La Rochelle, France II

 

Click here for an enlarged view of this painting.

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 11.5 x 15.5 inches (29 x 39 cm)

Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Sold

 

 

- Join me on Facebook and follow my blog on NetworkedBlogs.

- Follow me on Google+.
- Visit my gallery at Daily Paintworks.
- Follow me on Twitter
- FASO Artist Websites - Easy, Professional Art Websites for Artists who Sell

 

Cities like Paris seem to have such charm that they make you dream of things both ordinary and extraordinary.  For instance, thinking of Paris makes me dream of strolling down a street with a baguette in hand or living on a luxurious houseboat on the Seine.

 

In Paris I always enjoy walking along the river banks to see all the boats, especially the ones with their owners living inside.  What a life it must be to wake up to a view of the Eiffel Tower and be able to take your house out to sea!

 

 

La Seine, Paris V

 

Click here for an enlarged view of this painting.

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 21.5 x 14.25 inches (54.5 x 36 cm)

Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Sold

 

 

- Join me on Facebook and follow my blog on NetworkedBlogs.

- Follow me on Google+.
- Visit my gallery at Daily Paintworks.
- Follow me on Twitter
- FASO Artist Websites - Easy, Professional Art Websites for Artists who Sell

 

Isola dei Pescatori is an island on Lake Maggiore and easy to get to from the town of Stresa.  It is so small, about 380 meters by 100 meters, we can survey its entire length in a few seconds as our boat approaches the island.

 

As its name implies, there used to be a community of fishermen here.  Compared to nearby islands known for elaborate gardens or a baroque palace, on Isola dei Pescatori, it is still possible to feel traditional way of life from the past.  Although we may see more tourists walking on narrow streets on the island today, old fishing boats left on the shore suggest their traditional occupation is still alive.  Such a charming island on a beautiful lake with an alpine backdrop - the setting is almost like a fairy tale.  Click here to see another painting of this island.

 

 

Lago Maggiore, Italy IV

 

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 8.25 x 11.5 inches (21 x 29 cm)

Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Sold

 

 

- Join me on Facebook and follow my blog on NetworkedBlogs.

- Follow me on Google+.
- Visit my gallery at Daily Paintworks.
- Follow me on Twitter
- FASO Artist Websites - Easy, Professional Art Websites for Artists who Sell

 

I was looking out the window from a train into Northern Italy when I had a glimpse of the picturesque town of Stresa by Lake Maggiore.  I remember the amazing colors of blue green water as a backdrop of red, sun-lit roofs of the houses and lush green landscape there.  From the fast-moving train I was able to enjoy the almost dream-like view for only a few seconds, but the image was so ingrained in my mind I was determined to get off a train there if I ever had another chance.

 

A few years later, very unexpectedly my wish came true and I did have an opportunity of returning to the Lake District in Italy.  I went to Stresa as I had planned, and even ventured out further to visit Isola dei Pescatori (Fishermen's Island), one of the islands on the lake...

 

 

Lago Maggiore, Italy III (Isola dei Pescatori)

 

Click here for an enlarged view of this painting.

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 11.5 x 8.25 inches (29 x 21 cm)

Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Please send me an email for details.

 

 

- Join me on Facebook and follow my blog on NetworkedBlogs.

- Follow me on Google+.
- Visit my gallery at Daily Paintworks.
- Follow me on Twitter
- FASO Artist Websites - Easy, Professional Art Websites for Artists who Sell

 

When we travel and live without routine for an extended period of time, things that were enjoyable at the beginning of the trip can be felt more as a nuisance or stress.   This can happen to anyone including the most adventurous type, and a remedy may be a 'vacation' from your travel.

 

A small island of Bozcaada seemed like a perfect place for that - just to relax without worrying about anything that's associated with day-to-day hustle of traveling.  One of the two Turkish islands in the Aegean Sea, Bozcaada has a long and tumultuous history but now it is a peaceful, laid-back place, popular mainly with Turkish visitors.

 

 

 

Bozcaada, Turkey I

 

Click here for an enlarged view of this painting.

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 8.25 x 11.5 inches (21 x 29 cm)

Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Sold

 

 

 

Bozcaada, Turkey II

 

Bozcaada, Turkey II

 

A larger view of this painting is available on  request.

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 11.5 x 8.25 inches (29 x 21 cm)

Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Please send me an email for details.

 

 

- Join me on Facebook and follow my blog on NetworkedBlogs.

- Follow me on Google+.
- Visit my gallery at Daily Paintworks.
- Follow me on Twitter
- FASO Artist Websites - Easy, Professional Art Websites for Artists who Sell

 

"This is our beautiful house in the Deux Sevres region of France, called Bandouille, a wonderful stone building, part 12th century monastery, and part 18th century farmhouse, set within the 24 acre grounds, facing the 12 acre lake.  We have numerous outbuildings and barns, the remains of the original church, the magnificent monastery dome, two smaller lakes, fields and orchards.

 

"... after some time in the studio, we will take you out and about, to some of the locations we have found in the area.  Historic towns, chateaux, landscapes, rivers etc. are all within an hours drive.  Subjects to inspire you to paint or sketch, to enjoy yourself quietly on your own or with other like minded people who have also joined us for the week.  We will have guest tutors visiting, and staying with us during the summer, who will be more than happy to give advice on methods and techniques, or you can chat with  members of the local "pleinair" art group or any of the other artist friends who regularly visit or pop in."

 

You have just read an invitation from the lovely British owners of Bandouille to those who love France and painting in a relaxed atmosphere.  And having it all in the springtime when the weather is just comfortable, wouldn't that sound perfect?  I will lead a plein-air watercolor painting workshop at Bandouille in April.  Come and join us for an unforgettable painting experience!

 

Click here to get all the details.

 

 

Bandouille Terrace

 

  Parthenay, France (near Bandouille)

 

St Loup sur Thouet (near Bandouille)

 

* These paintings of mine are not for sale.

 

- Join me on Facebook and follow my blog on NetworkedBlogs.

- Follow me on Google+.
- Visit my gallery at Daily Paintworks.
- Follow me on Twitter
- FASO Artist Websites - Easy, Professional Art Websites for Artists who Sell

 

It is often said that being an artist is a lonely profession.  It is true.  To grow as an artist as well as to raise our skill level, we do need plenty of "alone" time  - with our art.  But many of us also seek ways to connect and socialize with our peers.  Even if one lives in a remote corner of the world, with today's technology, it is not difficult to find colleagues.  For me, personally and professionally, meeting and making new artist friends at art openings, workshops, paint-outs and also on my blog, facebook, twitter, etc. was one of the great things that happened in 2011.

 

A demonstration/lecture organized by Watercolor West, my latest art event about 10 days ago, was particularly enjoyable (Read my previous post about this event).  I had never met before most of 80-90 people who attended the event but, being watercolor artists, I felt we developed instant camaraderie.  Among them was Karen Werner.  It was very nice of her to write a post on her blog about my demo.  And there was Carolyn Streed who has been traveling all across America with her husband in their coach.  She and I have been facebook friends for some time and we were excited to finally meet face-to-face.

 

As we prepare to ring in a new year, I look forward to many more encounters like these throughout 2012.

 

 

Portofino, Italy VI

 

Click here for an enlarged view of this painting.

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 11.5 x 15.5 inches (29 x 39 cm)

Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Sold (Collection Carolyn Streed)

 

 

- Join me on Facebook and follow my blog on NetworkedBlogs.

- Follow me on Google+.
- Visit my gallery at Daily Paintworks.
- Follow me on Twitter
- FASO Artist Websites - Easy, Professional Art Websites for Artists who Sell

 

Izmir, formerly known as Smyrna, is a historical city lying along the Mediterranean coast of Turkey.  I had the pleasure of meeting watercolor artists and art supporters in this beautiful city and doing a demonstration for them at the Izmir Museum of Art and Sculpture (İzmir Resim Heykel Müzesi).  I was so delighted to discover this place as the museum is an absolute gem, displaying an impressive collection of paintings and scultures by Turkish artists from the 20th century.

 

As in Istanbul, I received once again a very warm welcome and incredible hospitality in Izmir by those I met.  I would like to express my sincere thank-you for the museum director, Ms. Faden Suzan Kudsioglu for her kind invitation as well as my new Turkish friends who took the time to attend my demonstration.  I heard that many more would have come if not on vacation, and I hope I will meet those of you I missed the next time.  Teşekkür ederim!

 

My demo in Izmir, Turkey (A view from Kadifekale)

 

Another demo (Eskihisar) I did in Izmir, Turkey

 

 

Izmir, Turkey I (A View from Kadifekale)

 

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 14.25 x 21.5 inches

Purchase: Donated

- Join me on Facebook and follow my blog on NetworkedBlogs.
- Visit my gallery at Daily Paintworks.
- Follow me on Twitter
- FASO Artist Websites - Easy, Professional Art Websites for Artists who Sell

 

My watercolor painting "Oceanside Habor, San Diego I" has been awarded Outstanding Watercolor in the recent Bold Brush Painting Competition.  I would like to thank FineArtStudioOnline for this special recognition!

 

I am also happy to announce that this painting has been donated to the San Diego Watercolor Society for the Opportunity Drawing to be held at the opening reception of our 31st International Exhibition on October 7, 2011.  The funds raised will be used to help cover the expenses of the exhibit.

 

 

Oceanside Harbor, San Diego I

Click here for an enlarged view of this painting.

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 14.25 x 21.5 inches (36 x 54.5 cm)
Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Donated

 

- Join me on Facebook and follow my blog on NetworkedBlogs.
- Visit my gallery at Daily Paintworks.
- Follow me on Twitter
- FASO Artist Websites - Easy, Professional Art Websites for Artists who Sell

 

In Istanbul, it doesn’t take long for any first-time visitors to notice a loud melodic male voice coming from a mosque several times a day.  My Turkish friend told me five times a day this Islamic call to prayer is announced via a public address system.

 

Since there are so many mosques, or camii as they are called in Turkish, chances are you are almost always within an easy reach of one, especially in the old part of the city.   As soon as you hear the "song," you will see many local people, mostly grown men and some boys, cleanse their hands and feet and enter their place of worship.

 

The first painting is a stunning view from the top of the Galata Tower on the Asian side of the city.  Over the hill on the European side, so many tall minarets are visible, explaining just how many mosques were built there.  The second painting shows one of the most famous mosques in the city, Aya Sophia.  Click here to go to the previous post to see more paintings of Istanbul.

 

 

Istanbul, Turkey IV (A View from the Galata Tower)

 

Click here for an enlarged view of this painting.

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 11.5 x 15.5 inches (29 x 39 cm)
Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Sold

 

 

 

 

Istanbul, Turkey VI (Aya Sophia)

 

Istanbul, Turkey VI (Aya Sophia)

 

Image Size: 8.25 x 11.5 inches (21 x 29 cm)

Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Sold

 

 

 

Istanbul, Turkey III

 

Istanbul, Turkey III

 

A larger image of this painting is available on request.

Image Size: 11.5 x 8.25 inches (29 x 21 cm)

Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Please send me an email for details.

 

On the coat of arms of Paris is a silver vessel that sails on the rough waters.  We may not see a ship like this from the Middle Ages on the Seine River any more, but the importance of the river in trade and transportation hasn't changed throughout Paris' history.

 

Le Petit Pont (The Small Bridge), connecting the the Île de la Cité and the Left Bank, is one of the first bridges built over the Seine when Paris was still called Lutetia in the Gallo-Roman era.  It was a wooden bridge back then and served as a strong fortress protecting the city.  It was swept away due to flooding of the river or design flaws many times, each time replaced by a new one.  Standing on the quay, looking up, I tired to imagine the old days when the river was not tamed and overflowing was common... and all the houses stacked up on it.  That would have been an interesting sight.  The current single stone arch bridge was built in 1853.

 

 

La Seine, Paris, France II (Le Petit Pont)

 

A larger image of this painting is available on request.

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 8.25 x 11.5 inches (21 x 29 cm)
Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Sold

 

I was mentioned or featured in several art publications recently.  Professional Artist magazine just published an article on how artists supported Japanese disaster relief efforts by raising money from their art ("Artists Raise $30,000 Online for Japanese Tsunami Survivors" by Byron Kerman, July/August 2011 issue).  I was interviewed for the article and my artwork is also featured in it.

 

I was delighted that San Diego Talent Magazine did a feature article on me last month.  I was also pleased to see my name come up in one of the recent posts, entitled "Your favourite watercolour painters," in Katherine Tyrrell's popular Making a Mark blog.

 

I'd like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to those who chose to write about me or my work (My special thank-you to Byron and Katherine!).

 

 

Oceanside Harbor, San Diego, California I

 

Click here for an enlarged view of this painting.

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 14.25 x 21.5 inches (36 x 54.5 cm)
Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Donated

 

There are two Paris must-do's that I haven't done yet despite numerous visits there over the years - a cruise on the Seine and the Eiffel Tower.  It may be that a part of me thinks they are just too touristy so I keep avoiding but another part of me, I admit, wonders if I'm missing out on a lot.  I always walk down to the water's edge or cross some of the bridges to enjoy watching people along the quays and boats traveling up and down the river.

 

I just love being part of the scene that is full of life and history while contemplating many painting possibilities.  What is also attractive to me is that any urban landscape painting involving the Seine adds a meditative quality to it.  So maybe it won't be such a bad idea to hop on one of these boats next time to see this enchanting city from a completely new perspective.

 

 

La Seine, Paris, France I

 

Click here for an enlarged view of this painting.

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 11.5 x 15.5 inches (29 x 39 cm)
Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Please send me an email for details.

 

 

Greek philosopher Plato said, "Music gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything."  If music is indeed the sound of life, the sounds of gentle lapping waves, flapping of the sails, roaring wind, stormy sea, faint squeaking of the deck, and maybe occasional whale spouting… they all must have been "music" to sailors who spent weeks or months on a vessel that went around the world in the late 19th century.

 

After 21 voyages around the world, this majestic sailing ship retired and is now docked in San Diego as a floating museum.  It has become a symbol at the city's waterfront, and everyone is proud of her.  Her name is Star of India but her original name was Euterpe, the muse of music in Greek mythology.

 

 

 

Star of India, San Diego I

 

Click here for an enlarged view of this painting.

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 11.5 x 8.25 inches (29 x 21 cm)
Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Sold

 

Collioure is a village in southwest France, not far from the border with Spain.  Facing the blue Mediterranean, it commands a fantastic view of the ocean from almost anywhere in town.  Come here on a bright day and allow yourself to be embraced by the warm sun and caressed by the sea breeze, and you may not want to leave.  It's no surprise this village has been attracting many painters, too, and some ended up living here for a while.

 

If you arrive here from other parts of France or Spain, you will notice there's a good mix of both worlds in what you see or hear.  Yet this village is neither French nor Spanish - it is distinctively Catalan, reflecting its unique history of the Catalonia region that spans both countries. 

 

On the sandy beach by the Notre-Dame-des-Anges, vacationers, some French and some Spanish, were spending a peaceful afternoon.  It is almost hard to believe there were times in the past this village was fought over by both sides of the border.

 

 

Collioure, France IV

 

Click here for an enlarged view of this painting.

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 11.5 x 15.5 inches (29 x 39 cm)
Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Sold 

 

  Collioure, France V

 

 

Collioure, France V

 

A larger image of this painting is available on request.

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 11.5 x 8.25 inches (29 x 21 cm)
Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Sold

Eiffel Tower, Paris II

 

 

You say it's an absolute beauty and one of the first things you must see in Paris?  Rather, you are of the opinion that it's such an eyesore you can't stand it?  There seems to be two kinds of visitors to Paris when it comes to their opinions about the Eiffel Tower.  Whether you take one side over the other (or fall somewhere in between), wouldn't you agree that Paris wouldn't be the same without it?

 

Weighing 10,100 tons, soaring 324 meters tall, it is a massive structure, and I must say that getting an up-close-and-personal look at the 250,000-square-meter surface of the fine iron lattice work is awe-inspiring.

 

"For my part I believe that the Tower will possess its own beauty.  Are we to believe that because one is an engineer, one is not preoccupied by beauty in one's constructions, or that one does not seek to create elegance as well as solidity and durability?  Is it not true that the very conditions which give strength also conform to the hidden rules of harmony? "  -- Gustave Eiffel, designer of the Eiffel Tower

 

 

Eiffel Tower, Paris II

 

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 8.25 x 11.5 inches (21 x 29 cm)
Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Sold

 

Click here to see more Paris France paintings.

 

 

 

In about 10 days or so, the cherry blossom trees (sakura) will start blooming in Japan.  A beautiful display of their pale pink flowers is a sure sign of the arrival of spring.  I think, for many Japanese, spring is the best time of the year.

April is also the beginning of a new fiscal and school year in Japan.  It is a chance to make a fresh start for new hopes and goals.  It is a time to look forward to a bright future ahead.  Especially this year, after the recent disasters of epic proportions, I pray that spring will still mean the same for the people of Japan.

 

This painting will be auctioned in Daily Paintworks Help Japan Challenge.  All proceeds will be donated to help survivors and their families in disaster-stricken areas in Japan.  Bidding starts at 1pm (USA CST) on March 19.  For more details, please read here.

 

About the painting:  At the time when Japan's capital was in Kyoto, the Arashiyama area in the western suburb was a favorite spot for the imperial aristocrats.  With lush mountains and a crystal clear river, they would enjoy boating, fishing, and poetry reading while admiring beautiful sceneries.  This spring when the sakura flowers are in full bloom in those mountains, thousands of people will visit there as they have done for centuries.

 

 

Spring in Kyoto, Japan IV 

 

Click here for an enlarged view.

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 8.25 x 11.5 inches (21 x 29 cm)
Mat/Frame: No

Purchase: Sold via Daily Paintworks Help Japan Challenge Auction

 

It's time for carnevale in Venice.  This year's festivities have already begun last month and will end on March 8 with a huge party to end all parties.  People walk on the streets, wearing costumes and traditional Venetian masks.  There are extravagant balls, concerts, parades on canals.  This is a big winter celebration, 40 days before Easter, when Venice transforms itself into a mysterious world of elegance and magic.

 

 

Gondolier, Venice, Italy XI

 

Click here for an enlarged view.

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 10 x 6 inches (25 x 15 cm)
Mat: Yes (15 x 10 inches; white)

Frame: No

Purchase: Sold 

 

  Venice Reflections X

 

Venice Reflections X

 

Media: Original watercolor on paper

Image Size: 11.5 x 8.25 inches (29 x 21 cm)

Mat/Frame: No

Purchase: Sold

 

San Bartolomeo is a church tucked away behind the Rialto Bridge.  Some time after its foundation in the 9th century, it became the church of the German trading community that enjoyed an active commerce in this area.  The bell tower was constructed when the church was rebuilt following the 1688 earthquake.  The onion shaped dome with an octagonal drum is visible from the Grand Canal.

 

The traffic on the Grand Canal, Venice's main waterway, is always very busy near the Rialto Bridge, with all kinds of boats going up and down and across the corridor.   But skilled gondoliers would just paddle their gondolas through them all while serenading.

 

 

Gondolier, Venice, Italy X

 

A larger image of this painting is available on request.

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 21.5 x 7 inches (54.5 x 18 cm)
Mat/Frame: Yes (27 x 12 inches).  Please ask for details.

Purchase: Please send me an email for more information.

 

The coastline that stretches from Marseille to Cassis, called the Calanques, is incredibly picturesque.  Massive, jagged white cliffs that were formed a long time ago rise almost vertically from the turquoise water of the Mediterranean.

 

There are some small inlets which are accessible from the land and the sea.  It is surprising to see a variety of vegetation on these white limestone rocks but they are the kinds that thrive on the abundant sunshine, wind and arid conditions.

 

The area around the Calanques has long been a favorite for artists such as Paul Signac and Paul Cézanne.  It is so easy to be consumed by its natural beauty and gorgeous light, but be aware of dehydration if you attempt painting en plein air.

 

 

 

 

Calanques, France I

 

A larger image of this painting is available on request.

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 11.5 x 8.25 inches (29 x 21 cm)
Mat/Frame: No
Purchase: Please send me an email for more information.

 

One of the rewards for traveling is that we realize there are many lessons to be learned out there. We can read or watch dvd's about different places, people and cultures, but the first-hand experience makes it so much easier to learn about them that it often doesn't feel like we are making a conscious effort.

 

For example, Portofino is a perfect place to understand the meaning of la dolce far niente, the sweetness of doing nothing, that I heard the Italians had perfected as an art form.  Sitting at a cafe near the harbor surrounded by brightly-colored houses, the blue ocean and green mountains, and doing really nothing else but savoring the moment to appreciate what we have in life...  Doing this well is not as easy as it sounds especially if you are used to a fast-paced and hurried life.  But I think we can assume this is a lesson eveyone would love to learn.

 

 

Portofino, Italy V

 

A larger image of this painting is available on request.

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 8.25 x 11.5 inches (21 x 29 cm)
Mat/Frame: No
Purchase: Please send me an email for more information.

 

The internet has allowed us artists to reach virtually all over the world.  I, for one, have done business with many people, in the last few years, who are more diverse in nationality, geographical location, profession, age, and financial means than I can write in one blog post.

 

Communication with them is usually by email.  While some prefer keeping it strictly business, many tell me a bit of their background information - who they are, where they live, why they like a particular painting of mine, who they buy a painting for, etc.  Each of their stories is so uniquely different, therefore special, I don't know if I will ever be surprised to hear even the one beyond my wildest dreams. What I want to say is, these stories bring me such a joy as they give my paintings a special meaning in a way I can't possibly do.

 

There's also a downside to having an internet presence, such as being targeted by art scammers.  I just had an unpleasant encounter with one through email last week and was made aware that having seen them and heard about them for years doesn't prepare you 100% against them.  Just as we artists become more familiar with their typical tactics, scammers invent a cleverer approach once their old tricks stop working.  Good news for me was that I didn't lose money or paintings to this scammer but he really wasted my time.  I was mentally exhausted and I felt I needed a vacation.  So I painted a beautiful villa on the Italian Riviera, overlooking the deep blue Ligurian Sea for a little escape.

Art is a way to express yourself and through that you can escape a bad situation.  - Russell Simmons


 

Portofino, Italy IV

 

A larger image of this painting is available on request.

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 8.25 x 11.5 inches (21 x 29 cm)
Mat/Frame: No
Purchase: Please send me an email for more information.

 

There are several beaches on the Awajishima Island and I really liked Ohama Beach in the town of Sumoto for its beautiful white sand and rows of pine trees.  It was so quiet and the water was crystal clear.  It was strange that not many people ventured out to enjoy this jewel, but I figured, in winter time, the idea of soaking in onsen (hot springs), which Sumoto is also known for, must be what attracts most visitors to the town.

 

In both of my paintings today, I used Mt. Mikuma as a backdrop.  Using fairly thick mix of greens, purples and browns, I dropped paints quickly on a moist surface to create the illusion of a lush mountain.

 

There is a castle on top of the mountain, which was originally built almost 500 years ago during the Sengoku (Warring States) Period, a time of long civil war and political upheaval.  Looking up at the remains from the beach gave me a meditative moment about how times have changed.

 

Awajishima (Sumoto), Hyogo, Japan III

 

 

Awajishima (Sumoto), Hyogo, Japan II

 

A larger image of this painting is available on request.

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 8.25 x 11.5 inches (21 x 29 cm)
Mat/Frame: No
Purchase: Sold

 

 

Awajishima (Sumoto), Hyogo, Japan III

 

A larger image of this painting is available on request.

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 8.25 x 11.5 inches (21 x 29 cm)
Mat/Frame: No
Purchase: Please send me an email for more information.

 

To begin crossing the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge is an exciting moment.  And rightly so because it is the world's longest suspension bridge that connects the city of Kobe on Honshu the main island and Awajishima Island, more than 2 miles away.  The day I traveled to Awajishima was quite windy, making me wonder if it was safe to cross.  But I was assured by my travel companion that the bridge was constructed to withstand gusty winds and even strong earthquakes.  This engineering marvel already looked very sleek from far away and its up-close views impressed me even more.

 

I couldn't help but notice, however, an uneasy feeling at the back of my mind.  I knew the bridge was under construction when the Kobe area suffered one of the most devastating disasters in 1995.  The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake (commonly known as the Kobe Earthquake), with its epicenter on Awajishima, claimed more than six thousand lives, and is said to have moved the land beneath the bridge so much the central span had to be extended by 1 meter.

 

At a glance, the area stretching from Kobe to Awajishima doesn't show signs of the destruction any more, which reflects tremendous amount of recovery efforts, but my heart aches to think of all the challenges and hardships people have had to go through.  They will mark the sixteenth anniversary of the quake on the 17th of this month.

 

 

Awajishima Island, Hyogo, Japan I

 

Click here for an enlarged view.

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 8.25 x 11.5 inches (21 x 29 cm)
Mat/Frame: No
Purchase: Sold

 

Ono, a small village with a fishing port within the city of Kanazawa, was very quiet.  In fact, there was not even a soul walking when we got there in the late afternoon.  The chilly drizzle and freezing wind were enough to send even townspeople indoors, it seemed.  With nobody to ask for directions, we started exploring the town anyway, but we knew getting around could not be difficult in a small place like this.  So we first walked along the Ono River that flows into the Sea of Japan.

 

Along the river bank, fishing boats that had been long back from the sea were lined up neatly.  There were only a few fishermen mending their nets and cleaning the decks of their boats.  I couldn't help but imagine how busy and lively it must be in the morning when all the boats come and go.

 

Ono is also known as a major soy sauce (shoyu) manufacturing town.  Here and there we can spot family-run shoyu factories, and we can sometimes detect the flavorful smell of shoyu while walking on the streets.

 

 

 

Kanazawa (Ono), Japan II

 

 

Kanazawa (Ono), Japan I

 

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 8.25 x 11.5 inches (21 x 29 cm)
Mat/Frame: No
Purchase: Sold

 

 

Kanazawa (Ono), Japan II 

 

A larger image of this painting is available on request.

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 8.25 x 11.5 inches (21 x 29 cm)
Mat/Frame: No
Purchase: Please send me an email for more information.

 

Last weekend I had so much fun with a group of 25 very enthusiastic students who attended my workshop at the Education Center of the San Diego Watercolor Society.  I did four demos over two days and in between everyone was busy painting, learning, critiquing, exchanging ideas, socializing and inspiring each other.   Here are some photos and some of my demo paintings.

 

I am scheduled to do another weekend workshop, Capturing Light and Atmosphere in Watercolor, at the San Diego Watercolor Society in September, 2011.  Register early at the SDWS website.

 

 

    

 

 

  Firenze, Italy IX

 

  Julian VII

 

 

Barrio Logan, San Diego II

 

Click here for an enlarged view.

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 12 x 16 inches (31 x 41 cm)
Mat/Frame: No
Purchase: Please send me an email for more information.

 

 

Firenze, Italy IX

 

A larger image of this painting is available on request.

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 21.5 x 14.25 inches (54.5 x 36 cm)
Mat/Frame: No
Purchase: Please send me an email for more information.

 

 

Julian, San Diego VII

 

A larger image of this painting is available on request.

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 12 x 16 inches (31 x 41 cm)
Mat/Frame: No
Purchase: Please send me an email for more information.

 

Whether they are plein-air studies or studio creations based on my reference photos, my paintings are my emotional response to the inspiration.  Although I am constantly looking for a new idea, I stop and look or listen whenever the old inspiration speaks to me again. 

I painted the same canal in Izumo, Japan last year (click here to see the painting).  Revisiting the same subject matter is rare for me but I enjoy it, or rather I cannot deny the urge to respond when the old inspiration has resurfaced.

Technically speaking, it's like musicians remixing their song to create an alternative version of an original, but in my case there is no audio mixer or PC involved.  Just my brushes, paints, paper and a little bit of renewed excitement to go with it - that's all I need.


Izumo Canal, Japan II

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 11.5 x 8.25 inches (29 x 21 cm)
Mat/Frame: No
Purchase: Sold

Click here to see other Japanese landscape/cityscape paintings.

 

The artists' reception for the 1st Annual Southern California Black & White Juried Exhibition attracted a huge crowd on September 24 at the La Jolla Art Association (LJAA) Gallery.  I am pleased to have my watercolor "Zhouzhuang, China V" chosen to be in the show by Manuelita Brown, a juror.

This is a very unique exhibition where only works devoid of any colors other than black, white or shades of gray were eligible.  If you're in the vicinity, I hope you will visit the show, which runs through October 10 at the LJAA Gallery.

Zhouzhuang, China V

 

Click here for an enlarged view.
Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 22 x 16 inches (56 x 41 cm)
Mat/Frame: No
Purchase: Donated

 

Click here to see other paintings of Chinese landscapes.