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On a sunny afternoon, several men gather in a little dusty square and chase and throw metal balls under huge plane trees.  People sitting in a nearby café watch this simple yet very engaging game called pétanque while sipping pastis.  Time passes slowly here and cicadas all around sing incessantly like a broken record... Isn't this joie de vivre at its best?

 

A scene such as this is repeated everywhere in the south of France when the weather is good - and it is most of the year.  While traveling in the French Riviera, I witnessed another game in Saint-Paul de Vence, a medieval hilltop village.  But this particular square is not just another playing field because of some famous players.  Actors Yves Montand and Lino Ventura were among regulars here.  They are both gone but may be still playing pétanque up there.

 

"Yves Montand, c'est la joie de vivre." - Julien Dassin, son of Joe Dassin, singer-songwriter

 

 

Pétanque (Saint-Paul de Vence, France) IV

 

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: Sold

 

 

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If you visit Hong Kong, you have to do dim sum for an unforgettable culinary experience.  And if you do it at an authentic tea house with local friends, that's even better.

 

My dear friends who live in Hong Kong took me to one of the oldest and most popular dim sum restaurants in town for the ultimate culinary and cultural experience.  There are do's and don'ts in a place like that: if you don't know the rules (and obviously their language), you are not going to get any of those steaming goodies, or even a seat.

 

Thanks to my friends, I enjoyed several small dishes, seated among local regulars in a huge dining room that hasn't changed much for almost 100 years.

 

 

Dim Sum, Hong Kong I

 

Media: Original watercolor on paper

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

Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Sold

 

 

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At the suggestion of my dear friend in Hong Kong, I started my visit to Macau at the A-Ma Temple.  It is one of the oldest buildings and historically a very important temple located at the southwestern end of the Macau peninsula.  I was intrigued by the fact that the site of the temple was where the Portuguese sailors had landed almost 400 years ago and that the name Macau came from this temple.  The story goes like this: upon arrival, the Portuguese sailors asked native inhabitants where they were.  The local people told them the name of the temple which sounded like Macau in their language but the Portuguese thought that it was the name of the peninsula.

 

From the top of the steps leading up from this gate, one can have a view of the sea and boats sailing up and down the river that runs between Macau and the mainland China.  This is a perfect spot to worship Mazu, the goddess of the sea who protects sailors and fishermen.

 

 

A-Ma Temple, Macau I

 

A larger digital file 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

 

 

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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

 

 

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"Just send me money and a photo, and I will make a painting (of it) and send it back to you."  This was a sales pitch I overheard an artist say to his student.  This happened years ago and I was within earshot of them.  I admired the artist's work.  Did his statement surprise me?  Yes, it did immensely - I was simply in awe to think he could paint anything.  There was no doubt that this artist had talent, skills and experience to handle any subject matter to turn out a beautiful work of art.  I so wished I could say that myself as a beginning painter who struggled with every painting I was making.  But then I had to question his attitude: How could he paint something in someone else's photo?  Chances are that he didn't know or even feel anything about the subject.  Would it be ok to paint something just for money?

As years went by and I gained more experience as an artist, this question became one that I had to ask myself, too.  Commissions, for example, are usually done with someone else's photo.  In my indoor workshops, too, there's often a situation where a student shows me his photo and asks me to paint it.  Sometimes I see the inspiration in the photo instantly but other times it doesn't come so easily. 

I believe now, with or without a photo, in the end, it is the way of seeing with an artist's eye that matters.  The biggest challenge is that it may take a lifetime or two to develop one but that's what makes an artist's life - we try to see the world with an artist's eye and strive to capture the intuitive feel of things around us.

 

 

Adatepe, Turkey I (workshop demo; from a photo - not mine)

 

Media: Original watercolor on paper

Image Size: 17 x 23 inches (43 x 58 cm)

Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Private Collection

 

 

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The second edition of Les Aquarellades, an invitational international watercolor exhibition that took place in Mons, Belgium, came to a very successful close yesterday.

 

I would like to take a moment to thank the organizers and volunteers who worked around the clock to take care of every single detail to produce a show that was impeccable in many aspects.

 

My thanks also go to participants of my workshop and demo who traveled to Mons from many cities and towns of Europe near and far, and thousands of visitors to the exhibition during the two-week period.

 

 

 

my workshop and demo in Mons, Belgium

 

 

Afternoon in Bruges, Belgium I

 

Click here 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: Sold

 

 

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A Room with a View - when a young English woman and her cousin/chaperone didn't get a room with a view they had requested at a hotel in Florence, Italy, fellow guests from England, a father and his son, offered to trade their room.  Theirs had a view and the older man believed that "women like looking at a view and men don't."  The view in question was the one with the Arno River and cityscape of this Renaissance city.

 

The movie A Room with a View, based on the novel by E.M. Foster, was beautifully done, making viewers want to visit Florence and, particularly, stay in a room with a view at a hotel - like Pensione Bertolini, the place where the movie starts and ends.  Of course, a room with a view comes with a higher price tag, but in a city like Florence, it's probably worth it.  For a traveling painter, it can also be a perfect place to work.  After breakfast, just open the window and there it is, the first subject of the day.

 

 

Sunset, Florence, Italy II

 

Click for an enlarged view.

Media: Original watercolor on paper

Image Size: 19 x 13 inches (48 x 33 cm)

Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Sold

 

 

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If you choose Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island, as a wintertime destination, you must be a winter sports enthusiast or have a very special reason to do so.  For years I've been spoiled by the year-round mild climate in San Diego, making me a cold weather wimp, so it took me some courage to decide to visit Hokkaido in December.  But my hesitation melted the second I saw a breathtaking view like the one in this painting.  In fact, with or without snow, Hokkaido is beautiful and well known for its unspoiled nature, vast open land, exquisite food and wonderful people.

I am excited that I will have a chance to visit this beautiful land next summer.  I will be teaching a 5-day workshop in the city of Hakodate in Hokkaido, July 29 - August 2, 2013.  Registration opened on December 1 and within 2 weeks more than half the class has been already filled.  If you're interested in joining us, please visit this link for more information.

 

 

Winter Wonderland, Hokkaido, 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)

Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Sold

 

 

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After I moved from Kyoto to Tokyo, Kamakura was my favorite place to go to for a little peace and quiet.  About 40 miles south-west of my new place in Tokyo, the small town, sometimes referred to as Little Kyoto, was my secret getaway to escape from pressures associated with living alone in a big city.

 

In Kamakura, I liked walking around with no detailed plans, just enjoying the ambiance of a picturesque town rich in history and culture.  It's no surprise a place like this attracts many visitors, and some streets are always crowded with tourists and students on a school field trip.   This temple (in today's painting), a little off the beaten path, was a must for me because I liked its natural setting with a secluded feel.

 

 

Autumn in Kamamura, Japan I

 

Click here for an enlarged view.

Media: Original watercolor on paper

Image Size: 19 x 13 inches (48 x 33 cm)

Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Sold

 

 

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I am pleased that my watercolor "Torino, Italy II" was chosen as the cover art for Loving You the Way I Do, a new book by Ron Savage (ISBN: 978-0-9826364-3-5; Black Lawrence Press, New York).  The book is now available online.

 

"We don't love each other the way we'd like.  We love each other the way we do." - Ron Savage

 

I just finished my 4-day workshop at the San Diego Watercolor Society.  As with all the painters I met in my previous workshops, everyone who attended my class in San Diego was seriously hard-working and fun-loving people, and we painted furiously for 4 solid days, exhanged art tips, laughed, shared meals, etc.

 

I wouldl like to thank the SDWS for organizing and executing an extremely professional workshop and everyone who spent the last 4 days painting with me.  Hope to see you all again.

 

 

 

Demo (Balboa Park, San Diego)

 

Media: Original watercolor on paper

Image Size: 20 x 14 inches (51 x 36 cm)

Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Sold

 

 

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I am honored that Cindy Salaski, the founder of artmatch4U and a very versatile artist herself, has chosen my work to be featured on her comprehensive art website this month.  As October Artist of the Month, I have three of my paintings published.  Thank you, Cindy - it was such a pleasure working with you for this feature article.

 

 

Roma, Italia XLI

 

Media: Original watercolor on paper

Image Size: 55 x 74 cm

Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Sold

 

 

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How to capture light and atmosphere in watercolor paintings -- 27 of us spent five days last week learning and studying hard about this difficult subject and tried different approaches and subject matters to make that happen in our paintings.

 

I had the pleasure of working with these hard-working and fun-loving participants in Minnesota who attended my week-long workshop there for the Northstar Watermedia Society.  What an intense and inspiring week full of enthusiasm and positive energy!  I'm exhausted but this is a kind of exhaustion that feels good.  Thank you, Northstar Watermedia Society, for inviting me to do this workshop and an evening demo.  And my special thank-you to those of you who came from the Twin Cities area and neighboring towns and states to enjoy painting with me!

 

 

Last day of my workshop in Minnesota, with participants

 

 

Demo (Rainy Night, New York City)

 

Media: Original watercolor on paper

Image Size: 19 x 13 inches (48 x 33 cm)

Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Sold

 

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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

 

 

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It is the quality of light that makes the brief period of time before sunrise and sunset so attractive.  When the sun is low on the horizon, light is soft and diffused, blending lighted areas and shadowy areas nicely.  It has such a soothing effect that most of us respond to this type of lighting very positively.

 

Landscape painters and photographers have known this as "golden hour" and think this is the ideal light condition to work in.  Colors look richly saturated and it is easier to capture the true atmosphere of a place in soft light.

 

A downside may be that golden hour doesn't occur at the most convenient time of the day.  We have to be an early riser and sometimes forget about breakfast.  As for the afternoon event, unless we plan well ahead of time, it is so easy to miss it.   Around the time before sunset, we are often so caught up in routine daily activities that we find it hard to drop everything and get ready to capture that perfect image.  So it does take some sacrifice to fully take advantage of this magical hour but it is definitely worth it.

 

 

Trattoria, Venice, Italy V

 

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

Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Sold

 

 

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Abundant opportunities to visit world-class art museums, angelic voices of the Boy's Choir, a cruise on the Danube, great wine, Sacher torte and their famous coffee...   There are so many good reasons to go to Austria's capital city, Vienna.   This elegant city must also be one of the places where it's worth just being there.  Walking on the streets and admiring elegant architecture of baroque-style buildings - it is simply a feast for the eyes.

 

"For almost thirty years I repeatedly saw one and the same dream: I would arrive in Vienna at long last.  I would feel really happy, for I was returning to my serene childhood." -- Alfred Schnittke, German-Russian composer

 

 

Vienna, Austria 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: Sold

 

 

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Starting at the Puerta del Sol and going eastward on this street, Calle de Alcala, we pass many historical landmarks and important buildings of Madrid: Government offices and banks, the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando, the Buen Retiro Park... just to name a few.  And also the Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas, a famous bullfight ring, speaking of which I should add that I admire its beautiful architecture but haven't had the courage or strong desire to see what takes place inside.

 

One of the people who frequented this bullring was Ernest Hemingway.  It is well known that he loved Madrid and kept going back there.  During his stays in the Spanish capital, he visited the Plaza de Toros many times because he had gotten fascinated by bullfighting.

 

"The only place where you could see life and death, i.e., violent death now that the wars were over, was in the bull ring and I wanted very much to go to Spain where I could study it.  I was trying to learn to write, commencing with the simplest things, and one of the simplest things of all and the most fundamental is violent death."  - from Death in the Afternoon by Ernest Hemingway, American author and journalist

 

 

Madrid, Spain 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

 

 

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"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

 

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I've been painting en plein air a lot lately.  It did take a little bit of courage in the beginning but since I found the experience unbeatable to any amount of studio learning, I have tried to do it as much as possible in the last 5 years or so.  Eugene Boudin, a French marine painter who inspired Claude Monet, said, "three strokes of a brush in front of nature are worth more than two days of work at the easel."  I believe his words.

 

Recently my Portuguese artist friend took me to Sintra, near Lisbon, to paint there.  Situated in the lush mountains, Sintra has a really nice ambiance with palaces and houses built in exquisite architectural styles.  I did this painting in front of the National Palace in town.  Plein air painting has its rewards but there are also challenges such as dealing with fast changing light.  But like Harley Brown observes,  "creating on the spot has an adventure that my modest words will never explain.  Something happens when all five senses are working and the sixth sense arrives."  So true.

 

 

Sintra, Portugal I

 

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 14 x 20 inches

Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Sold 

 

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The opening of the 2012 Salon Biennale d'Aquarelle de Rochemaure on July 6 was attended by a large group of exhibiting artists, city officials from Rochemaure, the organizing committee, volunteers and guests.  The fourth edition of the Rochemaure watercolor biennial has been described by many as the best ever, with 18 French artists and 9 foreign artists (previously selected) who are gathering here to share the spirit of "aquarelle sans frontières (watercolors without borders)."  The venue, Chateau de Joviac, is a perfect place for this as its owner, who is an avid art lover, has opened up his place to make it possible.

 

I had the pleasure of doing a demo in the garden at the chateau.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank M. et Mme Rabault for their passion and devotion to continue this tradition of presenting some of the best contemporary watercolorists in the beautiful region of Ardeche in the south central France.  I am truly honored to be included in this exhibition.

 

 

Rochemaure, France II

 

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 18 x 24 inches (45 x 60 cm)

Purchase: Sold

 

 

Rochemaure, France I

 

Rochemaure, France I

 

Media: Original watercolor on paper

Image Size: 14 x 20 inches (35 x 50 cm)

Purchase: Sold

 

 

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I am participating in the 2012 Salon Biennale d'Aquarelle de Rochemaure, July 7 - 15, in the Ardèche region, in the south central France.

 

Along with this painting, up to 18 works of mine will be on exhibit.  I will be also doing a demo in the afternoon on July 7.  If you happen to be in the neighborhood, please drop by!

 

 

 

Nazare Market, Portugal I

 

Click 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: Sold 

 

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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

 

 

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Around this time of the year, Calcio Storico is the talk of the town in Florence, Italy.  For several days, Piazza Santa Croce is the place of this uniquely florentine sport event.  Calcio can be described as a combination of football, soccer and rugbybut it's more than a sport event; it's a huge festival.  With players in historical costume, four teams representing four districts in the city play against each other until they have a winner on June 24.

 

 

Piazza Santa Croce was packed with an enthusiastic crowd watching a calcio tournament under the sun.  It's really something to be part of it but, for a painter, it's nice to escape from it all to a quieter side of Arno River and enjoy beautiful hillside, flowers and a gelato.

 

 

Firenze, Italy XI

 

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

Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Sold

 

 

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To anyone traveling to Italy, I won't hesitate to say, "Italy is so beautiful, wonderful, magical; you'll have the time of your life; have fun."  I don't think anyone will come back later and blame me for being a liar because, most likely, it's true.  In fact, before I go to Italy, friends tell me the same things.

 

Before my planned visit to Naples, however, more than a fair share of my friends said something along the lines of "Be careful"  rather than "have a great time!"  It got me worried a little but I had a great time there anyway.

 

OK, I won't sugarcoat the reality of  problems of Naples (but which city doesn't have any problems?) and I did feel a little more tension in the air and find the city to be a little bit more chaotic (all those scooters coming out of everywhere) than many other places in Italy but, if you allow me, I say that's part of their charm.  Neapolitans showed me the human side of Italy and I loved it even more for that.

 

 

Napoli, Italy II

 

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

 

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When I was in Dallas, Texas last March, I had the pleasure and honor of giving a demonstration to members of the Southwestern Watercolor Society.  Sitting in the front row of a room full of people, was a gracious old lady.  She was watching me paint with a loving, supportive smile and I cannot tell you how much that helped me relax in front of a large audience!

 

Later a mutual friend introduced me to her.  Her name is Naomi Brotherton, a very well-known watercolor artist from the area, and she's still active throughout the South and Southwest.  Learning that she was going to teach a workshop on how to paint night scenes, I told her that a nocturne would be a genre I'd like to try more in my work.  After I came back to San Diego, she sent me a copy of her featured article that appeared in American Artist magazine (March 1991), about her approach to painting night scenes.  Very much encouraged, I've been painting more night scenes ever since.  Thank you, Naomi.

 

 

"Since there is only one source of light in my night pictures, all the dark shapes tend to come together, losing all detail, which adds to the painting's sense of mystery." -- Naomi Brotherton

 

Click here to see Yokohama Chinatown I.

 

 

Yokohama Chinatown, Japan II

 

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

Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Sold

 

 

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Most visitors to Asakusa Temple walk under this massive red lantern hung at the Thunder Gate.  The Japanese word for the name of the gate written on the lantern, many visitors stop here to take a photo of this landmark, making the surrounding area always very crowded.

 

Two young men were waiting for customers for their jinrikisha by this gate (jinrikisha, originally a Japanese word meaning human-powered vehicle, may be more commonly known as rickshaw in English).  Pulling a jinrikisha is such a physically demanding job, it is perhaps best done by fit young men.  I happened to strike up a conversation with them who were very sociable - their people skills were pretty impressive as well.

 

 

Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan IV

 

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

 

 

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The people in this shop are busily making ningyo-yaki, one of traditional Japanese snacks sold along Nakamise Street in Asakusa.

 

Asakusa is a temple town with a feel of Old Japan and is always fun… and crowded.  Although it's in Tokyo, the area around here has quite a different atmosphere which gives us small glimpses of how life used to be.  With the completion of Tokyo Skytree, now the world's tallest tower and not far from Asakusa, the area has seen a surge in tourism and is even more vibrant.

 

 

Asakusa, Tokyo, 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)

Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Sold

 

 

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Crabs, squids, salmon eggs, sea urchin, scallops, etc… you see many kinds of fish and shellfish being sold at this busy morning market and they are as fresh as they can be.

 

The best part may be that you can taste some or all of them on top of a steaming bowl of rice right there if you arrive hungry.  Just look around those eating places along the street that offer a variety of seafood-topped breakfast rice bowls, and wander into one - the more crowded, the better.

 

For serious foodies, the joy doesn't have to stop with breakfast.  Hakodate, the third-largest city on the island of Hokkaido, has more to offer to anyone who doesn't want to miss local tastes that the city is famous for.

 

Visit my website to see more Japanese landscape/streetscape paintings.

 

 

Hakodate Fish Market, Hokkaido, Japan II

 

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

 

 

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Too many cooks spoil the broth?  It shouldn't happen... if a chef de cuisine would communicate orders to his sous-chef who would manage the entire kitchen staff well; if each chef de partie would make sure that his cuisiniers and commis prepare specific dishes in a certain manner that recipes call for; and if a saucier, a boucher, a rotisseur, a poissonnier, a garde manger, an entremetier and a patissier would do their best for their sauces, meats, fish, soups, salads, hors d'oeuvres and desserts.

 

I made this painting, inspired by what saw in a busy kitchen at a restaurant in Mont Saint Michel (France).  Considering how popular this place was, I can say too many cooks do not always spoil the broth.  All it takes is a brigade de cuisine that works.

 

 

Dans La Cuisine I

 

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 10.5 x 13.5 inches (27 x 34 cm)

Frame/Mat: Yes (16 x 20 inches)

Purchase: Sold

 

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Artists about to launch an art career sometimes ask me what steps they should take to be a professional.  Almost always my answer is, create a professional art website first - before a blog, facebook page, twitter, etc.  That's what I did.  I chose FineArtStudioOnline (FASO) as my website host and I know I will never regret it.  If you are serious about art as a profession, the entire team of FASO is there for you in many facets on the business side of art.

 

FASO Featured Artists is their latest feature and I am truly honored to have my work featured there recently.  In it, Brian Sherwin, an art critic and a contributing writer for FASO, describes the quality of my watercolor paintings "pleasantly haunting" and says "Keiko's paintings can be interpreted as being caught somewhere between the 'physical' and the 'spiritual'...  The inspiration for these paintings may be a scene from present day but there is an underlining feeling that they are calling back to the past at the same time."

 

To see the entire description about my work in FASO Featured Artists, click here.

 

 

San Pedro, California 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

 

 

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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

 

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The first session of my workshop with the South Bay Watercolor Society (SBWS) just ended.  I was very pleased to see a workshop room at the NWS Gallery in San Pedro (Los Angeles) filled with so much enthusiasm in the last three days.

 

I would like to say thank-you to my students who willingly traded the Cinco de Mayo celebrations and fun at the beach for three days of painting with me.  Also my sincere thank-you goes to the workshop director of the SBWS for her tireless efforts to organize and run my workshop so smoothly.

 

The second session will take place, with a new group of students, at the same place, May 11-13.  If you're interested in joining me next weekend, please contact Mary Higuchi of SBWS (email: maryhiguchiarts@yahoo.com; phone: 310-530-3435) for the current status of availability.

 

San Pedro is 20 miles south of the Los Angeles International Airport.  $250 for SBWS members, $275 for non-members.

 

 

San Diego Downtown - Demo IV

 

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 20 x 14 inches (51 x 36 cm)

Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Sold

 

 

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South Bay Watercolor Society sponsors a 3-day watercolor workshop with me this weekend on "Capturing Light and Atmosphere in Watercolor."  It will be held in the NWS (National Watercolor Society) Building in San Pedro, California, 9 am to 4 pm, May 4-6.

 

A few spots have opened up.  If you're interested in joining us or have any questions, please contact me.  There will be plenty of one-on-one instruction and demonstrations.  I will have another weekend workshop, at the same place, May 11-13.  San Pedro is 20 miles south of the Los Angeles International Airport.  $250 for SBWS members, $275 for non-members.

 

These paintings of Ramona were done en plein air last weekend as a demo for my student.

 

 

Ramona Grassland I

 

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

Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Sold

 

 

  Ramona, CA II

 

Ramona, California II

 

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

Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Sold

 

 

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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

 

 

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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

 

 

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"With so many trees in the city, you could see the spring coming each day until a night of warm wind would bring it suddenly in one morning...

 

Sometimes the heavy cold rains would beat it back so that it would seem that it would never come and that you were losing a season out of your life.  This was the only truly sad time in Paris because it was unnatural...

 

You expected to be sad in the fall.  Part of you died each year when the leaves fell from the trees and their branches were bare against the wind and the cold, wintry light...

 

But you knew there would always be the spring, as you knew the river would flow again after it was frozen.  When the cold rains kept on and killed the spring, it was as though a young person had died for no reason...

 

In those days, though, the spring always came finally but it was frightening that it had nearly failed."

 

― Ernest Hemingway, A Moveable Feast

 

 

Paris Café LX

 

Click here for an enlarged view of this painting.

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 21.5 x 12 inches (54.5 x 31 cm)

Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Sold

 

 

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A recent  conversation with my student revolved around names artists use.  He said he was thinking about adopting a more English-sounding name.  This talented young man recently came from Europe and he thinks his name is rather long and not easy for Americans to remember and pronounce.  I said having a unique name was to his advantage.  I'm not sure if he was completely convinced but I said it wouldn't be an issue and even going by initials might be just enough for him if he became well established.

 

He then asked whether I ever thought about changing my name in America.  I'm proud of the name my parents gave me so I said the thought never crossed my mind… but a problem for me is that my name is fairly common in Japan. 

 

I share the same name with other artists, a university professor, a pianist, a researcher in science, to name just a few.  Strangely enough, there's another watercolor artist (illustrator) who came from the same prefecture in Japan and now lives in Los Angeles.  Although, in Japanese, each of us may use different kanji characters to write our name, in English or Roman alphabet, it's all the same: Keiko Tanabe.

 

The internet has opened up a world of new opportunities, so much so that I am generally glad to see other Keiko Tanabe's doing good work in their chosen fields.  However, this also means we are competing for a place in the world wide web where most people search our name using Roman alphabet.  For a professional who relies heavily on the internet, this can be a problem.  What to do to establish a strong internet identity if your name is too common?  This can be even worse if you share a name with someone you'd rather not be associated with, or a criminal?

 

I admit I don't usually spend time thinking about things like SEO.  But it is a cold hard fact that we must do our best to improve our online visibility - first by monitoring what other people might be finding online associated with our name (read more on the topic for practical tips).  Have you googled your name lately?

 

 

Los Angeles I

 

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

Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Sold

 

 

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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

 

 

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When they talk about the Texas hospitality, they are telling the truth.  It was such a pleasure working with 27 very enthusiastic artists who took my workshop in Dallas this past week.  Most of them were from the Dallas area and members of the Southwestern Watercolor Society (SWS), but some students traveled from other cities and states.  I was delighted to learn some of them had been following my art online for several years.  I also did a demo for the members of the SWS at their monthly meeting on Wednesday night.  Cheryl Devoto, one of the local artists whom I had the pleasure of meeting in California a few years back, was in the audience.  She kindly and graciously wrote a blog post about my visit to Dallas (here's a link to her blog).

 

My sincere thank-you to the Southwestern Watercolor Society for having me and to everyone in my workshop - I thoroughly enjoyed painting with you!

 

"Firenze, Italy XII" is one of the demos I did for my class as an exercise.

 

To see my workshop schedule for the rest of 2012, click here.

 

 

Firenze, Italy XII

 

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 20 x 14 inches

Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Sold

 

 

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For many people, last month's Valentine's Day may be a thing of the past.  However, in some Asian countries, the whole thing doesn't really end until March 14, which is called White Day.  In Japan, for example, it is expected that you know the unwritten rules: if you're a man and received chocolate from a woman on February 14, you are supposed to reciprocate one month later by giving her something equally nice or better.  I think it's safe to say the overall tone of this practice is fairly light-hearted, which is enjoyed more like a game by most people.

 

Depicted in today's painting are some of many small islands on Lake Oonuma in Hokkaido, Japan.  These islands are all connected by bridges and they look beautiful especially when they are covered by pure-white snow.  Click here to see another painting "White Lovers I" and read related post.

 

"Go to the truth beyond the mind.  Love is the bridge."  - Stephen Levine

 

 

White Lovers, Hokkaido, Japan II

 

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

Frame/Mat: No

Purchase: Sold

 

 

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