I am fond of parks/gardens, and most especially the Royal Botanic Gardens! For awhile, I was living near the Royal Botanic, and during afternoons, I would bring my art materials and my notebook and head off to draw and paint! This is of the Rose Pavillion, which is surrounded by roses, hence the name. Really pretty!
From a visit to San Francisco, I drew an illustration of the Painted Ladies at Alamo Square. The Painted Ladies is a collection of Victorian and Edwardian houses, and is famous for the contrast with its background–the old and the new.
When I was young, my dad asked me to read a really thick book: James Clavell’s Shogun. I still remember how they said earthquakes was normal, that the Japanese just use wooden structures to easily rebuild. I also remember how they don’t have an actual word for love, but just a word that closely describes it: duty. And most importantly, I remember honor, and how it was exemplified with their samurais–you are either captured by an enemy or break some rules from their code, you use a sword and slit open your belly. So after my trip to Japan, my
I visited my friend, and I stayed at her place, for the spring of 2014. She was living in Nishinomiya, and had to work on weekdays. While she worked, I observed the life at Nishinomiya–the quiet, the grey buildings, the tiny car spaces, the tinier garden decorations–and I really liked it! I remember going for jogs, or for buying at the groceries, just going around to the trains or to see sakuras, and just seeing how the Japanese, and my friend, lived!
Went to a beach with my friends. It was my first time to sleep in a hostel, where there were actually no rooms and we slept in hammocks. It was different, and the insect repellent was my saviour! Had time to do some art while on the beach!
If there was a word to describe Namba in Osaka, it is: ALIVE! The colours, the neon lights, giant moving octopus and a toy drummer/clown amidst the huge signages, delicious and tasty food! And the running man! Here is a collage of all the things I liked!
During my travel to Japan, I knew I had to find this white cat! It is on the walls of the Kamigata Ukiyoe museum. It was nighttime when I got there, and the museum was closing out. The kind shopkeepers allowed me to buy some prints though, and obliged me with my request for a photo (of course, I am a tourist!) with the white cat. Sketched it here, together with the houses in the area.
I love Kyoto, its winding streets and temples and houses left and right, dotted with kimono-clad men and women, bustling with tourists. I was inspired to create this illustration of Higashiyama, with a geisha, carrying a smartphone, (because I thought I saw an actual geisha using a smartphone). Used a lot of pinks, to symbolize the color of sakuras in Spring!
I am very fond of my Kurecolor pens, and I have a new one–the same color as the Golden Gate Bridge! Red-orange, like rust! The Golden Gate Bridge is on my bucket list, and I would love to see it one day!
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