Going back to Japan theme, these 2 paintings are inspired by lovely hikes on the Nakasendo Way, one on a path literally blooming, and puffing, with pink cherry blossoms, the other a serene walk through a beautiful green forest.
While the places are real, and I can still remember the smell of the crisp spring air and the soft sun rays filtering through the trees, my rendition is more emotion, at once pleasurable yet also full of anticipation of what lay beyond, memories from a year ago intertwining with surreal dreams of a fond place from a year ago.
Title: Blossoms Way 樱花道 (O130)
Description: Dreamy expressionist painting of pink cherry blossoms flower trees inspired by a spring village hike on Japan's Nakasendo Way from Kyoto to Tokyo. 2015.
Medium: Oil on Ready-to-Hang Canvas.
Dimensions: 61 x 61cm.
Title: Forest Path 林子里 (O127)
Description: Serene green forest path painting of a beautiful nature hike through the mountains on Japan's Nakasendo Way from Kyoto to Tokyo. 2015.
Medium: Oil on Ready-to-Hang Canvas.
Dimensions: 61 x 46cm.
Purchase at: yen.artfire.com
This little painting was inspired by a nature picture that I took on Japan's Nakasendo Way which has beautiful foliage and cherry blossoms falling like snow. I am told that the Nakasendo is stunning in autumn, and winter, and this is what I imagined it to be.
It's been a while since I last painted autumn and with nary a thought, the strokes flow and it was completed in one session. There are imperfections but the whimsical feel is just right so I decided to stop. Yes, that beautiful feeling of joy at white flakes a-falling is just magical. No overwork needed.
Title: Magic Fall 秋雪 (O107)
Description: Whimsical autumn forest impressionist painting with white bark trees against reds, orange and greens foliage, with falling snow drops inspired by travel scenery on Japan's Nakasendo Way 2014.
Medium: Oil on Ready-to-Hang Canvas.
Yes! Beginning a new series.. a new country, a new journey, a new revelation.. a place where the culture and colours are the diametric opposite of vibrant Korea that I last painted.. a place that is uniquely. and sedately. zen.
This, my second visit to Japan after more than a decade, is when I came to understand and appreciate what I did not so many years ago, when I had been literally lost in the translation whilst backpacking in Hokkaido ;p
Hiking the Nakasendo Way (中山道) this time round, a 17th c highway from Kyoto to Edo (ancient Tokyo), I had a beautiful sojourn meandering the land encountering ancient post-towns, inns, teahouses, distance markers in li (里), shinto shrines, deities for protection of travellers, and many a poignant tale of the 劳师动众 (labourious) Princess entourage that travelled to marry the Shogun. Having come full circle on this land, I finally came to love it at last. Of course, having an English-speaking Japanese guide helps immensely :) Thanks! Mario Anton of WalkJapan.
So I came home armed with a thousand photos, and even more wonderful memories, and started to paint. I wasn't quite sure if I can do sedate, but zen, maybe. These 3 paintings are a start. Make what you will of them. They are nuggets, stories from the Nakasendo. And really, we did meet a lovely wedding couple. I knew then that I would paint the bride's stunning kimono gown :) Enjoy the pieces!
Title: Kyoto Dream 京都梦 (O105)
Description: Poignant impressionistic painting of a Japanese lady in pink kimono at the Kyoto Kiyomizu-dera Temple (清水寺), in dramatic yellow red surreal hues. Nakasendo Way 2014.
Medium: Oil on Ready-to-Hang Canvas.
Dimensions: 61 x 61cm.
Title: The Path 悟之路 (O106)
Description: Whimsical surreal painting in grey monastic tones, inspired by the red lamppost lit stone path, up to the Kumanokōtai Shr ine (熊野皇大神社) in Japan's Nagano Prefecture (长野县). Nakasendo Way 2014.
Medium: Oil on Ready-to-Hang Canvas. Dimensions: 61 x 61cm.
Title: Japanese Wedding Couple 日本婚礼 (O104)
Description: Portrait painting of a young Japanese couple in traditional wedding wafuku (和服), with the bride in a resplendent red phoenix kimono, accompanied by a whimsical backdrop of purple umbrellas and Japanese lanterns. Nakasendo Way 2014.
Medium: Oil on Ready-to-Hang Canvas. Dimensions: 76 x 76cm.
Purchase at: www.saatchiart.com/yen
