River Park Kyoto, Japan

Awhile ago I went to Japan for a conference and had the chance to visit Kyoto afterwards. I rented a bike and rode it all the way to the south part of the city where there was a very large park next to a river. It started to rain so I sat under a tree and made this painting. The rain hit the paper making a rain-like effect which was rather convenient.

Monet would often dangle a tree limb from the top of the canvas in his compositions. Over the years I have borrowed that trick, here you see two branches hanging from the top of the page. There is no tree trunk visible, but you still get the feeling of being under trees. This painting is also a good example of controlled backwash... I mentioned that a few blogs ago in the painting called 'In Sequence'. Here I used the technique to create the field of grass in the center. I also used it to create the trees off in the distance.

5x7" cold press. 2006 (No. 1213)