Looking to add watercolors to half finished pieces

 

Kyoto and visit to Kiyomizu-dera

 

Onto my favorite temple, Kiyomizu-dera in East Kyoto

 

Deer and Bell Tower in Nara

 

Gate at Todai-ji in Nara, Japan

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Todai-ji in Nara, Japan

 

Kiyomizudera temple, Kyoto

 

Kiyomizudera temple visit

 

Myojoji temple scenes

Myojoji Temple in Ishikawa softened view

Myōjō-ji Temple consists of a set of large buildings, set on atop a hill, which were created over the last six centuries. One of them is the priest’s living quarters, built in 1593, and some of the more striking ones include the Goju-no-To (35m tall 5 storied pagoda) built in 1618 and the Joroku-do Hall, located at the very far end of the temple.

Wandering around the Myojyoji Temple on the Noto peninsula...

... a portion of the scene from the temple grounds...

Founded in 1294 by the Japanese saint Nichizo, a disciple of the Nichiren Sect, the Myōjō-ji Temple is located in on the Noto Peninsula south of Wajima, and is now the head temple of the Nichiren Sect.

Myōjō-ji Temple consists of a set of large buildings, set on atop a hill, which were created over the last six centuries. One of them is the priest’s living quarters, built in 1593, and some of the more striking ones include the Goju-no-To (35m tall 5 storied pagoda) built in 1618 and the Joroku-do Hall, located at the very far end of the temple.

I spent three humid hot hours wandering the grounds of the temple and buildings.  Dragonflies darted in the shadows and Semi (cicadas) were singing in the trees.  It looked like it would really rain but no water ever touched the ground...

Grand Palace roof shapes and colors study

  ...paint study for the roof and tile colors in the Forbidden City, Grand Palace, Beijing, China...

Ginkakuji temple in Kyoto, sand garden setting..."sea of silver sand"

The Silver pavilion's two stories are constructed in two different architecture styles and within there stands a statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy.  The interior of the pavilion is not open to the public.


The Silver Pavilion was never really covered in silver like the Golden Pavilion.  More likely the thought is that the name arose as a nickname more than a century after the building's construction to contrast it with the Kinkakuji, the Golden Pavilion in western Kyoto, or it might have been that moon light reflecting on the structure's dark exterior (which used to be covered in a type black lacquer in the past, love to have seen that) gave it a kind of silvery like appearance.  A setting in front of the pavilion is an expansive, meticulously maintained dry sand/gravel garden feature known as the "Sea of Silver Sand", with a massive and perfectly formed truncated sand cone named "Moon Viewing Platform". 

On the day of my visit, it was hot, very hot.  95 degrees and the sun was intense.  Around the base of the truncated cylinder and around the base of the whole sea of sand, there were small holes created by digger wasps, creating harbors in the sand for their future offspring.

Ninna-ji, Kyoto, Shoro belfry, Japan

The temple of Ninna-ji was built at the end of the 9th century. At first it was Monseki-jiin, which also served as the residence of a member of the Imperial family who had entered the priesthood. Presently, this temple is the center of the Omuro sect of Shingon Buddhism.  

To the west of the Kondo temple building there is a beautifully large and imposing vermilion tower with a bell Shoro Belfry tower, a fine example of the bell towers built in the Edo Period. It is said to have been built in the Kanei Period and it has been designated as an important cultural property. The watercolor sketch shows the vivid vermilion and black colors of the bell tower structure, a favorite combination of colors of mine. 

lantern and wall at Meiji shrine

lantern and wall at Meiji shrine, a photo by douglaswittnebel on Flickr.

A painted view of the passage sequence at the Meiji shrine, Tokyo...

Baisoin temple

Baisoin temple, a photo by douglaswittnebel on Flickr.

A lesser known project by Kengo Kuma, the Baiso-in temple, viewed from the 13 th floor of Tokyu stay hotel in Aoyama, Tokyo...

Tower and Palm tree in Pegu, Burma

Shwedagon Pagoda, Pray and Rest

A truly magical place in Yangon, the pagoda of Shwedagon, is a wonderful spot to visit, to stroll, to observe, to relax and to pray...

Shwemawdaw figures, Bago, Burma

A view of some of the sculptural figures at the Shwemawdaw pagoda, built by the brothers, Mahasala and Kullasala, who returned from India with two hairs from Gautama Buddha, upon which a small stupa was constructed to enshrine the hairs.  The pagoda has expanded with more relics and buildings and has been rocked by several earthquakes since 982.

watercolors in Burma

While I try to find that portion of time to finish and scan the sketches and views of Fort Rossia, I decided to look back for some inspiration to my series of watercolors of scenes in Burma from the late 90's, during several of my sojourns from Bangkok to the mysteries over the western Thai border...