details of Ryoanji garden in Kyoto, Japan

A selection of ink sketches done at the Ryoanji garden in Kyoto, a magical space full of mystery and a wonderful confluence of the simple with the complex...details are as much a part of the experience as the whole...

Last year in Oaxaca revisited...

The wonderful city of Oaxaca sits on the high mountain plains in southern region of Mexico, with a rich and diverse array of sights, sounds and tastes...Here is a set of three images captured during sit-down sessions in the courtyards and streets of the city...

some more urban studies in Tokyo

a selection of quick sketches from Shibuya and Akihibara, Tokyo...love those wrapped buildings undergoing renovation and re-skinning, love those intricate light fixtures and of course love Godzilla...

Some urban studies in the Hibiya area...

An early sketch view of a Maki Fumihiko building, the exterior stair tower and landscaped areas...and a thin tower structure that fascinated me for years...I wonder if it is still standing?

Daisenya, Shizuoka, Japan

My first time to stay at an old historical inn or ryokan with an onsen was at a place called Daisenya, located in Shizuoka prefecture, Japan. The building was old and tembling with creaking floors and drafty spaces and so fascinating and allowed me the chance to study the way spaces were laid out, tatami mat orientations, and shoji window and door screen details. Sadly, I have heard that the inn was demolished and replaced with a far less interesting structure made of concrete and steel...

Some other views of Japan

Another sampling of some sketches from early years in Japan, revealing the wonderful spaces and details that you find during the exploration of the the country and the city of Tokyo and Nikko. The lower image shows a collection of outdoor fishing ponds where you can find an assortment of fisherman spending their hours casting and catching fish...

Onsen in Manza, Japan

One of the true delights and not to miss experiences on the island of Japan, is the onsen, the rotenburo, the outdoor hot spring pools. My first truly outdoor experience was in Manza, up in the mountains close to a number of ski resorts. There is nothing like soaking in a hot outdoor pool, with falling snow, and a bottle of sake. The two sketches show the outdoor pool scenario and a view of the indoor bath scenario for bathing, washing hair, and overall cleansing and refreshment. Here is a link to the Japanese web site, and it looks like the resort has been upgraded since I last visited in 1993.

http://www.manzaonsen.gr.jp/onsen/