Sketches from Japan

I was in Yokohama and Tokyo, Japan from December 3 - 16 with my family, so I'm now catching up on posting my sketches. While I was born in Japan and know the language, it's been 7 years since I've visited last time, so the experience was still fresh and full of delightful discoveries.

I mostly sketched other passengers in the train when I could sit down since that was about the only time I wasn't busy doing other activities. I love being able to draw while going somewhere - can't do that at home in Los Angeles, when I'm driving the car most of the time!

It's interesting to watch and draw people in various states of sleepiness/alertness:





and here's a view outside the window of the train from Yokohama to Izu, a resort area with hot springs:



I did manage to sketch a scene outside of the hotel in Yokohama. I painted it later at home, using a very bad photo I took as a reference - it was challenging! I remember that day was sunny and crisp, and the winter shadows were long and deep, contrasting sharply between brightly lit treetops.

(also posted on Urban Sketchers)