Illustrations for Pronunciation Practice

These are part of a collection of illustrations that I made for a pronunciation practice activity.
Each illustration is about 8" x 10" and feature a word for the pronunciation activity. The students are given a sheet with columns and rows that have words with similar sounds to compare for listening. I made illustrations of the words to make it more fun. Other words include rice/lice, grass/glass, very/berry. It is a challenging exercise and it is difficult. The students have various reactions of despair and dread. Mostly, however, improve significantly on accuracy once we have done the exercise about three times. I have been inspired to create more illustrations for classroom projects.

Illustrations for Pronunciation Practice

These are part of a collection of illustrations that I made for a pronunciation practice activity.

BERRY
(forgot to photograph the text)

Illustrations for Pronunciation Practice

These are part of a collection of illustrations that I made for a pronunciation practice activity.

Around Tanabe

Wakayama Mikan and Momo Blossoms
watercolor
Wakayama is known for its mikans and ume. I am working on a kind of travel journal and wanted to create a page about Wakayama, but these blossoms, turns out are momo, a kind of peach. The mikans are delicious and sweet. They are plentiful through the winter. The momo blossoms were a gift from Pyar. The blossoms are beautiful with varying shades of pinks.

Palm Tree at Sawabe's Home
pencil sketch
I am working on resolving the rest of the drawing that shows Sawabe's home and part of the gardens. Now, this is my favorite part. I am drawn to palms for their shape and textures, also they remind me of the Gulf Coast.

Documenting Recent Trips

Momo Trees in Shinjo
watercolor sketch
I thought I was painting ume trees (plum trees). Turns out that the ume trees have the white blossoms and the momo trees (peach trees) are the pink ones. I have three schools in Shinjo. The area is beautiful, there are many momo and ume trees blossoming.

Chikatsuyu
pencil sketch
I drew this last Sunday from the window of our bed and breakfast. Pyar wanted to hike before our morning bus and I stayed to draw. We hiked along the Kumano Kodo the day before and enjoyed the onsen at the B&B.

Palms at Kushimoto
pencil sketch with station stamp on the back of page
This sketch is from the outside of the Judokan where Pyar and Carolina had their belt tests. I was nervous before hand and thus stayed outside to relax and draw.

Yata-Garasu

Yata-Garasu

The three legged crow is a mystical symbol of the Kumano. All three ancient roads of Nakahechi, Kohechi, and Okugakemichi lead to the shrine at Kumano Hongu Taisha where I first saw the symbol. The Kumano Hongu Taisha is a World Heritage Site. There are many crows in Tanabe and as I have mentioned there is a rookery by our home. One of the first times I was fascinated by crows was at the home of Maren Krings' in Germany. I don't remember the town, but we were South of Frankfurt. I pointed out what I saw to be a graceful jet black bird with something like an "Ahhh Wow" and was quickly responded to by Maren's Dad with, oh that's a "Crab Crab". Which later became a nickname for me. Turns out that the bird is a nuisance around the neighborhood of the Krings' Family. The symbol of the crow however, is one of beauty and grace to me. In Tanabe, we often stop to watch their flight. It is no wonder that they are a symbol of this town we now call home.

Drawing from the Neighborhood

Wooded Glen
Last weekend, Pyar and I took a walk around the neighborhood. I was getting inspiration from all of the unusual trees and the new blossoms.
Here is one study from a photograph I took that day.

Baby Animals

Baby Elephant

Baby Hippo for Suzuki

Watercolor Studies of Tanabe

River Study
watercolor

Big Tree on River Study
watercolor

I shot some great photos the other day of the river. I prefer to work on location but with these studio studies, I am learning quite a bit about watercolor. I also feel like I have to reevaluate some compositional ideas.

New Works

Crevasse for Pyar

Snow study done in Ashland Oregon.

Pair of Pandas

I have been creating studies of animals, baby animals and animal faces for sometime now. Recently, I have used the studies to make stamps out of a rubber that I carve. This study turned out to be a kind of interesting play on gestures with the different expressions that I was drawing. I think the faces and blankets says it all.

Chicken

I drew this in Ashland Oregon. I spent a lovely afternoon at the Shangria La Spa and talked to the owners about their new lives working out of their home. They let me know that they have four chickens and how they compost and generally have less waste now. I began to imagine what it might be like to live with chickens and get to know them. Here is my depiction of one thinking about living with me.

Birds in Ink washes

I have been exploring this method of using inks since arriving in Japan. I pool some water on the watercolor paper in a shape that I have drawn lightly in pencil. Then I drop in amounts of ink with a brush and allow it to reticulate in a pattern that I sometime manipulate further.

Tree Studies

Trees at Timberlake Drive

During our visit, Lewis encouraged me to explore the top of the yard and pointed me in the direction of some great rocks. I did draw the rocks. I then later settled to do some more studies of the Pacific Madrone trees. They have the most amazing red bark underlying moss and other dark shades of growth during the winter. Thank you Lewis.

Study along the River

This beautiful tree seems to be two trees next to each other at first glance from the bridge in Tanabe. We soon determined, it is a huge trunk with two very distinct branches that seem to create two trees. I have since documented it with photos with hopes to revisit and complete a drawing in its entirety.

Studies from Tanabe

Riverbed Study at Kawayuu
It turned out to be a beautiful Saturday for our second visit to the onsen on the river. This time of the year the river is dammed to create a larger soaking pool. We ventured with friends, Todd, Nick and Carolina. The day was wonderful. I took a few moments alone to sit in the sun and make a sketch for a later painting idea.

Roots Study
At the edge of the river in Kawayuu

Study of Sawabe's Trees from the ride to work

ink on watercolor paper
This painting is from my recollection of the trees that seem to zoom by me on the hill going down from our apartment. I often look over to my right at a certain turn on the way down and see some great shapes, this is my attempt to capture them from memory.

Crow Painting for Lewis

Crow for Lewis

sumi ink on watercolor paper

6" x 9"

This painting was done in December, 2009 especially for my Dad, Lewis Anderson.

He and I share an affinity for many things in nature, specifically its preservation and the beauty of its trees and crows. Pyar shared this image on his website www.rockthetoilet.org December 30, 2009 as Crow Revealed - part of his Crow and Puppy series that I love. Tanabe has a large population of crows and there are some rookeries by our home that we can watch from our balcony. The city of Tanabe uses the image of the crow as a symbol of the Kumano Kodo. The bird is usually featured with three legs, symbolizing the three pilgrimage routes.

Bliss

Henry paint on black stamp, 2" x 2" (approximately)

Using your own drawing for carving a stamp is pretty wonderful. My work space is small and confining here in Tanabe and thus my studio work has gotten smaller. I have loved the process of making duplicates for many years now and continue to explore the notion of originality in a print. I have been doing this through both color and surface mostly - until this piece. I knew that the dog's face represented a special spirit, but in different colors and on different surfaces she seemed to morph beautifully into a free spirit image that is becoming all of the dogs I know and have known. The original dog drawing was of "Ellie"enjoying her new found wind. Now, in stamp form and with some Henry spots she is reminiscent of my fairy goddog, Henry. In blue with a black outline and some delicate eyes she resembles "Bailey" and in other colors and sizes the spirit of my many of my very special dog friends.

New Works - stamps I carved from my drawings

Baby Chick in black, 2" x 2" (approximately)

Baby Chick on yellow, 2" x 2" (approximately)

Danielle's Penquin in black, 2" x 2" (approximately)

Tora the Tiger, 2" x 2" (approximately)

Baby Seal in black, 2" x 2" (approximately)

Sketches from Cape Tenjenzaki

Boats at Cape Tenjenzaki
Pyar and I cannot get enough of this place. We went this past weekend and worked together.
I used the .4 ink pen and later moved the ink around to create some washes.

boats' sketch at the Cape

Baby Animals Series - paintings on wood circles

frog on tree

Lewis Walking

Brown Dog for Carolina

Red Bunny for J

Red Frog

I have been making linoleum blocks from some of my baby animal drawings. The previous post was of the animals on wood circles as paintings. I really wanted to be able to duplicate them in different media, color and sizes of panels. The challenge is working in reverse, literally. I sometimes squeal in excitement and sometimes with frustration, because once you cut, you can not add back to the linoleum. I really like the process. I do not have a press nor inks with brayers to use, so my options are somewhat limited, though a pretty wonderful process.

New Works

Rocks at Cape Tenjenzaki
I used a damp brush and moved the ink around from the previous drawing, see below to create stronger lights/darks and a clearer passage. Pyar bought me a few in different colors so I am eager to try the other pens.

New Works

Cape Tenjenzaki, October 2009 study in pen

For Pyar
Cape Tenjenzaki, October 2009 watercolor and pen study

New Works

Lewis the Polar Bear, painting on wood

rabbit, painting on wood

sitting polar bear, painting on wood

three trees in Tanabe, painting on wood