Back in 2012 we had a wonderful trip to Japan. While my husband was busy with conference meetings, I took off and visited a lot of the sights in Kyoto. One of them was the Fushimi Inari - taisha, shrine to the Shinto god of rice. The day was overcast and rainy, but the tranquility, beauty, and sense of peace has stayed with me as a strong memory of my trip. There are two paths up the mountain to various temples, each has hundreds of vermilion Torii gates along it. It is a remarkable sight. Since 2012 I have tried to capture my feelings about this place in paint, and failed miserably numerous times! However, since getting into the “abstract” mode with the two small canvases I did the other week, I had an epiphany and swiftly painted this canvas. I did have a tiny 2” x 1” thumbnail sketch in oil pastel to work from which gave me some colors and shapes as guide. Translating something so tiny onto a bigger canvas gave me lots of scope for texture and runs of paint to create atmosphere. I had a blast with it and finally created something I am happy with.
A long time ago I wrote some lines of poetry about my experience at the shrine and had these in mind while painting.
Fushimi Inari Shrine
Climbing silently, through green shrouds and offerings
Vermilion gates rise into infinite tranquility
A shrill cicada sings, solemn temple bells respond deep and low
A soft temple rain, holy water, bathes the emerald light
These are the oil pastel thumbnails which I did last year. I chose to work from the bottom right image.
Below are some of the plein air paintings I did on my Japan trip. Posting these just for atmosphere, even though they are from waaay back when…!
Fushimi Inari Shrine. Torii gates ascending the hillsides
This painting I did at the halfway point going up the hill. I sat under my umbrella, got out my paints and sketchbook, then realized that I had forgotten my water bottle. Watercolor is not much use without water - but hey it was raining, so I just stuck my paints out in the rain for a bit to moisten them! Plein air is always a challenge, and you have to learn to adapt.
This was such a peaceful place, with the only sound that of rain pattering on my umbrella.
Heian Jingu Shrine Temple buildings
Heian Jingu Shrine covered bridge
Lots of sweet Japanese ladies sat next to me while I was doing this and asked me questions in Japanese. Sadly I have no Japanese so had to make do with sign language. Fortunately Art transcends words and we had a good time admiring the view!
Nijo Castle moat and bridge
Nijo Castle Gates