Author:
Developing techniques
Deciding on the medium for the illustrations has led me away from oils and mixed media towards the use of coloured pencils, gouche and crayons. I still like the idea of mixed media and may introduce papers and fabric at some stage. Objects feature repeatedly in the book – like spots, stripes and flowers. Using coloured pencils produces a different effect to gouche and for the illustrations in the books I am tending towards gouche as the main medium because it provides a more solid basis for the illustrations. However, I like the textured nature of the coloured pencils so the end result is likely to be a combination of effects. This one shows coloured pencils effect – 
This one shows gouche effect – 
Then there are flowers – like these daffodils –
And nasturtiums too – 
Protected: Day 1 – Tokyo – Friday 7 November
Protected: Day 2 – Asakusa area – Tokyo
Protected: Day 3 – Mt Fuji – Sunday 9 November
Protected: Day 4 – Asakusa – Monday 10 November
Buildings in Japan
Bulidings in Japan are so diverse. There is the old, the new and everything in between. There are the shrines and temples – and the gardens. It seems the old is not replaced by the new but that the new fits in around what is there already. There doesn’t appear to be a CBD as such with different quarters for specified requirements. Little restaurants sit amonst skyscrapers and small back lanes are next to busy bustling major roads. The evolution of the towns and cities are evident. And amidst the busyness of fast trains and interweaving roadways, there are gardens which exude tranquility.
Protected: Day 5 – Snow Monkeys – Tuesday 11 November
Day 6 – Miyajima island – Wednesday 12 November
We travelled by train from Osaka to Hiroshima and then crossed to Miyajima island by ferry. It has the famous floating tori gate and lots of protected deer that try to steal food from your bags. The island has a long history of being a sacred place after the three goddesses of the sea came to live there. Mt Misen is the tallest mountain on the island and is a holy place on the island. It is my understanding that only descendants of the traditional occupants live on the island – although it is possible to stay overnight there. It was very busy with lots of people visiting the island and eating streetfood and buying souvenirs. We tasted oysters on a skewer, a seafood skewer and an oyster on a rice ball – alll very delicious.
Miyajima
