Fernand Leger

I've always enjoyed Leger's cubist period during the 1920's and the very few watercolors I've seen. I've never been successful viewing any books on his work so I was thrilled to find 133 paintings online. I was so pleased I had to do a quick watercolor of the kitchen still life below. Went right into the above of three nudes. Both watercolors are on bristol board, 5x7 below, 7x9 above. Have not had time to create an image of my own with his technique.

Hokusai's Kirifuri Waterfall

Hokusai's graphic interpretation of water feels fresh and contemporary. I sketched the lower left corner.



Uniball vision pen and watercolor in moleskine. Below is the print from Hokusai, 1955 edition published by Charles Tuttle Company.

Mt Fuji View 24

The 24th view of a fiery Mt. Fuji.

"Despite his appeals to heaven for “yet another decade—nay, even another five years,” on the 18th day of the fourth month of the Japanese calendar “the old man mad with painting,” as he called himself, breathed his last. He was 89 but still insatiably seeking for an ultimate truth in art—as he had written 15 years earlier:

"From the age of five I have had a mania for sketching the forms of things. From about the age of 50 I produced a number of designs, yet of all I drew prior to the age of 70 there is truly nothing of any great note. At the age of 73 I finally apprehended something of the true quality of birds, animals, insects, fishes, and of thevital nature of grasses and trees. Therefore, at 80 I shall have made some progress, at 90 I shall have penetrated even further the deeper meaning of things, at 100 I shall have become truly marvelous, and at 110, each dot, each line shall surely possess a life of its own. I only beg that gentlemen of sufficiently long life take care to note the truth of my words." Hokusai

Richard Lane
Encyclopedia Britannica

Mt Fuji View 23

23rd view of Hokusai's 24 Views of Mt. Fuji. From a Shinto Shrine in Edo. Above the clouds and the firetower.

Near, far, high, low, big, small. Fujiyama appears small in the distance until you notice the men working on the roof. Hokusai directs the eye in a circle.

Uniball Vision pen in pocketbook moleskine.

Under Cover Sketch

8 quick sketches made cozied up under the comforters watching CSI Crime Scene for the first time. Haven't owned a television for years but am enjoying the novelty of online TV shows and movies. After two sketches of episode 9 and 8 I sketched the bedroom from left to right. Some took less than 2 minutes. 7PM episode 9
730 episode 8
815 lamp
818 lamp, opening, doorway
820 other opening, armoire, ceiling
825 sketchbook on my knees, armoire, window, ceiling
826 same as 825 but focus moves to the right
830PM finished image in sketchbook, comforter, armoire, ceiling, dormer. CSI is over.

Turned a copy into an accordion. Decompression soother.

Mt Fuji View 22 sketch in progress

Forgot that I had taken a photo of this sketch in progress. I keep a little tablet to test my paint and smooth out my brush point. I've been saving the little pages, thinking someday I'll collage them like quilt pieces.



Light barely sweet pastry with a thin swirl of Bavarian creame from Yamazaki bakery in Little Tokyo. I sketched the waffle full size so I could play with the texture. The cherry blossoms are on the antique dish I found in Petaluma, probably made prior to WWII.