I came back from a Japan trip on April 29.

I believe that I got over from my Jet lag this morning. Maybe.

Every time when I come back from Japan, my flight left Japan 12:00am on April 30(Japan time), and got S.F 5:20pm on April 29 (U.S Pacific time). I feel so strange.

When I got Tokyo end of March, Cherry Blossoms were blooming everywhere, it was awesome and in a week they were gone with wind.

After that I went to a countryside where the South Japanese Alps are surrounding.

Cherry blossoms started blooming already. People told that this year they started earlier than normal year. Now days I don’t know what is normal.

When I was at the mountain house, I didn’t pay attention to time.

Mostly time I woke up around 5:30am. It was at dawn. East sky, behind the mountains got lighter. Some times pinky, orangey and yellowish blue.

When I got there early April, there were no leaves on trees. So I could see mountains from a house. One week after, leaves were sprouted. It was amazing. Leaves sprouts are just like flowers.

Well this painting is one of my favor morning stroll route. The point is the entrance of the farmer’s village.

570. Spring Stroll watercolor painting by Mariko Irie

The time there was no leaves on trees and cherry blossoms were blooming. The ground was covered with fresh green.

I visited Mendocino Coast the last weekend.

From Santa Rosa, along the Highway, I enjoyed wildflowers including purple Lupines and flowering trees. At Mendocino Coast wildflowers just started to bloom.

569. Strolling Along The Headlands Watercolor painting by Mariko Irie

Please come to stroll along the Mendocino Headlands to breath ocean air.

Happy Spring.

I wanted to see ocean very much. So I drove from Santa Rosa to Bodega Bay. It takes only 30minutes.

Along the way to Bodega Bay, fields are covered fresh green and yellow, white flowers, cattle are grazing.

When I got Bodega Bay, it was getting sunset time. It was a beautiful drive.

568. Waiting at Bodega Bay Watercolor painting by Mariko Irie

This is a scene at San Diego Museum of Art.

567. Three Women Watercolor Painting by Mariko Irie

The painting on the wall is in very fine realistic oil. I remembered the artist’s name, when I was at the museum, but I don’t remember now. I should make notes all the time.

Perhaps is it Thomas Eakins?

I was exited to look at paintings and people too much at the museum.

Anyway the painting: Young woman wear only a hat and shoes and posing like a ballerina in outdoors. And old woman is sitting in black. I wonder what is the story!?

I’m so curious to know the story.

It’ s a big painting. But this lady in green shirt, she was passing by without any glance to this painting.

I painted this strange scene and named “Three Women”. It’s simple.

If you know about this painting, please let me know.

This is a scene at San Diego Art Museum.

566. Grandpa & Granddaughter 2 Watercolor painting by Mariko Irie

I painted same scene last month: 552. Grandpa & Granddaughter

But this time I love this Grandpa & Granddaughter’s relationship very much. So I wanted to paint focusing this relationship and the painting, image size 6” x 9”.

It is cohesive to my series of “Art Lovers”.

I’m satisfied with this painting.

What do you think?

This is a scene at San Diego Art Museum.

565. Sorolla with Grandpa Watercolor painting by Mariko Irie

I was really happy to watch these Grandpa and Granddaughter were enjoying looking at paintings together.

The girl is looking at the painting by Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida.

I have seen his paintings on books. I was not so interested in his paintings till I saw his original paintings at the San Diego Museum of Art for three years ago. They had a fantastic exhibition of Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida. I went to see this exhibition with Plain Air Group “PAPASAN”.  Several truly great plain Air painters were in this group.

Anyway back to paintings of Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida:

His light, colors are incredible. His brushstrokes are so alive. A lot of his paintings are huge.

I recommend to watch “Art of Sorolla” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovV4HsXwems

He said, “I could not paint at all if I had to paint slowly,” he once said. “Every effect is so transient, it must be rapidly painted.”

In the studio Sorolla would sometimes use a palette the size of a grand piano lid and 3 foot long brushes to allow him to stand back from his painting.

Wow!!!

Georgia O’Keeffe painted this painting “Poppy”. I have never seen this original painting, so I don’t know how big the painting is.

Georgia said,  “ Flowers are quite beautiful. I painted them big. So people have to look at them.”

564. Poppy & a Couple Watercolor painting by Mariko Irie

This “Poppy” painting in this painting “ Poppy & a Couple”, is it big enough for you?

I wonder who is a good audience for this painting by Wayne Thiebaud: San Francisco cityscape, very steep slope.

My answer is skateboarders.

563. Thiebaud & Skateboarders Watercolor painting by Mariko Irie

It’s good match, isn’t it?

During copying his work, I felt that he was in his fanciful world.

It’s a wonderful world.

I love Wayne Thiebeaud.

I love his paintings very much as himself. He is a such intelligent human being with gentleman’s humor.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vI_QJ5D9Qm8

562. Cakes & Boy Watercolor painting by Mariko Irie

I moved to this country in 1982. I didn’t know about him.

Now I remember when we went to De Young Museum in San Francisco around 1990. I saw paintings of cakes. I was not so interested in these paintings. Back then I was so fascinated in American Super Realism.

In a few years I started to see his paintings more carefully. Now I love them. His composition, colors and his humor tickles me.

This scene is at San Diego Art Museum.

561. Bouguereau &Young man Watercolor painting by Mariko Irie

I love paintings of William-Adolphe Bouguereau. I don’t know how to pronounce his name.

He painted skin color marvelous: so fresh and real.

I heard that old time, they wanted to paint skin color fresh, they painted under coating of canvas green.

One time I copied Bouguereau’s painting “First Kiss” in oil seriously. I learned a lot from copying his painting.

If you are interested in his paintings, I recommend to watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-m92239EE8

This painting “Bouguereau & a Young Man” came out very good. I’m very happy with this. What do you think?