Sketches from Japan Day 1

Well, first full day. We left Dublin on Monday, arrived in Tokyo on Tuesday evening, and I started sketching on the Wednesday. 

Started the day at a café, then went to Waseda, where we had lunch in a little soba place, then went to Jazz Nutty, our first Jazz Kissa.

I worked mostly in ink and a few transparent markers on this trip. I had intended to do a lot more in watercolour, but my collarbone was not cooperating, so had to lighten my bag quite a bit. But restrictions are good, aren't they? Even if I didn't feel so at the time.

Sunday sketching - what happens when I rush

I arrived late and I rushed, so ended up losing all the golden light, ended up with blobs of acrylic markers instead!

Self portrait at the hairdresser's

Self portrait in acrylic markers while I'm waiting for my colour to set. I added a few flesh tones to the limited selection I had in my pencil case. 

Halloween pumpkins

Brendan bought me some gorgeous decorative pumpkins. Enough drawing material to last me a good while. I hope they keep! Some of them are so weird that it really doesn't matter if I distort the shape!

 

Playing my way

I love playing with ink, but watercolour is what I always come back to. More play - very splashy. I did two little ones on cheap paper, but it buckled like mad, so I moved back to a full sheet, with masking tape to divide it up. As I'm writing this, I'm waiting for it to dry. Then I will cut them up so I could look at each piece individually. Some will require something else. More watercolour, more line, maybe pastel. Some will be perfect as they are.

 

Just playing

Ink and pastels (oil and soft) are often my entry point to play. Completely different from watercolours, so maybe that's why. These were a bit rushed. Will look at them and see if there is any energy there that's pulling me. I'm feeling the pull of wind and waves. I need to step back for a while and look at each on its own.

 

Sketching in Blackrock Park

The afternoon started sunny and quite pleasant, but weather changes quickly by the sea. Clouds came in and it felt cooler. By the time I came out of the pub, it was very wet. Just a normal sketching afternoon in Dublin.

Watercolour on Yupo

Yupo paper (a plastic, really) was fun to observe while the watercolour pigments were travelling around trying to decide where to settle. But when it dried, it wasn't quite as exciting. When I zoom in, there's lots of interesting detail, but the overall effect is not so much. I must have another go.

 

Sketch with Suhita

Moody landscapes were the theme for this session. And I decided to use my Rosa set that I bought in Toulouse. Love these sessions - such a nice group, always lots of interesting ideas. I really like it that they are live Zoom sessions, and we can discuss ideas and materials if we want. I always feel uplifted. 

Found some old Daler Rowney watercolour boards in my stash

And I love what they do. But they don't seem to sell them anymore!! Shelley told me Jacksons Art have it in stock. Next order, I will definitely try them again! It's not as floaty as the Claybord panels, but I love the variety of edges, and no buckling!

Pencils4Tea 8 October 2026

Always fun!