Owl after Hiroshige - with a twist

Dark Side of the Moon 3" x 3" intaglio print

I've fallen in love with a little Japanese print called Owl on Maple Branch in the Full Moon by Hiroshige. I saw the print at the Hiroshige - The Master of Nature exhibition in Rome earlier this year. Ever since I can't stop doodling the image of the little owl.

This tiny print was made using a small V-shaped tool to carve the image into a piece of recycled plastic advertising card and then wiped with oil-based ink and pulled through the etching press. This Hiroshige inspired owl is reversed and overshadowed by the dark side of the moon.

Hand coloured intaglio print 3" x 3"

Hiroshige in Rome

Museo del Corso Rome

With the warm weather, along with the swallows, friends flock to Tuscany. For the past few weeks I've been enjoying friends - neglecting art.

I met up with Helen and Anni in Rome on Friday and joy oh joy, discovered a fantastic Hiroshige exhibition. Months ago I started a sketchbook devoted to Hiroshige's nature prints, copying them in watercolour from the Internet, trying to learn the secrets of his composition and colour.

Watercolour after Hiroshige

I came face to face with an original print of these fishes along with two of his prints that inspired paintings by Van Gogh. Van Gogh's oils are in Amsterdam, apparently too fragile to move, but high tech reproductions are displayed alongside Hiroshige's prints Bridge in the Rain and Flowering Plum Tree. Was Van Gogh as dizzy with excitement as I when he saw these prints? I wouldn't be surprised. It really was almost too much to take in.

By the time I had peered at every one of the 200 prints, I was spinning out. So little time, so much to try to absorb and remember. There was also an excellent video of the traditional process of Japanese prints and a display of tools, blocks and pigments.

Most of this collection was donated to the Honolulu Academy of Arts by novelist James A. Michener. The catalogue was expensive and the quality of reproduction disappointing but it is enough to refresh my memory when I continue my studies of Hiroshige.

When the Rome exhibition ends on June 7 it moves to London. Not to be missed!

Rome was as fascinating and beautiful as ever and we stayed in a delightful little apartment in the old Ghetto just steps away from the ancient Portico D'Ottavia.

As usual I didn't find enough time for sketching.

May was a wonderful month. I met warm, enthusiastic and TOTALLY DELIGHTFUL blogging friend, Lin Fry - View from the Oak for lunch and a stroll around Orvieto. Sadly no time for painting but Lin was on a painting holiday so I imagine we will be enjoying her Italian watercolours for the rest of the year.

Then I had the joy of driving to the little Tuscan town of Monterchi with a favourite (and brilliant!) Australian artist, Deborah Russell to finally see Piero della Francesca's masterpiece fresco Madonna del Parto (Pregnant Madonna). Thanks Deb, it was Bliss!

Now it's time to get back to work.

Two Fish After Ando Hiroshige

Watercolour detail after Hiroshige print

This is the second detail from the same Ando Hiroshige woodblock print. The prawns in my previous post were at the top of the print. My handmade watercolour sketchbook is too small for the whole composition of most of Hiroshige's prints. I tried to work a bit faster with this one so it is much more obviously my work, not Hiroshige's. There is one more of his famous fish prints I must do and then I'm thinking I might try a bit of Japonisme of my own - inspired by Hiroshige, of course.

Speaking of Japonisme, through a comment on my previous post, I discovered a blog called Japonisme by Lotusgreen. If you are into beautiful things - paintings or objects, treat yourself by paying Lotusgreen a visit. And don't forget, if you want to know more about this journey into Japanese Art, you'll find it all on Making a Mark.

Prawns After Ando Hiroshige

Watercolour after Ando Hiroshige woodblock print - 18.5 x 14.5 cm

Way too many distractions in my life at present, so art suffers. I've managed to move on to the second page of my folded sketchbook (see previous post). This is just a detail from a larger print by Hiroshige.

Anyone who is inspired to see what a study of Japanese art and artists can do for their own work will be greatly assisted by visiting Katherine Tyrrell's blog Making a Mark. I certainly would enjoy some company on this project. Katherine has conveniently gathered all her posts about Japanese Art in one place here. Thank you Katherine!

Flowers and Fishes Japanese Style

After Ando Hiroshige - 14cmx19cm watercolour sketchbook

I am loving the exploration of Nineteenth Century Japanese art by Katherine Tyrrell on her blog Making a Mark. Katherine is well into this journey while I am still nibbling around the edges of her wonderful links. Yesterday Katherine posted a beautiful coloured pencil study of a trout after Joseph Crawhall, one of the western artists influenced by the Japanese in the Early Twentieth Century.

Yesterday, being Good Friday, was obviously the day for fish because I discovered Ando Hiroshige's Grand Series of Fishes and fell in love with this strange but beautiful combination of flowers and fishes. I imagine these prints also influenced Joseph Crawhall all those years ago.

I have decided to devote the folded watercolour sketchbook I made from instructions posted by Nina Johnannsson to my study of Japonisme.


If I manage to fill the whole book, I can open it out into a single full watercolour sheet of paintings. The paper I used is rather heavy as it is inclined to keep springing open with a mind of its own. Next time I will try a lighter paper. But thank you Nina, I love it!