(no subject)
Nothing much to do at work over the winter holidays. Prepared some kanji study materials for a test in February. Scheduled my annual leave for when a friend arrives in late January. I think it's gonna be a really fun 'taste of Japan' for him. He's my first proper visitor so I'm testing out how to best show people a fun and authentic time here. Again I'm very happy that I not only chose this place out of all of Japan but that I actually got my preference.
Teachers at my school need to work only half-days over the holidays, so I left around lunchtime. After shopping at my ususal supermarket, I rode around to the side of the building, where there's a beautiful footpath lined with trees, alongside a river, complete with waterfall and bridge. I've always meant to try drawing it, which was problematic as I can't draw, but I had bought a sketchpad on Christmas day, so I was all set to go. I sat down on a bench and went at it. Here are the results!
I had barely finished even that much when an old Japanese guy who had ridden past wheeled his bike around and ran up to me. "Sketch?!" he asked. I explained that it was my first attempt and pretty embarassing, but he insisted. He had a look and was very impressed! He raved on about all this interesting art stuff.. about how Europeans are good at guaging distance and drawing perspective, whereas Japanese are poor at that and do a lot of 'flat' work. He also compared the 'light & shadow' approach of western artists to the 'line' approach of the Japanese. Actually that difference had occurred to me recently after having read some Tintin and reading up about the art in those books, which focused on clear lines rather than shading etc. Seeing as I a have no real ability in drawing shapes and that's why I need to practise at, I should just focus on drawing lines, not get carried away with shading. And since it's midwinter, the bare trees and clear air provide a great source for an amateur like me. Hopefully I'll meet that guy again while sketching.. he was saying that he has been sketching and painting for a long time.
Also a few pictures from a hike up the mountain behind my school are here.
Teachers at my school need to work only half-days over the holidays, so I left around lunchtime. After shopping at my ususal supermarket, I rode around to the side of the building, where there's a beautiful footpath lined with trees, alongside a river, complete with waterfall and bridge. I've always meant to try drawing it, which was problematic as I can't draw, but I had bought a sketchpad on Christmas day, so I was all set to go. I sat down on a bench and went at it. Here are the results!
I had barely finished even that much when an old Japanese guy who had ridden past wheeled his bike around and ran up to me. "Sketch?!" he asked. I explained that it was my first attempt and pretty embarassing, but he insisted. He had a look and was very impressed! He raved on about all this interesting art stuff.. about how Europeans are good at guaging distance and drawing perspective, whereas Japanese are poor at that and do a lot of 'flat' work. He also compared the 'light & shadow' approach of western artists to the 'line' approach of the Japanese. Actually that difference had occurred to me recently after having read some Tintin and reading up about the art in those books, which focused on clear lines rather than shading etc. Seeing as I a have no real ability in drawing shapes and that's why I need to practise at, I should just focus on drawing lines, not get carried away with shading. And since it's midwinter, the bare trees and clear air provide a great source for an amateur like me. Hopefully I'll meet that guy again while sketching.. he was saying that he has been sketching and painting for a long time.
Also a few pictures from a hike up the mountain behind my school are here.