Toji Temple, Kyoto 京都東寺

I sat near the gate of Toji Temple which is quite close to the ancient five-storey pagoda. The pagoda is said to be the tallest wooden pagoda in Japan. I really like the plain old wood of the structure. The surrounding foliage framed the pagoda well. I made the initial sketch and put on the first layer of watercolour on site then I went inside a nearby cafe which had views of the pagoda to finish the sketch.

Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery 萬彿寺

This is the second sketch I did at Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery, Hong Kong. I walked up the hill and reached the end of the monastery. A statue of a white meditating Buddha sat in front of a waterfall. The water passed around it and under a bridge and cascaded down the slope. In front of the white Buddha, there was another statue of a reclining Buddha resting on the bridge that arched over the cascading water.

Cheung Chau Pak Tai Temple 長洲北帝廟

Pleasant weather in the morning, it’s perfect time for sketching at Pak Tai Temple (god of the sea) on Cheung Chau Island. Thanks Sketcher Ben for organising and Walter Koditek for the in-depth briefing!

Sai Kung Village House

On 14 April, a group of Hong Kong urban sketchers gathered in Sai Kung Town. It was a great day sketching outdoors except there was rain for a while in the afternoon.  A few of us walked to this village house in the outskirts of worn and spent roughly two hours sketching this house.