Four shrines in Japan, where many of the statues wear red bibs (‘yodarekake‘), placed on them as a sign of devotion and usually faded to a soft pink in the sun and the rain. The second sketch is looking down one section of the many miles of vermillion ‘torii’ avenues at Fushimi Inari-taisha in Kyoto. The third is at a shrine next to the huge fish market in Tokyo, soon to be relocated; I love the fox spirits’ mischievous and slightly sinister expressions. The 2 figures next to the statue in the final sketch were done as a challenge while riding the Bullet Train; they’re passengers waiting on the platform, and the train only stops for 90 seconds in any station so sketches had to be very fast!
torii
Lexington grey, Brown 41 and Bad Blue Heron in fountain pen and water-brush, watercolour, various sizes – various times…
Mostly drawing 
Those Shinkansen are always on time, aren’t they! Great sketches, especially the torii! Even though I’ve been to Japan several times, those trips all took place before I began sketching. . . I feel like I haven’t really been there because I haven’t sketched it. Must correct that.
– Tina
Thanks Tina. The torii always look redder in photos, but they’re a very particular orange… I like your idea that you haven’t really been to a place until you’ve sketched there. I look forward to seeing your Japanese sketches in time! Ed
Yes, it’s true — I think the color is called “vermillion”! I will know when I’ve sketched there!
– Tina
These are wonderful sketches. Do you work on site, or from Photo?
Hi Michael, thanks for the comment. I almost always work from life, usually out and about. Occasionally I copy an interesting drawing (like the Hokusai Manga), or pause the TV to draw interesting faces! Ed