the story

While traveling in Kyoto, Japan, I was fortunate enough to be able to visit multiple temples which each had their own wonderful gardens. Of course, I had to take tons of photos to commemorate the trip. Upon returning home, I came across a photo that particularly struck me - a green clearing that revealed a pond and, in the distance, a small structure. I immediately knew that it would be a perfect subject for watercolor, and began painting it daily in my watercolor painting class in high school. The final piece, achieved through much layering and waiting patiently (to emphasize grain and color spreading), gives a tranquil sense of the scene, much like the way I felt standing on the pond's bank.