tosca

I went to see Tosca at the New National Theatre, Tokyo and absolutely loved it. Of course the singing was lovely, but the incredible sets were truly breathtaking, and the lighting was masterful...

I tried to draw, because the costumes and poses were so wonderful, but it was pitch black and I couldn't see my sketchbook at all, so it was sort of guesswork. I worked up two of the sketches I did afterwards, and added some colour...

The singer who was Scarpia liked my drawing on instagram, which made me happy!

pine cup

Here's a little sketch of a tiny sake cup I bought at a flea market in Tokyo a little while ago...

I've been collecting a few pieces that I really want to draw, and hopefully will be able to put them together into a project soon!

Yayoi Kusama museum

After trying for several months, I finally managed to get tickets to the new Yayoi Kusuma museum in Tokyo. So exciting!

There was no photography allowed in several of the rooms, but this mosiac pumpkin on the roof in the open air was lovely to draw and selfie with!

I really enjoyed this pumpkin light installation too, it was really magical...

nail designs

I get my nails done when I'm in HK by an incredible lady who interprets my artwork into a nail pattern. These are the ones I got last week, to match my mokuhanga garden print.

I love experimenting and thinking of designs, and I especially liked these dark ones, to match one of my etchings.

I really liked this more minimal combo of pink and grey too, made to match my Chinese New Year design.

Hong Kong part two

This week I spent in meetings, and the rain. So much rain. Typhoons and the rainy season, here we are again...

The rain made all the neon and street lights glow even more beautifully than usual, and I photographed the many ways lights fascinate me there.

I attended a gala for onesky, and drew sketches of the presenters. It was an amazing evening and raised funding for this wonderful charity, hurrah!

I visited PMQ and the HKTDC shop there sells my HK toile products, which I always love to see.

On my last day I did this little watercolour sketch of the red room, where I stayed at my friend's house. I love this room so much! 

And of course I ate dimsum at City Hall with my friends, my all-time favourite HK thing to do. I already can't wait to go back...

Hong Kong

I'm in HK this week, meeting clients and eating great food. I took the weekend off to get into the HK mood...

I love HK so much, in so many ways. Visually I find it fascinating, and always inspiring. I don't take enough time to sketch here, as I'm usually running around, so I'm making an effort to take the time...

I miss dim sum and Chinese noodles and all the local desserts when I'm away, and they tend to be the things I look for as soon as I can when I'm back.

I really enjoyed being a tourist for a day, and taking the star ferry to see the view from both sides of the harbour.

This really is a crazy beautiful city.

sumo

Last week I went to watch the Tokyo sumo tournament and absolutely loved it! The space is beautiful and the crowds loud and appreciative...

I sketched the whole arena and then the players. 

I loved the old-timey photographs and memorabilia in the metro station, so you could get in the sumo mood!

NY Post

I recently did an illustration for the back page of the fashion section of the New York Post. I was given lots of photos of jewellery pieces and asked to create a fun illustration that would show all these nature-inspired pieces to their best advantage...

sketches

We received some amazing gifts recently and I did sketches of them to say thank you...

I put everything together into one image. Not sure if the subject matter really matches, but I think it sort of works...

golden week

This week has been a long public holiday here in Japan, and we've been exploring Tokyo every single day. We started with a trip to Ginza and the new Hibiya Midtown mall. It's been such lovely weather, the sun and the shadows were glorious.

We went to Shimokitazawa, stopping in an adorable cafe along the way, so I could try this Totoro shaped cream puff!

We explored several downtown areas, loving the shitamachi atmosphere, shopping for baking equipment and trying interesting snacks.

We went to the Todoroki Gorge, amazed that such a green and wild space could exist in urban Tokyo.

I did a watercolour sketch of a sort of mossy waterfall with dragon heads, and some little statues there.

We also tried an orange peel kakigori and then had a wonderful afternoon tea at the Imperial Hotel to celebrate our wedding anniversary...

I did a sketch of our tea and the incredible view out over the city, and then coloured it at home...

Can't wait for the rest of this weekend, before it's back to work on monday...

River Cottage veg everyday

The new edition of River Cottage veg, now titled River Cottage veg every day!, has just been published. 

The new versions of the whole series of RC books have cloth bindings and shiny foil blocking on the covers. I drew new illustrations for each of the new covers and a frame for the back cover.

I love the new texture and of course the metallics...

The inside is all the same, except without the original endpapers, and just as full of tasty vegetable dishes. Enjoy!

Tokyo sketches

I've been enjoying watching life around me in Tokyo, and sketching as I watch. Everything moves at a Tokyo pace, but there are always quiet moments to draw...

I've eaten at so many wonderful restaurants but this one is particular has stood out for deliciousness...kappou wada in Omotesando. Lunch was a super deal! 

into the fold - Philadelphia

The into the fold exhibition is going strong in Philadelphia, at the CR Ettinger Gallery. Here are some photos taken by Yoonmi. Hope you'll manage to pop in if you're around!

The photo below shows the original pieces of our into the fold project. From the left, by Yoonmi Nam, Sarah Hulsey, Katie Baldwin, me, Mia O, and Fuko Ito.

interview

I did an e-mail interview a while ago with the lovely Shirley from the website handprinted.co.uk, that sells printmaking supplies in the UK and it's now online. I bumped into her in Tokyo last year as we both shopped for mokuhanga paper, and we kept in touch...

I talk about my relationship with printmaking and show some examples of my work. Here are some pictures from the interview, hope you have time to read the full thing! 

sakura season

This week has been the hanami (cherry blossom viewing) season in Tokyo, and I went to see a different sakura area every day.

The beauty of the sakura trees in full bloom, all at once, is incredible!

This sketch was done in Yoyogi Park today, with the cherry trees mixed in with all sorts of others...

I loved the walk around chidorigafuchi, the moat of the emperor's palace.

And I especially loved the sakura at night, along the Naka Meguro canal, lit with lanterns.

Scholastic Books article

Last summer I illustrated an article for Scholastic that recommended all sorts of new books for kids to read.

I drew shelves and a library/play room style environment, and photographs were then added into them.

I drew all sorts of shelves for the different categories, like adventure and mystery, science and art, adding in little details where I could...

And of course my favourite, fantasy + science fiction...

concert

This week I did some sketches at a local concert, and I realised that I really do focus on the music better if I'm drawing...

I love the combination of fancy dresses and musical instruments!

Bessho Onsen

A few weekends ago we took a trip to Bessho Onsen, a little town near Nagano, in a pretty little snowy valley. It's the last stop on the local train and has several ryokans and shrines. We stayed in a magnificent place called Ryokan Hanaya Nagano.

It used to be a Samurai residence, and has been a ryokan Since the Meiji era. Our room was sublime and we spent most of our time there tucked up cosily in the kotatsu!

I loved the rotemburo, the baths and the dining rooms and drew some of the beautiful dishes we were served.

We walked around the town in the freezing but beautiful sunny weather and admired Anrakuji where the wooden octagonal pagoda is a national treasure of Japan.

I wish there were more weekends I could spend in this luxury...

bento

I'm still working on getting my new website up and running, so while waiting for that, here's a photo of my favourite ever bento...

new blog location

I've moved my blog to my new website. welcome to the new blog!

m x