July 28, 2024 – Hakone Gardens. Saratoga, CA
My first time at Hakone Gardens, a uniquely authentic Japanese garden here in the US, I was immediately inspired to paint on location. The garden so accurately reflected traditional Japanese aesthetics that somehow they even got a bright red dragonfly to circle around the koi pond. The scene I chose to paint was high up from a vista that overlooked the central part of the garden where as fate would have it, a wedding was about to take place.
I repainted the final version in my studio, using my on-site sketch, and was happy enough with the result that I decided to gift the painting to the wedded couple.
Delivering the painting to Hakone.
This was one of my most inspired paintings! I hope the happy couple is reminded of the romance of the gardens and that special day when they look at my painting. 