Hokkaido Information

	Hakodate 6:05 - 9:50 AM = August 26, 2002 - Mermaid - 36cm Lots of squid boats head out from here. You can see their bright lights shining out at sea. This is a beautiful city with lots of tourists so lots of people walked by while I was doing this and the next drawing. I had taken the ferry across from Oma, Aomori when I found out I could do the round trip for about 30 dollars. I hadn't planned on making it to Hokkaido this trip.
	Hakodate 10:50 - 12:30 = August 26, 2002 - Mermaid - 41 x 49cm The stones around the center circle are actually part of the manhole design, so the stones are made of iron. I wasn't using the large paper yet so you can't see the edges of the manhole. Someone gave me an ice cream cone. Thanks.
	Setana I had slept in my car, but when I woke up the car key wouldn't turn. I wondered if I had bent the keys or something. Since the locksmith wouldn't be open until 10, I did this drawing while waiting. I had a spare key made and was finally able to jiggle the steering wheel and get the key to turn. There are 3 giant rocks/islands sticking up in the surf and they light them up at night.
	Oumu 9:30 - 12:45 = August 15, 2000 - Mermaid - 32cm This one looks like a Japanese sweet. I found this one and it barely fit on my paper as at this time I was only carying a sketch book around with me on this trip. Over the years the size of my sketchbooks grew and then I started using 55 x 75cm sheets of paper and now I usually use sheets that are 79 x 109 cm.
	Hakodate Mermaid - 10 x 33cm I had lunch at this little retaurant and this was the view from my seat. I asked them if it was ok to do a drawing from here and they said it was ok which was great as it was sprinkling outside. You can see 3 different churches in the picture so it looks more like Europe than Japan.
	Esashi Mermaid - 10 x 33cm Typical fields of this area with a barn.
	Bie August 22, 2000 - Mermaid - 10 x 33cm This area is famous for its rolling hills and fields.
	Bie 2:45 - 4:25 - August 23, 2000 - Mermaid -17 x 27cm This tree can be seen in the bottom left area of the previous picture.. I had noticed this fascinating tree the day before so I knew I had to come back and draw it. I met a beautiful Japanese woman named Megumi here.
	Bie 4:30 - 5:30 = August 11, 1996 - ? - 14 x 21cm This one was done near a very nice youth hostel
	Abashiri Lake 4:45 - 6:00 = August 13, 1995 - pastels - 15 x 23 cm A very peaceful lake though quite an overcast day.

	Okushiri Island - Byobuiwa 2:15 - 3:20 = August 6, 2000 - 9 x 20cm I rented a car to drive around the island. These rocks were on the west side of the island.
	Okushiri Island 5:30 - 6:30 = August 6, 2000 - 11 x 20 cm Drawn near Aonae port. This island lost many lives in a big earthquake and tidal waves .I think that was in the 1980's.
	Otaru 5:30 - 6:30 = August 3, 1996 - Daimei off white - 19 x 23cm This port city is famous for its canal .as a tourist destination.
	Otaru 30 minutes = 2001 - 9 x 12cm This was a drawing from one of my photos of the sky not too far from Otaru.
	Otaru 10: 45 - 3:30 = August 5, 1995 - 19 x 23 cm I got really sunburned doing this drawing as it took me a long time to complete. This was back when the canal warehouses were still warehouses. Now they have been gutted and transformed into museums, shops and restaurants.
	Otaru - Toyoi 8:30 - 10:00 = August 5, 1995 - 17 x 23cm Great spot. Look close and you can even see the birds on the rock.
	Shikotsu Lake 2:15 - 3:45 = August 2, 2000 - 15 x 23cm Mt. Eniwa from the southwest corner of the lake. This is one of the 5 large lakes in Hokkaido.There are many small lakes around Hokkaido which is the northern island ( of the 4 main Japanese islands.- Japan has hundreds of small islands)
	Shakotan Peninsula 9:30 - 11:15 = August 7, 1995 - 13 x 18cm Mizunashi no tachi iwa ( The name of the rock formation in the ocean ) The color of the ocean in this area is awesome. I went scuba diving an hour away from here. Lots of nice sea plant formations. The sunsets from the tip of this peninsula are awesome.
	Rausu Lake 10:55 - 1:30 = August 17, 2000 - 17 x 25 cm There is one path to this lake which is in the middle of a bear infested area. On the way back I heard a large animal moving around in the brush. I screamed and ran. ( I don't think you are supposed to run when coming accross a bear but that is what I did. ) Such a beautiful day. This area almost never has blue skies in August as it is usually foggy or cloudy.
	Rebun Sky 3 1/2 hours April 21st and 25th, 1998 - 12 x 18cm This was drawn from one of my photos. The blue sky and clouds are out of this world in this area. Rebun is an island northwest of Hokkaido. This was done with Coupy, color pencils, crayons, and oil pastels.
	Yagishiri Island 10:30 - 12:45 = August 13, 2000 - 13 x 24 cm The owner of this shack/shed/storehouse came out to see what I was drawing . His property is famous now. Look at those clouds!