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Iconic Scenes: Kyoto, Japan
Several years ago, Erin visited Kyoto, Japan for inspiration. This city is at the cultural and historical heart of Japan and is well known for classic views of cherry blossoms in spring and scarlet maple leaves in autumn. When Erin visited, she enjoyed the fall splendor found around the many Shinto shrines, temples, and scenic spaces like Arashiyama.
Traditional Kyoto Landscapes
Kyoto, located on the island of Honshu, is filled with temples, gardens, palaces, and parks. While the city itself is often crowded, peace and tranquility can be found among the rock gardens, flowing waterways, cherry trees, maples, and bamboo forests.
The natural spaces in the city often blossom with vibrant pinks in the spring, showcase jade greens in the summer, and turn a lively vermillion in the autumn. Perhaps the colors of the surrounding nature account for some of the incredible energy found in the city itself.
A train ride west will take you to Arashiyama, one of the most important sight-seeing districts in Kyoto. This park is known for its towering bamboo groves, which Erin has since painted.
Bamboo Forest by Erin Hanson, 2020
Kyoto is less well-known for its hidden gems like the Hozu River and the many hiking paths around Arashiyama, like in Kyoto Reflections, below.
Kyoto Reflections by Erin Hanson, 2021
Other well-tended landscapes can be found within the city limits. All one has to do is go to the nearest temple or walk down a cherry-tree-lined lane like the Philosopher’s Path. Kyoto is also surrounded by vast landscapes like the Arashiyama mountains in the west and the clear waters of the Ine-cho.
While most think of Kyoto as a place of bustling city life with delightful food, manga, and gorgeous temples - the landscape offers much more than that. It is a place where humans live harmoniously with nature.
Kyoto-Inspired Landscape Paintings by Erin Hanson
As always with Erin Hanson’s open impressionist work, the artist looked for the graceful, natural beauty in Kyoto. She did not have to travel outside of the prefecture to do so. Instead, Erin discovered quiet moments, natural spaces, and beautiful vistas in the city proper and just outside in hikes through the surrounding parks and rivers. Here are a few works that represent the Japanese landscapes that Erin captured during her trip to Kyoto.
Dawning Pine by Erin Hanson, 2019
A twisted Japanese pine stands against the backdrop of Arashiyama in Kyoto, Japan. The artistically-shaped tree reminded the artist of an oversized bonsai. The gracefully twisting branches glow pink in the dawn light.
Kyoto Color by Erin Hanson, 2019
Delicate branches of the Japanese maple tree bend gracefully in the autumn sunlight. The tiny leaves of the maple tree spread across the sky, soaking in the afternoon warmth. The brush strokes are loose and impressionistic, creating a mosaic of color and texture across the canvas.
Arashiyama Pine by Erin Hanson, 2017
Erin fell in love with this Japanese pine tree in Arashiyama, Kyoto. The majestic tree was beautifully formed, and it was positioned to catch all the early dawn sunrays, turning a bright shade of sherbet orange. The distant hillside, still dark in the shadows, stood beyond the slow-moving waters of Hozu River.
Maple Forest by Erin Hanson, 2021
A forest of Japanese maple trees grows around a trickling brook, in this painting inspired by a temple in Kyoto, Japan. The brush strokes are loose and expressive, capturing the vivid beauty of autumn color.
Kyoto Pines by Erin Hanson, 2018
The warm glow of an autumn sunrise over Arashiyama Park in Kyoto, Japan, was a brilliant contrast against the distant mountains, bright blue against the warming sky. The brush strokes in this painting capture the energy and color variation seen in this landscape.
Autumn Hues by Erin Hanson, 2019
Colors of autumn sparkle with light in this painting of Kyoto, Japan. The rich ultramarine sky is a beautiful contrast to the cadmium hues of the maple trees. Each brush stroke is placed side-by-side, creating a stained-glass effect on the canvas.
Movement of Maples by Erin Hanson, 2018
Kyoto, Japan, is a beautiful place to experience the Japanese maples changing color. In this painting, Erin captures the amazing range of colors seen in the temple gardens, from green and yellow to purple and red. There is such a sense of grace in the branches of these ancient maples, as well as a peaceful sense of motion with the gentle winds in the leaves.
Visiting Japan left an indelible impression on Erin Hanson. She has shared the beauty of this place in over thirty paintings. These have been collected into the Japanese Maple Collection, which you can view here.
About Erin
ERIN HANSON has been painting in oils since she was 8 years old. As a teenager, she apprenticed at a mural studio where she worked on 40-foot-long paintings while selling art commissions on the side. After being told it was too hard to make a living as an artist, she got her degree in Bioengineering from UC Berkeley. Afterward, Erin became a rock climber at Red Rock Canyon, Nevada. Inspired by the colorful scenery she was climbing, she decided to return to her love of painting and create one new painting every week.
She has stuck to that decision, becoming one of the most prolific artists in history, with over 3,000 oil paintings sold to eager collectors. Erin Hanson’s style is known as "Open Impressionism" and is taught in art schools worldwide. With millions of followers, Hanson has become an iconic, driving force in the rebirth of impressionism, inspiring thousands of other artists to pick up the brush.
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Artist Adventure Series, No. 6Monday, May 8, 2017Erin tells her adventures through the Grand Canyon, Big Bend National Park, and Torrey Pines. Follow in the artist's footsteps as she explores landscapes near and far to uncover natural beauty and inspiration for her paintings. Read More → |
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Artist Adventure Series, No. 6 Monday, May 8, 2017 Erin tells her adventures through the Grand Canyon, Big Bend National Park, and Torrey Pines. Follow in the artist's footsteps as she explores landscapes near and far to uncover natural beauty and inspiration for her paintings. Read More → |
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Artist Adventure Series, No. 5Erin Shares a Few Harrowing AdventuresSunday, October 20, 2013During a lifetime of exploring the outdoors, it seems that the most exciting times are also the most dangerous. The sudden pump of adrenaline you get when you have to act quickly to remain alive makes you feel great, like you are fighting for survival and winning! Read More → |
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Artist Adventure Series, No. 5 Erin Shares a Few Harrowing Adventures Sunday, October 20, 2013 During a lifetime of exploring the outdoors, it seems that the most exciting times are also the most dangerous. The sudden pump of adrenaline you get when you have to act quickly to remain alive makes you feel great, like you are fighting for survival and winning! Read More → |
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Artist Adventure Series, No. 45 Day Trans-Zion Backpacking TrekThursday, November 15, 2012Day 1 We arrived at Zion last night and camped at Watchman. The weather was clear and crisp, and the mountains seemed very close and very small against the bright starry sky. Read More → |
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Artist Adventure Series, No. 4 5 Day Trans-Zion Backpacking Trek Thursday, November 15, 2012 Day 1 We arrived at Zion last night and camped at Watchman. The weather was clear and crisp, and the mountains seemed very close and very small against the bright starry sky. Read More → |
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Artist Adventure Series, No. 3How My Love of Nature Inspires My ArtMonday, October 15, 2012As the summer heat is slowly shaking itself away, I am shaking myself back into my hiking and rock climbing routine. In August, I went camping and rock scrambling in Joshua Tree National Park, at Indian Cove campground. Read More → |
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Artist Adventure Series, No. 3 How My Love of Nature Inspires My Art Monday, October 15, 2012 As the summer heat is slowly shaking itself away, I am shaking myself back into my hiking and rock climbing routine. In August, I went camping and rock scrambling in Joshua Tree National Park, at Indian Cove campground. Read More → |
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Artist Adventure Series, No. 2Adventures that Inspire Erin Hanson's PaintingsSaturday, April 30, 2011It was a dark morning in Ghost Ranch, New Mexico, home and inspiration to Georgia O'Keefe. I awoke at daybreak, ready to search out the perfect scene to paint. The hike was short, only a mile or so, but it climbed straight up to the top of a butte. From the towering peak, I peered dizzyingly down to the ground. Read More → |
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Artist Adventure Series, No. 2 Adventures that Inspire Erin Hanson's Paintings Saturday, April 30, 2011 It was a dark morning in Ghost Ranch, New Mexico, home and inspiration to Georgia O'Keefe. I awoke at daybreak, ready to search out the perfect scene to paint. The hike was short, only a mile or so, but it climbed straight up to the top of a butte. From the towering peak, I peered dizzyingly down to the ground. Read More → |
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Artist Adventure Series, No. 1Erin Hanson's Passion for Adventure Shapes Her ArtThursday, December 31, 2009Climbing in Red Rock Canyon is an addictive sport. The steep overhanging cliffs become a monstrous feat that one must, at all odds, overcome. Day after day, hour after hour, you battle the rock holds, sometimes spending a week just to master one tricky maneuver. Read More → |
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Artist Adventure Series, No. 1 Erin Hanson's Passion for Adventure Shapes Her Art Thursday, December 31, 2009 Climbing in Red Rock Canyon is an addictive sport. The steep overhanging cliffs become a monstrous feat that one must, at all odds, overcome. Day after day, hour after hour, you battle the rock holds, sometimes spending a week just to master one tricky maneuver. Read More → |