Koto Player

"Koto Performer"   10" x 8"   Watercolor

While attending the Spring Festival at the Japanese Garden, we had the pleasure of listening to a lovely performance on the koto, a traditional Japanese stringed instrument.  Actually, we almost missed this opportunity.  After spending a morning at the festival, we were about to get in our car to leave when we saw this woman getting out of the car next to ours.  A short conversation revealed that she would be performing at the festival, so we headed back to listen.  It turned out to be one of the highlights of our day.  

This first sketch is a study for a larger oil painting I am planning, which will be a more exact likeness of Fumiko, whose grace and charm touched us as much as her music.