Kawasemi

Description

A Japanese Encounter

“Kawasemi” (カワセミ) is the Japanese word for kingfisher, and this painting commemorates an unforgettable encounter during a trip to Tokyo in October 2025. I spotted this female kingfisher resting on a sun-warmed rock in the middle of a pond at Koishikawa Korakuen, one of Tokyo’s historic Edo-period gardens. Unlike British kingfishers, which are notoriously skittish and rarely stay still for more than a few seconds, she sat patiently for at least 15 minutes, allowing me to photograph her from multiple angles. If I’d had painting gear with me, I probably could have painted her from life!

Male or Female?

You can identify this as a female kingfisher by the subtle orange markings on the underside of her beak. Males have completely black beaks – it’s one of the few visual differences between the sexes in this species. Once you know this detail, you’ll find yourself checking the beaks of every kingfisher you see.

The Painting Process

Back in my Sheffield home studio, I created this piece in a single painting session using oils on a 6×6 inch Ampersand Gessobord panel. The real challenge with kingfishers is capturing that impossibly brilliant blue-green iridescence of their plumage. Regular blues like ultramarine or cobalt simply aren’t chromatic enough – they look dull and muddy compared to the bird’s actual feathers. For this painting, I used phthalo turquoise, one of the most intensely chromatic blue-green pigments available, to get closer to that electric blue shimmer that makes kingfishers so instantly recognizable.

I kept the background loose and atmospheric, with soft warm tones suggesting the autumn light and the garden setting without overwhelming the jewel-like quality of the bird itself. The rock she’s perched on grounds the composition and provides a warm contrast to the cool blues and greens of her feathers.

Cross-Cultural Kingfishers

Japanese and British kingfishers are closely related species with nearly identical plumage (although some say the smaller Japanese birds have more vivid colours). The main difference I noticed in Tokyo was behavioral – Japanese kingfishers seem far less easily spooked by human presence, perhaps because they’re accustomed to the constant foot traffic in urban parks and gardens. In Sheffield, I’ve spent countless hours waiting by rivers and ponds, trying to get close enough for a clear photograph. This Tokyo encounter was a gift by comparison.

Framed or Unframed

Choose the framed option and it arrives ready to hang. The frame is natural ayous, a pale, lightweight hardwood, with a 7mm face and 21mm depth. The panel sits inside it with a 5mm gap all round, so the painted edge of the panel stays visible and the picture appears to float inside the frame rather than sitting against it. A flush mount is already fitted to the back for hanging.

If you would rather choose your own frame, you can buy it unframed. For advice please refer to How to Frame a Painting on a Panel.

Original Artwork Details

Specifications:

• Medium: Oil on gessobord panel
• Size: 6 × 6 inches (~ 15 × 15 cm)
• Depth: 0.3 cm (~ 1/8 inch)
• Available framed or unframed
• Framed size: approximately 17.6 × 17.6 cm (~ 7 × 7 inches)
• Frame: natural ayous, 7mm face, 21mm depth, 5mm float gap, flush mount fitted
• Year: 2025
• Signed on reverse

Shipping & Care

Your painting will be carefully packaged with protective materials and shipped via Royal Mail within 3-5 business days. The panel is robust and archival – oil paintings on panel have been proven to last for centuries when properly cared for. Display away from direct sunlight and extreme humidity for best longevity.