Description
A Kingfisher in Tokyo
I visited Japan in October 2025. On my last day in Tokyo, with a few hours to kill before heading to the airport, I ended up at Ueno Park. It’s a busy public park in the centre of the city, but still home to plenty of wildlife. Just as I was about to leave, I spotted a female kingfisher, sitting on a rope strung across the water.
The Painting
Working in my Sheffield home studio, I painted this on an 8×8″ Ampersand Gessobord panel. In the photo she was perched on a rope, but I used some artistic license and swapped it for a branch. I kept the brushwork loose and broken to push the focus onto the bird, building up layers of muted green behind her.
The common kingfisher is the same species whether you find it in Sheffield or Tokyo. The Japanese call it kawasemi.
Original Artwork Details
The original oil painting was gifted and is not available for purchase.
Specifications:
- Medium: Oil on gessobord panel
- Size: 8 × 8 inches (~ 20 × 20 cm)
- Depth: 0.3 cm (~ 1/8 inch)
- Year: 2026
- Signed on reverse
- Original: Gifted
Shipping & Care
Prints will be carefully packaged with protective materials and shipped via Royal Mail within 3-5 business days. Oil on panel lasts for centuries with basic care. Display away from direct sunlight and extreme humidity for best longevity.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet