Title : Autumn Shade at ShinJuku Gyoen

Medium : Soft Pastel (Terry Ludwig 98%, 2% Carbothello) on black UART400

Size : 18 x 12 Inches

Date completed : 7th Sept 2019

Series : Travel

Description :

My reminiscence of a blissful stroll at the Shinjuku Gyoen Park last Autumn, a yearly ritualistic vacation and self-pampering escapee affair. Albeit having decently well-travelled, this is however appeared to be my first ever Autumn encounter due to the nature of my work schedule. What really caught my eyes and grabbed my heart was the golden sunray permeating through the crimson and radiating yellow leaves with the foliages shimmering upon the lake and dancing reflecting images rippling across the ilumminous water surface. The gentle rhythmic quacking of the drakes and ducks harmonised with my imaginery symphony music while the cool and gentle breeze brushed back and forth across my slightly frozen cheeks. The colourful Mallards playfully paddled forward for the shades as the sunrise gradually move on to the morningtide.

This imagery has been replayed over and over in my memory which is so unreal to a non resident like me, living my entire life in a tropical climate country. The scene – which I hope to immortalize with my pastel on sanded ground - ‘What I have drawn is that what I saw’ and ‘What you are seeing now is what I had captured’. My inspiration is largely based on my experience and memory of the moments then and there and supported with cross referencing several own photo shots of this mesmerizing pond at Shinjuku Gyoen.