Hillside View, Onomichi, Japan

This drawing was made in Onomichi, after taking the Senkoji Ropeway up to the top of the hill. From there, I made my way slowly back down towards the town, following the paths through the temple area and stopping whenever something caught my attention. I found this particular spot partway down and sat there for about an hour and a half to draw. What drew me in was the layering of the view — trees and rooftops in the foreground, the water beyond, and the hills rising on the other side. It’s less about a single subject and more about how everything sits together across the landscape. The drawing is built up through loose, responsive marks, allowing the space to unfold gradually rather than being fully described. A really memorable place to sit and spend time drawing.