This is a color pencil drawing of a view from an alley in the city of Fussa looking toward the Seiyu department store building. Some of you may recognize this alley. It’s the same alley where Paradise Alley used to be on. And for those of you who don’t know, a Seiyu department store is sort of like a Walmart, and I think Seiyu is now owned by Walmart.

I have lived in Fussa for more than 35 years and I love everything about this city. I’m certain I have entered that department building more than a thousand times. I’ve purchased birthday gifts and Christmas presents for my children there. I’ve bought groceries there for our dinners hundreds of times. And though I call Pennsylvania home, only because it’s where I was born and it’s where most of my family still reside, I consider Fussa to be my second home.

This is a typical view of a small Japanese town. Tiny streets where powerlines are overhead, telephone poles are in the street, tiny balconies are used to hang clothes and futons, and where you still see blue ceramic shingling covering old wooden homes. Normally places like this are tranquil and peaceful. My good friend Khaye lived next to the spot where this photograph was taken.

I like this image because of its simplicity and colors. I could have drawn this piece using regular numbered pencils, but the colors were striking and vibrant. To grayscale it would have been a mistake. I only have two regrets with this drawing. First, I wish I had included the street leading up to the intersection. And second, I wish I had made the drawing larger.

This drawing is only 8 inches by 11 inches. I have been thinking about redoing this drawing for some time now. If I do, I will include the street and make the new drawing larger. Better yet, I could redo this drawing as a painting. It has been awhile since I have picked up a brush. So that could be my next project. I’ll keep you all posted on that endeavor.

Unlike the other color pencil drawings on this website, I used my own color pencils. My friend and fellow artist, Sayuri, had not yet gifted me the color pencil set until after she saw this drawing. This drawing was specifically why she gave me the color pencil set. I do like this drawing very much. I hope you like it too.