Pub Sign

These lanterns hang outside many Japanese restaurants and izakaya (居酒屋) – a term often translated as “Japanese pub”. It took a little while for me to realise that these lanterns promised some kind of refreshment close by, but once the penny had dropped they were very useful when looking for something to eat or drink. So rather like the old English pub signs, they are designed to guide the thirsty in the right direction!

My ambition with this painting was to make it look as if there really is light coming from inside the lantern. Originally I thought that the brighter glow where the light is inside the lantern would do this, but in the end I think that making the background glow around the lantern helps the most to light up the sign.