Many travelers use a camera to capture the places they visit, but Shanghai-based artist Zhifang Shi opts for watercolor and ink. From Japan to South Korea, the talented artist travels all over Asia, documenting old storefronts and street corners in his sketchbook.
Shi paints en plein air, quickly capturing fleeting moments with loose, gestural line work. His delicate watercolor washes add depth, bringing each scene to life and transporting the viewer into the artist’s colorful urban scenes. Traditional stores emit warm, welcoming glows from their windows, and historical neighborhood streets feature a jumble of old houses, street signs, and lanterns.
Shi is conscious of the fact that many of the small shop fronts and houses he depicts might not be around for much longer. His expressive urban sketches immortalize these family businesses and traditional homes, allowing them to live on forever through his art.
Scroll down to check out some of Shi’s latest travel art and follow him on Instagram for more.
Shanghai-based artist Zhifang Shi captures the places he visits in watercolor and ink.
His urban sketches document old storefronts and street corners in traditional Asian towns.
He works en plein air, quickly capturing moments with loose, gestural line work and washes of color.
Zhifang Shi: Instagram
My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Zhifang Shi.
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