Shimoda

Although built up in recent years, most of the beach town of Shimoda, Japan, remains as it was decades ago. This is a very typical scene of local shops along Japanese beach villages like Shimoda.

Sobaya Lady

In Willy's neighborhood, like virtually all of Japan's neighborhoods, there are more than one soba noodle shop. This lady, carrying her baby on her back, ran one of Willy's favorites.

Vegetable Vendor

One of the greatest things about Japan are the local vegetable stands, which, despite Tokyo's growth and modernity, remain quite modest and personal.

Japanese Matsuri (Festival)

Every year in Japan, local residents carry their shrine on their shoulders through the streets during matsuri (festival). The girl in the foreground of this painting lived in Willy's son Kurt's neighborhood and was one of his friends.

Banana Vendor

Along the streets of Thailand, one can find many vendors. This elderly woman selling bananas was taking a short break in the midday heat.

Thai Vendor & Reflection

Like many street vendors in Thailand, this one sells vegetables. Her hard life shows clearly on her face, but somehow, her reflection in the wall seems softer.

Chinese Bird Man

This old Chinese man resting on a park bench in a barren part of Beijing -- along with his faithful bird -- caught Willy's eye.

Chinese Bird Cage

After talking with Willy and letting her take some photos at a lonely park in Beijing, the elderly Chinese man held up the bird cage to give her a better look. The painting of the cage itself seems almost 3D.

Vietamese Lady

During her 25 years in Japan, Willy visited nearly all of the countries in Asia ... except Vietnam. But she saw a picture of this woman and liked it so much she painted her.

Barn In New York Winter

A very, very common scene in Upstate New York's countryside during the bitteryly cold winter.

Pheasant Dance

This is one of several etchings of Japanese scenes that Willy made. This man is performing the ceremonial Pheasant Dance.

Japan Farm In Winter

Like many areas around the world, Japan's countryside can be a cold desolate place during winter.

The Potter

A pen and ink of a local Japanese woman throwing pots. There are many local shops in Japan that feature a variety of crafts, but this pottery stood out for Willy.

Kamakura Bridge

Boys fish with bamboo poles off of a bridge in Kamakura, one of Japan's most famous fishing towns, and home to the Daibutsu Great Buddha.

Machiko Farm

An architectural design teacher, Willy loved Japanese architecture and wood construction techniques. This rural farm was a study for Willy's students.

Meiji Shrine Painter

The great Meiji Shrine is one of Japan's largest and most famous. Like Central Park in New York, it serves as a sort of oasis in the concrete jungle of Tokyo and is home to many such artists.

Sendai Mountains

Sendai, famous for its rice paddies and sake producers, was a favorite day-trip destination of Willy.

Sendai Rice Paddies

After the rice is harvested, it is hung on long wooden poles to dry. This farm in Sendai is typical of Japan's rice farms.

Flower

Willy liked using a variety of mediums for her art -- oil on canvas, etching, pen and ink, watercolor and even colored pencils like this one.

Flower 2

Willy liked using a variety of mediums for her art -- oil on canvas, etching, pen and ink, watercolor and even colored pencils like this one.

Kimono Girl

Willy loved the colorful kimonos of Japan. This work is one of Willy's watercolors.

Woman of Okinawa

A watercolor of a typical Japanese farm woman. Although she is from Okinawa, such women are a common site in Japan's countryside.

Okinawa Man

A watercolor of an Okinawa man, wearing traditional Japanese farm wear and playing a wooden flute.

Thai Girl In Canoe

This girl in Thailand really caught Willy's eye as she maneuvered her wooden canoe through one of the country's waterways. (A watercolor.)

Thatched-Roofed Home

This is a colored pencil of a very traditional country home in Japan. Such thatched roofs are especially common in Japan's northern rural areas.