Doors of a Chinese courtyard house

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<Strange, the image keeps appearing sideways..>
I painted this one night while seated in an armchair and wearing pyjamas, without a painting apron, certain that if I was extra careful I wouldn't get paint on myself. Well, I was wrong, and not for the first time too.

The reference shot was one of many photos I had taken while holidaying in Beijing with three fellow museum docentss. Such ancient doors open out to a hutong (胡 同) or alley. Behind the alley walls are siheyuan (四 合 院) -- traditional courtyard houses with indoor gardens in which generations of families have lived.

During the Ming Dynasty, aristocrats and families of high social standing and importance lived in larger, more elaborate siheyuan around and closer to the Forbidden City. The commoners and others lived further away and occupied smaller and simpler siheyuan.

In the course of my journalism career, I've been fortunate to have visited some amazing local homes fashioned after the traditional Chinese courtyard house. A number are built right to the edges of the plot. An open garden/courtyard is ensconced in the centre, a step from every living space of the home.

Entering such a house from the street is like walking into another exterior, albeit one that's partially roofed, calming and private.