Art Weekly No 131 - Italian Lemons

For Sale - 15th October 2013 
Italian Lemons
Size: 21 x 15cm
(Postage and handling included)

I guess Italian lemons do look like any other lemons! I seem to have rather a collection of photos of them, and these are mostly taken around the Amalfi Coast or Cinque Terre areas of Italy. Many of the shops have beautiful displays outside, just waiting for a quick photo to be snapped, and many of the restaurants have a simple heaped bowl of lemons sitting on a table before the restaurant is barely open in the morning. Then of course, speaking of lemons, there's also the wonderful Lemoncello, an Italian lemon liqueur. This particular photo, was taken in Manarola, Cinque Terre on our visit there last year. 

If you would like to buy this painting, please click on this link to my Art Weekly Online Shop, or if you'd rather deal with me direct, please email me at jackie@jackiesherwood.com.

A Painting A Week No 130 - Reflections of Alonissos

For Sale - 1st October 2013 
Reflections of Alonissos
Size: 21 x 15cm
(Postage and handling included)

When I was staying in the port of Patitiri on the lovely Greek Island of Alonissis in July, beneath my hotel window was a long line of fishing boats. They would be 'missing' when I woke in the mornings, and then gradually returned later in the day. I wandered past them most days in the hope of some good reflections and found that after 7pm they were at their best! Quite a few of the boats were red, and their reflections against the brilliant blue and turquoise water was definitely a painting in the making.

If you would like to buy this painting, please click on this link to my  Art Weekly Online Shop, or if you'd rather deal with me direct, please email me at jackie@jackiesherwood.com.

Scroll down to the post below to see Art Exhibition in Koroni.......

Art Exhibition in Koroni

In conjunction with the Koroni Arts Festival, my latest and joint exhibition with fellow artist Gill Tomlinson, got off to a flying start with a great opening on 11th September. 

We were fortunate to be able to have the Exhibition in the lovely Maniatakeion building in ‘downtown’ Koroni, perfect with its large white walls and high ceilings. It was a particularly hot and steamy night, and above is a very professional looking video of Gill and I trying to look composed and cool!

Opening night

Ready to roll.....

Some of my small canvasses below

The filming in progress!  We had a table down the middle of the gallery showing off our numerous sketchbooks

A group of my small collages

Quiet Koroni at closing time (between 10 &11pm!)

A Painting A Week No 129 - Virginian Creeper, Chateau Biron

For Sale - 27th August 2013 
Virginian Creeper, Chateau Biron
Size: 15 x 21cm
(Postage and handling included)

I took this photo during my first French sojourn in the Lot district in 2003. I've always loved the photo and intended to paint it, and its taken me this long!  Its a start, but I would like to attempt a large canvas - will add it to the list.

I was visiting Chateau Biron at the time, and was captured by the gold and red Virginian Creeper climbing on the stonework inside the courtyard walls of the Chateau.  Its been a long time, but I still remember it clearly!

If you would like to buy this painting, please click on this link to my  Art Weekly Online Shop, or if you'd rather deal with me direct, please email me at jackie@jackiesherwood.com.

A Painting A Week No 128 - A Little Lavender, Provence

For Sale - 7th August 2013 
A Little Lavender, Provence
Size: 21 x 15cm
(Postage and handling included)

Summer in France is always brimming with beautiful flowers, one of the most exceptional being the lavender. Huge swathes of it turn the countryside into patches of purple and its always interesting to see what's grown alongside, or sometimes, what pops up wildly in the middle of it. I took this photo near Gordes one summer. It was just a small field, but I liked the combination with the pink shrub, which I believe is the Ile de France Butterfly Bush, or Buddleia.

If you would like to buy this painting, please click on this link to my  Art Weekly Online Shop, or if you'd rather deal with me direct, please email me at jackie@jackiesherwood.com.

A Painting A Week No 127 - Chania, Crete

For Sale - 31st July 2013 
Chania, Crete
Size: 21 x 15cm
(Postage and handling included)

We were in Crete a little over a year ago with some Sydney friends, and this was my favourite place. Chania is the second largest city in Crete, but it feels more like a bustling town. The 'old town' is built around a lovely harbour, and crammed with the usual Greek tavernas and bars. Behind this, is a myriad of lanes and alleyways to explore - fairly touristy I guess, but the whole place does have a great buzz to it, even when you get further away from the harbour, where'll you'll also find some interesting Minoan excavations, as well as Venetian and Turkish areas.

This painting is of a very small area along the waterfront (our hotel was the pale blue one on the right!), with the haphazard line of awnings, and shops and restaurants below. It was fairly windy when we visited, and the harbour was rough, hence no boats lined up along the front.

If you would like to buy this painting, please click on this link to my  Art Weekly Online Shop, or if you'd rather deal with me direct, please email me at jackie@jackiesherwood.com.

A Painting A Week No 126 - Fishing Boat, Koroni

For Sale - 25th June 2013 
Fishing Boat, Koroni Harbour
Size: 21 x 15cm
(Postage and handling included)

Not a very exciting title for a painting, but I seem to have Greek fishing boats everywhere I look right now, as well as in Koroni harbour and the bay below us. I've been painting them, sketching them, and sticking them onto collages. Each little waterside village around here has its unique selection of boats, and yes, most of them really do go out fishing each day, or night, and keep all the local restaurants full of seafood. I just love the shape of them, all the accoutrement hanging off them, not to forget all the little 'sticky uppy bits' (which I've recently told my students not to ignore!)

Summer has arrived with a vengance now - too hot for sitting on the edge of harbours sketching, but perfect for relaxing in any one of Koroni's many cafes with an ice cold frappe, or an ouzo in your hand!

If you would like to buy this painting, please click on this link to my  Art Weekly Online Shop, or if you'd rather deal with me direct, please email me at jackie@jackiesherwood.com.

A Painting A Week No 125 - Sassi di Matera, Italy

For Sale - 5th June 2013 
Sassi di Matera, Italy
Size: 21 x 15cm
(Postage and handling included)

After scooting back and forth across Italy during the last few years, it was amazing to stumble across the unique old quarter of Matera. The city of Matera is in the Basilicata region of Southern Italy and the Sassi area is a World Heritage site, but it still seems to be relatively unknown. Within the boundaries of a fairly modern city, Sassi di Matera (meaning stones of Matera) lies in two canyons which are crammed with ancient cave dwellings, carved into and projecting from the canyon walls. In fact, it is the most intact example of a troglodyte settlement in the Mediterranean area. Over the centuries these cave dwellings have been multiplying and continually used for housing, shops, and the sheltering of animals. Until the 1980's the Sassi di Matera was considered an area of terrible poverty, even after the 1950's, when the government tried to relocate residents living there.  Although it now now been a little gentrified |(but not too much - the boutique hotels are rather scattered!), a wander through the laneways certainly gives you the feel of  'ancient living'. The area and its surrounds also has a large amount of rock churches. What better place to film Mel Gibson's film 'The Passion of Christ'!

Looking down into the Sassi is quite an unbelievable sight, but it really was difficult to capture its essence in photos, mainly due to its size, the fact that its spread over two gorges, and also because you're either looking down into it, or up out of it! With this painting though, I tried to concentrate on a small but fairly prominent area rising up one side, to portray the density and the monotone appearance.

If you would like to buy this painting, please click on this link to my  Art Weekly Online Shop, or if you'd rather deal with me direct, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com.

A Painting A Week No 124 - Mission Bay Palms

For Sale - 7th May 2013 
Mission Beach Palms
Size: 21 x 15cm
(Postage and handling included)

My first painting featuring swaying palm trees. There's something about the leaning trunks and haphazard fronds that made it a pleasure to paint.  These palms were at Mission Beach, Queensland, where we spent the night on our way from Port Douglas to Townsville. Its a lovely drive through lush tropical areas of sugar cane with a sense of umm, I think perhaps....timelessness!  Unfortunately, Mission Beach was hit hard in last year's Cyclone Yasi, but seems to be recovering slowly. It has a lovely unspoilt feel to it, and although it was getting a bit late in the season, we managed a wonderful 'real' Aussie hamburger for dinner, complete with beetroot (much to Peter's dismay!)

If you would like to buy this painting, please click on this link to my  Art Weekly Online Shop, or if you'd rather deal with me direct, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com.

A Painting A Week No 123 - The Olive Tree, Koroni

For Sale - 1st May 2013 
 The Olive Tree, Koroni
Size: 21 x 15cm
(Postage and handling included)

This olive tree is an integral part of our view and stands proudly in our neighbour, Vassili's field, with the blue sea behind. A good subject I think, to recommence my 2013's artistic pursuits!

If you would like to buy this painting, please click on this link to my  Art Weekly Online Shop, or if you'd rather deal with me direct, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com.

Back in Greece and business is resumed!

Apologies for the huge gap in time since my last post. Its been a busy few months with travel to Australia and New Zealand, and to LA for Peter, and of course our wedding in Sydney. Why I always try and fool myself that I'll be able to produce some weekly paintings whilst travelling, I don't know.  Anyway, here we are now, just arrived back in Koroni and ready to settle into our quiet life here for another few months.



Before I publish my next painting though, I'll just write a short(ish) post about the last 3 months..... here goes

As we tend to do, we flew via France to sort out visas etc.  Its always a bit of a shock to arrive there in winter and be reminded of the cold, but the Languedoc always looks beautiful, no matter what season.

Sydney was wonderful, and its usual bustling self, and I do love arriving there and feeling in charge again! I guess I can only put it down to the language barriers of living in places where I barely speak the language. Its mostly just being able to chat to people when we're out and about that I miss most! It was looking particularly green this visit, despite some scorching days they'd had earlier in summer. The good ole Sydney rain was never too far away, but I must say for the whole month of March, it did itself justice, particularly for the important Wedding Day!

But before the wedding, and after kicking into organisation mode and a lot of rushing about (which its a relief to know I can still do!), we headed up to Northern Queensland to join my son James at his Graduation. It was a wonderful chance to see that part of Australia for the first time too.  It was all very beautiful and tropical, and yes, I am most definitely going to point some palm trees soon.

Townsville Strand Beach - stinger season so sadly not a soul in the water!

View from the hotel

The wedding went off beautifully. We had a lovely sunny day, though it was rather hot, and a little windy down next to the harbour, but we couldn't have wished for anything more and being able to celebrate with lots of family and friends on the edge of one of the world's most beautiful harbours. A day to remember for sure.

Pete and I had a week to get used to being married, before we headed off into different directions (typical of our doing things a little back to front!) Peter to Los Angeles, and me to New Zealand. where I had some total relaxation at 'the farm' with the sheep and pukekos (and sister and brother in-law too of course). I also managed two nights in Auckland with great friends and a nice catch up with others there.  Then after 10 days or so the bride and groom met up again in Montpellier, France for 5 days of more R&R (and another reminder of chilly weather) before flying into Athens......

Today, is the first day I've managed to get into some painting;  those palm trees are on their way!

A Painting A Week No 122 - Shutters, Pont de Vecchio

For Sale - 26th February 2013
Shutters, Pont de Vecchio
Size: 21 x 15cm
(Postage and handling included)

I finished this painting just before we left Koroni, and the photo was taken on a visit to Florence during our last spring trip to Italy.  I always seem to spend ages in the attempt to get good photos of the Pont de Vecchio - there's something about the angles that I just can't seem to capture, though I do have some photos with good reflections!  Until I do manage to crack it, here's my interpretation of its wonderful wonky shutters.

I do often wonder whether all those hoards of people peering into the jewelers' shops on the bridge ever spend time actually looking at the character of this lovely bridge. 

These photos show 2 different sections of the bridge. It was evidently built in medieval times, and is unique in that it still has shops enclosed inside.






And whilst I'm on the subject of the Pont de Vecchio, my father was in Florence with the NZ Military at the end of World War II, and took this photo. Its amazing that the bridge itself wasn't destroyed. This was supposedly due to an express order by Hitler!

As you can see from this photo, the approach to Pont de Vecchio was destroyed.

A little bit of history with this week's painting!


If you would like to buy this painting, please click on this link to my  Art Weekly Online Shop, or if you'd rather deal with me direct, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com.

A Painting A Week No 121 - Languedoc Harvest

For Sale - 11th February 2013
Languedoc Harvest
Size: 21 x 15cm
(Postage and handling included)

Another appropriate painting this week as we're here in the Languedoc again. There're no golden leaves left on the grapes now, but the countryside is still looking beautiful with its rows of bare vines, the golden sandy soil, and the huge skies.  We're staying with friends in the lovely village of Magalas, and seem to be spending an awful lot of time driving along what I always think of as 'Napoleon's French roads'! - long and straight and lined on either side with rows of bare plain trees, their silver trunks sparkling in the winter light.

If you would like to buy this painting, please click on this link to my  Art Weekly Online Shop, or if you'd rather deal with me direct, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com.

A Painting A Week No 120 - Koroni Rooftops, a Trip Down Under... and A Wedding!

For Sale - 4th February 2013
Koroni Rooftops, Greece
SOLD
(Postage and handling included)

This painting has been done in a rather sketchy palette knife technique - a simplified version of one I did as a demonstration at some recent Acrylic Classes that I taught, in conjunction with my art buddy, Gill.  Here is a link to her website showing the most recent session, and you can also look back over the previous 3 weeks of Wednesday and Friday classes if you wish. http://artistswindow.com/new/2013/02/final-friday-acrylics-2/

It was an honour to be able to guide these lovely people through the technique that I generally use, and I was impressed with the work they did over the 4 week course. Considering most of them hadn't used acrylics before, and certainly not in this way, they turned out some beautiful paintings. We look forward to being able to continue in the spring.

This view from one of the pathways through the houses down to Koroni port, is one of many that I love, and I thought it appropriate to have it as this week's painting as we leave tomorrow for the slow and rather involved trip back to Australia. Car willing, we drive to Patras, and take the overnight ferry to Bari in Italy (assuming they're running - they're a little few and far between during the winter months, and I believe they were all on strike this weekend!) We'll spend a few days driving through Italy, and hope to arrive in the Languedoc during the weekend. We'll have a few days around Pezenas to take care of a bit more French bureaucracy and then on Valentine's Day, we both fly out of Paris, but in totally different directions; I go straight to Sydney, and Pete to Los Angeles for a couple of weeks with his Mum.

It will be busy visit to Sydney this time. No exhibition to worry about, but a wedding instead!  Yes, we're tying the knot on 23rd March!  I'm sure there'll be masses of rushing about getting organised, and of course, lots and lots of shopping and socialising.  We're also going up to Northern Queensland for a week, to attend James' graduation  from James Cook University, and we're looking forward to exploring the areas around Cairns and Townsville during that time. In our usual topsy turvey way, we're also turning it into an early honeymoon (which is just as well, because when we leave Australia, I fly off alone to spend 10 days in New Zealand!) I'm looking forward to trying my hand at painting some Australian beaches lined with swaying palms (and obviously the wedding too!)

Of course, I'm still hoping to post blogs and my weekly paintings as we travel about. I'm sure its just a matter of notching myself up a gear or three once we leave quiet peaceful Koroni..... we shall see!

I'm just adding a little note here - the ferries are still on strike and are not committing as to whether they'll be running Wednesday, so we've launched ourselves into Plan B, which is to fly from Athens to Montpellier, via Paris, (where we'll be leaving from a few days later) - it entails all sorts of complications, but hey, we'll get there eventually!

If you would like to buy this painting, please click on this link to my  Art Weekly Online Shop, or if you'd rather deal with me direct, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com.

A Painting A Week 119 - Kalamata Olives, Koroni

For Sale - 22nd January 2013
Kalamata Olives
Size: 15 x 21cm
(Postage and handling included)

We're coming to the end of the olive picking season here in the Peloponnese  The area, since November, has been a whirr of chainsaws, chattering locals, and lovely olive wood smoke - it gives a whole new fresh aroma to your towels! The roads are cluttered with tractors hauling their  loads to the local olive press with exhausted workers perched on top of their big hessian sacks of olives. We 'helped' some friends of ours for 2-3 days at the beginning of the season, and got a taste of the whole process.  From the cutting off of the large heavily laden branches with the chainsaw, to the shredding of the olives off the branches. Each tree has a huge green net laid underneath to catch the olives as they're whacked off the trees (whacking is quite permissible and there are even special long forks for this very reason), or shredded off the branches. There is a very clever portable machine for the shredding process too.

The visit to the olive press was a great experience - all those millions of teensy olives travelling up and down conveyor belts and through various bits of shining machinery and, at the other end, out pours beautiful thick  rich green olive oil.... immediately ready for cooking or the table.

 I was impressed when I discovered these two huge piles of debris at the back of the Olive Press. One is leaves and twigs, and the other is the skins, pips etc. I'm very pleased to say that the latter is made into pellets, something similar to 'heat beads' for burning in your fireplace over the winter - a rather 'green' initiative - well done Greece!

Kalamata is our nearest city - a 40 minute drive along a windy narrow road dotted with villages, tractors,  rubbish bins, and sometimes even donkeys, not to forget Greek drivers. Kalamata olives are reknown world-wide for their rich and fruity flavour. These table olives are almond shaped, large, purple to black olives and are usually preserved in either wine vinegar, or olive oil. The chainsaw method is not used for these, as they have to be picked carefully to avoid bruising. These are the olives in my painting, hand picked by me!

Kalamata Olives, slitted and ready to go into a brine

Koroni Extra Virgin Olive Oil is pressed from the smaller Koroneiki olive. These come exclusively from the Koroni area where we live, which boasts the highest quality olives for making olive oil. These olives are much smaller than the Kalamata olives and when harvested are a mixture of purple, reddish, green and yellow. The trees at the end of the harvest tend to take on a rather haphazard lopsided look, but soon recover to their former glory with the new spring growth.  There's nothing like looking down on the swaying trees in the afternoon breeze - all those silvery branches.

Koroneiki Olives

Our view towards the east over the olive trees, with the Monastery and the Church of Panagia Eleistria

If you would like to buy this painting, please click on this link to my  Art Weekly Online Shop, or if you'd rather deal with me direct, please email me at either jackiesinfrance@hotmail.com or jackie@jackiesherwood.com.