For Inktober prompt Slitcher I did an ink drawing of ice skaters. This joy that you experience from sliding … fast and not very … Lightness, smiles!Beautiful lighting, music and a huge amount of endorphins – hormones of happiness – are released into your body and you are full of optimism and joy:)
How long have you been skating? Last winter? Or many years ago, as a child? Cutting through the air, rushing on skates is fun that charges us with positive and makes us feel so fast and light:)
I am looking forward for skating here, in Toronto this winter!:)
And I am ready for tomorrow’s Inktober prompt – Risk.
All paintings belong to the author. No image is to be copied without permission.
You can visit my personal website pages here and find out more about the artwork I am offering in oil and watercolor paintings; purchase canvas prints, framed prints, and more artwork.
My favourite art store in Toronto Deserres, Spadina Ave
Watercolor journey with the course Roman Architecture by the Yale University
I continue the stay-at-home travel Art + Roman Architecture + the city of Rome with Yale’s course Roman Architecture https://www.coursera.org/learn/roman-architecture. Roman Architecture. Introduction The urban Grid and Public Architecture.1-2
Pantheon is one of the greatest masterpieces of Roman Architecture with a very innovative structure. The building represents the power and glory of Rome itself and the Roman Architecture for the world. This is the greatest building ever conceived by man, a genius of the human mind and ability.
My painting for this session is about the Pantheon, with its extraordinary interior space that is shaped by light. Apparently it was the revolutionary transformation of the use of Roman cement and stone. The Pantheon is representative of Rome as a whole in its grandeur, scale and elegance, would you agree?
The eye of the Pantheon through the centuries has become a model for many buildings. Ancient architects were pouring the roman cement into a wooden model. Essentially they broke the inflexibility of belief from the Greek and Etruscan architects that any architectural buildings should be only straightforward and rectilinear, including roofs
All roads lead to Rome- Alain de Lille
Bon voyage! Until the next travel:) Stay healthy.
All paintings belong to the author. No image is to be copied without permission.
You can visit my personal website pages here and find out more about the artwork I am offering in oil and watercolor paintings; purchase canvas prints, framed prints, and more artwork.
My favorite art store in Toronto is Deserres at Spadina Ave.
Painting –Rome, Pantheon, Roman Architecture. Year of construction-126 AD. Address:Piazza della Rotonda, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
Tools used for my painting Watercolour PWC jaune paint+ (combination PWC indigo paint +Van Gogh ultramarine paint), Derwent, Albert Durer and Faber Castell watercolour pencils. Paper Acquarello watercolour album. Fabriano grana grossa rouch Watercolour album, 22×30 cm (9 ×12 in.)
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Watercolor journey with the course Roman Architecture by the Yale University
Let’s start my stay-in-home travel Art + Roman Architecture + the city of Rome with Yale’s course Roman Architecture https://www.coursera.org/learn/roman-architecture. Roman Architecture. Introduction. Roman Urbanism.1-1
The Servian Walls is ancient Roman defensive barrier built around the famous Seven Hills of the republican city after the Sack of Rome in 4century B.C. In the early period of Roman architecture, the stone blocks were just piled one on top of the other for the wall. We can still see the very wide section of the Servian Walls near Rome’s train station Stazione Termini station. The city grew over time and in the late third century AD (under the emperor Aurelian), the impressive and famous set of the Aurelian Walls was built. A new technology is concrete revolutionized Roman architecture and concrete faced with brick. We can still see some parts of the two ancient walls in Rome.
My first painting is about the Servian Wall, the first ancient Roman wall, recognizing this major monument of the ancient Roman architecture.
I must admit that several times I passed a part of the fortress wall near the station in Rome and the Esquiline Gate of the Servian Wall, and I did not recognize this significant part of Roman architecture in history and just admired the architectural monuments. On my next trip I will definitely return to the remains of the fortress wall and the gates of the Eternal City. “All roads lead to Rome” Alain de Lille
All paintings belong to the author. No image is to be copied without permission.
You can visit my personal website pages here and find out more about the artwork I am offering in oil and watercolor paintings; purchase canvas prints, framed prints, and more artwork.
My favorite art store in Toronto is Deserres at Spadina Ave
Painting –Rome, Servian Walls, Roman Architecture. Year of construction- 3 century B.C. Address: Piazzale dei Cinquecento, Rome
Tools used for my painting Watercolour Winsor Newton Gamboge paint, Alison, indigo brands, Derwent, Albert Durer and Faber Castell watercolour pencils. Paper Fluid 100, cold press Watercolour albums, 22×30 cm (9 ×12 in.)
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In my new journey watercolor stay-in-home travel with a new course Roman Architecture at online Open Yale course. There so many interesting facts I am learning from the Professor of History of Art and Classics Diana E.E. Kleiner Dunham. https://www.coursera.org/learn/roman-architecture
Painting journey of my 3 passions – Roman Architecture and Art with references and learning from Yale University Roman Architecture, Professor Kleiner about art, architecture
The course Roman Architecture is my favourite one because I love to travel and would like to discover the power of architecture to shape culture and society with my additional research from the lectures. The nine- week course explores the great cities and their buildings, engineering marvels of Rome and its empire in their ancient and contemporary contexts. Rome, cities of Pompeii, Sicily, France, Germany, Greece, Turkey, Croatia and the rest of Roman Empire. Experience the full brush of Rome’s beginning as an Iron Age village and how it became a world-class city and a gigantic empire surrounding the Mediterranean Sea.
The Romans had a vast impact on architecture worldwide. The Roman Architecture course will help me to design my own Roman City Art Project. I am going to learn some architecture skills and enhance my life.
Every temple has its story and legend, I love all lectures with interesting facts of the professor Diana E.E. Kleiner. One of the good things about learning is the professor’s enthusiasm and her own photos. In addition, I will use my husband’s photos and my own sketches from our vacation in Italy.
The course starts from 8 B.C. architecture and moves from one revolutionary experiment to the next one; and my paintings will follow the consecutive process of the development of Roman architecture that was born out of ancient Greek and Etruscan styles I hope that soon I will travel to Rome with all my new knowledge from the Roman Architecture course 🙂
I will pick a photo reference from a lecture for each painting. I am going to share my quick comparison for four picks of art watercolor albums and paints.
Acquarello watercolour album. Fabriano cold pressed
Acquarello watercolour album. Fabriano, grana grossa rouch
Fluid 100, cold press
Van Gogh, National gallery
Watercolour paints:
Van Gogh travel box
Van Gogh tubes
PWC
Cotman
Winsor Newton
Charvin
Box Munovo
Gelly roll Sakura white pen
Watercolour pencils Albert Durer
Watercolour pencils Faber Castell Durer
Watercolour pencils Derwent
my next post about Yale’s Roman Architecture course
All paintings belong to the author. No image is to be copied without permission.
You can visit my personal website pages here and find out more about the artwork I am offering in oil and watercolor paintings; purchase canvas prints, framed prints, and more artwork.
My favourite art store in Toronto Deserres, Spadina Ave
Tools used for my painting Watercolour used Charvin and Van Gogh brands, Pastel GrayPas Expressionist, Derwent watercolour pencils and Faber Castell artist pens. Paper Strathmore Watercolour and Mixed Media albums, 15×20 cm (6×8 in.)
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Daily sketches in downtown Toronto with some funny sculptures. In this post I am adding 3 interesting sculptures and architecture that are located at one park, very convenient for the artists, locals and tourists:)
Dog Fountain at Berczy park. 2020 new reality. I saw some disposable masks on the sculptures of dogs. It is still one of the favorite meet point for friends in the city:) I added coolers of sour cream, tobacco and cappuccino to add warmth of the last days of the Indian summer.
Toronto downtown beautiful Flatiron building by architector Derek Besant. It has a narrow angle from one side, but I like its facade on Berczy park, overlooking the square, like the wrapped edges of autumn leaves. I using colors salmon + rose + vanilla
And another weird and fanciful sculpture of hands out of the ground. Maybe they are life-giving hands of the Earth?:) In my painting I used matte and very deep black with indigo, grass is an autumn shade of flax. The background is the peach-colored building Flatiron building at Berczy park.
All paintings belong to the author. No image is to be copied without permission
You can visit my personal website pages here and find out more about the artwork I am offering in oil and watercolor paintings; purchase canvas prints, framed prints, and more artwork.
My favourite art store in Toronto is Deserres @Spadina avenue.
Tools used for my painting Watercolour used Charvin and Van Gogh brands, Derwent watercolour pencils and Faber Castell artist pens. Paper Strathmore Watercolour and Mixed Media albums, 15×20 cm (6×8 in.)
My “travelling and art” journey in my city of Toronto, and the next chapter is some… weird sculptures:) The idea is to enjoy a city and study its history and architecture while walking around the city and making sketches.
“Between the eyes” Toronto street sculpture, Ontario. We know how the smile of the Cheshire Cat looks like from the book Alice’s Adventures popularized by Lewis Carroll. My guess that the sculpture shows how the Cheshire Cat’s eyes look like:) I added some silver powder to my painting with sea-colored and raspberry paints for the buildings on Yonge street.
Another weird and funny statue is “Rising” in downtown of Toronto, at University avenue. I would say that it is a combination of an animal …maybe an elk or.. a deer or… an elephant in combination with the branches of forest’ trees. The “Rising” like the Atlant carries on himself the whole colossus of a high rise building. I added spicy brown color to the wall that gives some warmth to the cold silver’s colour of the statue.
The next interesting composition called “Fair grounds”, consists of four pairs of stainless chairs in the middle of a street Wellington W. at John st. One pair of the chairs is “looking” in the same direction, representing a “familiar/family” relationship. The 2nd pair is “arguing” as they are set back to back, just like when two people don’t want to look at or talk to each other. The 3rd pair is “friends”: they are set facing each other, just like friends who sit down to have a chat. And the last pair is set near each other but they are looking in different directions – just like “strangers” would.
Some of these chairs are elegant, some are simple, and each has a unique style, just like people… Next time you walk by these, have a seat at this unique composition. It’d be interesting to see which pair of chairs you would chose: “Family”, “Arguing”, “Friends” or “Strangers”?:)
And adding the bright sketch of Red canoe. Why I am adding this drawing to the post with the weird statues? Because this red boat is standing on top of my neighborhood’s hill!:) Nice warm weather is helping for outdoor art. Enjoying the sun and fresh air and local sketching exersises!:)
Bon voyage! Until the next travel:) Stay healthy.
All paintings belong to the author. No image is to be copied without permission.
You can visit my personal website pages here and find out more about the artwork I am offering in oil and watercolor paintings; purchase canvas prints, framed prints, and more artwork.
Tools used for my painting Watercolour used Charvin and Van Gogh brands, Derwent watercolour pencils and Faber Castell artist pens. Paper Strathmore Watercolour and Mixed Media albums, 15×20 cm (6×8 in.)
In the centre of Paris there is Luxembourg garden that contains over a hundred statues, monuments, and fountains, it is one of the largest green spaces in the center of Paris. In addition, you might read about Luxembourg gardens in the memoir “A Moveable Feast” by Ernest Hemingway.
It was originally owned by the duke of Luxembourg, then purchased by Marie Medici, the wife of King Henry IV. The Queen requested that the garden should be in Italian style. The Jardin du Luxembourg features several noteworthy fountains. Fontaine Medici is the most famous romantic Baroque fountain.
Fontaine Médicis. It is located at the end of a small pond at the north east side of the park. A central sculpture group shows the Greek mythological figure of Polyphemus who observes the lovers Acis and Galatea. It is flanked by allegorical figures depicting the rivers Seine and Rhône.
The central niche is occupied by a marble group depicting Acis and Galathea lying under a rock at the top of which appears the colossal bronze figure of Polyphemus preparing to throw at his rival the stone that is to give him death. Galatea, in Greek mythology, a nereid who was loved by the Cyclops. Galatea, however, loved the youth Acis. When Cyclops discovered Acis and Galatea together, he crushed Acis to death with a boulder.
Above is a composition of three sketches. Left side is two men in office suites are spending their lunchtime, behind them the statue of Sainte Geneviève, she is the patron saint of Paris in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox. Right side is a man jogging in the park, behind statues from Greek mythology. In the middle a tourist is enjoying statue of Marie Stuart, the French Queen. Surrounding the central green space are twenty figures of French queens and famous women standing on pedestals.
Relaxing in the park during lunchtime, people are reading books, handing together, listening to the music, lots of students. This is also one of the parks where you can simply get hold of one of the many chairs and take it to the exact spot where you want to sit next to elegant statues around the park.
The park is popular with chess players and petanque players. I did some sketches on location.
In the middle of the park is a large octagonal pond Grand Bassin. Jardin du Luxembourg boasts many attractions such as pony rides, a large playground. Around the pond are nice lawns, paths, and some of Paris’s most beautiful flower beds. There’s also a tennis court, a music pavilion and an orangery in the park.
Next, just 15 min walking from Luxembourg garden might visit very famous restaurant La Coupole. It was one of my teen’s dreams to visit this famous place. Certain scenes were carried out at the legendary restaurant La Coupole with Sophie Marceau and Denise Grey, actress who played her grand-grand-mother. The Art Deco style, the massive counter and the chic brasserie spirit of the places is still in place.
La Coupole brasserie, it is one of the famous one and exist from 1927. On wall, you might see photos of their famous visitors Édith Piaf, Leger, Zadkine and others celebrities
I recommend trying some house specialities. And yes, I asked staff where is the table in the movie “La Boum” actresses were sitting; it was just next to our table 🙂
The painting was done during one of cozy pleasant summer evening in Paris’ bridge Alexander III with its chic street lumps. The gold, relaxing colours of evening’s sunset sky invited me to add some imaginary air balloons for my art.
Well, why I invite you to one of my favourite places in Paris? There are 5 reasons to visit the Luxembourg gardens: enjoying over a hundred sculptures in a free open air museum, read a book on a chair in any space you might choose to put it, jogging in the centre of Paris, enjoy French cuisine in any nearby cafe or have a snack with your colleagues or friends during your lunchtime and do urban sketching of local architecture and other many things…
Bon voyage! Until the next travel:)
All paintings belong to the author. No image is to be copied without permission.
You might visit my personal website pages and find out more about the artwork I am offering in oil and watercolor paintings; purchase canvas prints, framed prints, and more artwork.
Tools used for my painting Watercolour used Charvin and Van Gogh brands, Pastel GrayPas Expressionist, Derwent watercolour pencils and Faber Castell artist pens. Paper Strathmore Watercolour and Mixed Media albums, 15×20 cm (6×8 in.)
Luxemburg Gardens. Address Rue de Medicis | Rue de Vaugirard Paris
La Coupole brasserie. address 102, boulevard fr Montparnasse, Paris
My family loves Paris, it was our tenth vacation in Paris for last decade, and my suggested itinerary is for advanced travelers and art lovers. In my post I will share information about 5 museums: Maillol, Orangerie, Modern Art and Palais de Tokyo and D’Orsay museums. All five museums are in the centre of Paris, from one to another will take approximately half of hour of walking or using public transportation.
Later, I will go back to previous trips with other museums in Paris, there are plenty of options with everybody’s interests.
The first museum in the itinerary is the Maillol museum, with permanent and temporary expositions.
Small house-museum of sculptor Maillol; he met the famous sculptor Rodin when he was already 40 years old. Rodin recognized the talent of the man and provided some support to Maillol. Address of the museum is 61, rue de Grenelle, it is just a couple of blocks from d’Orsay museum.
Three beauties that actually represent the same woman, the model was the artist’s muse Dina Vierny. She was depicted in different poses, running, standing, sitting and relaxing. Especially interesting is a small hall on the second floor. You should stand in the middle of the room and you get into a round dance of feminine sculptures made from black granite.
Museum’s one of relaxing sitting statue… Grace itself lives here!
In the museums you might see people copying paintings. It is artists who learn to work in the manner of great masters. This is my view of this piece of art.
A small cafe of Museum Maillol with some green cozy armchairs; I did the sketch while we had lunch. This time we started our visit to museum from attending the museum’s cafe. There are couple funny sayings such as “Theatre starting from a hanger” and “hungry belly is deaf for learning”:) I do recommend this cafe’s local food meals, salads and quiches, quietly enjoying not just the process of eating but also looking at the celebrities’ photos on its walls. The site of cafe will be provided at the end of this post.
Visitors in museum, mostly Parisians, not tourists, at least I think so…This hot July’s evening, on Friday, after long work week, these people went to the small museum, standing in quite long line to enjoy ART!
Some tips for artist. Try to do quick sketches on location, people and exponents are showing how close interests are matching and represent the museum itself, plenty of ideas… museum sketching is like taking a photo, only instead of a phone or camera might be a notebook and pencils or markers, and your own interpretation.
The museum’s temporary collection of Emil Buhre in 2019 represented non-typical paintings by famous artists such as Cezanne and Van Gogh. Some temporary exhibitions might surprise even sophisticated art lovers.
Next is Musée de l’Orangerie. The museum is famous with two Claude Monet Water Lilies galleries.
On the ground floor there is a permanent collection of Impressionist artists. One of my favourite artists is Marie Laurencin who painted Coco Chanel in a relaxed pose in blue and black with one shoulder bare, the flowing lines, delicately changing colours and Chanel’s dreamy expression are distinctive of Laurencin’s style. The legend says that Coco Chanel, already rich and famous, turned the painting down, saying it did not look like her. The museum bought the painting. I bought a silk scarf with this panting, but the version without the famous figure on it:)
I made a few sketches of visitors. One interesting couple of an elegant lady explained about the piece of art to her granddaughter about famous painting, and a tourist from Japan who is standing very close to painting and trying to understand how Monet was using the indefinite strokes of a brush, on the painting it makes such an organic picture from some distance.
Next museums are Museum Modern Art and Museum Palais de Tokyo.
Well, it is a special museum for people who like modern art. One of this museum’s painting I really liked was a picture of some human hands. They were painted from darkness and reflecting its true mood, temper and feeling. At this moment of this person’s character. I love Stefan Zweig novella “24 Hours of a Woman’s Life” that tells about one memorable day in the woman’s life. On this day she was watching only hands of the players in the casino. People might make a blank face, “mask” behind, however their hands will show people real emotions … if you are watching the hands, you might find some discoveries.
The Museum of Art’s only temporary exhibitions and their visitors are extravagant, similar to the paintings in this museum.
Museum Modern Art and Museum Palais de Tokyo are next to each other. They both have a stunning view to the Eiffel towel. Also, I might recommend having some rest in the museum’s very comfortable chairs, it’s one of the benefits of the museum after long day:)
And the last museum in this post is my favourite museum, D’Orsay. Every vacation we are visiting this museum. This year it was the exhibition of Berthe Morrisot.
Building of Museum D’Orsay is ex-train station, it looks like a boat from another side of the Seine river.
Temporary exhibition in summer 2019 had paintings of Berthe Morisot, one of seven main first impressionists. It was a vast selection of paintings; some were from art museums, some were from private collections. Berthe Morisot was born in rich family and produced art works the way she felt and enjoyed the process itself. One of Mme Morisot’s discoveries was painting of ladies’ private from high society, showing for example a morning of a lady with very delicate colours of paint. Some art works show ladies and children with a view from balconies; a space is neither at home nor outside.
Famous clock in the museum’s building, elegant and beautiful, it gives grace and style and matching with impressionism art in D’Orsay museum.
The sketch was done in D’Orsay museum’s restaurant. This museum has three options if you are hungry. The restaurant on the 2nd floor is the most elegant one. When you are sitting in museum’s restaurant and around you classic paintings and statues…you are enjoying life NOW:)
After long days, it is so nice to return to the original Parisian hotel de Varenne. Sometimes you might open for yourself an interesting art in relaxing atmosphere of a local garden, just in between two buildings in the centre of Paris.
Hotel garden’s sculptures of some little Cupidons:)
Sometimes we cannot explain what exactly is happening to us, but the soul seems to sing, and in the stomach “butterflies fly”. This feeling is usually called falling in love, or they say: Cupid’s arrows hit me, maybe this magic place might help you:)
Sketch of hunting dogs’ emblem on walls and cozy street lamps are in the hotel’s garden.
Lion statue in Paris. It seems like the Lion is floating above the city of Paris, sees everything and enjoys city’s sunrises and sunsets along with its residents and visitors.
And at the end of the post about my favourite city, Paris, I would like to confirm that life is what you make it!
Bon voyage! Until the next travel:)
All paintings belong to the author. No image is to be copied without permission.
You might visit my personal website pages and find out more about the artwork I am offering in oil and watercolor paintings; purchase canvas prints, framed prints, and more artwork.
My favourite art store in Paris Un Jour Un Artisan. address 31, La Motte Picquet Grenelle, Paris http://www.unjourunartisan.fr/
Tools used for my painting Watercolour used Charvin and Van Gogh brands, Pastel GrayPas Expressionist, Derwent watercolour pencils and Faber Castell artist pens. Paper Strathmore Watercolour and Mixed Media albums, 15×20 cm (6×8 in.)
In this post I would like to talk about some one-day trips from Antibes or Nice. For me, sitting in one place and swimming in the sea, enjoying sunny beaches and cuisine is fine for a couple days, then I need more. Provencal cities are so close to each other by distance and are so rich in history, art and architecture, it would be a “crime” not visit some of the local small towns in the neighborhood.
Provencal ceramic tableware with sun-drenched harmony of Provence in single handmade plates with vibrant colours found in the South of France and Italy
Our Provencal Itinerary. This trip was started in Nice – Grasse – Mougins – Moulins d’Opio – Waterfalle sur Loup -Tourrettes du Loup- Gourdon.
We always travel by train or bus… but this time we decided to save our time and travelled with a tour operator.
Old Train station in Nice was recently renovated – it seems to beinviting to join one of the most beautiful cities that is conveniently located near the sea.
Our tour started from Nice. You might be picked up from your hotel by the tour operator. In our case we lived in Antibes. As an option, a driver could pick you up from your city, with an additional cost. We decided to take a train from Antibes to Nice, just 10 -15 min, cost 4 Euros and another reason to visit Nice.
Blue train brings people to Mediterranean Sea every day
The 1st stop was in Grasse, the capital of perfumery. According to the legend of the 17th century, the city had numerous leather shops and the skin was soaked with flower essences to remove an unpleasant odour, and thanks to Louis XIII and his beautiful wife Anna of Austria, a Spanish-born queen… she provided some Spanish and Arab secrets of perfumed skins. So perfumes came to us from the city of Grasse. You might want to visit Parfumerie Fragonard.
The whole city is covered in flowers; a local perfume factory acquaints visitors with its spirits. During our previous visit to Grasse several years ago, we walked several times through the local central square near the town hall to admire the views of the mountains from a huge cliff. It was blooming with floral aromas, the local fountain freshened the air with water. And only then I realized that the fountain was spraying perfumed water.
Sketch of our excursions perfume factory and olive store at Le Moulin D’Opio, Opio. Legendary Fragonard was the mayor of the city. The city has the Fragonard Museum is located at: 14 rue Jean Ossola, Hotel de Villeneuve, Grasse
Some interesting facts about Fragonard: he was the artist and pioneer of the Rococo style. There is a famous painting “The Swing” by Jean-Honoré Fragonard. Fragonard was a distant relative of my beloved impressionist artist Bertha Morisot. We visited museum D’Orsay in Paris this year, Morisot’s personal exhibition in the museum. Stay tuned for more information on it in my future posts.
The next town we visited was Mougins, is a city of art galleries and artist’ workshops. On a small plaza, I saw a mysterious lady in a beautiful hat near the city’s legendary museum.
The city has a famous Mougins’ Museum of Classical Art; it’s a private museum and costs14 Euros (2019) but it’s worth it. Address: 32 Rue Commandeur, Mougins. The Mougins museum has the world’s largest private collection of antic helmets. I never would have thought that there was such a variety of helmets.
In the museum, the lighting was dark so my sketches reflect the overall impressions of the gloom. I like to observe museums’ visitors; it shows the general impression of direction of exhibits in museum. We visited the museum on Monday when there were no visitors so the whole museum was ours. I was surprised to see such a rich collection outside the Louvre or British Museums.
One of my artistic goals is to paint the combination of houses, people, café, streets, landscapes, food, Provencal ice creams: everything is in one bottle of flavour that brings together the image of a city or place.
On the way to the city, our tour operator told us about an interesting annual festival ‘International Gastronomy Festival of Mougins’, or ‘Les Étoiles de Mougins’. The festival used to be an event that brought lots of tourists and media attention to the town of Mougins. However, effective this year it was decided to hold the festival in other cities in the world and send Mougins’ Michelin chefs to the festival to demonstrate the culinary art of the city’s chefs. So, understandably, the residents of the city are disappointed and would like to return the tourists to their city. To get here, you can take a train/bus from Antibes or Nice. At the end of this post, I will provide instructions on how to get to this town.
Our next visit was a small place at Moulin d’Opio mill, with its olive grove and a small store. When you visit this place, you will immediately remember Van Gogh’s painting. Its owners are the fifth generation of this family; they were telling us how olive oil is produced for many centuries and we tested different varieties of olives, French oil, tapenade on toast and drinks.
Stroll through the medieval streets and admire the stone façades and fragrant flowers of some of the prettiest settlements in France.
One of local legends says that the English Queen Victoria was driving through on a donkey with her staff, and after this uneasy journey, she ordered to build a road to this town so that everyone could see the beauties of this place. And it was completed, so now you can enjoy them too. The main square of the town is named after the Queen.
As you walk around town, you will notice violets everywhere: painted on the asphalt in the ice cream… Violet ice cream was a pleasant discovery for me, it’s worth coming to this mountainous town just for its sake!
The next stop was Mountain waterfalls that called Cascades du Saut du Loup. From French language saut du loup means the mouth of wolf.
I don’t know what kind of mouth of a wolf it is; I personally saw a huge muzzle of an orang-utan in the rocks.
The highest town of our trip was Gordon and its magnificent castle perched 750 meters above sea level on rocks.
A little comment regarding the tour. Part of our goal for this trip was to see Provencal lavender fields but our tour operator, driver and a cheerful guide in one, dashingly driving a car along the mountain spiral roads of Provence, said that there was a mistake and it would take another hour to get to the lavender fields from this town. There are 2 similar cities- Gourdon and Gordes, there are 2 different places and tour company made an error … well we have a reason to come back! It was our joke throughout this long day; we were looking for lavender bushes or small patches of planted lavender saying “Well here’s lavender! “and laughing.
The locals told us that in previous years the lavender fields really bloomed around the town, but one year it was a cold winter and lavender bushes could not survive. And after that, they were not planted again, what a pity!
Serpentine mountain road that leads to mountain towns Gourdon and Tourrettes-sur-Loup, the medieval town…and in the sky we saw a cloud “goose”.
And then on another direction, the second trip was a separate one-day independent trip from Antibes to Cannes and Le Cannet.
Provence is famous for its art museums in every small town or village. Le Cannet is a small suburb of Cannes. In North America this suburb would be part of a big city, for example GreaterToronto or GreaterVancouver.
The Central Train Station in Cannes is located in the heart of the city. To get there, take the bus # Bus Palm’Express n°1 and within 10 minutes, you will reach Le Cannet’s famous museum Bonnard. Address: 16 boulevard Sadi Carnot, 06110 Le Cannet
House-museum artist Bonnard. Bonnard lived in Le Cannetfor25 years and created his Provencal paintings, saturated with sunlight, light and air. We were waiting for an exhibition that just opened during our vacation in Antibes. The temporary exhibition of collection Nahmad (De L’Impressionisme À Bonnard et Picasso) represented the Impressionist artists and organically blended into the permanent collection of Bonnard museum.
The city Cannes we visited on our way back to Antibes.
We were planning to visit Cannes’ famous Red Carpet
in my picture the celebrities’ prints go to the sky like a road up
The topography of the area is a mountainous terrain and if you are not a fan of renting car in a foreign country, there are a few alternatives to driving.
The first option is the train. They are convenient, quick, comfortable, inexpensive, and all trains have an efficient schedules with small gaps in between 2 trains. For example, from Nice to Grasse the train’s cost was 10 Euros (2019). However, this option has a disadvantage that you rarely can get to see small towns by trains.
The second option is the bus. The advantage of buses is that their routes are reaching even the smallest mountain towns, and this is the cheapest option. The inconvenience is that sometimes you have to take a transfer between interregional buses and local city’s buses and most importantly, the bus trip will be longer than any train.
The third option is a combination of the first two OR a travel company. If your goal is visiting several small mountain towns within 1-2 days then local or international tour operators might be a good alternative for you. At the end of this post a link to Viator as an example of a tour.
Tools used for my painting Watercolour used Charvin and Van Gogh brands, Derwent watercolour pencils and Faber Castell artist pens. Paper Strathmore Watercolour and Mixed Media albums, 15×20 cm (6×8 in.)
Bon voyage! Until the next travel:)
All paintings belong to the author. No image is to be copied without permission.
You can visit my personal website pages here and find out more about the artwork I am offering in oil and watercolor paintings; purchase canvas prints, framed prints, and more artwork.
How to get from Antibes to Le Mougins. Take Train to Cannes, then bus to Mougins. Lines 25-27. Cannes – Ranguin <> Gare Routière des Messugues <> Collège Eganaude – Sophia Antipolis, par Mougins
How to get from Antibes to Le Cannet . Take train Antibes to Cannes, bus #1 and 4(?), 15 min =10 stops to Musee Bonnard, Bus Palm’Express n°1, arrêt « Mairie du Cannet
Every year, French Nation celebrates the most important day for the country French National Day or Bastille Day.
July 14 in 2019 was year of 230 anniversary of Bastille and 130 years of Eiffel Tower. It was one of my life’s highlights and here are some tips how to celebrate the Bastille Day in Paris.
The most attractive bridge in Paris, Alexander III, that connects Artillery Academy and Concord square. It is eliminating during a day and night with their gold statues, gorgeous street lamps, relaxing and busy locals and visitors from all countries.
July 14, some sketches were done on location with fireworks, parade and street lamps on the streets of Paris.
I suggest watching Paris’ morning military parade down the Avenue des Champs Élysées, there are representatives of different military units. Interesting view when aircraft planes are painting the sky in a 3-color rainbow- red, blue and white.
Then, relaxing walking around city, it is nice holiday atmosphere. I made few sketches on location.
How about wedding in Paris? I did the painting of a bride on one of the Parisian bridge when a designer, groom and photographer were around this young lady in her white dress in one of important day in the life:)
In the centre, next to Grand Palais people are playing football or sitting and enjoying lunch on the grass waiting for the fireworks. I noticed there were no one unpleasant incident during a day even the city is full of people:)
There is young couple on scooters exploring the city, mother and a girl are playing games next to Paris Military academy, very relaxing feeling on this day.
Sketch done in our favourite restaurant Bouillon Chartier
The restaurant Bouillon Chartier,with its magnificent stucco molding on the walls, the majestic atmosphere where the waiters write the bill directly on the tablecloth according their customs since the opening in 1896, and the most important – its food, ingenious, homemade, varied, not very expensive, and there is always something to surprise and welcome their clients. There is even a song about this restaurant. The restaurant is mentioned in Albert Willemetz’s 1939 song “Félicie aussi”, sung by Fernandel. In Les beaux quartiers, Louis Aragon mentioned Le bouillonChartier: the young medical student character Edmond Barbentane has lunch there regularly…
And of course the highlight of this day- firework in the evening! We chose a place to watch firework on the bridge. We were standing in Parisian Babylon, admiring the view of Eiffel Tower, firework itself and the reflection of the city and the next bridge, Alexander III. People were shouting joyful exclamations, they were from different parts of the world, enjoying of this show there were people from the UK, China, Portugal, Russia, Japan, and us, from Canada:)
Well, there are 5 reasons to be in Paris in National French Day. Morning parade, relaxing or play football with your friends in the centre of Paris or rent a scooter and enjoy Paris with some speed, view Eiffel Tower with some snack, baguette is must-be, night fireworks and of course, urban sketching of happy life and architecture of old and young city Paris.
Bon voyage! Until the next travel:)
All paintings belong to the author. No image is to be copied without permission.
You might visit my personal website pages and find out more about the artwork I am offering in oil and watercolor paintings; purchase canvas prints, framed prints, and more artwork.
Tools used for my painting. Watercolour used Charvin and Van Gogh brands, Pastel GrayPas Expressionist, Derwent watercolour pencils and Faber Castell artist pens. Paper Strathmore Watercolour and Mixed Media albums, 15×20 cm (6×8 in.)
There are many options to do one-day trips from Paris. This time we chose a day trip to Fontainebleau & Vaux le Vicomte chateaus. The Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte is accessible by public transport but it will take a couple hours with subway plus train plus a local bus unless you drive by car.
Map to Vaux-le-Vicomte and Fontainebleau châteaux
Map to two chateaus. Our one day trip’s itinerary is from Paris to Chateau de Veux le Vicomte and Fountenableau, back to Paris. We took a bus from Paris City Vision. Departure is from Paris’ centre, highly recommend this trip, just book it in advance:) In the middle of sketch is our couple, my husband and I, who loves travelling, art and architecture.
A view to stunning Vaux le Vicomte château that later inspired the famous Versailles. I imagined that beautiful ladies with little coloured umbrellas from 17th century are walking at the park.
The legend says that Nicolas Fouquet invited King Louis XIV and the whole court to the inauguration of the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte. The owners organized a grand and luxurious party and a dinner, gold-plated gondolas glided through the channels, and gold salad bowls decorated its tables. The monarch, blinded by the brilliance of the stolen gold, refused to stay away for the night and went to Fontainebleau. The unlucky aristocrat who dared to cast a shadow on the Sun King was arrested by the musketeers on charges of fraud of the state treasury. Sentenced to life imprisonment and deprived of connection with the outside world.
Ladies who guard the family and peace. What is the most fascinating in the history of the chateau are their legendary ladies of Vaux les Vicomte chateaux. Just some of amazing legends. The first, Marie-Madeleinede Castille, the spouse of Vaux les Vicomte, continued supporting her husband, when he received instead of three months of initial detention, later it was changed to life one. Mme Fouquet fought for her husband for many years, and recovered their family property 10 years later. Another intelligent lady was Guyonne de Durfort who during the revolution, didn’t let the castle be plundered and kept the whole situation in her hands, having given the castle to the “disposal” of the revolutionary committee and …voila …the whole furniture is still in place. One more heroic lady Permisine Cas de Dorier set up a military hospital in the chateau during World War.
The history says that the castle was built by three masters. Nicolas Fouquet, Louis XIV’s Superintendant, brought together an architect, Louis Le Vau, a painter, Charles Le Brun, and a landscape gardener, André Le Notre, to execute jointly the entire project. The result of this fraternal union was a work of supreme gorgeousness.
By the way, a cafe in the chateau will appeal to any lover of French cuisine
Crews and fun were present at only during the first ball. You might feel ghosts everywhere…
Why do not buy a magnet and little spoons with little squirrels on top. Yes, squirrel is emblem of the family and chateau.
On summer evenings, costume candles are held here by candlelight, we will definitely return…
Next castle was Fontainebleau chateau, Stendhal called it the “architectural encyclopaedia” and Napoleon called the “House of Ages”.
Four French monarchs were born in the Fontainebleau palace, and for many rulers it was the main residence. At present, the palace has become part of UNESCO World Heritage, and its chambers, galleries, parks and gardens are simply amazing.
I’ve learned about the Fontainebleau’s garden from BBC “The Impressionists” where young Monet, Renoir and Bazille were painting Fontainebleau forest.
In the middle of the magnificent French-style formal gardens there is the Egyptian Sphinx statue of Chateau de Fontainebleau, Paris, France. Why did it appear here, in the majestic royal and imperial château in the heart of the forest of Fontainebleau.
The chateau was the first to be conceived as a residential complex and not a bastion. Kings were born here; Napoleon signed the abdication in this room, on this chair the great commander was sitting. According to the legend Napoleon said to his subordinates “Did you want to relax? You will get your rest”.
In the chambers of Napoleon, you can immerse yourself in the time of the great emperor, who was famous for his desire to go down in history.
Gallery of Diana. The Fontainebleau’s library bathed in the sun, thanks to Italian masters, the French Renaissance was born. In the middle of the library there is a vast globe. The library contains the originals of books dating back to the 13th century.
Well next time we might visit another chateau, maybe Versailles?:)
Bon voyage! Until the next travel:)
All paintings belong to the author. No image is to be copied without permission.
Links
You might visit my personal website pages and find out more about the artwork I am offering in oil and watercolor paintings; purchase canvas prints, framed prints, and more artwork.
Tools used for my painting Watercolour used Charvin and Van Gogh brands, Pastel GrayPas Expressionist, Derwent watercolour pencils and Faber Castell artist pens. Paper Strathmore Watercolour and Mixed Media albums, 15×20 cm (6×8 in.)
PARISCityVISION agency. address: 2 Rue des Pyramides, 75001 Paris. Trip to Fontainebleau & Vaux le Vicomte
Chateau de Vaux-Le-Vicomte. address 77950 Maincy, France
Chateau de Fontainebleau. address Pl. du General-de-Gaulle, 77300, Fontainebleau, France.
I will tell about the beauty of Provence based on our experience and long relationship of 10 years that we hope will continue for many years… We felt in love the Mediterranean coast of France and their towns at once and always come back here again and again.
Toronto- Paris- Antibes itinerary, 2019. Our voyage’s feeling always started from an airport door.
People are free from problems, little life concerns, they are in between countries, continents, air is full of vibrant mixture of cultures, customs, nationalities. (my favourite scene with Kevin Kline and Meg Ryan in movie “French kiss” the take off scene Everything is behind you…)
Freedom of speaking with temporary neighbours is everywhere on a road, at any airport especially during international flights is driving my happiness as the travelling artist.
This flight was with Air France. Especially I enjoy their safety movie with five young beauties that reminds me French movie Eight Women with Catherine Deneve, Fanny Ardant, Emmanuelle Bėart….classic chic madams and mademoiselles and their flared dresses and coloured shoes, beautiful and stylish, back in time.
The safety video shows in funny way usually regular boring but must-be learning process. Why not be entertaining and have safety training explanation at once? 🙂
You might enjoy watching this video “Consignes de sécurité Air France – Bienvenue à bord” on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Fi4RS7aARSo
a view from airplane above Mediterranean Sea and colourful land near Nice airport
In Provence, south of France there are lots intercity buses, both speedy and local, between Nice airport and Cote d’Azur towns.
We took bus #250 that goes every 30 min from Nice airport to Antibes and then continues to Cannes, I highly recommend taking the express bus. It will save your time and energy especially on the first day of your vacation after flight.(information about the bus on the bottom of post)
I started to do my sketches right away 🙂 My watercolour painting is done with Provençal magic watercolour box Charvin. In the Nice’s store I hesitated to buy ALL of them. Finally, 12 clear sea and old Provençal roofs’ building colour paints were chosen, and the owner unexpectedly gave me one additional for luck:) Thank you, I will come back soon.
I will tell you about this wonderful place with some notes as traveller and my artist’s paintings and drawings of the Antibes, one of the Mediterranean French coast’s city with its legends, friendly people, museums, yummy food, sunny beaches, warm sea and the main important personally for me with artists’ paths.
Let’s start with one of the Antibes’ legends is about Napoleon’s family. Locals are saying that Napoleon’s mother and his sisters lived in Antibes. It is not confirmed in fact but the locals even added some explanation on a house’s sign, below is the photo from this place.
Antibes beaches with its mild colours, tender rose, blue and violet painting. I was painting this view of local houses and beach with hill surroundings. The long path leads to next town Juan les Pins, our favourite two long sandy beaches, Ponteil and Salis.
I was painting sea’s stones on Antibes’ beach. This type of sketches is relaxing time spending…
One day visited this small museum archaeological museum even without translation into English, I learned about the ancient history of this place. It was the former settlement of the Greeks, then the Romans, the Etruscans and then Galls. There are lots of underwater amphorae and wrecks off Antibes with once fine wine were raised from the bottom of the sea.
Another legend is the Etruscan learned to make wine residents of Provence’s French Galas. Interesting, isn’t it?:)
I drew one of their works of pottery’s art Etruscan vase.
10 years ago I felt for the Etruscan culture that had gone into oblivion and read some books about Etruscan culture by Jean-Paul Thuillier, Nemirovsky and Jean-Noel Robert. It opened my eyes to many things and historical events. After this we visited special Etruscan museum, villa Medici in Rome, also our local Toronto’s museum ROM has the Etruscan section has also some good exponents.
Etruscan faces on painting what remained of the exhibits expressed the display of the personality, individuality of a person’s traits. After the influence of Greek culture it started to be prettier but faceless personal features.
Another fascinated story of Antibes is about connection between the city of Antibes and Impressionism, the new art movement in 19th century. It started from Monet, my favourite artist and the creator of impressionism style. I have read book Monet and the Mediterranean book written by Joachim Pissarro several years ago that actually opened for me the city of Antibes.
Monet stayed in Antibes for 5 months in 1988 and painted lots of paintings from this place, “Antibes seen from La Salis”, “Morning at Antibes”, Gardener’s House at Antibes”,”Antibes seen from Plateau Notre-Dame, “The Gulf of Antibes”,”View of the Bay and Maritime Alps at Antibes” and others. Monet wrote to his wife Alice “What I will bring back from here will be pure, gentle sweetness.”
Winding paths, a view of the ancient city, the silver-violet color of the mountains that are visible in the distance, inviting for a romantic walk.
Old pines are handed close over the path, setting beyond the horizon highlights the sea and the city in distance.
There are some artists discovered this amazing city and landscape around it. Long path near Antibes is very popular among impressionists and post impressionists like Monet, Sisley, Cross, Signac. Their artworks made this town famous.
Everywhere on a long path you might see lots of reproductions of artists. They are standing exactly on the places where they created by different artists. This place inspired many artists and me, and might probably invite you to visit you for travelling and producing some art works.
Once came to France for our family summer vacation, my husband invented a new expression as “Gourmet Immigration”, such as a brilliant discover term. I hope we will implement it in the future.
Chocolate olives in chocolate, chic, isn’t it? Full impression that it is OLIVES. No, no, no, no, no, no! It is dark and milk chocolates in the form of black and green olives
Two ladies, maybe sisters or friends may offer any French chocolate treats. They seem like mistress of Antibes’ chocolate makers with mouth-watering chocolate or as legendary Mistress of the Copper Mountain that had everything who loves chocolate, only instead of minerals, their product made from chocolate.
Note. Mistress of the Copper Mountain is also known as the Malachite Maid, is a legendary creature from Slavic myths and a fairy tale character, the mountain spirit from the legends of the Ural miners and the Mistress of the Ural Mountains, she is depicted as a beautiful green-eyed young woman in a malachite gown.
I’m not really a fan of Picasso but his story of living in the Antibes is joyful. Picasso lived here after the Second World War when everybody’s feelings were happy because of the end of world war. Picasso drew local women Antibes, and one of his famous painting is Les Demoiselles d’Avignon (The Young Ladies of Avignon). Then suddenly he decided to learn something new, but again in his style. It was start of the new era of Picasso’s pottery.
My favourite Picasso’s expressions from this period are “I have spent my whole life knowing how to draw like a child” (J’ai mis toute ma vie à savoir dessiner comme un enfant) and “I do not seek, I find” (Je ne cherche pas, je trouve).
Picasso decided to learn how to make sculptures from scratch when the local pottery master visited Picasso’s exhibition. It turned out to be 7 years of relationship when the famous artist learned from very basic vases in his 70th at the local workshop that leaded to create the great and individual recognizable art works.
Picasso learned it for many years, and yes, it was free of charge training. However, from his side, the workshop might copy Picasso’s pottery art works originally made in this place for a certain number of times and sell this art works. They are saying that the agreement is still in force. Picasso began with simple vases, and then went on to do art in direction. Some sculptures you might see in the Antibes museum.
I’ve drawn and later finished with watercolours some of his vases. This is the advantage to being an artist, you might not allow doing photo but pencil sketch is fine for museum’s rules. Voilà!
Antibes’ locals love cats; there are some signs on the doors in the Old Town. I drew them on the location.
The market in the Antibes is particularly remarkable. Baguettes and croissants, handmade early in the morning, are sold at the market quickly. On the market you can buy real Antibes wine and Pâté de Foie Gras (goose liver) with coloured ripe vegetables and fruits Marche provencal . Address: 27 cours Massena, Antibes
Our favourite bakery was near our Royal Antibes hotel, great place that you might enjoy very close distance to Salis and private Royal beach with restaurant on it.
The bakery is just next to the beach, named La-brasserie-de-lillette. I would like to note that inside of the small store that sell croissants and other bakeries, customers are not allowed to be in their swimsuits even its a min away from the beach, please respect the “Queen” –French baguette.
Sunset in French Riviera, Antibes
You get up at 7 in the morning and you go to meet the dawn. Nowhere in the world there is no such beauty.
We visited more than 30 locations in Provence in last 10 years, and I am enjoying to paint on location, and Antibes is the city you might enjoy travel and paint with Joie de Vivre (a feeling of enjoyment of life)
Tools used for my painting Watercolour used Charvin and Van Gogh brands, Pastel GrayPas Expressionist, Derwent watercolour pencils and Faber Castell artist pens. Paper Strathmore Watercolour and Mixed Media albums, 15×20 cm (6×8 in.)
Below is information information for Nice express bus
For daily trips I recommend to buy the “Ticket Azur” that allow you to take two transport networks in succession, to complete a journey, including one change between one of the lines on the Departmental Council’s TAM network and a line on one of the following networks: Envibus (Antibes and surrounding area), Communauté de la Riviera Française (Menton and surrounding area), Sillages (Grasse and surrounding area), Bus Varmer (Carros and surrounding area), Ligne d’Azur (Nice and surrounding area), Bus Azur (Cannes and surrounding area)
Minsk is my motherland city and this is why it was a very special project. There were two challenges for this project. One was a typical traveler’s one. “Be a tourist in your own city”, very popular nowadays. The second part of the challenge is an artistic one; the size of my mini album is about 9×13 cm (4×5 inches), which got filled just within 7 days and 25 pages with sketches of my favorite places, districts and aspects of Minsk
A luminous horse with a carriage of Cinderella is on Freedom Square in Minsk
A little bit of history. The Belarusian capital turned 950 years old. It is customary to begin the history of the city from its first mention in a written source. Such is the “Tale of Bygone Years.” Minsk is mentioned there in connection with the battle on the Nemiga River, which occurred on March 3, 1067. For my project I decided to paint my favorite city’s statues. I would divide all the city sculptures into two main types: from the Soviet past (most often they are monumental and serious), and the decorative type (my favorite: light, and elegant and sometimes designed with humors, which do not protrude from the interior of the district, but become part of the green city).
Statue of the dancing ballerinas near the Theatre of Opera and Ballet, Minsk Two tired ballerinas sat down to rest on a bench at the service entrance of the theater. They float on stage with ease, and it seems easy. But this is hard work.
Ballerina got tired, but after the performance you can relax, throw off pointe shoes and stretch your legs, looks so real!
Park and elegant statue of Lady of the Opera House
All my paintings are made from my favorite city places; we walked with my dad and daughter around squares, so that they are present as characters, passerby and members of my family at the same time.
Park Opera House in Minsk, golden autumn
The Playing Children sculpture is near city library near Bogdanovicha street and Very Horuzhei, greenery district. The breath of new life within sculpture on the city streets appeared quite recently, about 30 years ago. Primary pedestals were replaced by genre sculptures.
Statue of a Stork, this bird is a symbol of Belarus. People’s Friendship Park
In the Belarusian folk tradition, a stork is a sacred bird, a connecting link between heaven and earth, the steward and custodian of crops, heavenly fire and other celestial elements. He protects from lightning and fire, but if offended, can harm a person, burn the house or throw a snake into the well. Therefore, killing a stork or ruining its nest is considered a bad omen. This bird occupies an important place in the rites and signs associated with the agricultural cycle.
Sculpture Lady with a Dog, near central Minsk’s Market Komarovka. It is believed that this Chekhov-inspired composition also fulfills wishes.
There are several sculptures in the open-air market: “Lady with a Dog”, “Photographer”, “Horse and Sparrow” and the famous “Merchant of seeds.” These sculptures aren’t spared: as a tradition, all those taking photos need to rub the muzzle of a dog for good luck. The photographer rubbed his left boot, hat and camera.
Chekhov’s lady poses against the backdrop of Komarovka, and the photographer gives her another bow: “Give me a smile, Madame! Say ‘cheese’!”
Minsk’s market Komarovka, one of the most beloved sculptures by local people and tourists, polished to a bronze shine. Grandmothers with seeds are the ideal embodiment and the engine of trade. This sculpture is the Komarovka’s “Baba Raya”, or “Trading in seeds.” The local merchants came up with an omen: if you sit next to the sculpture until sunrise, then luck in trading awaits you the whole day (presumably, specifically when it comes to selling local produce: one of the smallest forms of entrepreneurship in Slavic countries). According to the old-timer merchants of Komarovka, there is no particular legend about “Baba”, but many people come to “pray” to her, especially when the business is not going well.
Trinity suburb, a sculpture called “Belarusians abroad”
It is dedicated to the Belarusians, who are away from their homeland but their soul remains with their homeland. A bronze structure is made in the form of a wheel – the oldest Slavic symbol that personifies the sun, the earthly circle of life, eternity.
Troickoe predmest’e. Monument to Jazep Drozdovich, local historian,archaeologist and ethnographer, astronomer and artist
A man with an easel confidently walks on the Belarusian land. In the crown of a tree behind him, pointed spires of towers, domes of temples soar up, a proud horseman rushes off somewhere on a fast horse. The “Eternal Wanderer”, as his contemporaries called him, he painted his dreams about Moon, Mars and Saturn in order to understand and depict the inner cosmos.
The artist is depicted as a wanderer, because during all of his life he never owned a house of his own. Yazep spent his whole life traveling, during which he made sketches of Belarusian towns and cities. In addition, Drozdovich was the first artist to paint on the topic of space. In terms of his contribution to the development of space subjects, he is placed on a par with Gagarin and Tsiolkovsky. It is for this reason that two shooting stars are depicted on the monument, and, as you know, whoever sees the shooting star can make a wish.
“Remember, I’m calmed up with taboos, Zorka Venus has come.” The lines written by one of the best romantics poet Maxim Bogdanovich, who was born here in the Trinity suburb. Maybe that’s why the Trinity Suburb has such a distinctly romantic atmosphere.
The Trinity suburb, although it is now the very heart of the city, it still has historical name ‘suburb’). It has plenty of cafes with local food that our ancestors used to have on their dinner table. Home-made Soup and bliny’s. Cafe “Old City”, address Bogdanovicha 19
Famous Krambabulja with pork, an old Belarusian alcoholic beverage: tincture with honey, spices and herbs. Its history dates back to the 16th century, during the Time of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. For centuries, this festive drink with a profound taste has been an indispensable attribute for home dining and lavish feasts of wealthy nobility and noble tycoons. The high price of spices made Krambabulja a festive drink, a drink of nobility. And the nutritious properties of its composition (including herbs and spices) made it not only a favorite for its taste and aroma, but also irreplaceable when attempting to eliminate the consequences of the abundant feast, something much valued by our ancestors. Have yummy pork rolls and machanka, a legend of the Belarusian cuisine, with your Krambabulja.
Tea time, in a little cafe Union Coffee near the circus, address Janki Kupaly, 17
This statue is a Dancer on a horse near Circus. Minsk is one of the few cities that has a permanent building for its circus, the favorite place in my childhood.
Near Circus, Cloun statue
Sculpture Boy and Goose, Aleksandrovskiy Square, address Engelsa, 7
It is a part of famous sculptures’ serial. The sculpture was made in the 19th century. An interesting fact is this sculpture has more than 200 hundred copies in the world.
Fragment of sculpture Boy with a swan. A water supply system with clean artesian water was launched in Minsk in the 19th century. In memory of this event, the first fountain in the city was installed in Alexandrovsky Square. City rumor attributes the authorship of the romantic sculpture “The Boy Playing with a Swan” to the Italian sculptor Lorenzo Bernini. Of course, it is not true…
There is another old part of city called Upper City (Verhnij gorog) , Nemiga river
Upper City. Statue Voight
Opposite the town hall of Vojt (the head of the magistrate) with the key to the city and the royal letter, and at his feet there is a map of old Minsk of the 16th century. The local legend states that Voight’s key brings good luck. Although tourists often ask him not for luck, but for keys to a new condo, the myth says that if you hold on to this key, sooner or later you will receive the treasured key for your new home.
Sculpture Crew, Upper City
Near the town hall on Freedom Square there is a bronze “Crew” harnessed by a pair of horses, which in its size and appearance corresponds to the phaetons of the 19th century. It was in this place 200 years ago that the Minsk mayor could ride. The city’s legend is if you sit in it – you will find happiness in a full bowl.
They say that sometimes, when people take pictures in this carriage, there are people from other eras appearing in the background of the photo. There is even a legend: if the newlyweds ride in this carriage, then the happiness and longevity of their family life is guaranteed for many years. Well, it’s also useful for travelers to sit in the carriage before a long trip – this will bring good luck on the trip and a lot of positive emotions. And if you need even more luck, reach for the ears of horses that are pulled into a bronze stroller, and you can make a wish and it will come true.
Sculpture City scales, Upper City, Freedom Square the monument is dedicated to obtaining the Magdeburg Law of the city in Minsk in the 15th century. On one side of the pedestal is the seal of the Minsk City Hall with the coat of arms of the city. It has a “magic” bag of money. Those who believe in the urban legend that “rub the bag and get rich right away” have rubbed it to the “golden” radiance. (The reason for obtaining the Magdeburg Law was that, in the event of a war, the citizens would defend not only the state, but also their “city independence”, their freedom.)
Sculpture Architect, address Nezavisimosti, 11
The sculpture is a figure of an architect in a toga with a roll of drawings under his left hand: the most famous architect of Minsk of all time, who invested his soul and talent in creating the architectural appearance of the city. He stands above the city and with his hand is above city buildings. The sculpture embodies the architectural development of Minsk: from wooden structures to monumental buildings. This sculpture was made for the 940th anniversary of Minsk.
Minsk map, 1797 year and picture of the beautiful and kindest young lady. A little secret, its a combination of old map and the drawing of my mama from our family album. On this photo mama was young girl 18 years old, a representative of Minsk’s youth after WWII.
Well, the goals are completed. Thank you to my Van Gogh’s watercolor painting travel box and the best quality travel mini album I bought in Rome last Christmas, 25 pages of which are showing Minsk’s modern, coloured and light sculptures, local friendly people and national food, different parts of Belarusian capital in Upper City (Verhnij Gorod), Opera House, local market Komarovka, Circus, Trinity suburb (Troickoe Predmest’e), city library and People’s Friendship Park.
Bon voyage! Until the next travel:)
All images belong to the author. No image is to be copied without permission.
Art and travel club 