Gulf Island Artist Colonies

(click on image to enlarge)

Rainforest Rooster

Watercolour and crayon

©2013 Charlene Brown

A couple of weeks ago, the fundraising group I belong to at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria organized an art tour of Denman and Hornby Islands, just off the coast of Vancouver Island. Denman and Hornby are two of the Gulf Islands where enclaves of artists and artisans have lived and worked for many years – some since the back-to-the-land days of the Sixties. Our excursion included eight fascinating studios and galleries, some of which were located on tiny perfect farms buried deep in the forest, including that of world-renowned potter Gordon Hutchens  This work of art is Gordon’s henhouse. 

Seth Godin wrote an article recently, You should buy the book  Reading this – I read just about everything Seth Godin writes – reminded me that I should be flogging the book I have just written, Plein air painting: the drama… You should buy it.  Well, at least have a free look inside it on Amazon

Virtual Paintout in Lido di Jeloso

(click on image to enlarge)

Via Roma Destra Bridge

Watercolour and crayon

©2013 Charlene Brown

The Virtual Paintout is in Lido di Jeloso, near Venice, this month – a much smaller area than is usually included. I thought there might be a certain uniformity to the pictures painted, but  found there’s a wonderful variety of subjects… Have a look  

I think this bridge at the corner of Via Roma Destra and Via Cristoforo Columbo is one of the prettiest Streetviews in town. Here is a link to it.

As I was drawing the bridge, I thought the fence was déjà vu all over again, but when I looked up the previous fence that I'd thought was so similar, I noticed the interior designs were circles and the over-all effect was only slightly similar.

Kim Jong Un is causing us to miss this place too!

(click on image to enlarge)

Seogguram Grotto

Watercolour and crayon

©2013 Charlene Brown

The Seogguram Grotto, Republic of Korea National Treasure No. 24, was designated a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1995. It was completed in 774 CE in conjunction with the Bulguksa Temple, during the famous Silla Dynasty – Ironically, considering the situation today, this was the dynasty that united the entire Korean peninsula a thousand years ago.

The grassy hill behind the entrance to the grotto shown near the top of the ravine in this picture covers the Rotunda, which contains some of the most highly regarded Buddhist sculpture in the world, including a Seokgamoni Buddha, the historic Buddha at the moment of enlightenment, that is almost five meters high.

Another place I was hoping to see this year

(Click on image to enlarge)

Haedong Yonggungsa Temple

Watercolour and crayon

©2013 Charlene Brown

After posting an etching of Palmyra, a Syrian archaeological site I have missed several chances to visit, I’m back trying to fill in for the missed opportunity to see South Korea later this year.

This temple is one of the fascinating places I’d heard about for the first time when I was researching South Korea’s ‘painting possibilities’ in Google Images. Unlike most Buddhist temples in Korea, typically built high in the mountains, Haedong Yonggungsa is spectacularly situated overlooking the East China Sea.  It was built in 1376, and is one of the major Buddhist temples in Busan.