Rollerblades

Dear Art lover,

     With such a wide and wonderful paved sidewalk along the Adriatic Sea here in Umag, Croatia, I thought I should get some wheels for better (further) exploration.  What I discovered, however, is that some perks contrast with some less-than-ideal circumstances.  

     I mean that as much as I love walking the sea without much company during winter in a town full of summer tourists, I also cannot access touristy things.  After several attempts to find some rollerblades and being told that there were none in town during this time of year, I found some to try.  The good news is that they were available for half price!  Sadly, they were four sizes too large.  I hoped that perhaps wearing several pairs of socks would fill the gap, but both the saleswoman and I agreed that it would not be a safe solution.  The rollerblades were simply too large.  However, she took this snapshot of me in her store, so we had some laughs.  

     Sadly, she also told me that there are no bicycle rentals in off-season.  So, I walk alone . . .

I like it here.  The people are really nice, even though I have made a point to stay pretty much alone while I work out a lot of things.   

     I will be launching my fundraising bronze casting project on Kickstarter.com soon, so if you have had a hankering to get some bronzes at good prices, March will be the time.  I included some early bird special offers for quick-acting supporters.  With bronze prices and labor at an all-time high, I can assure you that these prices will not be offered for long.

     Also, I am still having technical difficulties.  I tried a new service to distribute my art newletter (a subscription list, free).  I sent this out about a week ago.  Sadly, I am having mixed reviews.  Too many people near the end of the list have told me that they have NOT received the newsletter in their e-mail boxes.  If you are one of those and I have not already heard from you, will you please let me know?  I need to give the company feedback so we can determine what the problem is.  Thank you!

     In any event, here is the newsletter online about Tantalyzing Tasmania:

http://www.borsheimarts.com/news/2015_02_ArtNews-TasmaniaLandscapePainting.htm

Please share this with anyone you think might bust a gut over it-ha!  Thank you.

Kelly

~ Kelly Borsheim, sculptor, painter, writer, teacher

http://BorsheimArts.com

Sea Shell Hunting

Dear Art lover,

     I find it interesting what one learns about another in simple shared experiences, such as collecting sea shells by the sea shore.  I have at least two friends that I have had the pleasure of doing that with over recent years.  Funny, they both prefer the perfect shells.  While I find the perfect ones beautiful and amazing in design and execution, I tend to adore the ones in which the broken exteriors reveal some of the beautiful forms inside.  The good news, of course, is that we will never “fight” over the choices the other one desires.  That is always a relief… as when in high school:  you were glad when your best mate had different tastes for dating.  If not, things could get ugly. Ha.

     So, along this rocky beach I found north of Umag, I was enchanted to find these tiny shells.  Because one of the friends referenced to above, Kumiko, cherishes the tiny beauts.  She likes them perfectly formed still.  I picked some up for her, as well as lots of tiny broken ones for me. 

     My friend Ruth pointed out to me many years ago that perhaps the reason I can so easily recognize fear in others is because I am consciously grappling with my own fears.  On my day sifting through shells recently, I wondered if the reason I want to hang onto my friends who like perfect is so that I reach just a little bit higher.

     You know, perhaps, the famous quote by Michelangelo:  The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.

     Oh, enough philosophy.  I am getting closer to having a place in which to carve stone.  You cannot believe my excitement!  I have much to do before my sun sets!  Enjoy my little self portrait in the setting sun on the Adriatic Sea.

Like nature images?  Check out Tantalizing Tasmania:

http://www.borsheimarts.com/news/2015_02_ArtNews-TasmaniaLandscapePainting.htm

Please share this with anyone you think might appreciate it!  Thank you.

Kelly

~ Kelly Borsheim, sculptor, painter, writer, teacher

http://BorsheimArts.com

Sea Monster Feeding Umag

Dear YOU!

      So, do you remember my recent post that contained the question about a sea monster feeding here in Umag, Croatia?  Well, about a week ago, I walked north.  I was delighted to find a little park that started off with un-butchered olive trees.  [Italians seem to prefer to dramatically cut theirs to keep the height down.]  Then as I walked along, I felt the carpet beneath me as I inhaled the gorgeous scent of pine trees.  Oh, what a joy!  The sea was visible and I walked along her edge.

      Here in Umag there is a mixture of sea wall and beach, but mostly walls as one nears the harbor.  It is a fairly clean city, from what little I have actually seen.  [Despite my silly postings, I do spend the majority of my days alone in my small flat researching, writing, and painting.] So, you may imagine why it is that there are occasionally pieces of Styrofoam cartons near the water’s edge.  You will note in these images that there is no other trash along these waterways, so I am sticking to my theory of a sea monster feeding by the Istrians.

      I am sure there is a rational explanation for this behavior, although, what is not rational about feeding sea monsters?  It probably does not hurt that in the evenings while working on the computer, I have been taking advantage of a TV in my room.  A TV is something that I have rarely missed in Italy.  Most of the stations I watch here are in Italian, some with subtitles. So, I hope to improve my comprehension skills.  Lately, I have been watching a series of films about mythology and Titons and Zeus and those sorts of stories.            [Surprisingly, there does not seem to be two stations here using the Croatian or Istrian languages.  However, there are TONS of Arabic stations!  And one station that is part of the radio series that says it is in Farsi, but it is French.  I listen to that one too, during the day while I paint.]

     Anyway, I leave you with a little snapshot of the sea monster’s competition for his nightly meal.  I am tempted one night to go out and sit in wait.  I just need to figure out which day they do this, since I do not see the offerings every day.

     Please do not forget that if you are interested in any of my available artworks, now is the time to buy!  [Or at least make the first payment on a payment plan of your choosing… finance charge free.]  Until Jan 31, 2015, is over [Texas time], I am offering FREE WORLDWIDE shipping.  Most of my art is actually in America, but that should not matter since I just made it easier to acquire.

     Details are here, as well as a little survey to help me figure out my trip to the States.  The online version of my newsletter here:  http://www.borsheimarts.com/news/2015_01_ArtNews-ProcessUmagCroatia.htm    [Note:  “London Cemetery” was sold and shipped recently.]

     And, as always, thank you for your continued interest.  Share this with anyone you think might appreciate it! 

Kelly

~ Kelly Borsheim, sculptor, painter, writer, teacher

http://BorsheimArts.com

Monster in the Adriatic Sea

Dear Art-loving friend,

     Last Saturday evening, I was walking along the coast in Umag, Croatia.  This night, I chose to walk beyond the old town (south).  I have not explored much of this area since it is rather cold outside and I have so much work to do.  However, sanity dictates some outdoor time!

     Most people here do not seem to pay much attention to me.  I imagine that it is easy to see that I am a foreigner and alone.  I have not made much of an effort yet either, especially during family holiday time.  So, when I saw a man pass by me, cutting through various buildings, obviously knowing where he was going, I was surprised to notice him later on my walk.  He was half sitting, half leaning against a building near the sea.  I wanted to photograph him there, his dark clothing against light blue walls, but I felt shy and decided against it.

     However, I was a bit curious.  Just before I noticed him there, I saw this container of raw food set by the edge of the sea wall.  It looked fresh, but no one was about.  Why is this here, I wondered.  Did he just leave this here?  Because it was dusk, it was easy for my imagination to take over.  I decided that this may be an offering to some sea monster that crawls out of the Adriatic each evening.  Times were changing and even the beast had to be aware of the economic crisis going on in these parts.  Hopefully, this offering is less work than stealing and eating babies.  I even imagined that the white lights outlining the bell tower of the local duomo (cathedral) signified, not the winter festivals and celebrations, but the time of the feedings.

     Istria is the area which claims to have had the first vampire, Jure Grando, after all.    

[Thank you, Željka for that little tidbit!  Haha]

     This side of the Old Town has a gradual incline of a rocky beach to arrive to shore.  On the north side, the sea walls make sure the water is deep enough for the boats to dock.  Perhaps I was on to something!  However, I sat down on the ramp that led under the water, thinking, waiting, photographing.  When I stood up again, the man was gone and I was alone in the growing darkness. 

     I was also starting to get cold.  When I left Italia, I packed as I usually do:  More art materials, cameras, and computers than clothing and personal items.  On my walks, I have been losing feeling in my feet, so … it was time to start walking again. Still, dusk arrived.  The sea remained peaceful.   

     As I walked along the sea edge around the Old Town, I saw few people.  Mostly one or two working for the few restaurants that were open this time of year.  No one seemed to look in the direction of the offering.  Hmm, well, that does not DISPROVE my theory, does it?

     I turned the corner and saw a nearly full moon rising . . .  

++++

     If you are enjoying this blog, or the wandering imagination of a girl in Croatia who apparently sees trash in an unusual way, feel free to help the adventure continue by sharing these posts with someone who may also enjoy them and/or donating.  You may do so via PayPal (contact me if you prefer another method) on the right hand column on the online version of this blog:  http://artbyborsheim.blogspot.com

Thank you for your interest and enthusiasm,

Kelly 

~ Kelly Borsheim, sculptor, painter, writer, teacher

http://BorsheimArts.com