Architecture Belgrade Serbia

Dear Art lover,

     Beograd means “white city” in the Serbian language.  My friends there explained the origin of the name comes from the impression of travelers after a long journey as they came upon the city.  I had thought it might be something similar to the case of the “Black Sea,” which is named for the dark color of the water created by an abundance of dark green plants in it.  But I had also been told that it was a contrast to the nearby “White Sea,” which long ago was given another name.

       Today I want to share just some of the architecture with you that I saw in Beograd.  My friend Biljana and I rode the bus for a brief day trip on a Saturday afternoon.  The first two images are views I took while waiting to change buses in Pancevo; the rest are from Beograd.  Biljana is like many of my friends:  very patient with me.  I cannot ever seem to just walk directly anywhere.  My eyes are constantly noticing shapes, color, and textures.  My companions often find themselves walking ahead of me and then turning to wait for me to recover from many distractions.  Enjoy these snapshots.

Kickstarter update:  19 backers have now helped me raise 29% of the funds needed to give the foundry.  Two people have even increased their original pledges!  $3,350 of a goal of $11,500.  Thank you and let us go for the other 71% please!  https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/borsheimarts/casting-call-im-melting-melting-into-bronze/

 

     You may participate in my attempt to raise funds to pay a bronze casting foundry, even if you cannot pledge, by helping to spread the word to your contacts, but also... Leave a comment on my Kickstarter project page site.  Or ask a question.  Activity from many sources helps the Kickstarter staff see interest and they may choose my project as a favorite, getting it better seen amongst their funding clients.  thank you so much! 

CastingCall: I’m Melting . . . Melting! Into Bronze

Destroy to Create: Melted wax sacrificed to pour bronze sculpture. Hot art: Make it happen before these wax figures are truly lost.

Thank you so much for helping me make some bronze art a reality,

Kelly

~ Kelly Borsheim, sculptor, painter, writer, teacher

http://BorsheimArts.com

Artists and Models Croatia

Dear Art lover,

     What one of my friends calls my “Exile from Italy” will soon be over.  If they let me back in, I mean.  I do not think of this time as exile since the law is clear and it is not unreasonable.  Besides, I am in Croatia and have made new friends, and visited more in Serbia.  I walked along the sea a lot, stayed warm during the winter, watched a lot of stars in mostly clear nights, and made some art.

     I hope that you have enjoyed the images of Umag, Croatia, that I have shared with you.  I have many more, but for now, I want to share some images from the day the family here had a big get-together while all the grandkids were in town in early March.  They invited me to join their cookout, including shooting hoops in the driveway.  That is an activity I remember from watching my brothers growing up.  It warms my heart being around three generations enjoying each other’s company.

     My portrait of Miranda and Boro was presented and I was very pleased that the kids and grandkids liked it and said that I had captured the affection and care between the head of their family.  Every portrait artist hopes for such praise because we all know that we see ourselves differently from how others do.  What a loving family!  I later joined the older generation, Miranda’s two sisters and their little brother, as well as other friends, when she had a birthday dinner the following weekend.  I hope that we stay in touch!

Artist Kelly with portrait models Miranda and Boro - Umag

     To see images of the painting in-progress, and the mathematics behind my design, please visit here:

http://www.borsheimarts.com/painting/2015/TakingCare-PortaitCaretakingCoupleHealthcare.htm

     You may participate in my attempt to raise funds to pay a bronze casting foundry, even if you cannot pledge, by helping to spread the word to your contacts, but also... Leave a comment on my Kickstarter project page site.  Or ask a question.  Activity from many sources helps the Kickstarter staff see interest and they may choose my project as a favorite, getting it better seen amongst their funding clients.  thank you so much! 

Casting Call: I’m Melting . . . Melting! Into Bronze

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/borsheimarts/casting-call-im-melting-melting-into-bronze

Destroy to Create: Melted wax sacrificed to pour bronze sculpture. Hot art: Make it happen before these wax figures are truly lost.

Thank you so much for helping me make some bronze art a reality,

Kelly

~ Kelly Borsheim, sculptor, painter, writer, teacher

http://BorsheimArts.com

P.S.  Happy birthday to my sweet little brother Michael and my crazy lovely cousin Heather.

Leave a Comment Ask a Question

Dear Art lover,

     On this St. Patrick's Day celebration, I am grateful for the 16 pledges I have received on my first crowd sourcing project [to save my wax sculptures by casting them into bronze].  That is some nice green.  But the bronze foundries will never see that if I cannot find a way to get more people involved.  We are almost 15% there, but only 15 days are left for the bidding.  We need to raise $9,800 US more to reach the goal.  With Kickstarter.com, it is all or nothing.  

     You may participate, even if you cannot pledge, by helping to spread the word to your contacts, but also... Leave a comment on my Kickstarter project page site.  Or ask a question.  Activity from many sources helps the Kickstarter staff see interest and they may choose my project as a favorite, getting it better seen amongst their funding clients.  Thank you so much! 

CastingCall: I’m Melting . . . Melting! Into Bronze

Destroy to Create: Melted wax sacrificed to pour bronze sculpture. Hot art: Make it happen before these wax figures are truly lost.

     Today I feature a bronze wall-hanging sculpture with a GREEN patina!  Check it out Kickstarter . com look for borsheim or bronze art, or follow this link:

 https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/borsheimarts/casting-call-im-melting-melting-into-bronze

Interior wall for bronze sculpture "The Lookout"

 The Lookout

wall-hanging bronze sculpture

Green Patina

one of a kind
30" h x 15" w x 5" d
© Kelly Borsheim

http://www.borsheimarts.com/sculpture/2007/lookout_bronze_art.htm

Thank you so much for helping me make some bronze art a reality,

Kelly

~ Kelly Borsheim, sculptor, painter, writer, teacher

http://BorsheimArts.com

P.S.  Happy St. Patrick’s Day and happy birthday to Kate S.! 

 

"The Lookout" hanging on an outside wall facing a garden.

Bus from Croatia into Serbia

Dear Art lover,

     I am convinced now that I am an idiot.  Or at the very least, losing my thoroughness.

At least during the winter / non-tourist season (which starts after Easter, apparently), ferries from Montenegro to Italy only run on Thursdays and Sundays.  Ok… but they leave at night and arrive in the morning.  I need to be in Roma by the 20^th, but I cannot legally enter Italia until the 19^th.  The only ferry I could take is on the 19^th.  I thought it was perfect… until I realized the ferry left at 10 pm instead of 10 a.m.   The ferry runs from Bar, Montenegro to Bari, Italia.  The next train to Roma is not until afternoon, and no fast trains from Bari.  I would be a day late!

     Also, I cannot stay in Croatia longer than 90 days.  I cannot return to Italia or any part of Schengen territory until after 90 days have passed.  I had planned to leave Croatia just before my 90-day limit and explore Montenegro for a few days before taking a boat over the Adriatic Sea to return to Florence.  So, now what?  

     Plans B:  Should I fly to the UK?  Well,  I might if I could, but there are not many flights this time of year.  But mostly, my friends are on holiday then and not in the UK.  I found a flight from the capitol of Montenegro, and a bus to Dubrovnik, but I could not find anything for the next leg into Montenegro.  I thought to go to Bosnia, but the bus only takes me to the edge of Croatia.  I would have to take a taxi for 20 miles… hmmm.. I thought of so many things, but always there was some piece missing.  Or missing to someone who does not understand the local languages.

     I guess living in the south US most of my life did not help me get a clue that March is still winter, and public transportation is not necessarily a given even in Europe.

     Then . . . mathematics triumphs again.  One night, I got a good, long sleep and around 6 a.m. I had an idea.  When I actually crawled out of bed two hours later, it took only an hour to have it all come together.  The math rule?  That the simplest solution is often the best/right one.  

     I remembered that I had friends.  I did not need so much to see some place new.  I could be happy to reconnect with a family I visited two years ago.

     And thus, I was on my way to Serbia by bus.  And frankly, I did see some new places.  And SNOW!  The bus took me almost straight east and I was able to see something more of Croatia!  I include a few snapshots here and yes, that is a pastel drawing I started from one of my photos I had printed in Umag before I left.  I did not want to dig my laptop out of my backpack during travel and the battery was not that long-lived in any event.  And yes, that is snow in the background!  

 

Trying out new pastels I bought in Oz.

     The bus was warm.  I finally got some sewing done, and reading, and some much needed sleep.  And the bus driver was so nice to me.  I assumed that I was the only passenger he did not already know. 

My Serbian friends are wonderful and I am grateful for so much.  Today I go to see the Tesla Museum in Belgrade!

 

     The deadline for my first crowd funding project seems too close for comfort considering that thus far, I have only reached 13% of the goal for getting the wax sculptures cast.  Kickstarter tells artists that is normal to have a lull in the middle, but … it makes me nervous.  However, I am happy to see that there are fifteen individual backers!  

     Will you help me spread the word by sharing the Kickstarter “Casting Call:  I’m Melting . . . Melting!  Into Bronze” link: 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/borsheimarts/casting-call-im-melting-melting-into-bronze

and pledge if so desired!

Thank you so much for helping me make some bronze art a reality,

Kelly

~ Kelly Borsheim, sculptor, painter, writer, teacher

http://BorsheimArts.com

Blatant plus:  Please send me the money; Let's make some BRONZE!