Monday 30 September 2013

Setting off on a journey





 



Every time I have a chance, I travel to UK.

The language is not my only reason for doing so. Great Britain has a stunning landscape, which entices to get lost .When I am there, I feel as if I were not “the old me” but a new and freer person, and metaphorically speaking, the world could be my oyster.

Last spring I visited Witney ,in Oxfordshire. It was a totally unexpected trip. I have a closed friend who works there. Although his job involves spending a lot of time at airports and on planes, on that occasion, he had a little spare time to share with me. He invited me to visit him and I jumped at the chance.

I flew from Málaga to Birmingham from where my friend picked me up. While he was driving to Witney, he told me he wouldn`t be able to drop me off at airport to take my flight back. At this point, I should say just three things:

Firstly, I have always been a little, ok, pretty hopeless at finding places by myself.

Secondly , if you have ever been to some small English village , there is no need to say its borders are blurred .It is always the same what you see from the bus , pubs ,off-licenses and bus-stops in the middle of nowhere. God , and the driver, only know where you will finish if you drop your guard !

Eventually , my friend had to work most of the time so I would have to move on my own ,otherwise I would be stuck in the hotel .

Our hotel was a charming centuries old stately house which is believed to be haunted. I`ve attached a photo, (of the place no of the ghost).

The following day, I decided I have just two options: I either pretended to be what I was not and I managed to get to Oxford on my own, or I showed my true self . Deep down, I didn`t want to seem such a coward. I had no options. I knew I`d better off pretending to be an adventuress ; therefore I took a bus , I kept an watchful eye on the way, and I arrived at Oxford.

Oxford is famous for his University but there are a few more places to visit. Before going there, I was advised drinking some cider near the river. You can see the peacocks swaggering about while you, sitting at your table, sip a drink.

During the few days I was there, I wandered about the streets. Buying some souvenirs and visiting Radcliffe camera are a most. One of my favorite places in Oxford is Blackwell`s book, a large room devoted to selling all kind of books. When you are there, time flies.

On my way back, an air-traffic controller strike held me up at airport for hours. Surprisingly enough, I didn´t consider being grounded a nuisance but an experience.

The whole trip was very special for me. Not only marked it the beginning of my” career as a traveler”, but I also spent a great time with one of my best friends.





  

Thursday 26 September 2013

How to Look at Art-Formal Analysis



On the internet, there are an awful lot of videos explaining how to look at artwork. After searching and watching some of them, I have chose this Goya`s work entitled "The third of May 1808" .This video seems to me a good example to follow in order to depict artwork.
I consider it very useful to became acquainted with  terms such as texture, shades, symmetry  or  complementary colours.

 Since looking at art is not as easy as it could seem at first sight , that is my impression, some extra help is always welcome, I reckon.

Wednesday 25 September 2013

Manhood by Thomas Cole






Manhood, painted in 1842 by   Thomas Cole, belongs to a series entitled “The Voyage of Life”. The author uses universal symbolism, by which, we witness the voyage of a boy from the cradle to the grave, riding in his boat the different seasons of his life.
The first time you look at this canvas you feel impressed by the realistic and vivid depiction of nature. Nature, for Hudson River school, was not only an accurate portrayal of North America landscape, but it was also a metaphor of human soul.
Manhood depicts a man being swept away by the current while the water whirls into a rush of white foam. Standing up on his boat, he can hardly keep his balance on a boat without helm.  His hands are interwoven, begging for help as he has been left alone at the mercy of his inevitable fate.
 His guardian angel, who used to accompany him, is now placed at the top, on the left, up in the sky and barely visible to the naked eye. Between the man and his protector there is now a bank of black clouds, the angel can see him but the man can just trust  and pray.
He is belittled by the rugged   landscape. There is no grass or bright colours just twisted trees and a gloomy sky. This menacing scenery  stands for a stage of life  full of troubles and incertitudes. Without the naivety of childhood or the confidence of youth, the man feels weak to face his fate.
Everything is happening in the same direction, following the river flow; therefore, two main lines rule the scene, the main one to the small falls, the second one to the horizon.
In the foreground, on the horizon it is dawning. The darkness melts into the pale light of yellowish  shades.
 The first rays of sun, filtering through the clouds, and the ocean with its still water lend a certain peace after the rough trip. The ocean not only symbolizes the end of our winding voyage, but it also symbolizes death as its logical end.