We set sail for Noumea after leaving Lifou and had a few cocktails on deck before the silver service dinner at the Waterfront restaurant.

Had we realized it was Island night and all that entailed we would have joined in the BBQ festivities up top deck as the ship was jumping that night – we later found out.

If you like this acrylic Duck and Cat painting it is available as a free E-card on my website.  Also If you would like to recap on the previous stories of our big adventure, here is some links to my travel and art blogs; “LEAVING SYDNEY HARBOR” and  “CRUISING ON THE PACIFIC JEWEL” and “ART,LEONARDO DA VINCI AND THE ISLE OF PINES

THE ART OF THE PARTY

When we finally emerged from dinner the Island Deck Party was in full swing and as you would have it – it was only me the “party animal” that still had the stamina to boogie on down lol.  But with 5 others to consider and 4 of them half my age I tried to contain myself just for a change!!  Not easily done when you have ants in your pants and love to dance and party!

The music was pumping with Grooveline and the entertainment team got everybody grooving and the Pacific Cirque did a Circus de Solae act which was amazing.  A really spectacular Island Party, so just a hint for you cruise takers – read your daily newsletter and get to the party so worth it.

In the morning the ship entered the reefs of New Caledonia through the Havannah passage then through the Woodin Canal entering the Petit Rade and berthing at Quai Des Longs Couriers in Noumea.  From there we could walk of the ship no tenders required and found our way to a tour bus to explore the island, getting an all day hop on hop off bus ticket.

THE ART OF THE FRENCH PACIFIC

The travel brochure says “Noumea combines all the flavor and ambiance of a bustling, sophisticated provincial French town with the friendly charms, adventure and heavenly climate of the Pacific Islands”.  However I was surprised to see the western influence was much stronger than the Islanders.  I think I was more expecting a New Orleans feel with the French and colored mix, eclectic and exciting.   To me it felt a bit clinical or nouveau riche.

After a market visit and seeing the aquarium we decided to take a water taxi out to Canard Island (Duck Island) This tropical paradise is very small and intimate but had a lovely restaurant and a great reef for snorkelling.  As the day was the warmest to date even I decided to snorkel.

THE ART OF SNORKELING

Hillivi and Brett decided to just chill on the lazy-boys but that was quickly nipped in the bud when they were asked to pay up for the pleasure, at some astronomical rate of $10 dollars per hour per person to lay on a chair in the sun – should one wish to have a sun umbrella for some shade that would double the price!  Lol, so we were met by some rather grumpy faces when we finished the snorkeling.  Added to that we timed our departure from the Island a bit wrong as both the water taxi as well as the ‘you beaute’ hop on hop off bus must have been on “Island Time” as the promised 10 minute intervals was more like 40 minutes.

THE ART OF SPEAKING FRENCH

What impressed me no end on the bus was Hillivi’s normally reserved farmer boyfriend Brett suddenly starting to speak French to the bus driver as the rest of us were panicking when the bus took us in the opposite direction to the cruise ship.  (Not just a little bit of French but full on – could have knocked us over with a feather LOL.)

So it was a rather flustered 6 people who finally made it back to the cruise ship with 2 minutes to spare before cast off.  We were the lucky ones, one other couple missed the ship completely and they had to sail away without them, poor buggers, that would have spoiled the holiday!! I wonder what their excuse was.

Here is a quote I think fit well here by Kimberly Johnson,

“Never ruin an apology with an excuse.”

Till next time happy painting and sculpting to you all,

Love Marie xxxx

Why not come and have a look at Marie Jonsson-Harrison’s PAINTINGS FOR SALE, GICLEE PRINTS FOR SALE and SCULPTURES for sale or WALLBASED SCULPTURES.  Enjoy an original artwork on your walls or perhaps one on your bed ARTnBED.

The life as an artist always has it’s ups and downs.  Luckily I have been very blessed and mostly experience the former but had my fair share of downs too during the twenty something years I have been painting.

This painting which was featured in ARTension magazine is called The Two Bridges of Port Adelaide, South Australia and is in the private art collection of Rosalie and Kevin Zerk.

INCLUSION IN FRENCH ART MAGAZINE

When I found out I had been chosen together with 11 other naive artists from around the world to be featured in a French Art Magazine called ARTension I was thrilled of course.  What had led up to this was my inclusion in the Art Naif Festival in Katowice, Poland 2011 where some 190 naive artists from all over the world had been invited to exhibit.  This in turn led on to another invitation to take part in the Henri Rousseau exhibition which was held in the Abbey of Montivilliers in Normandy, France in January and February 2012.  These exhibitions as well as this year’s Naive Art Festival in Katowice, Poland 2012, has all been made possible by the wonderful Jacques Dubois, who eats, sleeps and breathes Naive Art!

The special edition of ARTension is called L’Art naïf aujourd’hui. Which is available on back order from that link and is absolutely full of articles on Naive art and they quote;

“The air and the fragrant art of time a little too much stress.  In lack of light, we wanted to look at the most modern solar adventures: that of naive art.  Revelation of the early twentieth century, for decades it has enthused poets, historians and enthusiasts arts.  Now, almost thirty years, calm… Where are the masterpieces, why are they out of fashion, and who now renews this style of painting?  In the company of experts-curators museums, exhibition organizers, auctioneers, gallery owners, collectors and artists, now more than ever passionate about this art– dive with us in the wings, wheels and glare.  Brazil to Slovakia, find and discover treasures imagined by the most popular and most serene creators.  Naive Art? An excellent antidote to all forms of gloom! “

12 NAIVE ARTISTS

So here is the article about the 12 naive artists and keep in mind that the pages have been translated from French to English so there are a few problems with the grammar, but that adds a little French charm, no?

Around the World

Jacques Dubois

For six years, Jacques Dubois has abandoned his original trade of business to devote himself to painting he loves, and his wife practice. Creator of the World Festival of Naive Art in Verneuil-sur-Avre in 2005, he moved to Katowice, Poland, five years later.He presents the naive current world, convinced that this art still has a bright future ahead of him. We asked him to introduce his recent twelve strokes of heart.

Germany

Olaf Ubricht

Born in 1951

Olaf is currently the most talented of the few German naive. Its uniqueness, its trademark, it is twilight, in a German village on the Rhine. It uses a marine varnish to enhance its color.

Australia

Marie Jonsson-Harrison

Born in Sweden

A sculptor father, a circus family, she is top model in the 1980s and devoted himself to painting. Sense of humor, acute observation of life, Mary painted cheerful and positive experiences, accompanied by a social commentary of the human condition. His paintings and sculptures are presented in Australia, Japan and the United States. This is the painter’s most exhilarating and most creative.

Brazil

Edilvado

Born in 1956. Jacques is Ardies who exhibited in 1995, for the first time in his gallery in Sao Paulo and who became his agent. Its deserved success he owes only to the development of Brazilian landscapes with lush vegetation and bucolic nature and enchanting. This is what distinguishes it from all other painters Naïve.

Côte d’Ivoire

Roger Hamado Djiguemdé

Born in 1966 in Burkina Faso

Installed in Ivory Coast for many years, he developed an “African naïve art” in his own words. His descriptions of daily life are as much of a dream than reality. Surrealism is not far. One of the best contemporary painters in Africa. Currently in their forties, he still has a bright future ahead of him ^ and full of ideas of tables in the head.

Cuba

Armando Torres

Born in 1956 in Havana.

He lives with his mother in the suburbs of Havana. In his neighborhood, he was immured to escape the noise and Salsa. He paints his dreamlike paintings while listening to baroque music of the eighteenth century. Obviously, his neighbors are crazy. Amahoro gallery of St Martin in the Caribbean defends his work very creative.

Spain

Crucita Gutiérrez Segovia

Born in 1951 in Madrid

Born into an artistic family, she has been painting since 1977 and many European museums possess his works. Based in Barcelona, ​​she made prints in the studio Artcontraprova and teaches visual arts at the Foundation for the Arts Hervás Amezcua. This is goodness personified, and his paintings emit an enormous amount of things certainly because of the flat technique perfectly mastered.

Israel

Rafi Perez

Born in 1965 in Jerusalem

A graduate of the School of Visual Arts in Jerusalem in 1992, he lives in Tel Aviv where he painted landscapes and couples.Despite its “youth” Rafi is one of the most talented of his country and handles very large formats with ease that commands respect.

Serbia

Drago Terzic

Born in 1956. It is one of the most representative of the third generation of self-taught artists of “on glass”. Known but also acknowledged it now opens on Europe. His style PureColour and impeccable style gives this notoriety,

Tanzania

Stephen Lewis

Born in 1964

It is the best representative of the current Art Tingatinga, invented by Edward Tinga Tinga, who is becoming known throughout the world and gives local artists the opportunity to live their art. Audience Award at the 2011 World Festival in Katowice, he will appear this year. Just reward for this humble artist, who paints for sixteen years. The French association Tinga is African-charge of its promotion.

Turkey

Sema Culam

Born in 1951 in Izmir

Former pupil of the sculptor Turgut Pura at the State Museum of Painting and Sculpture in Izmir, then Cavit Seref Bigali Atmaca and the Department of Painting Education Institution, she has since won numerous Awards of naive painting and often exhibited in different countries. His landscapes are particularly noteworthy.

Netherlands

Joop PLASMEJEIR

in 1942, the grandpa of Naive Art is still the most inventive today. But looking at his paintings and retailer, it must be quite a prankster. His favorite themes are the urban landscapes such as Amsterdam, where he is particularly fond of representing ports and major facades of Dutch houses. He also painted the interiors of these houses with precisely these landscapes through windows. It’s great art.

Veronica LABAT

Born in 1960 she still lives in his country Argentina. This is one of the few painters have Naives to study drawing, sculpture and also engraving. Since 1990 she exhibited nationally since 2004 but that its course becomes truly professional with the gallery GINA Gallery Tel Aviv. At each table, but it is renewed crunches always living in Argentina. The most successful in his country and most interesting, for me, naturally.

I urge you all to Google these artists and have a look at their fabulous work!

Here is the quote again from ARTension who said;

“Naive Art? An excellent antidote to all forms of gloom!”

Till Next time happy painting and sculpting and collecting art to you all,

Love Marie xxx

If you enjoyed this art blog you may also like this one; 14. Adam & Steve 2 Sculpture

Why not come and have a look at Marie Jonsson-Harrison’s PAINTINGS FOR SALE, GICLEE PRINTS FOR SALE and SCULPTURES for sale or WALLBASED SCULPTURES.  Enjoy an original artwork on your walls or perhaps one on your bed ARTnBED.