Marie Jonsson Harrison » holiday

120 Art & Tasmania and the Tassie Devils

mariejon — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:32:10 +0000

TASMANIA, ART AND TRAVEL

My son Kai and his lovely girlfriend Samantha has just left on a week’s holiday to Tasmania, which is an Island approximately 240 km from the mainland separated by Bass Strait. They will visit Hobart, Launceston and Cradle Mountain among others, and that reminds me of a family holiday that we took a few years ago there as a family. This acrylic painting called “Life wasn’t meant to be Breezy” (which sold in Japan) depicts a tiny bit of the “weather” that we came across on our travels.

We as usual had the most marvelous time, spent much of it laughing and the other making ourselves sick on Devon-shire tea and scones which is something they sold in quaint little cafes at what seemed to be around every corner of the Tasmanian forest. That “one” had to go on a diet when we got home was a given!

THE ART OF THE SWEET TOOTH

In Hobart where we visited the former women’s prison called the “Female Factory” which had been turned into a fudge factory, go figure! In the 1800s there had been some 12,000 women and children imprisoned there, it later became a “House for imperial lunatics” and a hospital for contagious diseases and a boys reformatory. With such a history it seems strange that it now produces yummy tasting fudge and truffles and the like.

A SAD DAY

We also visited Port Arthur which was the prison that the hardest of the British and Irish criminals were sent to during the 1800s. It is situated some 60 km along the coast from Hobart and is Tasmania’s top tourist attraction. What makes this an even eerier experience is that it is also the place of Australia’s worst mass murder in 1996, when Martin Bryant went berserk and killed 35 women, children and men and wounded another 21 people. A very tragic and fascinating story that had the whole country holding it’s collective breath for a couple of days. If you would like to read more about that here is the link on Wikipedia

MORE ARTISTIC INSPIRATIONS

We had a hire car and visited Bicheno where they run nightly Fairy Penguin tours and you can see the little creatures returning from a day out at sea and coming back to their nest at night, so very cute waddling up their burrows. Another interesting bit was the spectacular iridescent light that was moving and flickering all around in the water, which was some sort of sea lice from what I remember.

On our travels we also went to a brilliant maze made for adults where we ran around and had so much fun and of course there were some Devonshire tea and scones involved as well, lol. We also visited a seahorse farm which fascinated me, but the rest of the family remembers that as a bit ho hum! Well you cannot please all the people all the time.

MORE PAINTING IDEAS TO COME

One adventure we all rate as first class was the days spent at Cradle Mountain where we stayed in a cabin and whilst hubby made the dinner, the kids and I were playing detectives in the dark searching by torch light for the Tasmanian Devils which we thought we saw around every bush but never actually found in the wild. Cradle Mountain is found in the St Clair National park, a mountain of 1,545 meters above the sea level and has a beautiful ruggered terrain and Australia’s deepest lake. Dove Lake has a boardwalk right around it which makes it an easy 2.45 hour walk that we cut our teeth on, so to speak.

Then we decided to do the Cradle Mountain Summit Bush Walk which is a 5 and a half hours return, why not, this bush walking business is easy isn’t it? We were warned that the weather could all of a sudden become inclement and snow, but we thought they were going overboard with their warnings as it was a summers day warm with the temperature in the 20’s. So hubby made us all sandwiches and other delights and we reluctantly took a jacket each and set off on the adventure.

THE ART OF LOOKING SERIOUSLY STUPID

We were cursing the jacket advice as it was boiling hot climbing up huge dolerite boulders like a mountain goats and contemplating leaving them somewhere to pick up later. Anyway we persevered and finally got to Marions Lookout with a magnificent view over much of northern Tasmania, where we decided to eat our picnic. We were thoroughly enjoying the scenery and watching some other hikers along the path when suddenly without a warning the weather turned treacherous and an icy cold wind came from nowhere and it started to rain and hail. What the? How could this be, we scrambled to take shelter among the rocks and the only thing we could put on our heads were 4 plastic sandwich bags, lol. All the while the other hikers pulled out very fancy professional hiker’s ultra light pants and jackets from their backpacks, goggles, hats and gloves – whilst we sat shivering behind some rocks like idiots with bread bags on our heads! My husband even had a little pile of crumbs on his head when he took the bag off!

The temperature must have gotten below zero and we were seriously considering our options when just as suddenly the bad weather past by and turned to spring. This time we took more notice of all the signs and marked cabins should we need to seek shelter again, and thanked our lucky stars at least we had taken the jackets with us. All’s well that ends well.

Here is a quote by Patrick Young which fits in here:

“The trouble with weather forecasting is that it’s right too often for us to ignore it and wrong too often for us to rely on it.”

Till next time happy painting and sculpting to you all or maybe mountain climbing,

Love Marie xxx (c)

If you enjoyed this travel and Art blog you may also enjoy this one; 155 The Art of Packing Light

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.

68. We’ve been to Bali too & Art

mariejon — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 06:15:22 +0000

ART & MUSIC

The title of this painting was inspired by Redgum’s song “I’ve been to Bali too” sung and composed by John Schumann. A man I greatly admire both for his music and also for his effort to make this world a better place and make us all think.

This artwork depicts the four of us on our first family holiday to the dream island of Bali, I think the kids were only five and nine at the time. Bryan and I had been to Bali once already, before we were married in our early 20’s. If I remember rightly we went there this time, in the September school holidays and it all came about because of the very miserable school holidays we had in July of the same year. All four of us had gotten the flu and spent nearly the whole two weeks sleeping and huddled together in the TV room at the farm. Too sick to do anything much more than venture out to the kitchen and get us something to eat and then just lay and sleep and watch telly, four misery gutses!

THE ART OF RECOVERY

Once we recovered and the kids were back in school I decided we must have a real fun holiday and make some memories together and obliterate that last miserable one from our minds. Bali here we come -our flight was great until the air hostess came around with the drinks service and gave everyone an orange juice in one of those plastic cups with an aluminum foil lid that you have to peel off yourself. Of course little miss Hillivi insisted on opening hers herself and it goes without saying that I thought that would not be a good idea and that I should open it for her. However in the spirit of diplomacy and for the sake of the poor passengers overhearing this long discussion I against my better judgment let Hillivi open it herself whilst I for one moment turned away to sort out Kai.

ANOTHER ARTISTIC INSPIRATION

What greeted me when I turned back was a little 5 year old girl-covered from head to toe in orange liquid, my- I did not realize one of those containers could hold such a lot of juice as to have her completely dripping wet! The look on her by now very pouty face was also so priceless that we just could not hold back the giggles as those airhostesses worth their weight in gold came to her rescue with the serviettes and mops!

PICTURE PERFECT IN DARWIN

We had a stopover in Darwin where we headed for the first loo we could find to change Hillivis former lovely blue dress (now orange) into something more appropriate. Thereafter we did a few touristy things ; spending quite a bit of time on a crocodile farm which had us all fascinated, seeing the crocks jumping up into the air and catching their food which was dangling on ropes and then having dinner on the Darwin wharf. So back to the airport we go to board our Bali flight, the kids were so excited as it was their first time overseas flying to a new country and we were eager to show them the picturesque island that we had come to love previously.

THE ART OF PERSUASION

But of course it could not be that easy could it-no of course not, now two hours before departure the customs fellow has decided that Bryans passport does not meet the requirements , admittedly there was a small crack on top of the photo as often happened with the old style passports. However this passport had been sighted by a dozen or so officials at this point before this fellow in uniform full of his own importance thinks that the photo has been tampered with and starts to pick at the edges of the photo with a knife and making holes rendering it way worse.

Bryan gets called in for a full on interview and meanwhile me and the kids are worried sick. When Bryan finally emerges he has been told that he can travel but does so at his own risk as most likely the Indonesian custom will put him on the first plane back home (the travel insurance would not cover this as now, we had been warned)leaving the kids and I to spend the time in Bali alone. Fun, fun,fun in the sun,sun, sun-Not!

Well that put a dampener on our spirits, however we decided to give it a try as we have nothing to hide(and nothing left to loose) and with the broadest smiles we could muster got through the custom in Bali without a hitch and spent the holiday doing the one-finger-salute (metaphorically speaking of course) to the customs fellow who nearly ruined a perfectly innocent family holiday.

MUSIC AND ART

Just recently at a Christmas party I got introduced to John Schumann’s lovely wife Denny and proceeded to tell her how John and his Redgum music has inspired my art etc, whereby she ducks away and brings him over. We had a lovely chat and he is just as inspirational in real life, and to boot –complimentary about my art too.

So all is well that ends well and this next quote by Samuel Johnson (poet and writer 1709-1784) fits well in here, in relation to that nasty customs fellow.

“Fear is implanted in us as a preservative from evil; but its duty, like that of other passions, is not to overbear reason, but to assist it. It should not be suffered to tyrannize”

Till next time happy painting and sculpting to you all!

Love Marie xxx (c)

If you fancy a read of another art blog set in Bali here is a link 45.Happy Hour & Art

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

47. Eat, Love, Art & maybe not so much Praying

mariejon — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 02:46:21 +0000

BALI & ART

“Bali, Bali, Bali” is what Gus and the Three Amigos sang as we enjoyed one of our last dinners at Shangrila in Candi Dasa. It is always sad to leave this artist paradise but we finally had to, after much snorkeling, daily massages, eating and drinking cocktails (and eating them out of house and home when it comes to the peanuts I’m sure, as both me and Bryan are self confessed piggy’s when it comes to the fried peanuts with our drinks!)

Now it was time for us to move on closer to Kuta and the shopping stage of the holiday, this painting depicts Kuta Beach and the overseas tourists enjoying themselves. I painted this when most of the tourists seemed European or Australian; nowadays I think most of the tourists seemed to be from China or Japan, funny how the different trends go. Kuta is actually looking a little cleaner these days-they have had a rubbish removal program going which is great. Also the economy has improved a little for the local people so walking down the street is not quite as frantic as it can get with the Hawkers now which is nice.

We stayed at a lovely place called Bali Rich, in our own Villa with a private pool and outdoor kitchen, which is new and in Kerbokian close to where the prison is in Bali.

We walked past on our morning walk and were very pleased that we were on the outside, as it did not look like somewhere that you would like to hang out in. Could not help but think of the Bali Nine and Schappelle Corby being locked up in there. Just hope that all the ones that are there, really did do their crimes and are not innocently locked up!

THE ART OF SHOPPING

We shopped till we dropped for 2 days straight- baby girl had sent a list four pages long with her wishes in it, all the designer bags and purses as well as close to 200 DVD’s and lots of other stuff. We ended up being 6 kg overweight even though at this stage we had already left our walking shoes, a handbag, an umbrella as well as some old clothes behind! Thank you very much Virgin for being so understanding!!!

This time we didn’t visit the Monkey Forest but if you want to see an artwork and read a funny art blog about our adventures there here is a link 1. Mmm… First Days Art Blog

I of course drove Bryan crazy with all the walking everywhere, but I cannot think of a better way of getting to know your neighbourhood and at the same time get all that exercise we need. I also have another annoying habit (well I do have an excuse for that being both Celiac and a Vegetarian) which is checking out all the menus as we walk past the different restaurants for just that perfect meal. Hubby is like-“enough of the walking already, let’s just sit down in the very first place we find and eat mmm.. and drink” But it is a wife’s job to drive the husband nuts isn’t it? Lol

So I think this qoute by Benjamin Franklin (statesman)

“Wine: a constant proof that God loves us, and loves to see us happy. Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance.”

Till next time happy painting and sculpting to you all,

Love Marie xx

42. Art & All That Packing ..mmm Better have a Holiday

Marie — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 04:00:50 +0000

THE ART OF MOVING

Now who was the idiot that thought that would be a good idea!!!! Fourteen days in Bali sounds nice, yea right! Mmm…might have been moi ! (well Bali was fantastic, it was the aftermath that sucked! Lol) You see the timing of this little holiday really sucks but it worked out this way as we had our house on the market for a while and decided to live our lives as we always do regardless which meant painting and sculpting and also having holidays.

We had no idea that the week after sunning ourselves in Bali (at the time of booking the holiday) we would also have to move the entire contents of the previous 17 years of our lives out of our huge farm house. We tried to change the settlement date but had to work in with the new owners, so for the first part of the holiday we were feeling decidedly STRESSED, so much to do and so little time! Not only did we have to shift all our stuff but also all the animals we own, birds and cats as this painting shows and also the dogs too.

COMEDIAN; THE OLD FELLA

I suppose I only have myself to blame with the timing of this but I couldn’t help but laugh when a comedian friend of mine Rodney Gregory, you probably know him as The Old Fella from the Australia’s Got Talent (check him out on Youtube here) said:

“Good luck with shifting, great idea to go away in the middle of it??” I might try that, we are shifting in about 3 weeks, can hardly sleep in anticipation”.

There is no way in words to describe, what a terrible and stressful time we had for that last week at the farm, as we sorted, gave away, threw away, burned, packed, dusted, scrubbed and cleaned and I thought it would never end. As the settlement deadline loomed closer and closer we were 5 people working our fingers to the bones, including our cleaning lady and the window cleaning guy and my baby boy.(here is the window cleaning guy, Craig as he has appeared in a previous artwork, in ceramic and mosaic)

THE ART OF SORTING

Of course we could have hired removalists, however as we were downgrading and only taking half of our belongings we actually had to go through everything ourselves anyway. We had of course started packing before we went away but we are talking 17 years of accumulated stuff.

We also have many objects of value and sentiment, however I cannot understand why I agonize so much about throwing away stray bits of paper and ornaments with a chip in it and clothes that are out of fashion, never mind the perfectly good rubber bands and paperclips and the like.

Why do I think it will all come in handy one day lol! Someone SAVE me and just put it all in a big skip!

For the last 2 nights Bryan and I only got 3 hours sleep each night, the pace was that frantic that I’m surprised we didn’t have heart attacks so I can only deduct from that our hearts are probably quite healthy! We still managed to go over the time limit by 2 and a half hours but the new owners were very gracious and did not complain.

So here are some wise words from Ernest Hemingway (writer) that I think fit well here. “Never confuse movement with action.”

Till next time happy painting and sculpting to you.

Love Marie xx

1. Mmm… First Days Art Blog

mariejon — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 02:06:02 +0000

ART & BALI

Mmmm First Day First Art Blog, where to begin….Perhaps with my Passions and I have lots, lol, but my two first loves are my Family and Art, and another would have to be travelling. That said, here is my painting of the Monkey Forest in Ubud, BALI, painted perhaps 13 ish years ago, when the kids were little.

MONKEY FOREST AN INSPIRATION FOR A PAINTING

Our holidays have always been fantastic and this was no exception. We decided to have lunch in this pretty little cafe surrounded by the luscious nature and cute little monkeys, and on one side a rice field. Our waiter gave us our menus and pulled out the chairs for us to sit down. It was lunch time but we were the only customers there. Mmm maybe that should have been a clue….

We had just motioned for the waiter to take our order, when a very large male monkey with big teeth came slowly walking into the cafe from the rice field and our waiter very quickly, ran and shut the door behind him to the kitchen. I told the kids under my breath to “SIT VERY STILL, DONT MOVE A MUSCLE AND DON’T MAKE EYE CONTACT”. So there the 4 of us sat like statues, whilst this teeth baring large male monkey walked very slowly around our table looking very intently at us, sniffing the air, stopping every now and then. After what seemed like the longest time he finally decided that as we did not have any food or anything else he fancied, he walked around the corner.

Not sure of whether he would come back we sat still for a little longer but now at least we were breathing again. It took a full 2 more minutes before our waiter with a big broom opened the door and peaked out and asked if the monkey had gone yet- so much for customer relation.lol. Needless to say we had lost our appetite and found another place for lunch later on. Lol.

ARTISTIC LICENCE

Lucky for me that supplied me with a perfect topic for another painting. I must confess to artistic licence though as the other monkeys were not all inside the cafe. You will find my son Kai, daughter Hillivi and husband Bryan, in a lot of my artwork. Even thought they are now 22 and 18 I often still paint them as little. They will always be my little “Sweethearts”.

Here is a thought for you from Oscar Wild to contemplate,

‘They afterwards took me to a dancing saloon where I saw the only rational method of art criticism I have ever come across. Over the piano was printed a notice “Please do not shoot the pianist. He is doing his best.” ‘

Hope you come and visit me again.

Happy painting and sculpting to everyone!

Love

Marie xxx