Art Sunday; Vitali Komarov.

Today I am featuring a Russian Artist called Vitali Komarov. He lives in The Czeck Republic, is heavily influenced by Van Gogh and to me, his work is reminiscent of my time in France.

I’m not sure why, some of his paintings were painted in Southern France but many more were not. Maybe it’s the Van Gogh influence or maybe its  the colours and tonal effects of his work. What ever it is, the overall effect  of this work, evokes the same  emotional response from me as the countryside in rural France did.

The paintings I have shown here are all quite similar in colour and style and I chose them deliberatly because they remind me of France. However, there are a great variety of paintings that are quite different to the few featured here and you can see them on his own web site.

He writes
‘’I am a Russian painter living in Lednice, Czech republic. I’m painting almost every day during past ten years. I love nature and walking and I enjoy painting directly from nature. My gallery includes original oil paintings. You can find landscape paintings, still life art, portraits and flower paintings. All paintings are done "plein air", directly from nature. Each painting is unique and original’’

Information from his website.

http://www.komarovart.com/



Vitali Komarov is an artist who enjoys working from nature. Embedded in the European tradition, he has been strongly inspired by Vincent Van Gogh, developing further the techniques and vision of colours introduced by the master.


Vitali’s paintings are full of life, in which every season offers so many wonderful subjects. His vision of the world is full of hope; his colours are bright, yet sensitive. His paintings uplift the spirit and promise new beginnings. What really matters to him is to be truthful and simple in conveying his vision to his audience.


Although primarily self-taught, Vitali studied at the Art School (1983) and the Restoration School (1987) in Saint Petersburg, both in Russia. He lives in the Czech republic but has travelled widely to find inspiration for his work.

Music for the wedding weekend.

What ever you think of the Wedding or the Royal family, there must have been a shadow over this day for William. Every one wants their mother present when they get married. Without her there would be no wedding.

France; the area around L'audouiniene

This is the name of the tiny hamlet where my sister lives. There is her house and the house opposite and that is all. These photos are all taken within walking distance of her house.

France; Fish, wildlife and garden ponds.

A collection of some of the wild life, including a big shiny blue beetle that I can't identify and some of the green frogs that make such a noise.

The helpers, the dogs and the field.

This is the small field. Natsumi is planting veg in the bit thats already cleared and then Garry arrived and cleared some more of the brambles and dense undergrowth. .

France; The House and Gardens

this is the bit where they live.

I have so many photos, it could take me a while to post them all.....but here are the first. These are all of the actual house, out buildings and gardens.

return from France...........

Hope you all had an excellent Easter, I had an unbelievably wonderful time in France. I went back to work the day after I arrived home and it has taken me another week to catch up with myself.

The situation in France is that my sister and her husband have gradually bought up a row of tiny rural cottages situated in the heart of south west France in the middle of no where. They are both now retired and have finally relocated and are permanently resident in France. One end of their building is totally renovated and they live there, the rest is in various stages of neglect, decay and/or restoration. They also have a large garden plus a small field, which is good, but to start with it was all totally overgrown with brambles and trees, which was not so good, they have cleared the land little by little. They grow as much of their food as they can and hope at some point to be virtually self sufficient in food. They both have health problems and in order to get every thing done they take in 'helpers'.

Apparently there are websites that put helpers in touch with hosts and vice versa. The deal is; the helpers commit to working a twenty five  hour week over a five day period and in return the hosts give free accommodation and three good, home cooked meals per day plus weekends off. It seems to be a mutually beneficial arrangement for those wanting to travel and see the world on little or no money and those who like a rural life or have undertaken large building projects and are unable to do all the work themselves.

While I was there I met a lovely Japanese lady called Natsumi who helped with the gardens and cooked authentic Japanese food. Then a couple of Scottish lads turned up and helped clear part of the field ready for ploughing and planting. As I was leaving a lady called Erica from Texas arrived, she was a little older than some of the helpers and I think she was about to take over household duties and give my sister a bit of a rest.

Just before I arrived my sister had replied to an advert offering about 50 pond goldfish and various pond plants free to a good home. The lady who placed the ad was closing down her pond and just wanted every thing taken away. By the time I arrived my sister had put up a very old ( also very big) childrens pool in her garden and relocated the contents of this pond into it. I spent a large part of every day lazily walking around the pond netting all the fry I could see.

By the end of my stay I had set up a nursery tank with over 40 fry, set up a display tank with six of the prettiest adult fish and relocated a couple of the fry to her small wild life ponds ( more ex-childrens pools) because I noticed that the mosquito larvae was already beginning to appear. I can't begin to tell you how utterly relaxing it was to have nothing to do every day except listen to the birds, listen to the frogs, wander around the grounds, eat well and spend hours every day netting fish................ahhhhh bliss, can't wait to go back.

I have so many photos, I've already separated them into different folders and I'll post them all over the next couple of days. I thought I would be able to post something while i was there but her connection was very slow and I didn't really get the chance..........too busy enjoying myself.

April 3rd 2011 Stonehaven

Being able to get out and about and enjoy the spring weather is so very good. Much as I love living in Scotland, I miss the sun during the long cold winter. This is Stoenhaven, a small town on the North East coast on the way to Aberdeen, I went there with a friend yesterday

School holidays again at last. I seem to have so little time for any thing during term time the holidays are always eagerly awaited. And this one is pretty special because in about two hours I shall be on my way South to visit my sister and then on Wednesday I shall be on my way to see my other sister in France .... can't wait, haven't been out there for a long time. I have photos of my day out yesterday with my friend that I hoped to post today plus another garden blog, but I think I've ran out of time and will have to do it when I get back. BUT............I shall be away fro two weeks and think I can post about France while I'm there............. :-)