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Portuguese Blue Azulejos Ceramic Tile Mosaic Art Portugal

Portuguese Blue Azulejos - Borsheim Art Newsletter

Portuguese Blue Azulejos Ceramic Tile Mosaic Art Portugal
Portuguese Azulejos Blue Ceramic Tile Art

Borsheim Art Newsletter:

by Kelly Borsheim copyright 5 September 2018 

CONTENTS:

  • Portugal Blue: Azulejos [ceramic tile murals]
  • Phone-Friendly New Site
  • Portuguese Marble and Blue Marble Sculpture by Vasily Fedorouk
  • Blog Highlights: Red, White, and Passion
  • Subscription Info.

Dear Art Lover,

     These last couple of months have been a good time to regroup and reconnect. I was fortunate enough to have family visit me in Italy before we then traveled to Spain and Portugal together. These opportunities are rare and not-to-be-missed.

     I want to share with you what I found lovely and different during my trip. I am writing now about the azulejo or blue and white ceramic tiles of Portugal. Blue, especially of the royal, cobalt, ultramarine variety, is my favorite color, but even so, it is hard for anyone to miss the azulejo. It is everywhere throughout Portugal! I had recently posted on Facebook an article about the history of the color blue in painting. It seems it was historically a very expensive color to manufacture, since the semi-precious stone lapis lazuli was one ingredient. It was used sparingly by artists until new ways of creating the hues were found. However, I asked everyone in Portugal who I thought might know the answer what inspired the color choice of blue over all of the colors available. No one really knew, but one tour guide said it is a color of royalty. I had always thought that was purple. Boh!
     The origin of what has been a Mediterranean art for centuries is Islamic Africa. However, it really first took hold in Europe in Spain, especially in the southern regions of Seville and Granada. Islamic tradition forbids imagery of the figure and for this reason, centuries ago, the tile art found on the southwest Iberian Peninsula started off as geometric designs. When used to fill walls, the effect is stunning, but it can also be overwhelming to the senses.

Sintra Train Station Portuguese Blue Azulejos Ceramic Tile Mosaic Art Portugal
Azulejos ceramic tile mural in Sintra train station, Portugal

     The art moved into the area of decorative motifs and slowly one can see the addition of animals, often birds, with plant shapes. Later, in the 1800s, as Portuguese artists truly embraced this art form, the tiles became full-blown collective murals, depicting human figures and often telling stories of Portugal's history or even mythological tales.

     The tiles were intended, like the affresci [frescoes] and tapestries in Italy, to decorate otherwise blank walls. However, they were also much appreciated for their insulation against extreme temperatures and humidity. [As you know, tiles are great for bathrooms and other typically humid areas in homes.]

Thanks to a link from Angie Nixon, a friend and fan on my professional art Facebook page, you may enjoy these wonderful images of the azulejo, as well.

https://theculturetrip.com/europe/portugal/articles/a-brief-history-of-portugals-beautiful-azulejo-tiles/

Here are some of the images I took of the azulejos in Portugal, in the order of the places we visited:

Braga, Portugal

Braga Portuguese Blue Azulejos Ceramic Tile Mosaic Art Portugal
Azulejos ceramic tile bench, above the Bom Jesus outside of Braga, Portugal

Braga Portuguese Blue Azulejos Ceramic Tile Mosaic Art Portugal
Azulejos ceramic tile mural in a university building in Braga

 Braga Portuguese Blue Azulejos Ceramic Tile Mosaic Art Portugal

Braga Portuguese Blue Azulejos Ceramic Tile Mosaic Art Portugal
A university in Braga features azulejos ceramic tile murals, Portugal

 Braga Portuguese Blue Azulejos Ceramic Tile Mosaic Art Portugal
Detail of azulejos, Braga, Portugal (and also below, I like the shaping of the edges and even the holes)

 Braga Portuguese Blue Azulejos Ceramic Tile Mosaic Art Portugal

 Braga Portuguese Blue Azulejos Ceramic Tile Mosaic Art Portugal

 

Porto, Portugal ~ Azulejos

Porto Portuguese Blue Azulejos Ceramic Tile Mosaic Art Portugal
Azulejos blue and white ceramic tile mural on the side of a church in Porto, Portugal - Stunning!


Porto Portuguese Blue Azulejos Ceramic Tile Mosaic Art Portugal
Azulejos blue and white visible from a boat ride on the River Duoro in Porto, Portugal
They really ARE everywhere!

 

In Porto is the São Bento Railway Station, famous for its beauty using the azulejos.

I wish we thought to beautify more of our more mundane, but useful, public spaces.

Porto São Bento Railway Station Portuguese Blue Azulejos Ceramic Tile Mosaic Art Portugal

Azulejos São Bento Railway Station in Porto, Portugal, share to remember local history.

Porto São Bento Railway Station Portuguese Blue Azulejos Ceramic Tile Mosaic Art Portugal

Azulejos São Bento Railway Station in Porto, Portugal, share to remember local history.

Porto São Bento Railway Station Portuguese Blue Azulejos Ceramic Tile Mosaic Art Portugal

Azulejos São Bento Railway Station in Porto, Portugal, share to remember local history.

Porto São Bento Railway Station Portuguese Blue Azulejos Ceramic Tile Mosaic Art Portugal

Azulejos São Bento Railway Station in Porto, Portugal, share to remember local history.

Porto São Bento Railway Station Portuguese Blue Azulejos Ceramic Tile Mosaic Art Portugal

Azulejos São Bento Railway Station - some art deco.

Porto São Bento Railway Station Portuguese Blue Azulejos Ceramic Tile Mosaic Art Portugal

Azulejos São Bento Railway Station in Porto, Portugal: truly lovely.

For more information, Visit Wikipedia ~ São Bento Railway Station

 

Luso and the Buçaco Palace [Bussaco in English]:

Clean Water of Luso Portuguese Blue Azulejos Ceramic Tile Mosaic Art Portugal

     Next to the public fountain, where we saw a lot of people bringing a lot of bottles to fill, the blue and white azulejos even decorate the signs in many languages that describe how Luso, Portugal became famous for its nearby forest Bussaco and its clean water supply.

Buçaco Palace Luso Portuguese Blue Azulejos Ceramic Tile Mosaic Art Portugal
Azulejos at the Buçaco Palace near Luso, Portugal

Buçaco Palace Luso Portuguese Blue Azulejos Ceramic Tile Mosaic Art Portugal
Azulejos at the Buçaco Palace [Bussaco in English] near Luso, Portugal

Buçaco Palace Luso Portuguese Blue Azulejos Ceramic Tile Mosaic Art Portugal
       Azulejos at the Buçaco Palace near Luso, Portugal

Buçaco Palace Luso Portuguese Blue Azulejos Ceramic Tile Mosaic Art Portugal
Azulejos at the Buçaco Palace [Bussaco in English] near Luso, Portugal

 

View from the Train from Luso [really Coimbra] to Sintra:

 

View from Train Portuguese Blue Azulejos Ceramic Tile Mosaic Art Portugal

Sintra [west of Lisbon], Portugal

Sintra Train Station Portuguese Blue Azulejos Ceramic Tile Mosaic Art Portugal

      My brother, his daughter, and I never made it into Lisbon, other than the taxi ride to the airport. Nearby Sintra was so beautiful and we have a friend who lives near the beaches, so went to see her one day of our short visit to that area. Here I will show you just a few of the lovelies we saw during our trip to Sintra.

Sintra Train Station Portuguese Blue Azulejos Ceramic Tile Mosaic Art Portugal
Elaborate azulejos at the train station in Sintra, Portugal

Sintra Train Station Portuguese Blue Azulejos Ceramic Tile Mosaic Art Portugal
Azulejos outside of the train station in Sintra, Portugal

Sintra Portuguese Blue Azulejos Ceramic Tile Mosaic Art Portugal
Elaborate azulejos enhance Sintra, Portugal

Sintra Castle Portuguese Blue Azulejos Ceramic Tile Mosaic Art Portugal
Castles abound in Sintra, Portugal

Sintra Portuguese Blue Azulejos Ceramic Tile Mosaic Art Portugal

This blue and white mural inside the park with the castles (shown above) is also fairly large.

Sintra Portuguese Blue Azulejos Ceramic Tile Mosaic Art Portugal

Mosaics with gorgeous colors and inspired by tropical Nature decorate the floor in a castle in Sintra, Portugal

Sintra Portuguese Blue Azulejos Ceramic Tile Mosaic Art Portugal
Castles with brilliant mosaic floors are savored in Sintra, Portugal

If you enjoyed these images, you might enjoy visiting these linked pages that I found for you.

 


Sculpture by Vasily Fedorouk:

      It is so hard to miss people. I think often of my many conversations with my late friend and mentor Vasily Fedorouk, especially as I am carving stone. Here are a couple of his carvings that are related to this newsletter's topic:

 

Apollo Portuguese Marble with Gold

Apollo Stone Carving God and Dolphin by Vasily Fedorouk

 And staying with the blue theme, here is a blue marble torso:

Blue Marble Torso by sculptor Vasily Fedorouk

 


 New Blog Post:

http://artbyborsheim.blogspot.com/2018/08/red-white-and-passion-painting.html

 Still Life Painting Work in Progress Red White Passion Flower Art

 


Lollipop WIP Painting

     I hope you enjoy this little snapshot, a 36-SECOND video showing a new painting Lollipop being painted:

If the above does not show properly, you may view the video on youtube at:

https://youtu.be/fmzTJ_1Msqo

      As with my Web site, I hope to develop my YouTube channel based on the requests and curiosities of those of you interested in art and how it is created. I want this channel to be useful to you and could use your input and opinions. Thank you… and thank you for sharing, as well as subscribing. Go here now:

https://www.youtube.com/user/kellyborsheim/videos

 

      This next video features the artworks available by my ONLY gallery in the USA.
Less than TWO minutes long!

 

or here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsCNqo0IzPg

       If any of these mostly available works interest you, please contact Don Elliott at the Franklin Barry Gallery, 617 Massachusetts Avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204    Tel. 317.822.8455, Don Elliott: theframeshopindy@aol.com

 


Fine Art America : prints on metal!

      I have been really enjoying licensing my art on the FAA products online:: 30 day guarantee... pillows, shower curtains, prints on metal, etc. During my Kickstarter campaign in 2015, the prints on metal were some of the awards and upon the success of that project, I ordered some and hand-delivered them to supporters. I was pleased with how happy people were with them: A good quality product and fast service! They arrive ready to hang, so easy!

 

Artwork on Shower Curtain in Fine Art America Borsheim Store

Go Shopping!

      If you see an image on my site, my blog, or even my Facebook pages that you would like to own as a print or note card or pillow or anything FAA offers, please contact me and I will upload the image for you. I do not earn much off of licensing, but you know, every bit helps me to continue making art. The best part is that you get to enjoy the art images in a way that makes you happy. Win-win.

 

Borsheim Landscape drawing on Tote Bag Fine Art America storeCharcoal Pastel Drawing Art on Phone Cases Fine Art America

 


Recent Blog Topics:

You may follow a variety of art topics on my blog, mostly travel and art:

http://artbyborsheim.blogspot.com

(This is a different subscription list than the one for this art newsletter.)



      Thank you for sharing this journey with me. Thank you for sharing this newsletter with your friends and colleagues. Thank you. Please let me know if you would like to commission an artwork; or add an existing work to your home or work collection.

 

Peace,


Kelly Borsheim
5 September 2018

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     If you enjoy Borsheim Art News, please forward it  to friends  and colleagues.  It comes to you about 6-8 times a year  from a Tuscan, Italy-based American artist Kelly Borsheim.

----------------------
Give a Book Review:

    Thank you for your interest and support in the book I wrote in the summer of 2011 about being a street artist in Italy.  I was thrilled to receive such glowing feedback about how I had shared not only the art  and the artists, but also something of the political environment regarding street art, interaction with the public and other street  performers (my favorite chapter is the one in which I have invited children to join me on the pavement), as well as images of the Renaissance City herself.

    The book is titled "My Life as a Street Painter in Florence, Italy."   If you have read the book and would like to help in the promotion of it, perhaps you would consider writing up a short review for Amazon.com  (or even send me a testimonial for my own site).  Your review does not  have to be fancy.  The intention is to help other people get a better idea about what is inside and whether or not they may enjoy the read.

    Just click here.
    Scroll down to the section on Customer Reviews.
    Click on the button to the right that says, "Create your own review"
    Sign in and follow their guide.

    or just buy from Amazon.com:
    Order from Amazon (US):

    My Life as a Street Painter in Florence, Italy

Book Cover My Life as a Street Painter in Florence Italy
     
    Above:  Cover for book:

    "My Life as a Street Painter in Florence, Italy"
    by Kelly Borsheim

    I have about 20 copies here with me in Italy and some in North Carolina, so if you are also here, just write me and we will organize the rest.

Street Painting Madonnari Book for Sale


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