"Chania"

  
                                     The coastline and city of Chania on the island of Crete.


                                                                

                                       
                                          " Chania"  -  Acrylic on canvas  24" x  24"


                  

" Lindos - Pink Sky "

                        The magnificent acropolis at Lindos on the Greek island of
                        Rhodes. Formed on the site of a 4th. century temple to Athena
                        Lindia and the castle, built in the 14th. century by the Knights of
                        St. John, against a pink evening sky, fronted by the white houses
                        that tumble down to the bay. 


                                                                  

 

" Lindos - Pink Sky"  - Acrylic on canvas 20" x 20"

 

 

"Chania - Rough cut"

                          A "rough cut" for a possible acrylic painting in response to the
                         Chrisi Akti beach near Chania.
                                                         

                                                   Rough cut acrylic on board 5" x  2"


                         "Of all the arts, abstract painting is the most difficult. It demands
                         that you know how to draw well, that you have a heightened
                         sensitivity for composition and colour and that you be a true poet.
                        This last is essential. "  -

                                    Wassily Kandinsky
                           
                                         

"Road to Therissos"

                       Leaving behind the sleepy Cretan villages, deserted in the mid-day
                       heat. On through the orange groves towards the Therissos Gorge,
                      the "White Mountains" towering in the distance.
                                

                                                                    

                                           "Road to Therissos" - Acrylic on canvas 12" x 12"

" Sea of Crete"

                          Warm, turquoise coloured water stretching out across the bay to
                          Chania the second largest city on the Greek island of Crete.
               
                         "The Sea of Crete" is located in the southern extremity of the
                          Aegean ,reaching from the North of the island to the East where
                          it joins the "Libyan Sea"   
                        

                                                                       

 

                                            "Sea of Crete" - Acrylic on canvas 20" x 20"

Somerset gallery

                      As the warm sunny weather continues I paid a visit to the Andelli
                      art gallery near the city of Wells, Somerset, England.
                      Set within rolling countryside the gallery is sited within the home of
                      Ellie Jones, a former graphic designer and passionate collector.

                      The interior has a cool, modern feel that displays the artwork, both
                      contemporary and twentieth century, to best effect.

Gallery interior

 

                      The current exhibition, with only a few days left to run, is by the
                      late Somerset artist, Kate Noble. 

                                                                           

Current exhibition featuring the work of Kate Noble

 

With ongoing exhibitions and a planned "pop-up" exhibition in Bristol

England later this year, Andelli have found a unique way to bring affordable

   art to the public. Check out their website www.andelliart.com (hover mouse   

if website fails to appear due to white on black type )

 

Photographs courtesy of Andelli.               

 

      

"Reflections on Chania"

                      I'm looking out across the bay. The sun sparkling on the water and in the
                      distance the city of Chania appears in a blue mist in the afternoon sun. 

                                                                  

 

I'm staying just outside Chania at Agio Apostoli in North West Crete.

 

 

The local bus drops me in the square of the "Old Town" and I'm on a

short walk past the tourist shops and restaurants , heading towards the

picturesque Venetian harbour. I stop at a narrow alleyway set back from    

the road and enter a small courtyard leading to the Chania folk museum,

a peaceful haven away from the hustle and bustle of early evening Chania.

 

 

 

Entrance to the museum

 

 

 

Then,on to the harbour with the numerous restaurants and tavernas

busily trying to compete with each other for the tourist's custom.

The building though that captures my attention is the 17th. century

former mosque "Giali Tzamisi" or "mosque of the bay" which now houses

events and exhibitions.

 

"The Mosque at Chania"

 

 

At the entrance to the harbour stands the Chania lighthouse, over 500

years old and one of the oldest in the world.

 

 

 

A quiet spot away from the crowds!

 

 

 

 

A few days later I catch the quirky "roadtrain" that takes a

three hour trip towards the Therissos gorge. Wending our way

through the orange and olive groves and small villages, all the time

seeing, in the distance, the "White Mountains" so called because the

limestone gives an impression of snow-capped peaks.

 

"White Mountains"

 

Then on through the gorge with an abundance of grazing goats

until we reach the village of Therissos itself, stopping for a beer

and feta pastries.