TRAVEL WITH MY ART #37: A SEAVIEW FROM A PARK (SPLIT, CROATIA)

Hello dear readers and fellow bloggers! It's been a few months since my last TRAVEL WITH MY ART post, but I'm back strong. As you might remember, I wasn't sure whether I wanted to continue sharing my art online because of AI theft situation. However, I missed sharing my art on my blog and writing about it. Moreover, I realized that art has always been a part of my blog. Over the years, you guys have seen me work on my art skills.

 In this post, I'll share with you an acrylic painting that depicts a view from one park in Split city. I painted this panorama exactly a year ago. Earlier this month, I visited Split with my husband and that's when I showed him this place. He loved it, so we took a lot of photographs. A year ago, he also enjoyed the painting I make. So, I guess we have come full circle. Seeing the photographs we took together, I really wanted to share that landscape painting I did a year ago (in an effort to capture this lovely view). Scroll down to learn more!

What happened with the painting? To be honest, guys....I'm not sure. I'm pretty sure I didn't sell it because I tend to remember my sales. Usually, I only sell my commissions. I rarely sell paintings I do for myself. So, I reckon I either gifted or misplaced this painting. Who knows, maybe it'll show up one of these days! What follows is more images of this place...and of course some art and fashion talk. 

WHAT IS THE PHOTOGRAPH I USED FOR REFRENCE? 

I used my old photographs as a  reference. I took these two photograph last year while I was walking trough this park. I enjoyed the sea view and thought the panorama looked pretty cool, so I snapped these two photographs. As I already said, I started and finished the painting last Summer as well. If I recall well, it didn't take me an awful long time to finish it. Maybe 20-30 hours in total? I know that I have started it in Split and finished it in Mostar.

WHAT INSPIRED ME TO PAINT THIS SEASCAPE?

Obviously, this is a lovely park. However, what fascinates me is this sea view that you can get lost in. You forget you're in a city. Glazing at the sea, you might imagine yourself on some Mediterrenean island, and not in a second largest city in Croatia. Granted Split wouldn't be considered a large city by some standards, as it has only around 160 000 residents and a population density of 0.99%, but for European standards, it isn't tiny.

This contrast between the natural and urban environment inspired me paint this seascape. I really wanted to capture this beautiful spot.

ACRYLIC PAINTS ON MIXED MEDIA PAPER A2 FORMAT

I painted this in my mixed media sketchbook. There's a lot of other works there. I do remember taking it out of the sketchbook and framing it, but I don't remember what happened to it afterwards. As I already said, I either gifted it or misplaced it.

PAINTING ON CANVAS HAS ITS ADVANTAGES, BUT A SKETCKBOOK IS EASIER TO PACK

I usually prefer painting landscapes on canvas. My sketchbook is more for sketches. However, when I travel, a sketchbook is more practical. This particular sketchbook is mixed media paper and the format is A3. However, when I painted this acrylic sketch, I used only half of the paper, so this seascape sketch is more like A2. The other half I used to paint a freestyle sketch portrait (I might show it to you some day).

There are definite advantages to painting on canvas, but sometimes you can do nice things on a paper. I mean I'm pretty happy with how this painting turned out. For such a small size, it's pretty detailed. Obviously, there are some worries when you pile colours onto paper (even if it's a mixed media paper), but I didn't have any problems.

Now, I've had a number of mixed sketchbooks over the years and what I found is that the important thing is that you don't add too much water while you're painting. If you're going to use a lot of water, the mixed media paper will bend even if you use tape and other things (such as paper clips) to hold it in place. If you know that you use a lot of water, then it's best to buy a sketchbook with watercolour paper.

As I don't work with watercolour much, I'm not really knowledge about the watercolour paper, so you'll have to find that piece of information elsewhere. However, for an acrylic painting, mixed media paper works just fine. I also didn't have any issues when I used it with watercolour pencils, probably because I didn't use a lot of water. 

One of advantages of painting on mixed media paper is also the price. I mean framing costs either way. If you're planning to get a glass frame for your acrylic painting, you might as well paint it on paper and then frame it. You can also use a varnish if you want to preserve the colours without framing it in a glass frame. I mean sketchbooks also have their advantages, but I'm getting too chatty...and this post is becoming longer and longer. Do always feel free to skip whole parts of my posts, you never have to read everything, just whatever bits interests you. If art isn't your thing, skip it. If outfits aren't your thing, skip it. If books aren't your thing, skip that. My posts are often a mix of different things, so whatever works for you- just enjoy that.

WIP (WORK IN PROGRESS) COLLAGE

WORK IN PROGRESS

WORK IN PROGRESS IMAGES AND THE MAKING OF THIS PAINTING

So, the making of this landscape sketch was a pretty straight-forward process. I sketched the landscape in my sketchbook using watercolour coloured pencils from Steadler and acrylic paints the same brand I always use: Royal Talens (not sponsored). The sketchbook is also from Royal Talens. 

Basically, when it comes to art brands, I usually use Steadler watercolours and Royal Talens acrylic paints. Watercolour pencils can be used both for sketching and to make regular aquarelle paintings. You can see an example of a fashion illustrations I made using watercolour pencils here. I'm more of an oil and acrylic painter that a watercolour artist, but I've made some seascape and landscapes using watercolours. I've even made some watercolour portraits back in the day. I'll link up my 'travel with posts' below and there are some watercolour seascapes there, so you can have a look if you like. 

Why do I use watercolour pencils? Well, because when you add the acrylic paints and or water to your sketch, there's no trace. If you use regular pencils, then you'll get a trace when you paint over it with acrylic or oil paints. That's why oil or acrylic paint artists usually use charcoal for sketching or special pencils. I have one of those charcoal pencils that oil artists use, but I find watercolour pencils to be easier to use when you're on the go and they also come in different colours, so there's that. 

THIS LOCATION HAS A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART!

I've really come to love this park and not just for its views. It's such a quiet place, especially in the summer. We really need more places like this one. 

My husband and I went for a walk here as the sun was setting, and we had such a nice moment of peace. If I remember well, we were pretty tired that day. I do remember it all now, we had to go to the mall and I hate malls, so I was exhausted. After that, we had this nice walk and enjoyed this sea view and I felt a lot better. 

 In the other part of the park, there was a family celebrating a kid's birthday and it was just the most adorable thing ever. I don't know why more people don't do that, it's such a fantastic idea to celebrate a kid's birthday in a park. I mean it's nicely shaded, not too hot and the kiddos can run around all they want. If I had a kid, that's what I would do. 

 I think I just might gatekeep the location and you'll forgive me for now. I mean it's not hard to figure it out, if you're google map savvy. 

THE FINISHED PAINTING- ACRYLIC PAINTS ON MIXED MEDIA PAPER

#1 PALERMO ISLAND SICILY (ITALY)

    #2 BAY MALA STINIVA, ISLAND HVAR (CROATIA)

   #3 IRKUTSK, SIBERIA (RUSSIA)

 #4  MATEJUŠKA, SPLIT CITY (CROATIA)

#5 HVAR CITY, ISLAND HVAR (CROATIA)

 #6 ZENTA MARINE, SPLIT CITY (CROATIA) 

 #7 ZAVALA, ISLAND HVAR (CROATIA) 

#8 SUCURAJ, ISLAND HVAR (CROATIA)
#9 MALA STINIVA, ISLAND HVAR (CROATIA)

 #10 HVAR TOWN, ISLAND HVAR ( CROATIA)

#11 JELSA TOWN, DANCE O THE SAILS (CROATIA)

 #12 ZAVALA, ISLAND HVAR, (CROATIA)

#13: SUCURAJ, ISLAND HVAR (CROATIA) 

#14: BAY BRIZENICA, ISLAND HVAR (CROATIA) 

#15 BAY LOZNA, ISLAND HVAR (CROATIA) #16 BAY VEPRINOVA, ISLAND HVAR (CROATIA)

#17 BOL, ISLAND HVAR (CROATIA) #18 PLANINICA, (BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA)

#19 SUCURAJ, ISLAND HVAR (CROATIA) 

#20 BEACH SOLINE,VRBOSKA,  ISLAND HVAR (CROATIA)

#21 STARI GRAD, ISLAND HVAR (CROATIA) #22 MAKARSKA (CROATIA)

#23 ZAVALA  PANORAMA (CROATIA) #24 ŽNJAN BEACH, SPLIT CITY (CROATIA)

#25 JELSA, ISLAND HVAR (CROATIA) #26 ZAVALA BAY, ISLAND HVAR (CROATIA)

#27 MALA STINIVA IN SUMMER, ISLAND HVAR (CROATIA)

  #28 TRAVEL WITH MY ART, BASINA BAY, ISLAND HVAR (CROATIA) 

#29 TRAVEL WITH MY ART, BAY TORAC, ISLAND HVAR (CROATIA) 

#30 TRAVEL WITH MY ART, VALETTA, ISLAND MALTA (MALTA) 

  #31 TRAVEL WITH MY ART : CAPE PLANKA (CROATIA)

 #32 TRAVEL WITH MY ART: ZAVALA (CROATIA)

#33:TRAVEL WITH MY ART  LOZNA, ISLAND HVAR

#34 TRAVEL WITH MY ART BOTA SURF CENTRE, VRBOSKA, ISLAND HVAR, CROATIA

#35 TRAVEL WITH MY ART : BEACH KAMENJARA, VRBOSKA, ISLAND HVAR (CROATIA ) 2023 

#36 TRAVEL WITH MY ART A COMISSIONED CHAPEL PAINTING MOSTAR 2014

#37  A SEAVIEW FROM A PARK (SPLIT, CROATIA)

NOW, IT'S TIME FOR SUSTAINABLE FASHION FILES!

I like to check myself for sustainability. I do that by linking up all the ways I wore some item before and hopefully inspiring someone to shop their closet more often. It is fun to challenge yourself to see how many times you can wear a certain item. Tracking your wears can also be a very educating experience that teaches you about your style. I've said many times and I'll say it again- having a fashion blog made me more sustainable with my clothes. I've always loved wearing vintage and second hand clothes and DIY fashion projects. Nevertheless, it's having this blog that really pushed me to experiment more with clothes and inspired me to style my clothing items in so many different ways.  Creating stories with our clothing items is my favourite thing about being fashion sustainable!

THE STORY OF MY OUTFIT

HOW I WORE THESE ITEMS BEFORE? 

THE BLUE MIXED PRINT BOHEMIAN VIBES DRESS WITH LACE DETAILS- (second hand)

I got so much more wear out of this dress then I expected when I bought it. See how I wore it:

1) here  (a spring look with stiletto heels and a blazer),

2)   here (a winter look with a coat, hat and high boots) 

3)HERE (a summer look with leopard heels and a burgundy bag

4)  HERE (a summer look with tropical print sandals and a hat)

5) HERE (another summer look with brown platform sandals and a brown bag with fringes)

THE TORQUISE BLUE PENDANT STATEMENT NECKLACE I received this necklace in a collab in 2015 from an online site that doesn't exist anymore, and I still wear it pretty regularly. 

1) You can see how I wore it with A CROCHET DRESS AND A CAPE AND A FLORAL DRESS AND A TRENCH COAT in 2015. 

2/3/4) You can see how I wore it with 3 different outfits in this post in 2016.

5) You can see how I wore it with a red dress and I even illustrated that look in 2018. 

6) You can see how I wore it with a white tunics and white jeans in a recap post from 2020.

7) You can see how I styled it with a white tunics and leopard leggings in 2021. 

8) You can see how I styled it with my legendary pink vintage floral dress in 2023.

9) You can see how I styled it with a sheer lilac dress from fashion designer Stanka Zovko (brand Ozz) in 2021.

10) You can see how I styled it with my navy blue dress and white heels in 2023.

11) ...and it was most recently worn ( with a black ruffled dress, bw sneakers and a green scarf belt) in this post here.

THE MINI BEIGE (IMITIATION RATAN)  BAG

I wear this little beige bag all the time. It's very light and seems so perfect for summer. 

1) In my last post, I wore it with wide trousers, a striped scarf and a pink top.

2/3/ 4) You can see how I styled it with a black dress and beige heels here, with a purple and lilac outfit here, and with a brown maxi skirt and a mint blazer here.

THE BOROMIRA SANDALS (ALSO KNOWN AS BOROSANE) 

I've had this pair from a Croatian company Borovo for years and I love them to bits. 

1) In 2016, I wore them with a yellow dress from another Croatian brand I love- Amadeus Adriatic. 

2) In 2020, I wore them with a yellow cropped top and a blue skirt for a visit to Buna. 

...and many more times. See how I styled them here, here , here, here,  here and here. 

 Before I wrap up this post, I'll also add my most recent post about Split city in case you want to visit or know more. In this post, you'll find all the previous links about Split and tons of information. 

A SPLIT CITY GIRL WHO LOVES PAINTING THE SEA

 That would be all for today. How have you been doing? I've been struggling with chronic pain a bit, but I'm managing and remaining quite active nevertheless. I had some cousins visiting us, so that was fun. I'm very happy about being able to see them. These days we all live too quickly, we don't make enough time for socializing and spending time with family. 

Thank you for reading and visiting! Now, tell me how you're doing!