GORANCI ( BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA), TRAVEL WITH MY ART #47
Hello! Today I'm taking you to Goranci in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In my last post, I shared a painting of Vrboska (Kamenjara beach more specifically) in Croatia. In this post, I'll share a painting of Goranci. As you know, Travel with My Art is a regular feature on my blog where I share my art. It is a way of connecting my art, my photography and my travels on this little place to call my own (aka my blog). This painting was actually a commission I did a few years ago. The lady who ordered the painting from me asked me to paint two horses: a white and a black one. She did not ask for a specific background. I browsed my archives and found many photographs of horses I took and even more photographs that my husband took. I got to work and started making multiple sketches, trying to figure out composition and everything.
Readers of my blog know that I have been visiting Goranci for years. I blogged about this little village near Mostar many times. Somehow when I was sketching horses, Goranci presented itself as a natural background. There are, in fact, horses there. I have shared photographs of horses in Goranci on my blog, so maybe you remember that. Bosnia and Herzegovina is home to many horses, and it even has a healthy population of wild horses. Horses you will see in Goranci village or a nearby Planinica hill are domestic, but near Goranci you can also find wild horses. As always, I will share links to my previous (relevant) posts below, so you'll be able to have a look for yourself.
The process of making this painting was not simple. There was a lot of sketching involved. While I painted horses before, I did not paint them so often I was completely sure of myself. Now, that I think of it, I'm never sure of myself- and maybe that's a good thing.
We are always told how we should we sure of ourselves, but what does that even mean? Confidence isn't everything. Sometimes being overconfident can get you into trouble. I'm not confident in my art skills. Therefore, I develop them. I was confident, what would there be to strive for?
Anyhow, I did quite a few horsey sketches before I set my mind on the composition. The composition is pretty simple on overall. I checked a lot of references and I did not use a single reference. I browsed my archives and for a while I even browsed the Internet. I found many beautiful photographs, but in the end I worked mostly from my imagination.
The painting was done in a few layers. As you can perhaps guess, the medium is acrylic on canvas. I used royal talens arcylic paints, and a canvas I ordered from a local art gallery (Michelangelo) in Mostar. So, basically I used both quality art materials for this one. I painted it in a few layers. I do not remember how long I worked on it.
The painting does include some detail work, but is not hyperrealism. The background is not as detailed. The two horses are depicted running and they are quite close one to another. The black one is leading and the white one following. I did not think of any colour symbolism while I was paining them. I suppose one could always link them to yin and yang.
When I was done with the majority of the painting, I added the finishing touches. Some of the detail work I did are the highlights on the horses. I painted highlights on their mane and in the case of the while horse on its tail. I also did some detailed work with the grass. I try to make the grass look realistic.
All in all, I would say this is not a bad painting. Of course, looking at it now, I would like to have another go. However, I can always do I again. I just need to find the time.
Do you want to see more of my art depicting certain places and locations? Do you want to travel with my art? Do you want to have a look at what I painted so far? Let's have a look!
#35 TRAVEL WITH MY ART : BEACH KAMENJARA, VRBOSKA, ISLAND HVAR (CROATIA ) #36 TRAVEL WITH MY ART A COMISSIONED CHAPEL PAINTING MOSTAR
#47 GORANCI, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Now, I will share photographs from my last visit to Goranci (in March). This time I visited Goranci park. It is growing all the time. Now, it has turned into a whole recreational complex with playgrounds, sports, domestical animals and stuff.
| MY PREVIOUS VISITS TO GORANCI VILLAGE (NEAR MOSTAR) You can read more about Goranci village by visiting these links. 1) HERE MY 2019 VISIT TO GORANCI |
In this post, you can see more images of horses plus a cute outfit with a vintage blazer and cord jeans. Country chic and all that.
2) HERE..... In this post from 2019 (FRIDAY FASHION ILLUSTRATION: RED PUFFER) , I took you to Goranci village and I shared an acrylic fashion illustration with you. Revisit this post if you want to see more of my art. Now, that I think of it, I illustrated a number of outfits I wore to Goranci village. So, you could say that this village is an inspiration of mine.
3) ALL BLACK WINTER CHIC- Another hiking in style post from Goranci
4) FASHION ILLUSTRATION RED PUFFER - Mixing my art and my love for fashion in Goranci
6) Nature Park Goranci- In this post from 2013, I practically captured the birth of Natural Park Goranci. This park was practically in the making then. A dozen years later, this park is a commercial and professional success. I'm pretty sure I was the first to blog about it first. Of course neither that nor any of the other posts wasn't sponsored in any way. I blog about these places just because I like them.
7) Sights to see, places to visit (Goranci ) - In this 2015 post, I took you to the park again and I also showed you the inside of the restaurant. You can also see me reading a book in the restaurant- a book about mountains written by Stipe Božić, a famous Croatian mountaineer.
8) Goranci (photography post) - In this 2015 photography post, you can see some high quality photographs capturing nature of Goranci. I still enjoy these photographs. Most of them were taken by my husband, but I'm pretty sure I took some of them as well.
9) A day in the country (Goranci) - In this post from 2018, you can see me wearing a pastel outfit. Plus, you can see what summer looks like in Goranci village.
10) Cropped chic outfit in Goranci- In this outfit post, you can also read a book review from one of my favourite contemporary Croatian female authors.
12) A BOOK REVIEW IN GORANCI (2023) - Here is another post where I shared a book review (from Amoz Oz) accompanied with photographs taken in this beautiful village.
13) FASHION ILLUSTRATION LIGHT BEIGE PUFFER COAT- This post from 2021 is one of my all time favourite posts. Here I shared a fashion illustration I did of a long light beige puffer coat. I think it's one of the best fashion illustrations of my outfits that I have done. It wasn't even that hard to make, sometimes I struggle a lot with my art, and sometimes the making of some painting is almost effortless. Well, this was the case in this case! Visit the link above to see more.
14) DIY NECKLACE AND VISIT TO GORANCI- In this 2014 post, I shared a DIY creation of mine. This was a necklace I made for my prom (to go with a designer dress that was made for me by a local Split designer). This time I wore this necklace as a head crown and it looked lovely. This whole outfit post has a lovely fantasy feel. I used photographs from this post for my Shadow & Bone book series review because they seemed to match the theme so well.
15) DIY HAND PAINTED JACKET AND A VISIT TO GORANCI- In April 2019, I visited Goranci for a nice walk and some doggie love. The dogs belonging to our friend recognized and greeted us. Even though our friend wasn't there (he moved abroad but we went to his house just in case he might be there). The dogs remembered us and they came to us demanding patting. It was a cute experience. I also shared a white vintage jacket I hand painted. For this occasion, I styled it in an entirely casual way
I couldn't resist a chance to chill on these cool benches. I also picked some flowers. Spring is in the air.
16) WHAT TO WEAR FOR HIKING IN GORANCI in summer - In this 2019 summer post, I tried to answer the question what to wear for hiking in summer. In this post, you can also see some horses. Actually, in a lot of my Goranci posts you can see photographs of Goranci horses. The guys are just there and they are not shy!
17) YELLOW IN SUMMER, THE ENGLISH PATIENT PLUS A VISIT TO GORANCI- In this 2018 post, I showed you an outfit similar to the one above. So, I wore this yellow cropped top at least twice to visit Goranci. In this post I also shared a review for a famous book (The English Patient) and a few photographs from Goranci restaurant.
18) A PAIR OF FLARE BLUE JEANS FOR A WINTER VISIT TO GORANCI VILLAGE- In this post I shared multiple ways to wear a pair of washed blue flared jeans, and one of the locations war Goranci village. There was even some snow!
19) GORANCI, HERZEGOVINA (PHOTOGRAPHY) In this 2013 post, I shared a photography and outfit post. I think these images were actually a bit older than 2013 but since I opened my blog around that time, that is when I posted them. I'm not sure how old they really are, but the images in this post definitely predate 2013. I wore a red tone hiking outfit and of course there were also photographs of horses featured there. There were also some lovely zoomed in images of mountain peaks. I miss having a proper camera to take pictures with. Well, some day I'll get one again.
20) GORANCI COUNTRYSIDE IN THE SUMMER- In this 2013 post, I shared some photographs from our summer hiking with our puppy. Our German Sheppard dog was tragically poisoned a few months later, so seeing these images makes me both happy and sad.
Is that enough posts? I wonder how many times I have actually posted images shot at this village or vicinity. I'm a veteran blogger, so probably it's more than 20 times. I also found this outfit post where I posted images shot in vicinity of Goranci, just a bit away from the village and there are actually some wild horses there.
This beautiful park is only a short distance from Mostar.
I think made a new animal friend!
What to see and do in Herzegovina?
1) FORTRESS IN BLAGAJ- AKA KING STJEPAN'S TOWN!
Let's start of with the fortress of medieval king Stjepan Kosaca. This fortress overlooking Blagaj village (near Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina) is simply a must visit for lovers of history. This fortress is known under two names: Blagaj fort and Stjepan grad (Stjepan's town). Dating back to 15th century, this gorgeous historical town-fortress is well worth the climb. It is officially protected and listed among national monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Back in 2021, we visited it with some friends. We drove to Blagaj (blogged about it here), asked the locals for directions and went our way up. You can drive up to a certain point, but then you have to climb your way up. It is not a long climb, about half an hour in my estimation. The views while you climb are beautiful but once you enter the fortress, the panorama becomes simply incredible. The panoramic view from the top of the fortress is one of the most beautiful I have seen in my life.
2) VISIT STOLAC FORTRESS
Back in 2019, I visited Stolac city in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the second time. What was the reason for my visit? A medieval fair called Tarča. This was my second visit to this lovely historical city located in Herzegovina. If you remember, I visited it and blogged about it last year ( feel free to check these two posts to find out more: MEDIEVAL FAIR IN STOLAC, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA & STOLAC MEDIEVAL FAIR PART TWO). We were fortunate as far as the weather was concerned. The day of our visit was just as lovely and sunny as last year.
IF YOU ARE A LOVER OF NATURE, CHECK OUT MY POST ABOUT NATIONAL PARKS IN HERZEGOVINA.
There are four national parks and three nature parks in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Don't hold me by my word, I'm not entirely sure is that a complete list. I did some research about protected areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina and that is the information I found. There are many beautiful parks in this country, but not all of them have the status of a Nature Park. Speaking of which, both National Park and Nature Park are terms used specifically for protected areas of nature. Both have to met certain standards to be awarded this title and are typically regulated by conservation laws.
MY PREVIOUS (YEARLY) VISITS TO WETLAND NATURE PARK HUTOVO BLATO
https://modaodaradosti.blogspot.com/2021/06/visit-hutovo-blato-wetland-nature-park.html- this was A SUMMER VISIT TO NATURE PARK HUTOVO BLATO . There you can find tips on what to do in this nature park as well as some nice photography. NATURE PARK HUTOVO BLATO AUGUST (SUMMER) 2020 // HUTOVO BLATO (SUMMER) 2019 //LET'S VISIT HUTOVO BLATO, JANUARY (WINTER) 2018
NATURE PARK BLIDINJE
MY TOP 8 POSTS ABOUT NATURE PARK BLIDINJE
1. PROTECTED AREAS IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: NATURE PARKS
2. HOW TO GET TO BLIDINJE?
3. A FEW REASONS TO VISIT BLIDINJE
4. WHERE TO STAY IN BLIDINJE?
5. NATURE PARK BLIDINJE, BOSNIA AND HERCEGOVINA
6. VISIT THE MAGNIFICENT LAKE BLIDINJE
7. SIGHTS TO SEE, PLACES TO VISIT: LAKE BLIDINJE
8. BLIDNJE: A MOUNTAIN CHURCH OF SAINT ELIAS
2. HOW TO GET TO BLIDINJE?
3. A FEW REASONS TO VISIT BLIDINJE
4. WHERE TO STAY IN BLIDINJE?
5. NATURE PARK BLIDINJE, BOSNIA AND HERCEGOVINA
6. VISIT THE MAGNIFICENT LAKE BLIDINJE
7. SIGHTS TO SEE, PLACES TO VISIT: LAKE BLIDINJE
8. BLIDNJE: A MOUNTAIN CHURCH OF SAINT ELIAS
Do you like animals? Do you like horses? I do not know have I written this before, but as a kid I was obsessed with horses. I would have picked a horse toy over a Barbie any day of the week. Of course, I also had Barbie dolls, but you know what I mean. I really loved horses.
Thank you for reading and visiting!
When I opened your new post, the first thing that caught my eye were of course the horses, but then the grass. In fact, I am always fascinated by those details, thousands of details in your pictures, for example, like the fortress of Herceg Stjepan Kosača in Blagaj near Mostar... At first glance, tens of thousands of details!!! It's incredible how much strength, precision, talent and imagination you have in your pictures! The same as in your textual comments or reviews. You made my day, actually my night 🤗 Thank you for another beautiful story dear Ivana 🥰👏👏👏👏👏
ReplyDelete