Moda oda radosti is an art, fashion and book blog whose aim is to celebrate all things beautiful. Focused on sustainable fashion, art and travel, this blog aims to find joy in everyday things.
Travel With My Art #49: Hutovo Blato, Bosnia and Herzegovina
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Hello dear readers! It's time for another Travel with My Art Post. You all know what that means. I'm back with another landscape painting. So, what is the location that has inspired this acrylic painting? It is Hutovo blato, a wetland in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I have written about this insanely beautiful nature reserve many times on my blog, calling it the hidden gem of Europe. Obviously, I enjoy sharing this beautiful place with you. However, I also feel the need to warn the future visitors to be sustainable and mindful during their visit. Hutovo blato plays an important role in European ecology. Hutovo blato is home to numerous migratory birds, plants and wildlife.
I've been sharing places I love ever since I started blogging. Nevertheless, sometimes I question whether to share some place on my blog or not. However, since Hutovo blato does not face any issues with overtourism, I feel like I can talk freely about it on my blog. If you check all of my visits to Hutovo blato (you will be able to find the numerous links below), you'll see that most of the time there are no people around. Foreign tourists only seem to visit it in the Summer. I do not count the bird-watchers as regular tourists because they typically do care a lot about the environment and the birds. This wetland really is a hidden gem. It is also one of the most important European wetlands. The locals know about Hutovo blato of course, but Bosnia and Herzegovina is not a densely populated country so local visits do not harm the ecology. The potential threat to this place is more developmental (i.e political) than connected to tourism as such. For example, the immediate threat to this place is building of dams and other water management projects that can potentially be harmful to Hutovo blato.
If you check my blog, you'll see that my last published visit to Hutovo blato was during Winter 2025. The photographs I will share in this particular post were taken in Spring 2025. So, more than a year ago bit during the same season at least. As you will see I used my own photograph as a reference for the painting I'm sharing today. All photographs of me were taken by my husband. I'm wearing a lot more layers in this post than I would normally wear this time of year. So, this more a styling for Spring weather. The Summer has not started officially yet, but we have been facing summer temperatures for a while now. The outfits on my blog are still Spring outfits, though.
I have to admit that I feel a bit emotional realizing this is my 49th post in Travel with my Art category. When I started this series, I did not know that I will make so many paintings. Digitally these paintings all take the same space. In real life, their size varies a lot. Some of the paintings I shared in this Travel with my Art feature on my blog are small sketches on A4 paper or even small, while some are big canvas paintings. So big that I can hardly lift them up and I'm a rather tall woman. Some of these paintings I sold, some gifted and some are still with me. Some of these paintings I might have even displaced (not to say lost), but they are all here on this little digital place to call my own. They are available for me to anyone who wants to see them. Anyone can open my blog and travel with my art.
My blog has always been a mixture of things. It's always been about travel and art. Sometimes I focused more on art, sometimes on fashion and sometimes on books, but local (sustainable) travel has always been a part of my blogging journey. Joining my love for art with my love for sustainable travel just make sense. For me sustainable travel is all about caring for your destination and a community that lives there (in case of a populated location). Painting some place definitely feels like caring about it, if you know what I mean.
The whole process of making art has always felt like a process of love and appreciation. You typically love what you paint. Of course, artists will also paint what they find uncomfortable and paint things that make one think. However, when we're speaking about landscape art in general, it is something that transmit a sort of love towards a certain destination. Do you agree? Painting something or painting someone can be an act of love and tribute. In fact, it often is.
I'm sure that I said it before, but one thing that I love about drawing, illustrating and painting is how it forces you to pay attention. You cannot illustrate or paint something if you don't really look at it. Of course, there are different kinds of art. There are different art goals as well. As an artist, sometimes you just want to capture some place or capture a feeling of some place quickly. As an artist, sometimes you want to challenge yourself or/and push your art skills to the maximum. As an artist, sometimes you are commissioned to paint a certain place. So, no art is ever the same. Some paintings are more ambitious than others. Some paintings require preparation and research, and some can be done more quickly.
When I started posting my landscape art and location illustration, I focused mostly on Croatia. With time, Bosnia and Herzegovina also won its place among my location and landscape art. As you know, I love both of these countries. I was born in Croatia, but I was expat for many years in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In fact, I still live and work in both of these countries. Logistically, sometimes it is a bit challenging, but there are also perks to having two countries you call your own. In fact, there are four countries that I feel a special connection too. Interestingly, Travel with my Art series reflects exactly that. Besides Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina, it features two other countries as well.
However, back at the subject of this particular 'Travel with my Art' painting. The medium is acrylic paints on mixed media paper. I used my own photograph of Hutovo blato as a reference for this painting. However, I was not going for exact similarity. I checked some other photographs as well. Basically, I painted this quickly. I made this painting during my winter break this year. This was the first painting after a rather long non-painting period. At least, that is how it felt. I did make some other art in the meantime, but did not finish it. So, when I arrived to Mostar, I just jumped into this painting, trying to work as quickly as possible. I remember that I could not find my brushes, and I worked with just one brush that was too wide for the details. So, I ended using toothpicks to add the details to this painting. I taped the ends of this painting, but the paint kind of spilled, ending up in a bit of a messy look. I might correct that some time in the future....or not. We shall see.
All in all, I'm pretty content with this painting. I made another Bosnia and Herzegovina inspired riverscape at about the same time and that one was a lot more ambitious canvas painting. What was that riverscape? Well, Bunica river canvas painting I shared back in May. I remember struggling with that one as well. I think it's normal to struggle with art in general. However, when there are time periods when you cannot do art at all, it is only to be expected. Art is a skill that needs to be maintained. Don't use it, and you can loose it. However, life happens. Consistency is important, but it is not the end of the world if you don't do art everyday.
There is a lot of advice online about needing to do art everyday even for a little bit, for example five or ten minutes. It is all well, but what can you do in ten minutes? Yes, one can absolutely improve one's skill, even if you art five minutes a day. Personally, for me that advice does not always work, especially when it comes to painting. This advice works beautifully for drawing and illustrating skills, but a little less for painting. Moreover, sometimes the pressure of having to do it every day actually puts me away from making art. Why should it be every single day, anyway? Sometimes I'm really too tired to do it even for five minutes a day. When I work on my paintings, focused non-interrupted time is really important to me. It is easier to paint when I get into the flow of things. It takes me five to ten minutes just to get my paints out and set the canvas. Sure I can do sketches every day, but will that help me with more advanced art skills? Canvas take time and that is that. I'm all for advice that practice makes progress and all that, but everyone also has to adapt these rules to fit their lifestyle.
Anyhow, long story short- this was a quick painting, but I enjoyed it. Obviously, it is not a detailed landscape. It is more impressionist than realistic in style. Is there anything I particularly like about it? Actually, there is. I think the trees turned out really well. I think I managed to capture the atmosphere, the joining of trees and the water that is so characteristic of Hutovo blato. You may check the gif below for a closer view of my Hutovo blato experience. Naturally, there will be more photographs as well. We're just getting started, guys. This is going to be a long post. I do not post as much as I used to, so somehow I feel the need to write more in my posts.
Gif Travel with my art and visit Hutovo blato
Now, that we have talked the painting and the location talk, I want to leave you with my link party. Here is a collection of my travel art links in case you want to see more or revisit some of my Art.
Now, that I shared my relevant art links, it's time to share my previous Hutovo blato visit. After all, I promised as much in my introduction to this post. I once described Hutovo blato as my 'happy place'. It is a place where sea and water meet to form something magical. Yes, Croatian seaside and Adriatic sea is some distance away (around 15 km) but the sea travels underground. While the water at Hutovo blato is fresh water, Adriatic influence can still be felt. Deep underground in some canals, the sea water sometimes mixes with the fresh water. This enables for some sea fish to survive in those underground canals. It is all really fascinating. I could write about Hutovo blato on every day basis. It really fascinates me, this Mediterranean wetland. I grew up near the sea, but living in Herzegovina for so many years I have fallen in love with its rivers, lakes and wetlands. Hutovo blato seems to have the best of both worlds.You can feel echoes of sea in Hutovo blato even if it is a fresh wetland.
Let us quickly revise a bit of basic information about this nature reserve. Hutovo blato is a nature reserve, spanning over 4, 11 kilometers. So, it is a bit over 4 km long. Plenty to see in those 4 km, for Hutovo blato it is also a home to a great number of birds and wildlife. How many birds exactly you might ask? A lot, especially when it comes to migratory birds. About 240 migratory bird species can be found in Hutovo blato. From what I found online, in the migration season, tens of thousands of birds can be found in Hutovo blato. Now, Imagine that. If you roam these 4km, you're more than likely to catch sight of some of those birds. Animal and nature lovers in general should feel at home in Hutovo blato. If you love nature, wetlands, open spaces and water surfaces surrounded by mountains, this is a perfect destination for you. It's open to all visitors, there's no entry fee. You can visit anytime you feel like it.
Just in case anyone is curious, here is a list of birds I have seen in Hutovo blato, about sixteen or seventeen of them.
What birds have I personally spotted in Hutovo blato?
Have I seen.....?
1) Little grebe- Yes, I've seen it many, many times. It's a cute little bird, somewhat shy, but also calm. It never seemed afraid of us, but also it never came close to us or anything like that.
2) Great crested grebe- Yes, but only once if I remember correctly.
3) Great cormorant- Yes, but I think I've seen it once or twice. It's quite a large bird, and a very impressive sight to behold.
4) Pygmy cormorant- Yes, cormorants are pretty common in Hutovo blato. I have seen this smaller relative of the cormorant family a few times in Hutovo blato.
5) Little egret- This is one of the most beautiful birds I have ever seen in person. It's so elegant and poised. With its perfectly white feathers, and its slender body, it seems almost like an apparition.
6) Purple heron- I have seen the purple heron in Hutovo blato, and it's magnificent. I haven't seen the grey one yet.
7) Mallard- You can find mallards all over Bosnia and Herzegovina. Mostar and Buna are crowded with them! I love them, they are such friendly and sociable ducks. They always try to get food from us in Mostar and Buna. Although, I never fed those in Hutovo blato since it's protected area and all.
8) Short-toed eagle- I have seen this eagle on our latest visit. It was a lovely surprise as we weren't even trying to spot animals.
9) Common buzzard - I'm pretty sure I saw a common buzzard once or twice.
10) Eurasian coot- I have seen this lovely black bird. It's very pretty!
11) Wood sandpiper- I have seen wood sandpiper a dozen of times.
12) Caspian gull- I've seen the Caspial gull on almost every visit to Hutovo blato. These guys are always around.
13) White wagtail- I've seen the white wagtail often. It's a common bird in the area.
14-15-16-17) Hooded crow- Of course I saw the hooded crow, the House sparrow, the Common chaffinch, European serin, and possibly also Cirl bunting and Corn bunting.
Now, let us approach Hutovo blato from a perspective of a history lover!
Besides being precious in the ecological sense, Hutovo blato is important to history as well. If you are both a nature and a history lover, you simply have to come here. Back in 2008, archeologist from Mostar and Sweden discovered remains of a more than two thousand years old Illyrian tradition in Hutovo blato.
Cited from wikipedia: "After intense excavations in the area of Hutovo Blato in the autumn of 2008, archaeologists from the University of Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and the University of Lund (Sweden) found the very first traces of an Illyrian trading post, thought to be more than two thousand years old. The find is unique in a European perspective and the archaeologists have concluded that Desilo, as the location is called, was an important trading post and a site of significant contact between the Illyrians and the Romans. ...."
Again, I have to mention a few historical facts before I link up my old visits to Hutovo blato. As history lover, I simply must write a few words about Desilo, an underwater arceological site located in Hutovo blato. I wrote about ancient Romans and Illyrians many times on my blog. There are many Illyrian and Roman ruins where I grow up, and I have Illyrian blood. So, naturally I've always been fascinated by the Roman and Illyrian cultures. Desilo, this Illyrian underwater archeological site proves peaceful relations between ancient Romans and Illyrians. Peaceful assimilation of Illyrians by the Slavic tribes has also been proven (genetically). The past is not always what we imagine it to be. The lines between nations and tribes are often blurry.
So, basically what is so significant about discovery of this ancient Illyrian site is that it proves peaceful interaction between ancient Romans and Illyrians living in the area. In my last post about Hutovo blato I have written about Desilo in more details. Today I'll just repeat and stress the three most important facts from my perspective:
1) Desilo (underwater site) proves contact between ancient Romans and Illyrians as well as differences between Illyrian tribes,
2) It is the first discovery of Illyrian ships, that were previously only known to us through Roman and Greek myths,
3) This perhaps the most important Illyrian find ever, has yet to be fully researched!
The boats you can see in the photographs are not Illyrian boats, though. They are just regular boats from local people that happened to be there when we visited. We used them to take photographs because well we couldn't resist. Speaking of photographs, I have to say that I love the romantic vibes of these photographs. I felt like a Byronic hero watching these photographs. Romantism is such an interesting art movement. Alright, I find all art movements fascinating in their way. It's my area of expertise after all. I teach literature for a living. Still, Romantism has that special something. I always could relate to its wanderlust spirit and the love for nature. I feel these photographs really capture that. Moreover, the outfit I'm sporting seems to have some some old European vibes.
There were no boat rides offered when we visited this time, but I have taken boat rides in Hutovo blato a number of times and I always enjoyed them a lot. The boat rides are not very expensive and they really are the best way to see the birds. These rides are usually available during Summer. However, Hutovo blato is a great destination to visit anytime of the year. You can read more about my previous visits to Hutovo blato below. See what I have done in Hutovo blato so far and what I recommend doing:
Whenever I post about Hutovo blato, I like to include my prepositions about things to do here. So, here I go again:
1. Paint an en plein air painting!
Why not make some art outdoors? After all, Hutovo blato is perfect for en plein painting. The nature is gorgeous and there aren't many people around. It is open to everyone and at any time. You can take all the time you need.
2. Do some outdoor sports and games!
Why not do some sports? If you do not feel like working out alone, you can bring your friends and do team sports.
3. Try out the new adventure park!
If you do not feel like figuring out your own sport activity, why not try rock climbing and an adventure park located in Hutovo blato.
4. Enjoy a nice boat ride and sightseeing !
If you like boat and boat rides, its definitely something you should try. In a wetland, a boat ride is obviously the best way to see birds and wildlife.
4. Visit a bridge that is older than the famous Old Bridge in Mostar!
Right next to the sign announcing entrance to the park, you can see a very old bridge. It is very old and beautiful.
5. Dine or enjoy a drink at the restaurant Motel Park!
Why not stop for a cup of coffee or a drink at the restaurant? The food is also really good. This is something I can personally recommend. I stop for a drink every time I'm there, and we have eaten there a number of times. My recommendation would of course be a fish dish.
6. Spent the night at Hutovo blato!
Why not book a stay? You can stay in the Motel Park and actually wake up in a wetland! I haven't stayed there yet but I'm planning too
7. Go hiking or trekking!
This one is kind of obvious. Hiking in a nature park or a reserve is a must. Why are we going to nature park if not to interact with the nature. Unless you're physically incapable of walking, you should be walking in a nature reserve or a park. That's the whole point.
8. Go cycling!
Cycling in Hutovo Blato is also a great idea. As I said, the place isn't crowded. Obviously, there also isn't a lot of traffic. You can see an occasional car and that is that. Cycling through Hutovo blato should be very easy and relaxing.
9. Take an educational trail and learn about wildlife!
There is an educational trail that you should absolutely take. It is composed of posters presenting you with information about wildlife. It is a short and enjoyable trail, I practically walk it every time I visit.
10. Do some bird-watching!
As I explained, bird-watching is one of the major attractions in Hutovo blato. It is definitely something to do if you like birds (or animals in general).
11. Study the plant and wildlife!
In case you're more a botanical type or interested in other wildlife, you'll find plenty to see and study in Hutovo blato.
12. Take a souvenir with you!
There are shops at Hutovo blato you can buy souvenirs at.
13. Clean any litter if you find it!
Finally, you can so some cleaning. I mean in case you find some litter. Cleaning is always good, right?
It was very windy when we visited but it sort of worked into our favour because we ended up with some gorgeous photographs. Speaking of photographs, I think it is time for me to share my sustainable fashion files, that is to tell you the story of my outfit.
Sustainable fashion files, that is, the story of my outfit!
How I wore these fashion items before?
The vintage camel blazer with hand painted red hearts (by yours truly)
20) The outfit I'm sharing today, striped mini skirt with a camel blazer and a black silver men's waistcoat
Whenever I do these kind of posts, I realize that I do really get a lot of wear out of my clothes. Most of them are vintage or secondhand to start with, so I'm doing really well with shopping my closet if I can say so myself! Alright, let's continue with the story about my fashion items.
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