The country chosen by Darcy this week is Spain. I'm fortunate enough to have been there a few times on holiday and on two occasions I was lucky enough to visit the city of Barcelona. I love that city; it's so jam packed with culture and vibrancy. As I was leaving the city the first time I saw a building from the coach window. Our tour guide explained it was a house called Casa Batllo, designed by Spanish architect, Antoni Gaudi. I was hooked; as soon as I got home I looked up more about Gaudi's work and kicked myself for not knowing about him before I'd gone to Barcelona. Fortunately, on my second visit I was able to take in more of his work.
I chose to make my postcard a drawing of one of the skull-like balconies and worked from this image....
...resulting in this postcard...
You might be wondering who that fella on the stamp is. Well, he's not just some random Spaniard; it is Alexandre Deulofeu, originally a pharmacist from the town of Figueres, who became a politician and philosopher. Salvador Dali began to incorporate this 'Chemist of Figueres' into several of his paintings, for what reason i'm not sure. I find it fascinating how Dali included him in so many paintings; sometimes obviously, like in 'The Chemist of Figueres Looks For Nothing At All'...
...sometimes less obvious, as in his inclusion in 'Swans Reflecting Elephants' (can you see him on the left?)...
...and sometimes you can barely see him as he's a tiny figure in the background!
lovely card - cannot wait to see where this story is going! x
ReplyDeleteOoh la la that postcard story could be a bit saucy..love your art and how you've used the balcony for inspiration and I can see why you love the architect's work so much..Esther xx
ReplyDeletefabulous, you did an awesome job replicating that balcony, love all the extra photos you posted.
ReplyDeleteThe mixture of art history and story and memories is marvelous. The postcard is great.
ReplyDeleteLove the rendering Just wish I have been to any of the places used so far...
ReplyDeleteWow! Superb postcard..so much insight into spanish artists thank you :D And what a cheeky chappy your character is lol :D XXX
ReplyDeleteOooh I love learning all these interesting things about places & people as I travel around the themed countries :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a tease your character is!! I've heard so much about the beautiful architecture of Barcelona. I must get there.
ReplyDeleteFantastic!! love your personal touch. And so interesting about Deulofeu (I'm off to google.)
ReplyDeleteSo great you took the time to find all this. :) i love that balcony! Awesome postcard!
ReplyDeleteGreat research, so interesting. Love the postcard.
ReplyDeleteJen x
What a great drawing! And wonderful to see the inspiration! ♥
ReplyDeletesuper cool thank you for showing us your research... I just LOVE learning and this is a very good way to do it
ReplyDeletelove the architecture. postcard fabulous love the mosaics in the background. See your story leading up to a hot hot night. Dali's work is so intriguing. thanks for sharing the research of the stamp!
ReplyDeleteGreat card and love all the extra info too :)
ReplyDeleteI love the balcony postcard! I would so love to have a glass or two of sangria on that balcony :D
ReplyDeleteI love the architecture and have enjoyed seeing your interpretation, and I love love love Dalis work so happy to see that at the bottom of your post too xxx
ReplyDeleteGreat photographic inspiration, love your card and I enjoyed reading abut the inclusion of Deulofeu in Dali's works, I'll look at them more closely next time! M
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