It has been a year long art journey painting the Spain Camino de Santiago, re-living my Way of St James pilgrim hike as I go along, so it was with trepidation and exhilaration that I approached the painting of the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral - the penultimate destination of the 1000-year-old pilgrimage and holding the sacred shrine of Saint James.
Arrival at the city itself initially wasn't quite the emancipating experience I expected, not with the terrifying hordes of pilgrims, tourists, and just so many people that it was disorientating. But making the way through the clutter for the first sight of the Cathedral dispelled everything. The feeling was indescribable, akin to when I first saw Angkor Wat.. It was medieval architecture at its utmost glory and no photograph could quite capture its grandeur. And so instead of snapping blindly, I chose to feel the place.. and to capture those feelings on canvas one year on..
Title: Destined (O66)
Description: A bold expressionist piece echoing the artist's emotions on arrival at the famous Santiago de Compostela Cathedral - the penultimate destination of the Camino de Santiago (Way of St James) pilgrim route. Spain Camino 2011.
Medium: Oil on Ready-to-Hang Canvas.
Dimensions: 91 x 76cm.
Purchase at: yen.artfire.com
Comments:
james scrivano said...
Beautiful.
steve thorpe said...
Lovely work!
rob delves said...
nice expressive work Yen!
xueling zou said...
Wonderful painting, so well done!
jeffrey said...
This is lovely!
It was our first long day hike in the mountains of Bierzo on the pilgrim route of Camino de Santiago de Compostela (the Way of St James), walking 19 kilometres from the abandoned village of Foncebadon to the pretty village of Molinaseca. There were many historical landmarks, interesting tidbits, and picturesque moments on the way but this little brick house along the path stayed in my memory long beyond..
There was a quaint little sign leading to it but it seems deserted.. or not .. I do not know and did not venture to find out. Content was I to admire it from the distance, with its little bobbing chimney, and golden glow in the sun. I loved the way the whole structure seemed to dance with the whimsical clouds on the prairie and this is what I seek to capture - the carefree spirit of the moment on this memorable trek.
Title: Little House On The Prairie (O52)
Description: A delightful little house in the Bierzo Mountains captivated me as I was trekking on the pilgrim route of Camino de Santiago de Compostela (the Way of St James). It seems deserted.. or not.. I do not know. But I loved the way it seems to dance with the whimsical clouds on the prairie and the carefree spirit of the moment is epitomized in this work. Spain Camino 2011.
Medium: Oil on Ready-to-Hang Canvas.
Dimensions: 70 x 50cm.
Purchase at: yen.artfire.com
