Saturday, 10 October 2015

Stone on stone

Hi Everybody!

It's weekend already - have a good one!

For Art Journal Journey I used a photo taken some years back in Acre (Akko), a coastal town in Israel dating back to about 2000 BC, and one of the oldest continuously inhabited towns in the area. It was also known as Ptolemais in the Greek and Roman period. You can walk through ancient lanes and arches, see the old fortifications, the crusader castle and many other wonders there. This street here leads to the old Hammam, or bath house. I painted around the photo, and added some more 'masonry' with  structure paste mixed with reflex beads for more texture. I added some patches of (want to be) gold leaf just for fun, as  it matches the colour of the stones. I put Mr Umbrella Man in a Safari Suit and sent him to wander through the streets. 







Part of the walls



The Khan al-Umdan. Here travellers and merchants could rest and buy and sell their wares. This was used in the film 'Not without my daughter' to film one of the scenes. In my photo a young man was pressing oranges to fresh juice.




The ancient harbour


The entry to a Mosque



The sea wall



Have a great day you all, take care, 
and thanks a lot for coming by!

29 comments:

  1. It's a beauty! And as usual, I love your photos that take me away!!!

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  2. What an interesting page and photos!

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  3. Love this piece comes across like some time travel portal - colors and texture are Fab! The photos were cool! ��

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  4. What an interesting post and wonderful AJJ entry. The way you added the textured wall was stunning. I was truly impressed. Your umbrella man gets around, doesn't he?

    I learned a lot from this post, and really enjoyed the photos and history you shared. This is a truly beautiful and ancient part of the world.

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  5. Wonderful post, Akko is really magical. Thanks for sharing. Hugs, Sarah

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  6. Fantastic page with wonderful colours and ideas Valerie and the photographs are so clear and crisp I felt I was there among the buildings.

    Have a good weekend

    Love Chrissie xx

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  7. Your journal page is so fascinating ... of course you could not have chosen anything better for my taste -- ancient (like me, lol). Beautifully done, Valerie. Enjoyed our walk through the old town -- so exquisite. I can feel the energy in the photographs. hugs, Donna

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  8. Eine großartige Seite ist das geworden und im Kontext mit den schönen , interessanten Fotos macht das einen ganz besonderen post heute! Super!
    Danke für's Zeigen der herrlichen Aufnahmen ...

    Ich wünsch Dir einen guten Samstag und gute Besserung weiterhin Sweetie!

    oxo
    Susi

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  9. This page is fabulous, Valerie! A wonderful photo you've used and stunning textures.
    Thanks for sharing your interesting photographs.
    Have a great weekend!
    Hugs, Mar

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  10. Good morning Valerie what a fantastic piece you have for us today.
    I love the way your background blends into your main image just where the umbrella man looks like he is about to walk up that steep hill. Fabulous texture, I have some of that paste with little beads but not yet tried it, it looks really nice.
    Lovely photos with great views and wonderful architecture and an interesting read - thanks for sharing those.
    Have a lovely day (and thanks for thanks also xx)
    Gill xx

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  11. Wow, fabulous architecture and a brilliant page. You can feel the heat, Mr U needs that umbrella to shade his head from the sun.
    Hope you are having a better day.
    Yvonne xx

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    1. What a wonderful treat for us today with your journal page and photos. You are like a walking encyclopedia, Valerie, and I enjoy you and your blog so much. You must have travelled a lot to share your marvelous photos with us. Today, they are exceptional.
      Hugs,
      B

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  12. Such a fascinating town, Valerie, I can feel the warmth from those stone walls. The journal page is fantastic with the textures and gilding that gives the photo more dimension. Enjoy your weekend sweetie :)

    Love and hugs
    Maarit

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  13. Love the way you added the texture! Really lovely photos! Chrisx

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  14. So much art, imagination and fun all combined to produce a very original architectural theme - love it.

    The photographs are just begging to be drawn, but my schedule is so tight packed, from now until forever; I get up earlier and retire later, seven days a week. But at least I get to enjoy other people's work ... thanks for that.

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  15. Incredible! The places you have been and the wonders you have seen and share! These are all so magical to me! Thank you! I thoroughly enjoyed Mr.Umbrella man and his walk- beautiful page!
    hugs,Jackie

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  16. This is an incredible post sharing your adventures and places traveled. I love your art work and each time Umbrella Man turns up in fantastic ways. Great pics and thanks for sharing.
    xo

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  17. Oh I really liked this piece!
    Lots of shades of brown in this city isn't there?
    Hugs

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  18. One of my favorite posts EVER of yours Valerie. It's pure history - those pictures are totally amazing. I love love love love love seeing them. AND... I am also totally in love with your project too. It is wonderful the way you made the picture totally blend and added the textured wall too. The umbrella man is PERFECT. You really pushed all my yummy buttons on this post!!!! Happy weekend.j.

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  19. One of my favorite posts EVER of yours Valerie. It's pure history - those pictures are totally amazing. I love love love love love seeing them. AND... I am also totally in love with your project too. It is wonderful the way you made the picture totally blend and added the textured wall too. The umbrella man is PERFECT. You really pushed all my yummy buttons on this post!!!! Happy weekend.j.

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  20. I really like your journal page and have deep feelings for your pictures. I will have to look at them again and again. I would give anything to be able to visit this place. Years ago when I was investigating Earth Watch, they had a discipline in an old seaport in Israel helping to clean old mosaics - oh how I wanted to do that. One of my favorite posts Valerie. Can you show us more?
    Sandy xx

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    1. I have another post about Akko ready and will be showing it on Wednesday!

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  21. Lovely photo and your use of the texture streaming from the photo is gorgeous! All the pictures you have shared really let you delve into this design! Awesome sauce! ~Niki

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  22. Beautiful photo and I really like your texturing. Thanks for showing all of that gorgeous architecture too.
    hugs,
    Teresa

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  23. I love how you made your piece based on your journey. The photos are stunning. You did such a good job carrying it over to your architecture piece. I never thought of adding glass beads to the molding paste but I think that makes such good texture.

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  24. I love how you made your piece based on your journey. The photos are stunning. You did such a good job carrying it over to your architecture piece. I never thought of adding glass beads to the molding paste but I think that makes such good texture.

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  25. Thanks for the history lesson too! Wonderful texture of the "old building". xox

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