St Luke - St Luke's - who and where? England, Italy, the USA and globally

St Luke - see his relics or statues or places named after him in England, Italy (Florence and Padua), Greece (Thebes), Czech Republic (Prague), and France (Notre Dame).

I have been doing a lot of shopping in St Luke's charity shops which raise money for their hospice(s?) in north west London. They have seventeen shops in North west London and sell online through ebay. I searched for shop locations and found other organizations with  hospices in other parts of England which had a different logo. So the London hospices called themselves St Luke's but had no monopoly over the name. After all, saints are created by the Roman Catholic church, presided over by the Pope, who decides who are saints because they were martyred or did miraculous deeds, or good deeds, hence the word saintly.  

Who Was St Luke?

St Luke - the doctor

St Luke was a physician or medical doctor, preventing, diagnosing and treating diseases and injuries.

St Luke - The Writer

 He wrote two books of the New Testament. The Gospel according to St Luke. The Acts of the Apostles.

St Luke - The Painter

St Luke painting the Virgin.

He is sometimes shown with a brush or items connected with painting.

His symbols are the bull and the winged ox. The ox represents sacrifice and wings represent the travel - of the message.

He was not one of the twelve apostles seen sitting with Jesus in the famous painting of the last supper. He was with Paul (who later changed the rules of Judaism by eliminating the requirements of circumcision, and the ban on eating pork, to make the message about resurrection more acceptable to gentiles meaning non-Jews).

That rang a bell in my mind - so St Luke is associated with the sick? Why? Who was St Luke? What did he do? Where? Which country or countries? Which churches, buildings, monuments, streets, oranizations, statues, holy places or cities, are associated with him?

I googled St Luke and found that he was buried in Padua, Italy. Actually, according to Wikipedia, which summarises many sources, listed at the end of the article, most of his body is there, but his skull is elsewhere, and a rib was donated to Thebes. Carbon dating of the bones has shown they date back to the first century during and/or after the life of Jesus and those who knew him. (This is assuming the story of Jesus is about a real person, one person, at one time, not a myth, nor a conglomerate of several people, descendants and disciples, and/or unrelated namesakes from different eras).

I recall the words with the memorable rhyme, Mathew, Mark, Luke and John, guard the bed that I lie on. So, if you are interested from either a cultural, historical or religious point of view, you can see paintings of St Luke in the USA, Roman Catholic countries in Europe, as well as in the UK from the pre-Protestant era (before Henry VIII separated England from the Pope) as well as Eastern Orthodox countries. Plus statues, churches, schools, hospices, shops and other buildings.

ITALY

St Luke is known in Italian as San Luca.

See the statue in Florence. (Cathedral or museum or both?)

Statue in Milan, Milan Cathedral.

Padua.

FRANCE

Statue at Versailles.

When?

His feast day is celebrated in October, on October 18th.

GERMANY

Berlin Cathedral.

LITHUANIA

Statue on the facade of the cathedral in Vilnius.

MALTA

Wooden statue in the National Museum.

UK

St Luke's churches in the UK inlcude St Albans, and London's Chelsea, Kensington.   

USA

Statue in St Louis, Art Museum.

Statue in a cemetery in Houston.

Useful Websites

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luke_the_Evangelist

Lithuania, the great Vilna Gaon and Extraordinary Synagogues With Paintings or Birds and Animals

 Lithuania has an extraordinary past, present and future.

Napoleon admired it.

The old cobbled streets have a heritage status from Unesco. 

There is also a new town with stunning skyscrapers. 

But the old synagogues are extraordinary. Here is a synagogue with paintings showing animals such as a lion and a humped camel or dromedary. Birds fly across the ceiling.

Synagogue in Lithuania with blue walls and ceiling and paintings

Synagogue in Lithuania. A stork perches on the top of a tree. The predominant colour is blue.

Lithuania. Statue.

Postage stamp of lithuano showing Vilnius synagogue. 

Synagogue in Lithuania.

Synagogue in Lithuania.

Useful Websites

About the Author of this blog, Author Angela Lansbury

BIOGRAPHY

Angela Lansbury B A Hons ACG ALB PM5 EH5 DL5 VC5 
The Author of several books, including  Etiquette For Every Occasion. Wedding Speeches & Toasts. How to be the Best Man. Quick Quotations. Who Said What When.

Blogs travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com

dressofthedayangela.blogspot.com

translateforfun.blogspot.com

Braddell Heights Advanced Toastmasters Speakers Club Vice President Public Relations (VPPR), Previous President

Join BHA 1st Wednesday 7pm and 3rd Saturday 2 pm Singapore time 

Vice President Public Relations (VP PR) of Tampines Changkat Advanced;

Secretary of weekly online Singapore International Dynamic Toastmasters Speakers’ Club;

Member and past president of Harrovians toastmasters club, UK; Past member of HOD Toastmasters, London. Past member in Singapore of: Toastmasters Club of Singapore (TCS); Tiarel; and Senja Cashew.

More details from Toastmasters International find a club.

Regular attendee at annual Swanwick Writers’ School, England.

Regular attendee at annual Writers’ Holiday, Wales.

Contributor to poetry readings, and after tea courses on: Speaking On Radio To Promote Books; and Plots And Character.

Winner of many club and area speaking contests in the UK and Singapore.

Language advisor to Empire Toastmasters club in Indonesia.

Language and speech workshops in Singapore.

Speaker on radio and TV in England, Scotland, the USA, and Australia.

Compiler of a school course on public speaking for teachers to prepare pupils for school open days with attending ceremonies before government ministers, Singapore.

Former member of Harrow Writers’ Circle, London, and two writing groups in Singapore.

Angela is on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Twitter. She would be delighted to link up with new friends.

I  also have a blog on comic poems.

 Please share links to your favourite posts.

Mona Lisa and Jesus Paintings - Sculptor Botero is also an artist whose works you can own

Museo de Botero (Botero Museum) in Bogota, capital city of Colombia, South America. Panorama showing Mona Lisa aged twelve, by artist Fernando Botero.
Photo by diego_cue in Simple Wikipedia

The first thing you see when you walk into the museum is Botero's sculpture, the hand.


Big Bird
I first saw a Botero sculpture of the little fat little black bird, titled Big Bird, a blackbird, not a pigeon, whatever, by the waterfront, the walkway along the river, in the Central Business District in Singapore.

Huge Horse
Afterwards I came across the imposing strong black horse near Buona Vista which means good view, in an enclosed courtyard beside the Buona Vista MRT railway station.

Sculptor and Painter, Botero
When I looked up Botero in Wikipedia I discovered he was also a painter but I didn't take much notice of that. Now I have switched up my laptop and it magically remembers I did previous searches for Botero and it hopefully sends me photos and advertisements on Botero.

Google Is Watching You
You might think that having Google watching you and your browsing and buying habits is creepy and annoying, because often when you have just bought something you want to move on, not going through buyer's remorse seeing all the things you could have bought - even cheaper, What a waste of your time and the advertiser's. But in this instance I was delighted to see a panel of pictures by Botero.

Why Should Painters Reinvent The Wheel?
I had noticed previously that he had painted an updated, modernised Mona Lisa. He painted it when he moved from South America to Paris, France, in Europe (as opposed to Paris, Texas) with other artists. He spent time in the Louvre (where else) looking at the most famous painting in the Louvre, by Italian Leonardo De Vinci. As is the habit of art students, he copied famous paintings, but improsed his own style.

On taking a look at the pictures I see he has found a series of famous paintings and imposed his own style on them, plump people as well as plump animals. As with parodies of songs, this means he has the subject or plot already selected. An endless supply of ideas.

His own work is surprising because it gives a new take on something already known. Moreover, he has pre-arranged publicity because you already know the subject.

Surprise or Shock
To see a plump Mona Lisa is a surprise. To see a fat Jesus is a shock. A first. Like it, or loathe it, you are likely to remember it.

Marketing Magic
Furthermore, making variations on already well known paintings is an excellent marketing ploy. Why? First, because when anybody searches for a famous artwork, up pops his variation.Secondly, as in my case, when buyers are looking for Botero, the advertisers will chase lots of potential buyers with new but already familiar themes.

Buying Sculptures
A Botero sculpture can be bought, but you need to be a billionaire, or have access to funds and buy on behalf of a major gallery or buyer who wants to install a sculpture in a public place, to enhance the city, or mpress buyers, borrowers and lenders approaching your bank or business.However, artwork to hang on the wall at home comes at a more affordable price and needs less space.

Once somebody else has invested the money, an enormous amount of money, in a sculpture in a public place, you can enjoy seeing it for free. Free look. Free picture. Free selfie.

Add an objective to a stroll, your daily exercise. Find a place to take a visitor which does not cost you or them money. Pick target and achievement for your morning, afternoon or day out.


Broadgate Venus by Mike Quinn, in Wikipedia.

Seeing Sculptures


UK
Broadgate Venus near Liverpool Street station, London, England, UK

Buying Botero Artwork
Having discovered Botero artwork on the internet, I now realise you don't have to travel the world to see Botero. However, it is good to see his sculptures in real life, to get a sense of the scale. The little bird in particular is interesting. We see birds as small; but his bird is big.

Travel Tips - Where to see Botero Sculpture
Where to see Botero artwork
Singapore
Big Bird
Horse

Spain

Madrid
Barcelona - Cat by Botero

USA

LATIN AMERICA - COLOMBIA

Dog sculpture - Medellin, Colombia

Where to see and buy Botero originals and reproductions
Singapore Gallery
https://www.operagallery.com/fernando-botero

Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Fernando-Botero-First-Canvas-Rolled/dp/B01G97004S

Ebay
https://www.ebay.com.sg/b/Fernando-Botero-Art-Paintings/

Lazada
https://www.lazada.sg/products/fernando-botero-president-size-x-gallery-wrapped-canvas-art-print-wall-decor-

Ezbuy
Mona Lisa Repro
https://ezbuy.sg/product/420788207.html

TRAVEL
To see the original of the Mona Lisa, go to The Louvre in Paris, France.

COUNTRY TRAVEL
COLOMBIA, SOUTH AMERICA
Mona Lisa painting.

France
visitfrance.co.uk

SPAIN
spain.info.en

USA
visittheusa.co.uk

Singapore
https://wikitravel.org/en/Colombia
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/

UK
visitlondon.com
visitbritain.com
visitbritain.org

AIRLINE
Singapore Airlines - frequently wins awards
singaporeair.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Angela Lansbury is a travel writer, photographer, researcher, author and speaker and teacher of English and other languages.

For handy Spanish For the Traveller see earlier post.
I have several popular posts on countries around the world including Spain, and learning Spanish. Please share links to your favourite posts.

https://travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com/2019/11/statues-to-see-for-free-in-botero-plaza.html
About The Author
Angela Lansbury
    

Best Food In Bulgaria's Capital - Bread Bowl at Moma Restaurant with tomato sauce

We returned to the marvellous Moma restaurant in Bulgaria's capital, Sofia. The resaurant building is covered with roses, the symbol of Bulgaria, which provides the majority of the world's roses and rose perfumed soaps and cosmetics. You will find it marked on free maps of Sofia which you can pick up at the tourist office in one of the main modern underground train stations.
 If you want to eat in the garden outside at the entrance you need to book. We ate once at the ground floor restaurant, colourful red decor, the second time upstairs in the more restful orange room. On the staircase you see stunning paintings of a bride and other girls in traditional costume by a local artists. The paintings are for sale at prices from 300 to 600 levs, local currency, about 150-300 Euros at the exchange rate when we were there in June 2019.
The best main course was the one I had on my first visit, a casserole containing potatoes. How I miss potatoes living much of the year in Asia, specifically Singapore, where the national dish is chicken
rice.

Brown bread bowl, main course at Moma restaurant, in Sofia, capital of Bulgaria. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

However, on my second visit to Moma I had to have the bread bowl casserole. I had tried this previously in Prague. The bread bowl here in Moma was served on a plate with a decorative base of red tomato sauce.

Tasty tomatoes are another famous feature of Bulgaria. The tomatoes appear in the red, white and green salad, which copies the colour of the national flag. (Like Italy's trilcolor salad copies their national flag.)

I found the advantage of serving the bread bowl on tomato sauce is that the base of the rigid, hard bread bowl softens so that you can scrape it out at the end of the meal.
To go with our meal we were advised by the sommelier to try the local Traminer grape wine.

Useful websites
https://www.ryanair.com/gb/en/

About the Author, Angela Lansbury
Travel writer and photographer, teacher of English and other languages.

How Do I Turn Holiday Photos Or Paintings Into A Card To Sell?

Angela Lansbury with a painting produced at Susan Alison's art class at Writer's Holiday, in Fishguard, Wales, 2018.

Problem
The art teacher wants me to send one of my paintings for her website. Gladly.

Selling
But she is selling cards of her work. Could I sell my work? I don't want to part with my paintings. If I had two dozen similar I might.

Buying
I bought a little watercolour picture, postcard size, from somebody else for a modest price. It was under £10 including postage. I saw it on ebay. I knew I had in stock some postcard size frames.

I don't want the hassle of posting things out. I want a website which will create the items and, like Lulu, post them out to buyers.

But I would happily sell a card or key-ring using one of my paintings.

Vistaprint
If you already use Vistaprint, they make all kinds of good from your artwork. The question is, would the results be cheap enough for you to make a profit? To put it another way, if you add on your profit, is the price sufficiently low to tempt people to buy?

If you are uploading photos, anybody could just copy them and print them out on typing paper. You can watermark your photo.

Some site put up one photo which is free. All others pictures by the same photographer or painter are paid for. The free one is there as advertising. Some poeple may buy a photo just as a thank you - getting two for the price of one. Others will like their photo and coma back to you later if they want a birthday present.

What could you make with your designs?
animal and bird scenes
anniversary cards
birthday cards (for all ages - from toy scenes to 100 years old)
bon voyage cards
caps
calling card (address card) size pictures to collect and swap (artists do this)
charity fund-raiser cards
cushion covers
ear-rings
engagement cards
jewellery sets
key-rings
notecards
Pendants
pens with pull-out scroll pictures
pillow cases
post card size pictures
rings
Xmas cards
Xmas cracker gifts
Xmas stocking gifts
wedding cards
Xmas tee-shirt

Wikipedia
Or do what Wikipedia does. People put up free use of low-resolution images. If readers want high resolution, they have to go back to the author or painter and pay the commercial rate.

A key ring or cap or t-shirt would be less copiable.

You can sell paintings, originals at much higher prices.

Where can you sell?
Though the website of the company making the product.
Through ebay.
Through etsy.
Through Amazon.
Through local craft fairs.
Through craft fairs all over the world.

The Cost of Selling
You are likely to be charged for a stand. But you may be able to share a stand, or offer your goods to somebody who has not enough to fill their stand, on a commission basis.

Display and Packing
How can you display your cards? You can buy display racks. Or DIY your own. Or use plate racks.

If you are selling cards, you need see-through protective envelopes so buyers can transport their cards home safely.

Timing
If you are selling birthday cards, Xmas cards, holiday wear, or through a company such as ebay which rates you on whether you send off goods within 24 hours and get them to the customer within a time limit, you have to be a well-organized person.

Record Keeping
No good if you are a typical creative, prone to losing the goods, forgetting, falling ill, travelling. If you are not well-organized you might be better off using a company which sends the goods out for you. Then you have to be sure to give them your bank account details, check you get paid, keep records, and fill in a tax return.

Packing
The way to send things off fast is to have the item you are selling packed up ready to go with your address inside. Add a note thanking the buyer and hoping they like the goods.

Weighing
Take the goods to the post office to get them weighed in advance. Or buy a franking machine.

When you get an order, just print out the label and take the goods to the post office.

Time your visit to the post office so it is a regular walk or drive daily. Or use a collection service.

If you don't want to do this, sell collection only.

Framing
https://www196.lunapic.com/editor/?action=border

Here are the companies I have found:

Useful Websites:
https://www.thoughtco.com/paintings-into-notecards-or-greeting-cards-2578008

https://www.craftsy.com/paper-crafts/article/drawing-greeting-cards/

http://www.art2card.co.uk

Finally: Facebook. I was looking for how to add a frame, which instead I larned how to make a card.
You can click on a photo and save it as a card and add text. The price I was offered was 79p. However, I don't know the size or how long it takes to deliver.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please bookmark and share links to your favourite posts.

Over-painted Paintings: Picasso, The Brontes - Should I Paint Over, Delete Photos?

The Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci in the Louvre, Paris, France.

Problem
The Mona Lisa was painted over. Picasso painted over. The Brontes were painted over. Should I paint over? Should I delete photos.

How Does This Help Me As An Artist Or Reader?
I can set out to create a trompe l'oeuil.
I can re-use an old painting - mine or anybody else's. (For example, a cheap painting, from a charity shop, especially if it has a nice frame, could be a canvas for me or anybody else. Sacrilege. Horror. Your first reaction may be the same as mine. How can you paint over somebody's work! Don't even paint over your own!

Destroying Old Photos
I showed a boyfriend a photo album of myself when I was a teenager. I was embarrassed by a photo  of myself looking down and I thought, as soon as he's gone, I'll remove that from the album and destroy it. However, he said, "That's really sweet. You look so peaceful and innocent."
So I kept the photo. Every time I look in the old album and see that photo I remember the conversation.

Deleting Alternatives
I have dozens of photos of every event I attend. I recently had my phone and laptop out of action for a week, because they jammed up with too many photos. I take ten of each person, at least thirty at every event, evey night of the week in Singapore, at least once a week in London, England, every day, twice a day on holiday.  I had to delete duplicates.

I take a dozen photos of people at an event. This week in Feb 2018 I showed three pictures of man I had photographed for him to choose one, or two. One picture I am about to delete, because he is sideways on, so it doesn't reflect well on me as a photographer, and I think he won't like it. However, that is the one he wants me to keep and send him.

Why? Because, he says, "I am on my own". He doesn't like the other photograph "because somebody else is in the picture".

You see the dilemma! Oh well, up to you, what you keep and paint over. What you photograph and delete - if you can keep everything, do so.

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and phtographer. See my previous post on overpainting the Mona Lisa and light analysis. My next post discusses more paintings you can see, analyze, discuss. Please share links to your favourite posts.

A New Perspective On Painting Holidays

Self portrait by Angela Lansbury. 

Problem
Will I learn anything on a painting holiday or just left to sketch on my own - which I could do at home or without paying for a holiday?

Answer
You do learn just by doing. I learned that when you paint using a mirror you are reversed right to left, and when you are right handed you appear to be left-handed, as shown in this picture.
If you need a babysitter to make you paint consistently, stock up on paper and paints. even the worst painting holiday would be better than nothing, very relaxing.

If you have painting and want help with it, take it along or print a copy.

I can only recommend one painting holiday which I have taken recently. Susan Alison ran two courses at the start and end of the week at Writers' Holiday in Fishguard, Wales. She was brilliant in instructing us how to use colour to show perspective, use different brushes for different effects, and use proportions for the human head and body. She also looked at our paintings and showed us how make the paint thicker or more transparent and how to add interest in the foreground. 

She will be doing another course at Writers' Holiday next February. Highly recommended. She is on Facebook.
So is writers holiday.
www.writersholiday.net
https://www.visitbritainshop.com/world/ (trips, tours, offers: London; England, Scotland, Wales)

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer.

Highlights of Writers' Holiday in Wales

Writers' Holiday is held every year, once in summer for a week, and for long weekends in spring and autumn. The location is Fishguard Bay Hotel, overlooking Fishguard Bay, and the organisers are Gerry and Anne Hobbs, who are Welsh, hence the flags with the red Welsh dragon on the flags displayed in the room used as a book room during the holiday week.

Although it is called a holiday, lots of series instruction in useful skills takes place. 

Poetry Course and New Form such as the Douzain

Several kinds of writing are covered, This year Alison Chisholm taught a poetry course covering several kinds of poetry scheme. The course ends with a live performance of poets reading their work. (See my earlier posts.) 

Formatting and Loading Up E-books

For me the most useful new skills were the training in formatting ebooks. I attended two courses, One was run by Malcolm Chisholm. The other was run after tea by Chris Oliver. They both spent a lot of time demonstrating how to load up an ebook onto Lulu.com or Smashwords. They also discussed Amazon's Createspace. We learned how to save our files with dates and other key words grouped in folders, and various technical terms, such as HTML. 

Book Binding

We even learned from Chris Oliver that you can bind books using a DIY press with edges to hold the pages. Alternatively, see on YouTube how books are bound using a flower press or press for a tennis racquet.

I discovered the difference between the paragraph symbol and the symbol for line break or return. We also discussed the merits of inserting breaks before and after paragraphs. 

Illustrations

We were able to see and buy books in the book room, signed by the author, and to look at the paintings and sketches produced in the art class run by Susan Allison. She had taught the group about the merits and uses of different sized brushes for watercolour washes. The results were impressive. A useful course, for those who want to illustrate books (add illustrations to a book whose main feature is the story or text), or to make Illustrated Books (books whose main feature is a series of books by one illustrator, a collection of drawings on the artist's favourite theme such as dogs, sometimes a picture book, or one where a text is added to link the pictures or human or animal

Paintings displayed in the art room overlooking Fishguard Bay.

character).

Paintings by short story writer Della Galton.

Della Galton, short story writer.

Val Webster is very proud of her painting of trees at sunset.

Welsh flags at Fishguard By Hotel, Fishguard, Wales, and Steve Wade, author of books about criminals.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

Getting Around Olympia: Entrance, Exit, Ladies, Gents

Olympia has its own dedicated station where trains set you down conveniently right next to the exhibition centre. On our second visit to the London Wine Fair a crier outside told us we would have shorter queues if we turned right and went to the West entrance. We turned the corner of the road, then another corner past some interesting shops including an Indian restaurant. But it was a long walk.

Inside, at this show, the organiser's office and the press office were upstairs on the gallery above the other entrance. One one occasion I was looking for one of the rooms which turned out to be in a second hall. I accidentally wandered into a downstairs grand hall decorated with huge paintings. This private room was for elite people to be invited to meals, the big spenders nominated by the people with the big stands.

On the right side of the lower hall is a Ladies Toilet which on the ground floor has only three cubicles. In addition there's a larger handicapped cubicle with an outward opening door, which can be disconcerting if you have not latched it properly.

Upstairs are more toilets. Should you drag your heavy bag or trolley upstairs? If upstairs has a longer queue, you risk losing your place in the downstairs queue.

Inside the cubicle, if you are carrying a glass of wine or water, full or nearly empty, there is no flat surface to place your glass. (I was told the same applies in the Gents.)

However, if you go to the ladies on the left hand wall of the hall you will find more cubicles on ground level.

Remember to turn the tap to turn it off. It does not turn off automatically. I peered under the tap to see whether it operated by a movement sensor. No. I discovered that it swivelled clockwise to hot and anticlockwise to cold.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer, photographer, researcher, author, speaker.