Heya!
Hiking to the tinkling backdrop of cow bells and glacier topped mountains is how I remember my first trip to Switzerland. A country of stunning nature that simply demands to be adored in its striking simplicity. With villages and cities full of charm and history, come explore Switzerland through my art.
Walk along the crunching gravel, a soft breeze shifts the carpet of grass either side of your path, cow bells tinker in the distance and ahead, past the little village, the Alps demand your attention.
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Inspired by my first travels in 2014, this was my first time seeing mountains that big. What we have in Australia doesn't even come close! The Alps were simply awe-inspiring, every day you were in constant wonder of your surroundings.
This painting is inspired by that visit, up the mountains in a small village of Grindelwald. The title of this artwork is Swiss-german (the dialect spoken in Grindelwald) for a small village - fitting I think.
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You'll notice I've pared back the more modern influences from the inspiration photo when creating this artwork, I wanted it to both capture the gorgeous village I stayed in, but also those more charming, old-school gravel paths we walked along up in the mountains.
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I like that this painting has captured the bright and clean light and colours of Switzerland. As you know, when I'm painting these artworks it's not just about pulling from the single inspiration photo, it's capturing all my memories through all my sense into the canvas or paper.
Acrylic on Canvas
61cm x 50.5cm
$1250
From the previous artwork, you'll know how much I adored my time hiking in the Swiss mountains (I use the term hike loosely), what I didn't expect to love were the cowbells!
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This tradition stems from history and is still used today as a way for farmers to find cows in the dark nights. It's something that's also become an icon in Switzerland, synonymous with their ongoing identity and culture.
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If I could have found the room in my suitcase I would have brought one of those cow bells home with me just for the nostalgia all these years later.
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As you look at this little postcard painting I hope you too can faintly hear those cowbells tinkering in the distance.
Watercolour on paper
15cm x 10cm
$85