Hey Bernice!

This is my wall of fond memories…

Over the last 10 years I have collected artwork from trips to Nicaragua, France and London. Accompanied by images from holidays in Tasmania, Guatemala, Fiji, Broome, a road trip to New South Wales and our Wedding day.  Naturally, Jack (our staffy X heeler dog) features in one way or another. I change it frequently, which makes it a focal point for visitors.

I love the small artworks I have collected (and carted in my backpack for months!).  Let me share some of the stories with you…

This tiny canvas was hand painted by villagers in Nicaragua, Central America in 2002. I picked these up at a local craft market in San Nicolás a municipality in the Estelí department of Nicaragua. If only I was back there now, I would have filled an extra suitcase with all the beautiful hand made wares. The budget and space deprived backpacker in me made the right decision to limit purchases at that time!

My sentimental favourite is this Gérard Laplau post card tile (Villeroy and Boch). My Great Aunt (she is no longer with us) gave this to mum , and on the eve of my wedding day mum left it on my pillow with a beautiful letter (yes, there were tears!). She has also written our names and wedding date on the back of the tile. Wedding Procession is printed on the back in German (Hochzeitszug) and French (Le Cortege Nuptial ). I have actually found several items by Laplau for sale on ebay and other online sites if anyone is interested. The artist Gérard Laplau is a French folk artist. His most famous work is the naif series from Villeroy & Boch. He died on July the 14th 2009 in Saint-Céré, France.

Next on my list is my most recent addition. I picked this up at a Turkish Magic in Stratford in country Victoria. They specialise in handmade turkish persian rugs, ceramics, tiles, exotic gifts and Glass homewares. They also sell online.

Scattered amongst the tiles and canvases are also photos of experiences I want to be reminded of daily – glorious tropical holidays, hilarious road trips, breathtaking natural landscape, and my husbands victorious fishing adventure!

There are 3 other artworks amongst the frames. One is a print of a hand purchased from a market in London. Another, the black and white etching is the most mysterious of the collection.

It is called Barbizon. I stumbled across this in a picture framing shop. Someone had dropped it in for framing and never returned to pick it up (very mysterious indeed!). Months (maybe even years had passed) so the framer decided to sell it. I bought it for $10 more than 10 years ago. When I noticed it was a pencil signed original (signed by  Marcel Jacque) I did some research on the artist to discover the following:

Marcel Jacque (1906 – 1981) is a French artist.  Marcel Jacque is a well listed french artist from the Barbizon school of painters and artists. Barbizon is the real birth place of Plein Aire Impressionism. These gifted artist took the art of french impressionism and added their own use of light in the natural setting. Marcel Jacque studied under Rosseau for several years, his work is very rare and his hand signed works even more so.

I guess you could call that a lucky find if it is in fact an original – I should really take it to be valued one of these days.

The final item I bought in the south of France whilst camping/backpacking with my sister almost a decade ago. It is a hand painted gift card from an artist in Southern France. I have several of his cards, however only this one has made it to my wall.

Whilst I have been collecting my memories for many years – it is never too late to start. And keep changing them, it keeps your wall interesting… even for you!

A quick hint – Ikea is great for frames. Brown, black, white, metal/silver finish – whatever tickles your fancy.

I’ll be sure to let you know if I have made thousands on my Marcel Jacques etching, when I get around to arranging a valuation!

Bernice