Travel Journals

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Recreated a dessert I had when I was very little. It was only served this way at a certain cafe - ice cream in a metal cup with shaved chocolate on top.

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“dovecote: a tree-pee in Bugoy's favorite spot with Mrs. Manok, mom's garden, Philippines, 2025” by Jasmine Sian

Went to the Whitney Biennial yesterday and was smitten by Jasmin Sian's art. Her tiny, delicate, and intricate cut-paper works on discarded paper bags are delightful. 

So, this morning, I read a bit more about the artist and there are so many threads of connection. She is in NYC, but is very sensitive to how wildlife and nature exists around us. I feel the same. She notices tiny flora. I do too - I have many photos of those teeny-tiny flowers I've encountered while travelling. In one article she mentions that she worries about this one sparrow that seems to live alone. I also have a whole gang of sparrows I feel responsible for in the winter and I've brought many injured pigeons to Wild Life Fund hospital. Belief, which I also share, that nature is the most original perfect artist of all. It is nice to know that such a sensitive creative soul exists in our city.

In her interview, she says this about art: "I can move somebody or give them some happiness or brief moment of joy, you know, like if I can do that for one person in a year, then I feel like I've done my job."

Jasmine Sian's Interview

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I want to share my photos of Tiepolo rooms at Ca' Rezzonico in Venice. These frescoes were done by Giandomenico Tiepolo at his family villa outside of Venice. He worked on them from 1759 to 1797. I love how they have the spirit of doing whatever one wants and at the speed one prefers. These are just a few of my favorites. The rooms feature many more.

I have to start with sparrows, of course. Look how one is escaping the frame! By the way, sadly, I haven't encountered any sparrows in Venice.

And then there is of course this amazing fresco - "The New World". I love Tiepolo's sense of humor to come up with such idea.

Here, Tiepolo depicted himself (with an eyeglass), his father, also a famous Venetian painter, Giambattista Tiepolo (with folded arms) and his younger brother (a boy facing the viewer).

To the left there is Pulcinella - a character Tiepolo drew and painted a lot towards the end of his life.

I took lots of reference photos because to me, this fresco represents actual color palette of Venice really well. Also, on the photos it looks like there are bright spotlights in the room, while, in reality, that light is part of the painting!

Couple of reflections, the frescoes were removed from the original villa in 1906 and were about to be sold abroad, until Italian government intervened and brought them instead to Ca' Rezzonico in Venice. I looked up villa Zianigo, thinking that it is probably a fancy museum now, but no, on the photos I saw, the main building looked pretty abandoned and sad.

So, Giandomenico Tiepolo lived in Venice and had this villa on mainland as a retreat. I have so many questions about how long would it take to travel from Venice, how big of a boat they would have to hire to reach mainland, how often would they go - once a year maybe, during a particular season? There is an unfinished portrait of Tiepolo's family here. Imagine this family spending time at the villa and Giandomenico doing his frescoes little by little.

This greyhound painting (c. 1790s) was likely used as a fireplace cover at the villa. There is also a greyhound in "The New World" and one is present in the family portrait. Must have been favorite pets.

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The Feast of the Ascension in St. Mark’s Square by Francesco Guardi (c. 1775) is currently on display in Venice. Ca' Rezzonico has a special exhibit of Guardi's work, particularly from the collection of Calouste Gulbenkian Museum in Lisbon. I am a big fan of Venetian "veduta" paintings and this one is stunning. These are some photos I took. Of course, always have to note how dogs were painted.

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Sending out a Gabriele Münter card today. I looked up Münter's house in Murnau and loved the folk art-style hand-decorated objects and interiors in it, so I painted one of the designs on the back of the card. Turns out, the original decorations were done by Münter's partner, Vassily Kandinsky.

I am usually shy about using colors, especially multiple colors, unless I am "forced" to do so by doing a master study. I am glad this design called for a wild variety - I was hesitant on how it would all work together, but it turned out fun.

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Bought this postcard featuring "Boating" (1910) by Gabriele Münter. Kandinsky, Münter's partner of many years, is depicted standing. I am interested in reading their published correspondence as I find creative / romantic partnerships fascinating, even though this particular one did not end well.

"Gabriele Münter: Contours of a World" exhibit at the Guggenheim is excellent, by the way. I had no idea Münter was also a very talented photographer. Her photos from the 1898 trip to the US are captivating.

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Made this rubber stamp today to decorate an envelope. This ink was sent to me from Taiwan - it is normally used for signature seals.

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I love doing art postcard exchanges. I mailed this one for “Women in Art” theme. Portrait of My Mother (1919) by Archibald J. Motley Jr.

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Lovely postcard by Dimanche.

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Received this postcard from Italy of Saint Lucia by Pietro Alemanno. Notice a pair of eyes in her right hand - from 15th century it was added to her story that she was either blinded or took her eyes out, hence, she is a patron saint of those with eye illnesses.

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A creature from this Tove Jansson’s Moomins painting on today’s outgoing envelope. And, I am in love with the stamp featuring the painting.

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Got duplicates of these stamps so sending them to someone on Postcrossing who likes Doraemon.

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Doraemon on outgoing postcard. Done with liner and colored pencils on washi sticker paper.

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Made this envelope recently using pages from a brochure by Shoestring Press and collage pieces done using paint swatches.

Photos: front / back / collage detail

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Added Cinnamoroll to this postcard (liner and colored pencils on washi sticker paper).

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Time to use those leaf stamps and the ginkgos I carved recently .

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Tried carving ginkgo leaves.