Floating Saunas in Oslo 2020

Floating Saunas in Oslo 2020
 

 Floating Saunas in Oslo 2020

This painting was inspired by my Christmas cruise of 2019 to Scandinavia. On the quay at Oslo harbour were floating saunas and I could see the back of a couple who were having a great time.

The saunas were advertised on this rack of canoes. When I got home I found out the company was started by a young man who needed a bath! Having been out sailing he was surprised that on arriving in Oslo( a bit mucky) there were no saunas so he decided to provide his own for travelers and revelers.

My couple are having an especially good time having discarded their bathing suits and polished off a bottle of wine.

In the background you will see the Oslo skyline- completely ficticious except for the opera house on the right and the triangular sculpture.

Floating Saunas in Oslo, outline drawing

The sea and an additional Floating Sauna starts to appear.In the summer, they float them out into the harbour and people jump off.

In the harbour

The canoes are added and the crackled quay.After this photograph, I got so involved in the painting I forgot to take more pictures. I can tell you I spent a good deal of time decoration the sauna, finding the loving couple and throwing paint at the skyline.

Finished picture

Floating saunas in Oslo

If you have enjoyed Floating Saunas in Oslo you can see more in the July issue of Surrey Life and visit my exhibition at Denbies Wine Estate from July 19th 2022. Prints are available from £22.

Company Promo Video at Floating Sauna’s in Aker Brygge – Oslo Fjord Spa – YouTube

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Escape to Brazil

I had two luxury holidays booked for this year. Although neither were for really exotic destinations, I was really looking forward to them both as an escape from the day to day activity. Now the day to day activities of going out with friends or to an art gallery feel like luxuries. I have managed to do them occasionally, but not as much as I would like.

So, I decided to escape to Brazil– I was inspired by the story of Antonio Bolivar Salvador from Brazil. Sadly I only knew his story through his obituary in the Economist Magazine.

Antonio Bolivar Salvador Obituarywhen he spoke of the Jaguar, lord of the forest, the embodiment of power strength and violence, he would begin to growl deep in his throat. Antonio’s head would move around warily as if he were on the prowl himself. When he mentioned Anaconda the great snake god his hands would slither, swim and twine round each other, getting faster, until still smiling-he might leap from his chair and fling his snake arms around whoever was listening to him.” Extract: The Economist May 30th 2020

Jaguar, Lord of the Forest. Available as an embellished canvas print.

As a child, I was fascinated by the people of remote places such as Borneo and spent hours in the library reading about them and seeing their pictures. I found a book on Maori myths and legends which was beautifully illustrated and showed people with very defined features and sculptural tattoos. Antonio Bolivar Salvador’s face reminds me of my childhood.

so, I escaped to Brazil in my imagination. I have embellished my paintings with stories of Anaconda and Jaguar Lord of Forest. I researched the butterflies and the birds and included them too.

You too can escape to the place of your choice- the libraries are open, so are the art galleries.

This post was published in 2020

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