Tuesday 7 April 2009

Illustration Friday on Tuesday - Talisman



Maltese Luzzu


Most luzzus have the eye of Horus painted or carved on the bow, a talisman said to have been brought to Malta by the Phoenicians as a protection against evil. These Maltese fishing boats, resplendent in their glowing, vibrant colours can still be seen today bobbing gently on limpid waters in the enclosed harbours of the fishing villages of Gozo and Malta. It’s hard to imagine a more tranquil and soul-satisfying scene than that of luzzu out in the bay on a mirror calm sea on a clear summer’s day when the Mediterranean is magnificent and regally serene, deeply azure and seemingly infinite….


41 comments:

Coreopsis said...

Oooooh--beautiful beautiful colors here. The boat just seems like an excuse. This could have been purely abstract, and I would have been equally happy looking at it. This is obviously not in North America.

Elizabeth said...

Such a rich and amazing blue in the sea.

soulbrush said...

oh yes definitely serene and calm. hugs to you tessa.

Vhrsti said...

Wonderul! The colors are very happy!

ArtSparker said...

The talsiman must be working well to engender such peace.

Teri said...

Wonderful perspective and love the bright colors!

Linda Sue said...

My heart skips when I see your work! It seems the father north one lives the more afraid of colour the environment- your colours pump life back into us! I really love your work.

Aajwanthi said...

Love the colours and the simplicity of your work. Love the blue! Its my fav colour :P Thanks for the visit!

Irene said...

Very well done, Tessa. It looks like an abstract painting but the boat shows clearly through. The colors are lovely and I wish I lived in a world as colorful as that and could dress equally so. I think I was meant to wear some exotic folk wear with bright colors and beads and copper charms to match your boat. Maybe in another life.

Tess Kincaid said...

Fabulous vibrant colors!

justdoodleit said...

your colors are vibrant & lively!

Polly said...

Ah I've seen boats like this one, they are stunning. The colours in your paining are so vibrant, I can almost smell the sea...

eyecontact said...

Love your vast swaths of color in elegant shapes. Thanks for the kind comments on my entry. I really like your style and am glad to see it!

Anonymous said...

A warm summer bobbing on the Med sound appealing...aaah!

adrienne trafford said...

beautiful - i see your wonderful life in everything you do..xo

Reya Mellicker said...

Wow, it's just so so so beautiful!

Isn't it interesting that eyes are used in so many places as protective devices? Fascinating.

Thank you for treating my eyes to another one of your beautiful creations.

Debra Keirce said...

Tessa, you are full of such love and wonder for the world, and all its magnificent places. It comes through in your art, and makes you so very intriguing. Great job on your IF!

Delwyn said...

Tessa,
how are you
what a beautiful combination of colours, and the word luzzu is gorgeous too.

The eye of Horus pops up all over the world.

Elizabeth Bradley said...

Mesmerizingly vibrant!

kara said...

great take on the topic:)
I wanna go lay by your sea!

Woman in a Window said...

And with colours like that, irresistible.

valerie walsh said...

Beautiful story and painting Tessa! I love your art :)

Lori ann said...

Your posts are like that perfect cup of tea or the glass of wine you've just settled into your favourite chair with.And if i'm so lucky to have one of these things, then I come to visit my darling friend Tessa.
Your's is the dessert of my day, really. I LOVE how you write and you know how i feel about your paintings. (Zuri and Diamond are watching me ;)
Thank you love for sharing your gift♥
lori

Caroline said...

I love your paintings - so vibrant!

karen said...

lovely luzzu boat! Thanks for the beautiful words & painting - as ever... x

Every Photo Tells A Story said...

As always, your writing takes me "away." Better than any Calgon commercial:) And, how many different ways are to say that I love your artwork?

P.S. Your "mugs" are gorgeous, and Mr. Edwards looks like one happy husband:)

Sarah Laurence said...

I love the colors in this painting especially. Serene indeed!

Val said...

i love it! the painting, and the depth of history in that part of the world.... how long have those bright boats been bobbing there? protected by Horus' eye...
The mug family look great :-)

Val said...

i love it! the painting, and the depth of history in that part of the world.... how long have those bright boats been bobbing there? protected by Horus' eye...
The mug family look great :-)

Val said...

i love it! the painting, and the depth of history in that part of the world.... how long have those bright boats been bobbing there? protected by Horus' eye...
The mug family look great :-)

Val said...

i love it! the painting, and the depth of history in that part of the world.... how long have those bright boats been bobbing there? protected by Horus' eye...
The mug family look great :-)

Val said...

i love it! the painting, and the depth of history in that part of the world.... how long have those bright boats been bobbing there? protected by Horus' eye...
The mug family look great :-)

Ces Adorio said...

The colors are so rich and vibrant! I love boats and paintings of boats and I like this one.

Ces Adorio said...
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Ces Adorio said...
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Ces Adorio said...

I don't know what's going on but one click and there I look like I am spamming you. So sorry gotta delete.

Pea said...

So beautifu and the colours ohhh so breathtaking !

Nicole said...

Your painting is a real talisman for the soul.

Bjornik said...

I love the colors used in this painting Tessa. And I keep coming back to learn from you and your travels.:)

Beth Kephart said...

You need an entire museum dedicated t you.

Eleonora Baldwin said...

Colore...mare...talismani... AMORE!!!
Thank you