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….


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41 comments:

  1. Coreopsis7 April 2009 at 06:21

    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.

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  2. Elizabeth7 April 2009 at 06:28

    Such a rich and amazing blue in the sea.

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  3. soulbrush7 April 2009 at 07:31

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

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  4. Vhrsti7 April 2009 at 08:08

    Wonderul! The colors are very happy!

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  5. ArtSparker7 April 2009 at 08:11

    The talsiman must be working well to engender such peace.

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  6. Teri7 April 2009 at 08:25

    Wonderful perspective and love the bright colors!

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  7. Linda Sue7 April 2009 at 08:33

    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.

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  8. Aajwanthi7 April 2009 at 08:55

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

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  9. Irene7 April 2009 at 10:30

    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.

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  10. Tess Kincaid7 April 2009 at 10:47

    Fabulous vibrant colors!

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  11. justdoodleit7 April 2009 at 10:51

    your colors are vibrant & lively!

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  12. Polly7 April 2009 at 10:52

    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...

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  13. eyecontact7 April 2009 at 11:17

    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!

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  14. Anonymous7 April 2009 at 11:44

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

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  15. adrienne trafford7 April 2009 at 12:06

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

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  16. Reya Mellicker7 April 2009 at 13:09

    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.

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  17. Debra Keirce7 April 2009 at 13:57

    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!

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  18. Delwyn7 April 2009 at 14:53

    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.

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  19. Elizabeth Bradley7 April 2009 at 16:37

    Mesmerizingly vibrant!

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  20. kara7 April 2009 at 16:53

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

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  21. Woman in a Window7 April 2009 at 17:51

    And with colours like that, irresistible.

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  22. valerie walsh7 April 2009 at 19:52

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

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  23. Lori ann7 April 2009 at 20:45

    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

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  24. Caroline8 April 2009 at 02:30

    I love your paintings - so vibrant!

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  25. karen8 April 2009 at 03:59

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

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  26. Every Photo Tells A Story8 April 2009 at 08:27

    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:)

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  27. Sarah Laurence8 April 2009 at 08:45

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

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  28. Val8 April 2009 at 12:29

    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 :-)

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  29. Val8 April 2009 at 12:32

    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 :-)

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  30. Val8 April 2009 at 12:34

    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 :-)

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  31. Val8 April 2009 at 12:36

    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 :-)

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  32. Val8 April 2009 at 12:39

    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 :-)

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  33. Ces Adorio9 April 2009 at 05:22

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

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  34. Ces Adorio9 April 2009 at 05:22

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  35. Ces Adorio9 April 2009 at 05:22

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  36. Ces Adorio9 April 2009 at 05:23

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

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  37. Pea9 April 2009 at 06:23

    So beautifu and the colours ohhh so breathtaking !

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  38. Nicole9 April 2009 at 09:09

    Your painting is a real talisman for the soul.

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  39. Bjornik10 April 2009 at 00:16

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

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  40. Beth Kephart10 April 2009 at 04:09

    You need an entire museum dedicated t you.

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  41. Eleonora Baldwin14 April 2009 at 07:45

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

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I absolutely LOVE reading your comments. I just can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate the time you take to read my posts. To paraphrase Shakespeare - "I can no other answer make, but, thanks, thanks and thanks again."