Friday 16 July 2021

Nature and Art



I expect you are looking at the photo above and thinking "there's Bertie idling away the afternoon on the sofa again, how many naps does a dog need?"

How wrong you would be.

In fact I was deep in philosophical contemplation of the relationship between art and nature, thoughts prompted by a new picture on the wall behind me in the Torridon cottage. 

Let's have a closer look at it.

And even closer.

Leaving aside the obvious shortcoming that it does not feature a handsome fox terrier posing in the foreground, I think it's rather a fine work of art, don't you? 

It is a 'feltscape' which Gail commissioned from Torridon-based artist Sheila Bates last year. Sheila worked from one of Gail's photos of Loch Torridon.

You might wonder why we would need a picture of the natural beauty which surrounds the cottage when we could just step outside and look around us. But Gail says she loves the colours and texture of the feltwork and she reminds me that in winter when it is dark and cold, having this evocative interpretation of the landscape to look at inside our cosy warm cottage (the renovation included an extra layer of insulation) will be no bad thing.

You can learn more about Sheila's felted pure wool creations on her website, 'Florrie Felts'

I wonder if she ever does dogs?

Happy Nature Friday friends. Thanks once again to Rosy and the rest of the LLB Gang for hosting the blog hop.

15 comments:

  1. that is really art.. and we love it... Mrs. Bates has golden hands, it is not easy to work with felt und to get such a wonderful oeuvre...

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  2. That's a very pretty picture, Bertie, and for one moment we thought it was made using your very own fur!
    We're sure that Ms. Bates would be very happy to make a picture of your handsome self. How lovely would that be?

    Love,
    Inca xx

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  3. Miss Sheila's feltscape is just gorgeous and it looks beautiful hanging on your wall! I bet she could do a beautiful portrait of you, Bertie!

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  4. That is super cool, we love it! It's all new to us as we have never heard of such a thing.

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  5. I.LOVE.IT! the way she outlined with dark color is how I always colored in my color book. she is truly talented and it looks just like your photo.. I agree it is worthy of your wall any timem not just in winter, I must say Bertie, you look like you are really excited. heh heh heh I am off to look at her work

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  6. Oh Bertie thank you for sharing the spotlight with Sheila's beautiful felt artwork!! At least you were in the first photo...BOL
    I agree with Gail it is perfect for the cottage wall and so unique to be out of felt! The fine threads of the fabric are an added bonus
    Happy Friday dear friends
    Hugs Cecilia

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  7. I like to enlarge the photos before I read the captions (except the first caption), and I struggled to understand the picture. Was it oil on canvas covered with Bertie fur, I wondered. But I was confused, because even having lived with 3 cardigans, I don't think that much fur ever was generated at one time in the atmosphere! I knew my analysis was lacking, however....and now I know why! What a wonderful piece of art!

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  8. Hari Om
    Oh Bertie, even before I looked down the post I was gazing at that picture on the wall behind you and wondered if it was the one commissioned - and it is! What an excellent rendition - now wonder Gail is thrilled with it and it sure will indeed warm those dark and gloomy days!!! Hugs and wags, YAM-aunty xxx

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  9. That's a beautiful picture!

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  10. What a wonderful painting Bertie..we do think it may benefit from a little WFT painted in the foreground too!!
    xoxo,
    Rosy and the Gang

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  11. What a beautiful and unique art piece. We just love the picture but agree that it would only be enhanced by adding you to the foreground.

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  12. Your mom has great taste in are. You would make it pop

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  13. Good idea for those cold, dark days….
    We think a Woollen felt would be the ideal medium for a WFT.

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  14. Wow! We've seen felt dogs (mom has a very cute one of our angel sister Nala) but never felt artwork! Very lovely!

    Rosie and Redford

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