Monday, May 28, 2007

My first painting

Since the first time I saw the painting more than a year ago…. I was captivated by it.

Yesterday, when I walked past the gallery. I made the decision to purchase it and this will adore the wall of our new house.

It’s a good investment, and I am very happy with the painting. Some facts about the painting.

A Special Moment (Le leçon de tricot)
45 x 33 inches
Oil on canvas
Signed and dated 1874 (l.r.)
Emile Munier (1840-1895)
Munier was the must favored and prized student of famed French artist, William Adolph Bouguereau. It was as a result of Bouguereau's training that the porcelain-like features of the skin are derived in his paintings. He traveled with Bouguereau and A. Lucas studying and painting in the various museums through Europe.

His favorite subjects, as those of his teacher, were genre scenes and portrait paintings (primarily of peasant girls). Munier exhibited frequently in the Parisian Salons between the years of 1869 and 1895. At the Paris Salon of 1882, Emile Munier received honorable mention for a portrait of a young girl.

Today, Emile Munier has become the artist to watch. Most collectors are comparing him to William A. Bouguereau. They feel that his works are very under valued. Works by Emile Munier can be found in important private and museum collections through out the United States and Europe.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Stitch!

Panaromic view of the Perth City and Swan River from the Kings Park.

Monday, May 21, 2007

Fairy

We've met a fairy just right infront of London Court, Hay Street Mall in Perth.











Baby Dee calls these ----- Fairy Dust! :D

Fremantle Harbour... breathtaking view






Kailis

Kailis, in one of the native australian aboriginal language, means the boomerang.

Well, but I am not talking about the boomerang this time. Kailis - Fishmarket Cafe in Fremantle, WA is one of the oldest and more well known seafood restaurant. (actually, most the the cafes around there claimed that they're the oldest and serve the best Fish n Chips).

Some photos of the restaurant.











Thursday, May 10, 2007

More on Swan Valley


Picturesque view of a lake during our wagon ride













Rocky bringing us down a rocky trail! :)












Sheeps grazing on the open land...


Wednesday, May 9, 2007

Swan Valley Vineyard


During our visit to Swan Valley in Western Australia, we have had the chance to get pretty up close with the vineyard around the area.
It's a beautiful sight, too bad it's just after the harvest season thus we don't get to see or pluck grapes directly from the vines. Anyway, it's still an eye opening experience.

Do you know that table grapes are usually grown on T-shaped stands because table grapes needs plenty of shade thus T-shaped stand is ideal for the grapes to grow and be sheilded from the sun.

Where else, wine grapes are grown on Y-shaped stands because of the totally opposite reason. They need plenty of sunlight thus Y-shaped stand will enable to sun to penetrate deeper into the middle of the vines.

Interesting indeed......


Quack quack...

A signboard found in the little Guildford town.


Tuesday, May 8, 2007

Guildford

Guildford is a small town located at the northeast of Perth. It's the gateway to the famous Swan Valley and it's a beautiful quiet little town.


I just love the european style architecture found all around Perth. It just makes it that much interesting and unique to look at.


See, this is how a small town post office looks like :



Friends from Perth

Yup, we are back from Perth. It was a lovely trip. Nice country with plenty of genuinely nice people… seriously, this is the most friendly and polite country I have visited so far J

Along the trip, we’ve made a number of friends, here they are in no particular order.

This is Rocky the Stallion










This is Tommy the Fearsome Donkey! Yeah, he actually "HE HO HE HO"angrily at us when I tried to immitate their sound :P Baby Dee actually ran away!! hahaha










This is Tas the Devil.. they're actually quite cute :P