Las Fallas in Denia



Start of "Las Fallas"




Here she is in her full glory. I really hope it not going to rain before Tuesday.



 THE ORIGEN OF THE FALLAS.

The fallas began as a festival celebrated by local artisans in honour of Saint Joseph. In the Valencian Comminity this festival dates back to the second half of the 18th century, when it was just a simple festivity held as part of the proceedings involved in the general Saint Joseph's day celebrations on the 19th March.

Well I'm back...... John and I (that's my husband) have just arrived back from a town quite close to us called Denia it's about 7 kilometers away. We went to experience Las Fallas. The first days of "Las fallas" celebration start with the "la planta" or the building of "Las Fallas", they  are enormous constructions, massive works of art in papier maché and wood.  This started on the 15th  March. After that it's when the party really gets started. Culminating on San José the 19th March when the "crema" the burning takes place. This brings the fiesta to a close. But what a close. Go onto You Tube and take a look. These massive works of art take a year to construct and then sadly are burnt to the ground.The Falleras/os then start raising money for next year.............The Fallas in Valencia are even bigger and more amazing still can't get my head round them being burnt. Most of them have a real knock at politcians or someone from the area constructors being the main grumble around here. There are little cards all round these statues with a point to be made!!! Nice when you can do that.

 





Here are some of the smaller festeras/os followed by local bands really enjoying themselves. I think by the end of the day the little ones are ready for bed.

 

Now, this is just one of the eleven Fallas. You cannot believe how tall they are. They are genuinely major works of art. 



 





Front & back view.




All The red notices around the Fallas are telling little tales about politicans, local rougue builders and many other little gems.





















Everything ends with a good Valecian Paella cooked in the street.

 



This is how it all ends on Tuesday. BOO HOO........











Long time away!!!!!!!!!

Junk Mail Journal

Well I'm back. Hopefully I have got my mojo back as regards my artwork? I just couldn't seem to get back into it. Around Christmas I bought Carla Sonheim's book Imaginary Animals and I have started to have great fun playing. Instead of taking things so seriously. She really gets you to forget all  your hangups. Saying you don't always have to have everything just so. Just get on with things let go in general. Brings the child out in you. So that's me at the moment. Here is a glimpse of my Junk Journal filled with imaginary animals. The book is made up from old junk mail and postcards, gessoed  then painted and drawn on. The binding I made by dyeing string with acrylic paint (bit messy). I then added some old beads from a broken necklace. So all in all a great time has been had by me.



This Journal is still evolving. Needless to say I can't stop adding things.

This is another project that I have been working on. A small handmade journal. Fiddly but enjoyable.

This journal was made from an old piece of mixed media work of mine.

I think I might turn this into a Birthday Card for a friend of mine?

I have made a little box to put the card into. I can add some quotes later.

Well, bye bye for now. Hope to be back a little sooner next time.

Is there anyone out there??????

Hello everyone, I have been very naughty not keeping on top of my blog. I don't know, but things just seem to get in my way, don't ask me what though?????? I don't seem to have got much artwork done either. The weather has now got down to lovely temperatures AND you can sleep at night, walk the dog at normal times and generally get on with your life without dripping sweat everywhere. I think this summer has been one of the longest and hottest since we came to live here 24 years ago. PHEW!!!!!
Recently I bought a book by Flora Bowley. I have followed her blog for sometime now. I love her work. But, as I have a job letting go with my artwork, I thought I would give it a go. I have really enjoyed the experience. I have made a nice mess all over the floor, walls and myself but what the heck.........

I'm really sorry I didn't take pictures from the start of these two paintings as it is quite an unsual process but, very enjoyable. The one below I am working virtually as we speak. Just waiting for the paint to dry.

I forgot to take pictures when I first started so here are two works in progress, lots of work to do though. I will keep ploughing on. Hopefully I will not get too involved and start fiddling..... Bet I do though. HELP HELP.

This book has been a real find. I'm loving it.

Explanation of my Blog name

Hello there everyone, thought I would give you a quick explanation of my blog title. My name as you all know is Melva. The name my parents gave me why I do not know. Whilst being brought up in England it was quite a novelty. People would say that's an unusual name, where did your parents get that from. All I knew was that my mum had a pen friend in America with the same name. On moving to Spain I found quite quickly that it is quite normal. Hence every time I am asked my name here it is greeted with uncontrolled laughter. Much to my concern I had to try and find out why. A trip to the local supermarket was all that was needed. All will be revealed below.

Well here is a self portrait. It's hardly smoked salmon. Check the price I come very cheap. All I can say is the local village name around here is Caravaca which roughly translated is Cow face so perhaps mines not so bad after all ??????

I have been really lazy of late due to work and it being so hot plus I haven't really had the urge but I will show a journal page that have played with.



This believe it or not is a picture of my husband New Years Eve in his lucky bag contents minus flower behind his ear. I then worked up the photo in photo shop. I have added cut outs from magazines then coloured them with oil pastels. The background gesso and watercolour paints. Not a very good picture I am afraid. Will have to try harder.



HELLO FROM A HOT & SWEATY SPAIN

Back again for little bit of blogging. My artwork seems to have taken a back seat at the moment as it is so hot and I need to acclimatise again. I do this every year. Always saying the same thing "it's much hotter this year than it was last year this time" but no it's not, it's always the same HOT HOT HOT.........
I can't believe it was only last weekend, that we all were watching the Diamond Jubilee on the telly. It's the first time in all the years I have lived here (23 years phew!!!!) that I would have liked to have been back in rainy England being part of the momentous occasion. Even in the rain!!!!!! am I mad or what? The river pageant was wonderful. We had a few small parties out here with fetes, bunting the lot. But it?s just not the same.

We have even had to have our poor dog clipped because of the heat. He isn't liking it at all. I think he feels a bit like Goliath. It has sapped his strength.

Before

After

 

This is what I have been up to this week. I'm still playing with the salt & cling film.



This is a close up of Larry the supposedly white llamas head. It's not to great a shot of him really.





This is one of my journal pages. This ones for you Virginia I said the giraffe would be named after you so here's GINTY. There's still work to be done here. As usual.......



It is a two page spread. So it will take me double the time to finish. Knowing how I work it will be in a few years time.

 Well off I trot to get myself a nice cool drink. I think I deserve it.

The sun has got his hat on !!!!!!!!!!

Hello there all. Got up really early this morning. Have got all my jobs done. So now I can sit down and enjoy myself. A little blog hopping, a little painting, a little radio listening, perhaps even a little telly watching. Who knows, a little bit of what you fancy does you good so they say.......
My husband John is really on the mend now after his meeting with the huge Mastiff dog. Our little dog has stopped shaking also. That is until the next firework goes off. Living in Spain that's a problem. So he will sit shake in the shower tray in our en-suite until he thinks it's safe to come out.


Here he is Ronaldo. I have used watercolour both in tube and liquid. It was sprayed with water then cling film scrunched up and left to dry. I then resprayed and left sea salt on it to dry. Brushed it off and then went to work.





You can see here where the salt did its job. I love the texture it makes. Amazing what you see just from a blob. Hey ho!!! back off to the drawing board........



I have been reading the magazine "The Artist" of late. There is an article in last months by Jean Haines called " Be brave with watercolour. " I found this article very interesting and had to have had a little go. The result is above. Not brilliant but I am definitely going to try working this way again. Slapping it on using cling film & salt the lot. When the paint was put on  a large yellow blob appeared. Low and behold there he was Ronaldo the rat. Working this way picking out parts of your work to expand on is real fun. I loved it. It might help free up my work a little, hopefully?

Long time away.

Long time no post!!!!!!!
Things have been a little hectic here. My husband and our little rescue dog were attacked by a stray dog. A very large Mastiff  (and massive he was). No fisherman's tale this, size of a small pony??????? or so I have been told. John ended up at the hospital and that has been  on-going ever since. Not from a bite but falling down in the melee. He is now having to have physio everyday. But at least he can walk and drive now. For a week he couldn't do anything. He does have a very fetching strip of cerise pink tape running from the top of his leg to his knee. Just the right colour I thought. Our dog is OK but very nervous. Needless to say the dog was never found. We have reported it to the police. But the huge thing must have gone into hiding.......
Thought I would show you what I have been up to of late.

This is me getting a little messy with spray paints and stencils. Plus a little black gesso.
Still had time to fiddle. While husbands recuperating.



This is the reverse side of the page.




Another page. I have used some texture paste on this, and a few other bits and bobs.




This is an on-going drawing in coloured pencil of a friend of our's cat. I'm afraid it's taken a long time  because I just seem to get bored with it. Oh dear!! shouldn't say that. So every now and then out of the cupboard he comes and sees a little daylight. It sharpens up my pencil skills I suppose.