Beautiful Fantasy Art: Walfrido

My last post on a favourite fantasy artist of mine had a great response (thanks for your lovely comments!), so I'm back again, this time focusing on the work of... Hawaiian artist Walfrido!

I first discovered Walfrido's paintings 9 years ago. I instantly loved his vibrant, dramatic style, which I feel really manages to capture the 'essence' of the place that he's painting.

About the Artist

Walfrido is a Hawaiian artist born in the Philippines. His father Eduardo F Garcia was also a well respected artist and his son's mentor.

Mainly a painter of natural scenes such a seascapes, waterfalls,volcanoes and caves, Walfrido's artworks use bright colour and interesting explorations of light to create beautiful, romantic and powerful paintings.

Aswell as painting and exhibiting his own art, Walfrido is an art teacher and demonstrater. He also produces the 'Art made easy' videos. And, for all who love Disney, Walfrido has recently painted a series of Disney artworks.

My favourite Walfrido painting has to be 'Dockside Dreams'. 

To look up more about Walfrido and his work go to his website www.walfrido.com and social media platforms… 
 

Instagram: @walfridog

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063587021387

'Dockside Dreams'

'The Moment Of Glory'

'Island Romance'

And for those of you who love Disney, here is one of a series of Disney paintings by Walfrido :-

'A Night Romance'

Celtic Heaven

Recently I've been listening to some beautiful Celtic music I've come across. I loved both of these songs within the first 30 seconds!!
The first song below is by Celtic/Folk Metal band Eluveitie. However, this song is not Metal but a hautingly beautiful, timeless piece of Celtic/Folk music.
The second song is the rousing last track from Joanie Maddens album Songs of the Irish tin whistle. Enjoy!

Tristan and Isolde, and the Cornish language

I've been listening to the Album Tristan and Isolde by Celtic Legend. What I love about this and their other Album Lyonesse is that the story of the legend is told through song.

This lovely song is 'Ysolt Ynn Gweinten' sung beautifully by Gwenno Saunders in the Cornish language.



The Cornish Language


Cornish (or 'Kernewak' ) is a Celtic language of Indo-European origin. It is mainly spoken in the south-western British County of Cornwall ('Kernow').

The ancient British peoples spoke a Celtic language. When the Anglo-Saxons began to settle in Britain in the 5th and 6th centuries AD, many Britons were pushed north and west, into Scotland and Wales. Also into Ireland, Cornwall, Brittany and the very north of Spain. Other British tribes stayed, mixing and inter-marrying with local Anglo-Saxon settlers.


The Celtic language spoken by the Britons split into 2 branches:-

Goidelic (Irish Gaelic, Scots Gaelic, Manx)

Brythonic (Welsh, Cornish, Breton).


There was also a fourth Brythonic language, the now extinct Cumbric.


At one time the languages of Old Cornish and Old Breton were almost identical to each other.

Cornish was spoken as a main language in Cornwall up until the 16th century after which it began to gradually die out. Some Cornish speakers still used the language at home and within the family into the 19th century.

Today, Cornish is a language undergoing new interest and revival. In 2002 Cornish was recognised as a UK minority language.



Some handy phrases in Kernewek (Cornish):-

I have worked out the phonetic pronunciation for those words that need it and put it beside each phrase below. 'g' is a hard g as in the English 'gate'. 'dh' is said as a English 'th' sound. 's' is an English 'z' sound. Otherwise you can't go too wrong to just say it how it's spelt.


Dydh da! - Hello! dith da
Duw genes! - Goodbye! (to one person) dew gen-ez
Nos da - Goodnight noz da
Mar pleg - Please mar playg
Meur ras - Thank you mer raz

Fatla genes? -How are you? fat-lah gen-ez

Pur dha, meur ras - Very well, thanks purr tha mer raz
Da lowr, meur ras - Ok, thanks da low-r mer raz

Keslowena! - Congratulations! kez-low-air-na
Chons da! - Good Luck! Chonz da
Penn bloodh Lowen! -Happy Birthday! Pen bloth low-en
Nadelik Lowen! -Merry Christmas! Na- dellick low-en



If you want to hear audio clips of different phrases in the Cornish language then this website link is a good one:-

http://www.magakernow.org.uk/default.aspx?page=314



Article by Natalie

The 2011 List

Books. Books. Books. I've read (well, listened on audiobook to) more books than I thought I would this year! From Historical novels of various eras, to magical Lands of Fantasy, to paranormal books about Angels, Carpathians, Werewolf's, Vampires and... (oh, yes)Shadowhunters!!

Out of my reads of this year, here's the books I enjoyed most in (sort of) chronological order:-



1. A Time of Singing - Elizabeth Chadwick

You always feel in good hands with Elizabeth Chadwick.  This book tells the story of Roger Bigod and Ida De Tosney in 12th Century England, set against the life, intrigue and politics of the Angevin Court.



2. The Falcons of Montabard - Elizabeth Chadwick

Good read. I found it brought vividly to life Scotland and the Holy Land of the 1100's. I learnt alot about the Holy Land and surrounding areas that I hadn't known before.



3. The Mortal Instruments Series - Cassandra Clare

I read books 1 to 4 and can't wait for the next in this urban fantasy series. Interesting world and characters I loved and cared about. My favourite is book 3 'City of Glass', although the scene at the Seelie Court in book 2 'City of Ashes' has to be one of my favourite scenes ever!! Me and my mum re-read that part lots!



4. The Infernal Devices Series - Cassandra Clare

I really enjoyed these. Interesting and atmospheric, bringing to life Victorian England with a good dose of fantasy/Steampunk! A variety of great charcters with many laughs and touching moments too. Loved the attic scene! My fave is "Clockwork Angel" but both book 1 and 2 are wonderful.
Audiobook read fantastically by Jennifer Ehle.



5. The Prince of Hazel and Oak - John Lenahan

The second book in this funny magical trilogy, (the first being 'Shadowmagic'). Me, my Mum and Dad all listened to this on Podiobook and loved as much as the first book. Following the continuing adventures of Connor in Tir na nog, along with a great cast of supporting characters - including the fiery Princess Essa!
John Lenahan reads these books great www.podiobooks.com



6. Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte

"My Classic" read of the year. I was pleasantly surprised as I didn't expect to like it so much - I loved it!  Now I know what everyone goes on about...



7. The Earth's Children Series - Jean M Auel

I read books 1 and 2 'The clan of the cave bear' and 'The valley of horses'. I found them a bit slow paced - rather like an epic easy moving film - but the way the prehistoric world is brought to life is fascinating. Loved Ayla's character.
Audiobook well read by Rowena Cooper.



8. Dark Legend - Christine Feehan

Gabriel and Francesca's story. Gabriel is one of the legendary brothers, an ancient Carpathian hunter who wakes from the earth to unexpectedly come across his lifemate - kind and gentle healer Francesca.
I felt this book was well written with a good storyline, I enjoyed the relationship between Gabriel and Francesca very much. Interesting, as it was different to the relationships between characters of previous novels in the Dark series.
Enjoyed the audiobook read by Rebecca Cook



9. Dark Guardian - Christine Feehan

I've waited 7 years to read this book! When I discovered the Dark series it was Dark Guardian I first came across. Fast forward and I finally get to read it - and I wasn't disappointed! Lucien is an interesting character - the most powerful of his people - and he and Jaxon make a good team. I found this the most comical of all the Dark series books and laughed out loud a number of times - always a good sign!
Juanita Parker reads many of the Dark series on audio and her performance is always good.



Out of all the good books I've read this year, my favourite has to be Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare.

Patrick Wolf - The Magic Position

This song always makes me feel happy as it's so cheerful and bouncy!

Herbal Medicines Ban - 30th April 2011

This is from an email I was sent. Many people are trying to stop this ban as it takes away our freedom of choice as well as being just ridiculous!

Lots of people not only use Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine but also herbal remedies to help a variety of issues, including pain management, colds and flu, periods and menopause, skin conditions etc.

Although its starting with herbal medicines they have already started the process on Vitamins too, so we need to take action now!

Please look at this website to sign the petition.

http://www.savenaturalhealth.eu/




Dear All

This is urgent, please read (or listen) and sign the petition. We do need to act on this - I worry what might be next!




On April 30th, natural medicinal plant products (essentially
anything other than the petro-chemically derived fare of multinational
pharmaceutical companies) will be effectively banned in the EU. The
registration procedure costs that will be going into effect will be
completely prohibitive. If for no other reason than protesting the criminal
nature of this effort (whether you're aware of the long-term physiological
damage of many big pharma preparations or not) go to this link and sign the
petition. http://savenaturalhealth.eu/

Only you and I can stop Big Pharma domination. They intend to,
and ARE GOING TO, protect their incomes unless actively stopped. Sit in
silence, and pay the consequences. Time is running out. If it's not
stopped in the EU, we may NOT be able to stop it elsewhere.



Sincerely,

Bill Hargrave

Kansas, USA

Medicine Buddha Mantra

Here is a beautifully sung and arranged version of a good healing mantra, the Medicine Buddha Mantra.
This also has a lovely and relaxing video with it, along with the words if you like to sing along. I enjoy singing this mantra very much!!
When I listen to/sing this mantra, I feel like I am soaring and freeing, which is a wonderful feeling to experience!