Thursday 30 May 2013

ARC BOOK REVIEW & ART FOR MAY

THE ITALIAN CHAPEL by Philip Paris (Kindle Edition)

A novelised version of the true story of how Italian POWs built a concrete chapel on the Island of Lamb Holm in the Orkneys - islands off the north-eastern tip of Scotland.

It takes place during WW2, but it's not the usual kind of prisoner of war story.

Google 'The Italian Chapel' to find many images and
be quite astonished by what they achieved under great difficulties
and the beautiful art they created.
............

WW2 was an important part of my childhood, and this accounts for my interest in books like this, but I think perhaps you might enjoy it.  Real events were  interspersed with the inclusion of semi-fictionalised 'human interest' elements to keep the reader's interest.  A story of two halves, married together for dramatic effect.

The documentary details were the most interesting for me, and the imagined conversations and events did move the story along and include some humour, but two or three of the fictional events seemed to have  been created just for the story and didn't feel 'right'. When I read the author's notes at the end of the book it turned out these were in fact the sections that had been invented or altered.

The story is told through a few main characters and their experiences, and describe how all the wonderful artwork was created.  The writing is fairly 'ordinary', but very easy reading.

Strangely there was a link to my father's WW2 experiences, as happened in my February review for The Last Telegram.  When my father was in the Royal Navy on the new HMS Prince of Wales at Scapa Flow in the Orkneys, a German submarine sank the HMS Royal Oak at anchor.  833 of the crew died, and survivors were rescued by other RN ships.  My mother told me that many of Dad's friends were on the Royal Oak and he was absolutely broken-hearted for the rest of his life.  This part of the story was told very touchingly through the experiences of the Orkney people.

I'm glad I read it, and pleased that I know about the Italian Chapel both from the book and from being prompted to check out the images and story on the internet.

For readers in the USA it turns out there is an Italian Chapel in Letterkenny, USA.  There is also one in Henllan in North Wales - a little nearer to visit than the Orkneys.   I couldn't find out what these are like, but I doubt if they are as famous and as much visited as the Italian Chapel.

ARTWORK INSPIRED BY THE BOOK

My artwork is far from anything I've done before, and a complete surprise to me because it's definitely not something I would normally even think of painting.  The inspiration that kept coming to mind was that I should make a small painting of St Francis who is mentioned at the beginning and the end of the book.


I forgot to take a photo of the original drawing, and even a quick glance at this half-way stage will show you that I forgot something else as well.

Acrylic on watercolour paper - Jez
I imagine that St Frances at this stage of his life was not in any way vain about his appearance or his shabby robe.  His halo has not photographed on this completed piece as brightly as on the underpainting - no sun that day.  

And the senior moment that led to my great mistake?  In my eagerness to give him untidy curly hair I completely painted over the shaven part of his tonsure.  Lack of time and fear of ruining what I had done made me decide to leave it in the hope that he and you will understand.  I shall definitely put this right when I have more time.

St Frances looks rather pensive in my painting.  Perhaps he's thinking of all the problems being created for wild creatures by man's effect on the environment.


I tried to imagine how the painting would look after centuries of hanging in a secluded corner of a church, with all the effects of smoke from candles and ageing of the paint.  For this digital alteration I added a special effect that gave me just the feeling I wanted, and I think I like this version best.

35 comments:

  1. I had never heard the word tonsure before. I think I just thought he was naturally bald!! I love your portrait of St. Francis, both the painted version and the aged version. His skin has a sort of glow and he looks both pensive and accepting.

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  2. I like him with hair!! Probably what he look like before hand!! How sad all those men expired on the sub... sad for your dad too!! Thanks for sharing this book and your lovely St.Francis!

    Hugs Giggles

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  3. I was not really familiar with St. Frances, and had no idea what a tonsure was until I did an internet search. Bless Wikipedia for setting me straight.

    I really must find out more about this church. It sounds like a fascinating read, and your art is superb, if not exactly historically accurate. I love historical novels, so this one might be one I would really enjoy.

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  4. Lovely painting, I am sure he looks better without the tonsure! Happy PPF, Valerie

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  5. Wonderful painting and so interesting to hear where you gain inspiration from Jez. Francis does look quite pensive, but I am not surprised, he does have a lot to think about! I like both versions of your painting and would not have noticed he was missing his tonsure if you hadn't pointed it out!

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  6. I love the last version. Happy PPF, Annette x

    http://nettysartadventures.blogspot.co.uk/

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  7. I have written down that title and will try to hunt it down... sounds interesting... and I do like the painting... and the digital one as well.. it does look really wonderfully aged...xx

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  8. Wonderful portrait of St. Francis!
    Love the combination of gold, brown, and blue.
    ♥♥♥
    Happy PPF!!
    Mary
    Mixed-Media Map Art

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  9. Love the review and your art, Jez... I'm definitely interested enough to check it out! Thanks for that...

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  10. All your versions are wonderful, but I see you vision about that painting hanging in the secluded spot in the church. Happy PPF

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  11. Very nice work, I like the digital affect, too

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  12. Fifteen years in the military, and a bit longer studying military history, left me with no taste for any fiction having to do with wars. I like your art, though. St. Francis looks like he is seeing something that spells hope for the future...

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  13. Oh this is awesome! And perfect for the "June Guys" challenge! Thanks for sharing it, I love it!
    Happy pPF

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  14. I'd never heard the word tonsure before either so I've learnt something new! I like the aged effect the computer gave to your piece as well!

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  15. Great review and a fantastic painting! Love it!

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  16. Beautiful portrait - love the moodiness of it!

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  17. You have imagined the aging of the picture well... I can see it in a church, mystical beautiful by candle light:-)

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  18. Wonderful! Happy paper Saturdays Jez šŸ˜

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  19. I never one that was the word for that. Learn something knew every day - I wouldn't have realised your mistake if you'd not said :-) It's a thought provoking review Jez, perfect art Togo with it.

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  20. What an interesting story. I will definitely look at the images you mention, as this fascinates me. I love your artwork. What an amazing man Francis must have been to recognize the importance of all of nature and its interdependence. Your art work gives him not only a pensive, but also a kind expression. I love both versions. xx

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  21. It's amazing how words can often inspire our artwork. I love St. Francis, so I am absolutely in love with your icon. Blessings!

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  22. I totally want to read this book and visit the chapel now - you should work for the publisher and/or the Scottish tourist board :)

    And I have always had a thing about icons and religious artwork (no idea why, as I'm a card holding atheist!) - so I love your St Francis, even with his hairy tonsure :D

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  23. Lovely painting of St. Francis, your digital version especially. I have not seen the Italian Chapel myself but they have quite a display of the artwork and crafts made by POW's at Eden Camp in Yorkshire. I also think it is amazing where we end up when we take a paint brush in our hands!

    Janet xx

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  24. Si impressed by your painting. Great to see the stages too. Brilliant.
    Jen x

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  25. Forgot to say Jez have bought Colour following your review and just started it. So interesting already. Thank you
    Jen x

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  26. Great review jJz, i am adding this to my list, i would love to visit this chapel. Fabulous painting, i love the last 'vintage style' photo.

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  27. I totally agree about the digi painting I think I like this effect most :) But I love the process. Dxx

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  28. Great artwork and I love how you've "aged" it in the last picture. x

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  29. Gosh, what emotions you must be going through reading this story. It must have brought back so many memories for you. I totally adore the final pic of St Frances. People often assume that because I am Pagan I would have no interest in such images, but I find religious Iconography to be some of the most beautifully emotive art man has ever made :D XXX

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  30. *going to check out images of the chapel*

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  31. I always fail painting manly faces. Thumbs up for your face!!! ♥
    The book sounds interesting... Might have to add it to my never ending to read-list! :)

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  32. Thank you for a great review; fabulous artwork, especially the digitized vintage version.

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  33. Beautiful artwork Jez. Your enthusiasm for the book and its genre really shines through your review. How lovely to be able to link into your family history,

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