Viking ship in stormy waters watercolour painting @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

Near And Far

Viking ship in stormy waters watercolour painting @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

Hi Everyone!  As chance would have it, exactly one year ago, I shared my paintings from the very first little Blue Book called Lost Pages.  It was also the beginning of The Girl and Her Cat stories.  As I started working on the little Blue Books with a series of paintings, I was finishing up a series of black and white photos taken over the previous 365 days.

These photos played a big part in my life, and I have been sharing them here every now and then.    Here is the next set of my Simple365 photos.

 

Simple 365 – Set 8

Please Click on the image thumbnails to see the photos and read the captions.

 

 

 

 

Memories from past travels

 

Rosa fresca aulentissima Simple365 black and white photo @ inktorrents.com by Soma

 

We went to Italy for our very first overseas trip.  After spending a little over a week in Rome, we spent a couple of days in Florence.  It was a such a wonderful way to wrap up the time there.  We brought back these bottles of wine.  Not only did I save the bottles for nostalgia, I also love the beautiful labels.  It’s contains a few lines from a poem Rosa fresca aulentissima.

 

In The Present

 

 

Looking at these photos made me think of what I can work next  –

    • Sow seeds for plants that I can use for dye or ink making
    • Work on a few more ink making experiments
    • Hand bind journals
    • Sew flower blocks for Garden Path quilt
    • Finish kitty blankets

 

I created a page with all the previously shared photos from Simple365.  I continue to add photos to that page as I share them here.  This way I can relive the journey through the year via black and white photos like in an old album.

 

 

These photos are of the world around me, taken when I hardly left the house.  Photographing these little things daily provided me with much-needed focus at the time and brightened my spirit quite a bit.

 

 

Distant Pages

 

In contrast, the third blue book is called Distant Pages.  

 

 

Viking ship in stormy waters watercolour painting @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

Adventures tend to begin with a stormy sea

 

I have been obsessed about the north ever since I had conscious memory.  I was given a few books about voyages and expeditions, and about the mythology and stories of those faraway lands.  As I got older, the yearning for visiting those lands only got stronger. 

 

So it didn’t surprise me that I ended up making a whole book full of paintings with the adventurous Girl And Her Cat travelling through those lands.   In case you are wondering, The Girl And Her Cat is a series of paintings about an adventurous little girl who loves to travel and wander around with her little cat.

 

By the time I finished hand binding the little book, I could already picture the first painting.  These paintings are reflections of my travels to those places, specially Svalbard.

 

Please click on the image thumbnails to see the pictures and read about their wanderings –

 

 

 

 

 

The Girl And Her Cat travel to a stone ship

 

Viking stone ship watercolour painting @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

After walking and playing around for a while, they settled down with packed lunches and made up stories about the stones.

 

 

Far Horizons

 

Far Horizons watercolour painting @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

A painting for my dearest friend who made me listen to the same music album for hours on end while we worked together. 

 

I do hope you enjoyed this set of b&w photos and the paintings from the Distant Pages book.  Wishing you a lovely time whether you are in the comfort of your own home, or venturing into uncharted waters… or perhaps doing a little bit of both.

 

Until next time,
-Soma

 

May 25th, 2022

I am taking a break this week from Wandering Camera.  See you next week.  If you are in the US, have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.

-Soma

 

I am linking up with the linky parties on my Events And Links page.  Please pay a visit to some of them.

47 thoughts on “Near And Far

  • Debbie May 27, 2022 at 19:28

    i adore b&w images and yours are nothing short of amazing. your painting are really special, well thought with exceptional colors and wanderings!! you are so very talented, we are lucky to have you share them with us!!

    Reply
  • A ShutterBug Explores May 26, 2022 at 15:33

    Oh do hope you have a wonderful respite ~ See you when you return ~ Xo

    Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days ~

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

    Reply
  • Peabea May 26, 2022 at 11:44

    What talent you have. Love the paintings. Enjoy your break, and thanks for visiting me.

    Reply
  • Sharon Wagner May 26, 2022 at 06:50

    Have a meaningful memorial day. Beautiful black and white images.

    Reply
  • Linda May 24, 2022 at 04:30

    I love all your beautiful photos and inked drawings. You do amazing work. I could get lost in the girl and her cat stories. Have you actually visited Svalbard?
    Thank you so much for sharing with To Do Tuesday.

    Reply
  • Sallie (FullTime-Life) May 23, 2022 at 10:43

    The Viking Ship on the ocean is a lovely painting and tells a story all by itself. We go boating (on calm days) but I tell you that painting made me think of all these explorers went through. How did they do it? (My Swedish ancestors must not have been Vikings!) I really love following the brave little girl and her kitty — they make up beautiful stories together. …. Your talent is so evident in your beautiful black and white photos also — that Pandemic isolation time had me finding the beauty close to home as well and nearby nature did bring joy even then. .

    Reply
  • NatureFootstep May 22, 2022 at 15:04

    My favorite art fron the Girl story is the first one. The Viking ship. So beautiful :)

    Reply
  • Jayne @ Sticky Mud and Belly Laughs May 22, 2022 at 09:57

    Absolutely beautiful work! I love your little storybooks and I can see why Svalbard inspired you, it’s such a stunning part of the world.
    Thanks for joining in with #MMBC Soma. Have a lovely week ahead. x :)

    Reply
  • Michelle May 21, 2022 at 18:23

    Your paintings are lovely, Soma!

    Michelle

    Reply
  • RachelSwirl May 21, 2022 at 12:16

    I adore your watercolour work, you are so incredibly talented! Thanks for sharing and for linking up with #MySundaySnapshot.

    Reply
  • Sarah MumofThree World May 20, 2022 at 22:56

    The paintings are absolutely beautiful.
    It’s amazing how photographing such simple things in black and white instantly makes them more interesting than they would appear in real life or in a colour photo.

    Reply
  • Michelle from ramblingwoods May 19, 2022 at 12:12

    “These photos played a big part in my life, and I have been sharing them here every now and then. “……I enjoyed visiting your blog for the first time……..Michelle from Nature Notes……

    Reply
  • Kathy May 19, 2022 at 11:32

    Good morning Beautiful post, I love seeing your art-hugs

    Reply
  • A ShutterBug Explores May 18, 2022 at 15:15

    your BW photos are awesome ~ Xo

    Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    (aks A Creative Harbor)

    Reply
  • Joanne May 17, 2022 at 14:50

    Your black and white photos are just lovely! I rarely think to shoot in black and white but really love how much detail I see in those flower photos (something I have NEVER tried to capture in black and white!). Your paintings are fabulous too; my youngest son is really taken with Norse mythology and the frost giants and all of that– he even asked if I could teach Swedish or Norwegian!

    Reply
  • Juliet (craftygreenpoet) May 17, 2022 at 12:44

    What beautiful illustrations! I love the idea of a girl going on adventures with her cat.

    Reply
  • Dixie @ Arranged Words May 17, 2022 at 09:11

    Beautiful art and photos, Soma.
    I love the Viking ship.

    Reply
  • Sam May 17, 2022 at 06:37

    Wow your paintings are amazing x

    Reply
  • betty - NZ May 17, 2022 at 00:09

    Your monochrome photos are fabulous and, I really love seeing your artwork, too! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  • Alison May 16, 2022 at 12:21

    Such beautiful paintings and photos Soma! I have always loved our north, which is Scotland, especially the standing stones and the remains of ancient settlements. I find them fascinating.
    Alison

    Reply
  • image-in-ing weeklly photo linky May 16, 2022 at 09:00

    So beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing at

    Reply
  • Anne Sweet May 16, 2022 at 04:15

    I love your photos and your paintings, they are all lovely. I especially like the keepers of the ink. And I love your little book.

    Reply
  • Angie May 15, 2022 at 20:24

    P.S. And thanks for linking to Mosaic Monday!

    Reply
  • Kim Carberry May 15, 2022 at 07:20

    What a wonderful collection of photos.

    Reply
  • Connie Griffin May 15, 2022 at 06:21

    Your pictures are just gorgeous, my hubby also likes to work in black and white, it can sure change the feel and thought of the time doing that. I like your pics of how you make your ink and the flowers are lovely even when they are near the end of their life!
    My favorite of your drawings is that boat in the stormy water, you can just feel the strength of that storm and know it is a rough one.
    So wonderful to have gone to the places you have wondered about, I have been able to do that in a few places myself and it is so fun!

    Reply
  • Erika N May 14, 2022 at 17:07

    I’m loving your drawings and reading about your travels. I know lots of people think of the tropics, but I think of the north too. Hope you’re having a great weekend.

    Reply
  • Nicole/DVArtist May 14, 2022 at 14:27

    Wow you have some wonderful art. Have a nice day.

    Reply
  • Linda Calverley May 14, 2022 at 11:17

    Love the ship. Great photos.

    Reply
  • Lavender Dreams May 14, 2022 at 06:43

    You are so sweet to share your stories and art with us all. I love these precious stories and your illustrations! You are so talented!

    Reply
  • Eileen May 14, 2022 at 02:53

    Hello Soma,
    Lovely paintings and the B&W images are lovely. Like the Girl and her cat, I love to travel. Italy is a place I would like to visit.
    Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a happy weekend. PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.

    Reply
  • Veronica Lee May 14, 2022 at 00:54

    The paintings are amazing!

    You are so talented, Soma.

    Reply
  • Angie May 13, 2022 at 22:24

    Love the Simple 365 photos, especially the folding door with the shadows playing across it.

    Reply
  • Kim May 13, 2022 at 20:07

    I suppose more often than not it is from the comfort of our homes that we venture into uncharted waters. Thank goodness for the hug and embrace of our homes. As ever, your photos are hypnotic. The painting, Far Horizons, for your dearest friend is beautiful, Soma

    Reply
  • Sue May 13, 2022 at 16:01

    Beautiful photos and painting, how wonderful to be able to recreate images from your mind.

    Reply
  • Susan May 13, 2022 at 15:20

    Love the sailing ship. I sail to far off places in my imagination.

    Reply
  • Christine May 13, 2022 at 10:25

    Beautiful pages Soma, perfection!

    Reply
  • A ShutterBug Explores May 13, 2022 at 09:27

    Your blue books are alll wonderfully done and love your art style ~ Xo

    Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

    Reply
  • gillena May 13, 2022 at 09:18

    Wow!!! Making ink from flowers, that’s fsntastic

    Have a nice weekend.

    Thanks for linking up at Art For Fun Friday

    Muchlove

    Reply
  • riitta k May 13, 2022 at 04:01

    I love the viking ship on the stormy sea. So you have visited Svalbard! That certainly was interesting, I have red about it in novels. Happy weekend.

    Reply
  • Valerie-Jael May 12, 2022 at 23:19

    Wonderful photos, Soma. We need to take time to see all the little things that are around us everyday. Love the blue books and stories. Hugs, Valerie

    Reply
  • Lisa | Handmade in Israel May 12, 2022 at 22:47

    Your paintings are beautiful and the black and white photos too. Glad you had a good time in Rome. I love a good wine bottle label :)

    Reply
  • The Joyful Quilter May 12, 2022 at 18:02

    Lovely new photos, Soma! Thanks for sharing them with us. We’ll be looking forward to your next adventures.

    Reply
  • Sandra Walker May 12, 2022 at 17:45

    Always magical, your posts. Our next trip we take, we hope to visit some Scandinavian countries, so these are especially a treat to gaze upon!

    Reply
  • Mary May 12, 2022 at 09:08

    Your eye for beauty is so keen. While I can spot beauty, there is no way I could capture it as you do for memories. I so enjoyed your black and whites, but the colors in your books are amazing.

    Reply
  • Carol May 12, 2022 at 04:39

    I just love your sweet books. The sea is a favorite theme of mine.Wonderful!

    Reply
  • Amy Johnson May 12, 2022 at 04:35

    Your drawings are so amazing!

    Reply
  • Karen May 12, 2022 at 04:29

    beautiful paintings you do such lovely work

    Reply
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