… and now, back from it once more. Big sigh.
It was a very great pleasure to revisit the beautiful island of Zákynthos (and that’s ZAK-ynthos, not zuh-KYN-thos … why do all holiday reps feel the need to pronounce it this way?) for the first time in ten years, and to find our beloved Alykés remarkably unchanged.
This zentanglish journal page was done during the afternoon of our first day at the beach, in between swims and sandcastles and plates of calamari.
Pen in square hand*book journal, 3.5 x 3.5″
This sketch was done from my sun lounger, and shows the view from Alykés beach to the next resort of Alikanás. I last sketched this view 11 years ago, and the scene felt incredibly familiar even after all this time.
Pen & watercolour in Canson w/c journal
One afternoon I had a couple of blissful hours to myself, which I mostly spent sitting at the decked terrace of a tranquil riverside bar, sipping a fruit cocktail amid the olive trees and doing this next drawing. The owner was a friendly Greek gentleman who asked about my sketching. I left him one of my little Moo cards.
Pen & watercolour in Canson w/c journal
At the bottom of the page: the tiny brown scorpion that took up residence on the ceiling outside our room, and the (in reality much tinier, but very pretty) beetle I spotted on my sun lounger one afternoon.
The beach at Alykés again, on a breezy day.
Pen on 2 pages of Canson w/c journal prewashed with watercolour
As an artist I am architecturally phobic, and was clueless as to how and where to even begin in depicting this view of the neighbouring balconies from our own – but I really wanted to capture something of the Koukounaria (“pine cones” in Greek) and to make the most of my bits of early evening chill-out time. So I just sort of got on with it, and am pleasantly surprised by the results.
Pen & watercolour across 2 pages of Canson w/c journal
Though the mostly gorgeous weather afforded us 11 days at the beach, given the season I realised I had to have a project for the occasional sheltering-from-rainstorm scenario. My starting point for this was the silhouette of Kefallónia seen through a misty morning sky.
Pen across 2 pages of Canson w/c journal
Lastly, those sun loungers again …
Pen & borrowed Cotman watercolours in Canson w/c journal
End of season means relatively few holidaymakers cluttering up the beaches and tavernas, but I’ve perhaps exaggerated that tranquility just a touch here. 🙂 That the Zákynthos of my sketches is apparently a desert island belies the fact that we had a lively, sometimes hectic and ultimately exhausting (but fabulous) family holiday. But it does perhaps reflect something of what art does for my soul.
I have a handful of tiny sketches still to post, along with random crafty nuggets. In the meantime, my holiday photos can be seen here.
Jennifer Lawson
Oct 09, 2008 @ 22:34:00
Oh wow, E-J, your sketches from your paradise holiday are just beautiful. I especially love your “zentanglish” page.I have just moved to the island paradise of Bali and have yet to pick up a pen and sketch book. Well it’s only been two days. Maybe today…Great work!
Lisalou
Oct 09, 2008 @ 23:18:00
What a treat, each and every one. I love the beachy sketches, the zentangles and the architectural one. Your blog is a joy!Lisa
andrea joseph's sketchblog
Oct 09, 2008 @ 23:36:00
Wow. This is a mega-post. Mega good too. I like the top 7 drawings the best.Cool beans, EJ.
freebird
Oct 10, 2008 @ 03:51:00
These are such great pictures (that is, except for the scorpion – I just almost ran into a tarantula on my sliding screen door – I really do NOT want to see a scorpion). Everything else here was beautiful. I especially liked the ocean scene with the land in the background.
Linda T
Oct 10, 2008 @ 05:19:00
These are just terrific! What great sketches to remember your vacation by.
Margaret Ann
Oct 10, 2008 @ 07:26:00
You have truly taken my breath away…What glorious pages…Love your penwork, you magic touch for design and composition and your exotic subject matter! What a visual holiday for all of us! Brilliant! 🙂
Wibbo
Oct 10, 2008 @ 08:22:00
These are lovely, E-J! My favourite is probably Rainy Day Doodle – inspired title 😀
Max
Oct 10, 2008 @ 09:17:00
These are sooooooooo beautiful………!!!!!
Katy
Oct 10, 2008 @ 12:25:00
Beautiful work! You are very talented! For days I’ve been wanting to get back to drawing, and you have inspired me. Thanks!
Barbara Weeks
Oct 10, 2008 @ 14:22:00
What a great post! Thanks for the peak into paradise.
Sandy
Oct 10, 2008 @ 15:26:00
How fabulous, I can’t wait to hear and see more!
Christie
Oct 10, 2008 @ 18:31:00
Fabulous! I’m speechless, blown away, etc. — just fabulous!
Anonymous
Oct 11, 2008 @ 17:20:00
Really inspirational pages. I love the double page spreads and your Zentangle based designs. Your joy in the island comes through.
Ann
Oct 11, 2008 @ 21:27:00
Oh my. These are all fabulous! Each one has it’s own flavor yet they all fit together so well to illustrate your holiday.
Anita Davies
Oct 11, 2008 @ 23:05:00
Fabulous journal entries E-J, so pleased you found time to sketch…I was soooo hoping you would. 🙂
Joan Sandford-Cook
Oct 12, 2008 @ 15:03:00
What a magnificent post of your island holiday. Such variety and love the little extra drawings at the bottom of the pages. So glad you all had a good time.
Eygló Daða
Oct 16, 2008 @ 19:41:00
The sketches are absolutely amazing! I like the colors. Oh and I’m so envious of your vacation! It sounds delightful!!
Anonymous
Jun 07, 2010 @ 21:42:35
How strikingly beautiful; the zen-pieces are as alive as fine Japanese woodblock prints…(Kip)