Author: The Dissectologist

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Floral Courtyard Cortona Tuscany Jigsaw Puzzle

By contributing artist Dorothy Berry-Lound

Cortona in Tuscany, Italy

I live half way up a mountain in Umbria, Italy. Standing out the back of my house and looking past Lago Trasimeno down in the valley towards the mountain opposite I can see Cortona in Tuscany. As you do, I have stood outside and waved in the direction of friends standing looking toward my house from Cortona while we talk on mobile phones! Only 20 miles between friends!

The Cortana Courtyard Jigsaw by Dorothy Berry-Lound

Cortona is a beautiful town, popular with tourists, and a wonderful place for photo opportunities. There is a main street, largely pedestrianized, full of restaurants and shops. The main street has various alleys and stone stairways up and down through archways to access lower or higher parts of the town. One of the joys is the possibility of getting lost exploring the back streets and then sitting and enjoying a locally made ice cream. Sigh… who can resist Italian ice cream? Make mine a salted caramel please.

Something Magical Everywhere You Look

As a photographer I drive anyone walking around these Italian towns with me completely nuts! Because a glance down any alleyway will reveal a wonderful sight. Perhaps an old fresco under an archway. A view down through an archway to the valley below. An old street light array or antique wooden doorway. Or, as in this case. a view down to an interesting area with shops and a restaurant. You can see what I mean about magical, unexpected views from my fine art photography image ‘Floral Courtyard Cortona Tuscany.’

The jigsaw puzzle shows a view down a flagstone alley, past a display of petunias and a little cart covered with flower pots. At the end of the alley is a half open old wooden door and in front of that is a traditional Italian water fountain.

The Cortana Courtyard Jigsaw by Dorothy Berry-Lound

There are a plethora of mixed signs including one for the restaurant ‘La Grotta’, a flower shop and a real estate agency. The outside seating area of the restaurant provides a wonderful cool area to enjoy beautiful Tuscan food out of the glare of the hot sun. And then perhaps when you have finished your meal you can purchase some beautiful flowers to take back to your hotel. Always stopping for another ice cream on the way of course.

Link:

Floral Courtyard Cortona Tuscany Puzzle: https://www.pictorem.com/197216/Floral%20Courtyard%20Cortona%20Tuscany.html

Artist Dorothy Berry-Lound


Click to learn more about the artist: Dorothy Berry-Lound.

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Jigsaw Puzzles with Photographs by Bill Swartwout

Jigsaw Puzzles by Independent Artists

These premium jigsaw puzzles are available in two different sizes: 18″ x 24″ (500 pieces) and 20″ x 28″ (1,000 pieces).   Each puzzle is made from premium 0.200″ thick card stock and includes a custom-designed box containing the puzzle with artwork by Bill Swartwout Photography.

There are more than 700 Jigsaw Puzzle Designs with images by Bill Swartwout Photogrpahy

Challenge yourself and your brain with a jigsaw puzzle designed with imagery by Bill Swartwout Photography. These puzzles are made from premium 0.2″ thick paper stock and include a semi-gloss coating on the top surface to make the image really stand out. The puzzles are available in two different sizes and piece counts: 500 pieces at 24″x18″ and 1000 pieces at 28″x20″. The puzzle pieces are unique and contained in a sturdy puzzle box with the image printed on the top. Care instructions include keeping the puzzle in the box when you are not “puzzling” and store it at room temperature.

These are produced and fulfilled by Fine Art America/Pixels and have a 30-day Satisfaction Guarantee. In addition to the 700+ offered by Bill Swartwout Photography there are over a million designs by created by other independent artists. CLICK HERE to get started.

This jigsaw puzzle design always evokes a laugh.
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Cat Spirit Guide Jigsaw Puzzle

by Contributing Artist Dorothy Berry-Lound

This wonderful image, depicting a cat spirit guide, is now available on a jigsaw puzzle. Great fun for the family and a great gift. It comes beautifully presented in a box with the finished picture.

Cat Spirit Guide Jigsaw Puzzle by Dorothy Berry-Lound

Creating the Image

The cat looks regal, bright eyed and sits in a shimmer of rainbow colors. The design includes a heart shape which suggests love, healing and comfort. The model is Ms. Stevie Mouse, a kitten I rescued when I found her drowning in a puddle at four weeks old. She is now five and is used to posing for the camera as you can see. The image is created with fine art photography, photo art based on my photograph of Stevie. The magic happens in my ‘computer darkroom’!


About Cats in History

You may know that cats were worshipped in Egypt as royalty? Egyptians believed that cats were magical creatures that brought good luck to the family that housed them. Wealthy families would dress their cats in jewels (don’t give Stevie ideas please) and had them mummified when they died. Okay perhaps I won’t tell Stevie that bit either.

Cat Spirit Guide Jigsaw Puzzle by Dorothy Berry-Lound

You may not know that cats are linked to the Norse Goddess of Fertility, Freya, and the Hindu Goddess of Childbirth, Shasthi (Shashti).   A cat spirit was said to guard the underworld in ancient Celtic mythology. Muslims honor a cat called Muezza for saving the Prophet Mohammed from a venomous snake attack. And the Chinese have a lucky cat totem called Maneki-Neko that sits waving a paw. If it is waving its left paw it is bringing you happiness and good fortune. If it is waving the right paw it is bringing you money. I wonder if I could teach Stevie to sit and wave her right paw around a bit?

The Cat Spirit Guide

A Cat Spirit Guide brings you patience, independence and perhaps the spirit of adventure. Associated with healing, it brings a connection with self and a curiosity to explore the unknown. An animal totem that also happens to give a great cuddle. Like Stevie Mouse.

Link to browse or purchase: Cat Spirit Guide.

Artist Dorothy Berry-Lound


Click to learn more about the artist: Dorothy Berry-Lound.

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How to Solve a Jigsaw Puzzle

How to approach a jigsaw puzzle, make it a fun endeavor and become a dissectologist.

Jigsaw puzzles are a fun and challenging activity for people of all ages. If you’ve never done a jigsaw puzzle before, or if you’re looking for some tips on how to improve your puzzle-solving skills, this may be for you! Here are a few simple tips on how to solve a jigsaw puzzle:

Jigsaw Puzzle Sample Pieces
  1. Choose the right puzzle. Jigsaw puzzles come in many shapes and sizes. Some are small, some are large, and some even have extra pieces that you can use to make a jigsaw puzzle out of a large piece of artwork. Choose one that fits your skill level and interest.
  2. Prepare the workspace. You’ll want to set up the puzzle on a table or other flat surface. You might also want to find a comfortable place to sit.
  3. Organize the pieces. Find the edge pieces. The edge pieces are the outermost pieces of the puzzle and have one perfectly straight edge. They can be found along the edges and corners of the finished puzzle. Next, separate large sections of pieces into small piles by color.
  4. Work from the outside in. Look for edge pieces first. Next, look for the four corner pieces. The corners are four-sided pieces that form a 90-degree angle along two sides. Assemble the corners and edges to make a frame for the rest of the puzzle.
  5. Don’t force it. Don’t force pieces into place. If a piece doesn’t fit, that means it is in the wrong place.
Putting the last piece of the puzzle into place.
Putting the last piece of the jigsaw puzzle into place.

Conclusion: There is a certain satisfaction derived from completing a puzzle. Take a moment to reflect. Did you feel elated when you snapped that last puzzle piece into place? Are you proud of what you have accomplished? Are there any other puzzles that you would like to do? If you really enjoy doing/working/solving jigsaw puzzles you may call yourself a “dissectologist” – a person who enjoys jigsaw puzzles.

More: The Joy of Jigsaw Puzzles