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.

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.

About Dorothy Berry-Lound

Italy-based artist, writer and storyteller…

We here at JigsawPuzzleArt.com asked Dorothy to tell us a bit about herself and her work. She said:

Artist Dorothy Berry-Lound

I am an artist, blogger and writer; a story teller really! I am lucky to live half way up a mountain in Umbria, Italy where I create all my designs. I work looking out over fabulous views of the Italian countryside. Although I paint in acrylics, I specialize in photo art, using my own photographs to develop the stories that I imagine lay beneath the images. I also produce digital designs.

“My art subjects reflect my English background (I was born on the South Coast of England) and my life in Italy. I think I am more Italian than English these days. My subjects include the character of towns, villages and old buildings, my love of the countryside and animals, sweeping landscapes and colourful florals. There is a spiritual aspect to some of my work, with purposeful application of color and imagery in order to create a particular mood.

“Find out more about me, my art and my writing, at https://dorothyberryloundart.com.”

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Thank you, Dorothy. Your art is beautiful.

You can learn more about Dorothy and the art she creates at the following links.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BerryLound/

Mastodon: https://mastodon.art/@DorothyBerryLound

About Bill Swartwout Photography

Coastal Delaware Wanderlust Photographer

Bill’s work is oft inspired by a quote from Robert Louis Stevenson: “For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.”

Artist Photographer Bill Swartwout
Portrait of Bill Swartwout by Lisa Kaiser, imagist/artist.

Bill says, “My photographs reflect such wanderlust. I record images of places to which I wander and of myriad distractions along the way. I love to share my joy of living at the beach and our travels afar, bringing you photographic art that reflects what I see.

Bill has had his photographs published for more than half a century, having started as a junior reporter for a small-town newspaper while he was still in high school. He worked his way through college as a clerk in a camera store and doing freelance wedding and aerial photography. The aerial photography encouraged him to obtain a pilot’s license nearly 50 years ago. He no longer shoots “for hire” but enjoys offering his work for sale as wall decor – prints, canvas, framed prints and on home decor items. The company who produces his finished work now offers his images on cloth face masks.

Bill Swartwout Photography

Link to Bill’s fine art gallery: Photography Gallery

Link to Bill’s photographs on jigsaw puzzles: Puzzles