I had an appreciation of art long before I bought my first piece and later while traveling, I would buy a piece to remind me of the trip. I only have five expensive pieces and the rest from my travels are street art or maps. Maps are another thing I collect and love picking them up while traveling. I bought this Jim Stallings while in Maui at an outdoor showing. He thanked me and we talked for a while, he was so down to earth and I didn’t even know who he was, just that I loved this piece. I think it was $800 and I display it in my bedroom without a frame on a decorative easel. His father owned a restaurant chain that I ate at regularly, on the menu was the first plant-based patty I had. It was so good it was hard to believe it wasn’t beef.

Here’s More About Jim Stallings

Stallings is considered an artists’ artist. Fascinated with art and artists from a very early age, private painting classes at age eight started the course of Stallings’ destiny. He earned a degree from the University of Central Oklahoma and then spent as much time as possible in the museums of London and Paris while earning a diploma from City University, London. Stallings then embarked on a backpacking odyssey for over two years that included more than five hundred miles in the Grand Canyon and the surrounding states ending in Denali National Park, Alaska. After four months in Alaska Stallings flew to Maui with only a backpack and a duffle bag where he began his artistic career.
Stallings hung his first early paintings in Maui restaurants which sold quickly leading to a number of gallery shows. He then opened his own gallery in Lahaina, Maui enjoying the friendships he made with collectors from every state in the United States and all over the world.
Stallings has explored the relationship of music and pure color for his entire artistic career. Deciding early on to pursue canvases of whimsy and purity, questions about the relationship of music, vibrations and visual art led Stallings to paint live on stage with symphony orchestras including the Long Beach, San Diego, Honolulu and the Russian National. Painting music as visual art was a defining moment in Stallings’ career. He enjoys exploring the harmony of music and color and their positive effects on the human spirit. He has worked with world renowned scientist, physicist, conductors and musician regarding the physics and energy of music.
After creating and selling more than two thousand original works of art, Stallings still pursues his love of painting classical and jazz music. He has also painted jazz music live at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Palm Springs, Napa and New York. Never complacent, Stallings continues to stretch his creative limits while sharing his passion for the arts.

Here are a few I like from his collection.

Floral on Blue

Floral Study

Bistro Five

Interestingly, he has signed his paintings on the left and right. I have not seen that before.

Melinda

Reference:

https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/jim-stallings

I love to see what countries visit my blog, it actually hits my travel desire. Each week I look further into countries I’m not familiar with and this week I took a closer look at Mali. Mali, is a landlocked country of western Africa, mostly in the Saharan and Sahelian regions. Mali is largely flat and arid. The Niger River flows through its interior, functioning as the main trading and transport artery in the country. Sections of the river flood periodically, providing much-needed fertile agricultural soil along its banks as well as creating pasture for livestock. Although Mali is one of the largest countries in Africa, it has a relatively small population, which is largely centered along the Niger River. Agriculture is the dominant economic sector in the country, with cotton production, cattle and camel herding, and fishing among the major activities.

St Petersburg, Russia will always have a special place in my heart, I loved the city’s deep history, the Cathedrals, the architecture, and above all the kindness of the people. I knew three words in Russian and the people who didn’t speak English, many of them, tried so hard to help me, taking extra time when I was lost or not able to find a museum I really wanted to see. The history of St. Petersburg is fascinating and at one time it served as the capital of Russia. The Hermitage Palace and museum is something everyone needs to see, it is mind-blowing and houses not only fine art but the greatest collection of Faberge Eggs. 

I visited Madrid, Spain in 1988 and it was my first international trip. I keep a photo of a couple performing with string puppets in the square on my bookcase. We made the trip to Toledo, A UNESCO World Heritage Site, which includes the Cathedral of Toledo and the Alcázar fortress. The Cathedral was reportedly built in the Middle Ages and is one of Spain’s most important Gothic structures. At the same time, the Alcázar fortress has played a significant role in Spanish history, serving as a royal palace, military fortification, and now a museum. The fort was a trip back in time, on the huge wooden doors you could see where it was hit with cannonballs. The architecture was undescribable and being on the river made it even more special. The locals were welcoming and tried to help me so hard when we were lost and I needed to go to the bathroom. Try to speak that in body language. The exquisite handmade Ladro porcelain pieces are made in Spain and I found a special one to bring my Granny. We also found a beautiful black plate with gold detailing, all made by hand.  

Greece is high on my bucket list, with its deep history, magnificent blue water, cathedrals capped in blue, crazy uphill walking, and white-covered buildings and houses and the mob. I’ve read that mob still runs parts of the country although I bet they would prefer I not mention. Greece is also known for gold, when traveling you can pick up gold jewelry for a fraction of the price in America. There a plenty of shops to choose from and the designs are creative and playful. That’s just the tip of the iceberg that the Greek Islands are.  

Brazil is on my travel bucket list, the country has so much to offer. 

Statue of Peter the Great in St. Petersburg Square

Thank you so much for stopping by. 

Melinda

References:

https://www.britannica.com/place/Mali

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Saint_Petersburg#1945–1970s

https://www.britannica.com/place/Madrid

https://www.britannica.com/place/Brazil

https://www.britannica.com/place/Greece