Amazing Trip to St. Augustine, FL

 The Castillo de San Marcos is the oldest masonry fort in the continental US. Located on the shore of Matanzas Bay in the city of St. Augustine, Fl., construction began in 1672 and lasted twenty-three years, with completion in 1695.

 The garrita  and belltower at the fort~Before around for war-now around for lovers

Ft. San Marcos-looks so peaceful from this view.

St Augustine City Gate

 The Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse is located in St. Augustine, near the city gate. It is touted as being the oldest wooden school building in the US.

Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine. From the English period.

Flagler College Rotunda Dome. Originally built as a high end hotel the Ponce de Leon

Flagler College Portal

Flagler College. The architect was Henry Flagler

The Bridge of Lions. The drawbridge is opening in the photo.

My artwork at the Old Town Art Festival

A Little owl lover

Favorite picture for the girl

Out walking the goat!

Local art lover and part time pirate.

My new Gallery in St. Augustine

 Replicas of the Medici lions of Florence, Italy at the approach to the Bridge of Lions  donated by Andrew Anderson 

Good Food, Good Life!

Located in historic St. Augustine, you can overlook the scenic Mantanza Bay.

Aunt Kate's-one of my favorite restaurants in St. Augustine. Low-country boil.

 The St. Augustine Light is an active lighthouse in St. Augustine, Florida. The current lighthouse stands at the north end of Anastasia Island and was built in 1874;

Amazing sunset on Jekyll Island on our way back home. 

Shijun Art on Doobious.org 2013

Shijun Art on Doobious.org 2013, a local internet organization supporting the arts in Atlanta.  La Reshea Jones conducted an interview and took pictures this October. Here is the published article. 

“I love a challenging and creative life. Freedom and the sense of liberty is achieved through my ability to express what I am seeing and feeling. As an artist, you have developed good insight and a taste for life – life is what you make it, so try to make it beautiful. Being an artist and art teacher has provided me a lifelong love.” – Shijun Munns

Shijun Munns is a local painter who was born in the province of Guangdong, China where she has built her foundation and passion for art since childhood. She graduated from Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts in 1987 which led her to receive a copious amount of awards and recognition for her paintings, she then followed the path of becoming an art instructor. Over the years her work has been viewed and collected on an international scale. She moved to Georgia in 2003 where she currently works and lives in a quaint and quiet home with her husband. She creates and teaches in her studio at home and stays very active within the Fine Art world here in Atlanta, having her work exhibited in many galleries throughout the area.

A majority of Shijun’s pieces exudes a style that stems from traditional roots with a modern twist. She has noted inspiration from artists such as Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso, Vincent Van Gogh as well as “some of the old Chinese masters”. Her love for the texture, design, and vibrant colors of these artists works shine through her own. She has also expressed gaining inspiration from her students.

Alongside everything else she is a photographer and writer having published articles in her home country as well as creating travel journals documenting places and people.

“My main medium is painting but I am interested in many mediums like watercolor, mixed media, and Chinese ink brush paintings… My feeling is that every medium of art is connected. When you experience art in different ways and other ways of expressing yourself, it will deepen your perspective on life and improve your artistic style,” says Munns.

Shijun’s works display themes that emit very mystique feminine energy and its connection with the environment showing “a balance between serenity of nature and the strength of poetry”. The splendid and lush country side of Georgia and the Southern charm of its culture shines through her latest works.  

“Art expands ones horizons. For children, the simple act [of] being creative has beneficial qualities that enrich their lives in all their endeavors through school years. To create art is to nurture, heal and love and a quest for giving meaning to my own life. I like art that is inspirational, heartening and more peaceful than the reality of life. I think art should inspire the viewer, elicit a response. The world without art is the ruin of soul.”   

I truly appreciate La Reshea Jones for her interview and wonderful article just published on their webpage http://doobious.org/local-artist-highlight-•-shijun-munns/

shijunart.com 

Shijun Art on Facebook 

Shijun Art on Pinterest 

"Traveling Souls" Hispanic-American Visual Artists

 Hudgens Gallery with a piece by Felix Berroa titled "Dream Fishers" mixed technique (wood, canvas,enamel) 2012. Dominican Republic

"Nude Embracers" by Felix Berroa, acrylic on canvas 2010. Dominican Republic

"Son of the Moon Rose" and "Son of the Moon Monarch" by Federico Torres Bodon, oil on wood, Mexico. A tribute to Frida Kahlo

 "Invocation" by Nicolas de la Hoz, oil and acrylic on canvas, 2009. Columbia

"Composition for Mon Signor's Beata" by Jairo Pinto, pencil on paper. 2012. Columbia

 "Esclavitud"-slavery, by Diego Ballesta , oil on canvas, 2011. Columbia

"Composition for Synodal Witness" by Jairo Pinto, oil and charcoal on wood, 2012. Columbia

 "La Conqista" by Jose Candido Peneda, acrylic on canvas, 2012. El Salvador

 "Scape"-escape, by Domingo Castro Oliveros, acrylic on canvas 2012. Columbia

 "The Virgin" by Jose Pena, acrylic on canvas, 2010. Dominican Republic

"Bio Deconstructive II" by Rafael Motaniz, digital photography on canvas, 2011. Uruguay

Marga Gaberret Debbaudt with her scuplture. Argentina

 Artist at the Hudgens reception

 The Hudgens Center for the Arts-The Jacqueline Casey Hudgens Center for the Arts, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway #300, Duluth, GA 30097

My friend Felix and his fellow artist friends at the "Traveling Souls" Hispano-Americano Exhibition currently on view at the Hudgens Center for the Arts. Best wishes to all of them!

 Artists and friends

Frida Kahlo. Heroine to us all. An artists' best business card!

shijunart.com

Shijun Art on Facebook