Our Painting holidays where featured in the Guardian on 15th January! Pretty cool, eh?
Read all about it!
Picture the scene: learning to paint in Italy by Merope Mills
If you were going to choose a spot to massacre on canvas, it would be hard to find a much more breathtaking one than this. I am seated at the crown of Gessopalena, a village in Italy’s Abruzzo region, with 360-degree views of rolling hills. The craggy ruins of the old town spill out around me and the scent of fresh pine fills the air. I have a glass of chilled prosecco in one hand, a palette of acrylics in the other and the still waters of Lago Sant’Angelo are winking at me in the distance. The view couldn’t be bettered. My painting, on the other hand, could do with some improvement.
Read the full article here
Make this the year you explore your creative side in some of the world’s most breathtaking destinations. From sublime desert ruins to idyllic hilltop towns to labyrinthine souks, where will Frui be taking you in 2011…?
Kerala, India
From the epic waterfalls and mountainous peaks of the Western Ghats, to the endless backwaters of Alleppey, to the timeless tea plantations of Munnar and the magical tiger reserve of Periyar, Kerala offers a true taste of the Orient.
Abruzzo, Italy
Situated to the east of Rome, Abruzzo’s mountainous plateaux give way to majestic valleys, which sweep down to the Adriatic Sea. Perhaps the most unspoilt of Italian regions, over two thirds of Abruzzo is designated national park. Here wild bears and wolves roam, while rugged pastory mountain dogs guard the grazing livestock.
Marrakech, Morocco
Sip mint tea and watch the storks nest on the ramparts of ancient palaces, mosques and medinas, while snake charmers, storytellers, dancers and alchemists gather for an evening of festivities in the main square, Djemaa el Fna.
Istria, Croatia
In the centre of this heart shaped piece of land you’ll find mountainous plateaux and medieval hilltop towns surrounded by lush vineyards and bountiful olive groves. While in the north Istria’s undulating peninsular, with its white calcareous hills, sweeps down to a turquoise coast. And in the southwest are the ancient forests and low-lying valleys saturated in a flaming red soil.
Istanbul, Turkey
Situated on two continents and with a skyline punctuated with ancient mosques, medieval towers, exquisite palaces and modern skyscrapers, Istanbul is a bustling cosmopolitan city where East meets West.
Syria, Middle East
Syria will inspire and captivate you. Lose yourself in the history and magic of Aleppo’s awe-inspiring citadel, the magnificent ruined desert city of Palmyra and the hustle and bustle of Damascus’ exotic souk.
County Kerry, Ireland
County Kerry in southwest Ireland forms the dramatic western edge of Europe. For those interested in landscape photography this pocket of Ireland offers some of the most sublime vistas in the British Isles.
Berlin, Germany
Whether you’re interested in art, music, literature, fashion or theatre, Berlin is now at the leading edge of it all. This eclectic and vibrant creative scene can be traced back twenty years to the fall of the Wall, which left a cultural void in Berlin. It wasn’t long before young, talented creatives full of fresh ideas and sharp pencils flocked to the city for the cheap rent and a chance to make a name for themselves.
What snow are you experiencing at the moment… A touch of the ’slimtla’ or perhaps it’s more a case of ‘intla’? Here at Frui HQ it’s without a doubt ‘tliyel’:
tlapa powder snow
tlacringit snow that is crusted on the surface
kayi drifting snow
tlapat still snow
klin remembered snow
naklin forgotten snow
tlamo snow that falls in large wet flakes
tlatim snow that falls in small flakes
tlaslo snow that falls slowly
tlapinti snow that falls quickly
kripya snow that has melted and refrozen
tliyel snow that has been marked by wolves
tliyelin snow that has been marked by Eskimos
blotla blowing snow
pactla snow that has been packed down
hiryla snow in beards
wa-ter melted snow
tlayinq snow mixed with mud
quinaya snow mixed with Husky shit
quinyaya snow mixed with the shit of a lead dog
slimtla snow that is crusted on top but soft underneath
kriplyana snow that looks blue in the early morning
puntla a mouthful of snow because you fibbed
allatla baked snow
fritla fried snow
gristla deep fried snow
MacTla snow burgers
jatla snow between your fingers or toes, or in groin-folds
dinliltla little balls of snow that cling to Husky fur
sulitlana green snow
mentlana pink snow
tidtla snow used for cleaning
ertla snow used by Eskimo teenagers for exquisite erotic rituals
kriyantli snow bricks
hahatla small packages of snow given as gag gifts
semtla partially melted snow
ontla snow on objects
intla snow that has drifted indoors
shlim slush
warintla snow used to make Eskimo daiquiris
mextla snow used to make Eskimo Margaritas
penstla the idea of snow
mortla snow mounded on dead bodies
ylaipi tomorrow’s snow
nylaipin the snows of yesteryear (”neiges d’antan”)
pritla our children’s snow
nootlin snow that doesn’t stick
rotlana quickly accumulating snow
skriniya snow that never reaches the ground
bluwid snow that’s shaken down from objects in the wind
tlanid snow that’s shaken down and then mixes with sky-falling snow
ever-tla a spirit made from mashed fermented snow,
popular among Eskimo men
talini snow angels
priyakli snow that looks like it’s falling upward
chiup snow that makes halos
blontla snow that’s shaken off in the mudroom
tlalman snow sold to German tourists
tlalam snow sold to American tourists
tlanip snow sold to Japanese tourists
protla snow packed around caribou meat
attla snow that as it falls seems to create nice pictures
in the air
sotla snow sparkling with sunlight
tlun snow sparkling with moonlight
astrila snow sparkling with starlight
clim snow sparkling with flashlight or headlight
tlapi summer snow
krikaya snow mixed with breath
ashtla expected snow that’s wagered on (depth, size of flakes)
huantla special snow rolled into “snow reefers” and smoked
by wild Eskimo youth
tla-na-na snow mixed with the sound of old rock and roll
from a portable radio
depptla a small snowball, preserved in Lucite, that had been handled
by Johnny Depp
trinkyi first snow of the year
tronkyin last snow of the year
shiya snow at dawn
katiyana night snow
tlinro snow vapor
nyik snow with flakes of widely varying size
ragnitla two snowfalls at once, creating moire patterns
akitla snow falling on water
privtla snow melting in the spring rain
chahatlin snow that makes a sizzling sound as it falls on water
hootlin snow that makes a hissing sound as the
individual flakes brush
geltla snow dollars
briktla good building snow
striktla snow that’s no good for building
erolinyat snow drifts containing the imprint of crazy lovers
chachat swirling snow that drives you nuts
krotla snow that blinds you
tlarin snow that can be sculpted into the delicate corsages
Eskimo girls pin to their whale parkas at prom time
motla snow in the mouth
sotla snow in the south
maxtla snow that hides the whole village
tlayopi snow drifts you fall into and die
truyi avalanche of snow
tlapripta snow that burns your scalp and eyelids
carpitla snow glazed with ice
tla ordinary snow
Thanks to Phil James
Phewee! We’ve been inundated with Matt Cardle doppelgangers over the past few days and not one of them looked like Mr Cardle. Well, not as much as our very own Lou Lou Amore
But after much impassioned debate we’ve decided on the winner. So without further ado, here he is… It’s none other than ‘Laura’s’ mate ‘Phil’!
Well done Phil, Laura’s only gone and won you a Photography Course at Kew Gardens! You owe her one big Xmas pressie. Why not choose one from our range of fun and inspiring gift ideas.
Well done to all those who entered!
Proper Crimbo
Why do sunsets always look better in real life than in my photos…?
Why does my flash always make my shots look so, erm, rubbish…?
I want to buy a new camera, but what should I get…?
My camera keeps doing [insert weirdness here], what’s up with that…?
Do you suffer from rubbish holiday snaps or need a gentle reminder about something? Have your photography questions answered by one of Frui’s expert photography tutors during #fruifotohour.
You could have your question answered by one of this dubious looking lot… (From Left: Filski, Simon, Tina, Henry)
Live Q&A every Friday between 3 – 4pm
When we give you the nod at 3pm, tweet #fruifotohour or post something on our Facebook wall or email fotohour@frui.co.uk and our tutors will answer as many questions as humanly possible in the hour! Or they’ll be no tea and biccies afterwards…
Last night Frui’s very own Street Photography guru, Lou Lou Amore, stormed to victory on the X-Factor! With his stage name ‘Matt Cardle’, Lou Lou looked every bit the pop star as he gyrated on stage in those rather fetching florescent yellow trousers.
Left: Matt Cardell. Right: Louis Amore.
DO YOU OR DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO LOOKS LIKE MATT CARDLE? IF SO, SEND US A HEAD SHOT AND THE MOST STRIKING RESEMBLANCE WILL WIN A 1-DAY PHOTOGRAPHY COURSE AT KEW GARDENS WORTH £120!
Email pics to press@frui.co.uk
Deadline – 1pm on 17th Dec
Join some of the team at this fun evening for a very good cause!
Featuring:
JOHN HEGLEY, HOWLS, CHARLIE DARK, POLAR BEAR, LIZ BENTLEY, HADAR MANOR, SEAN TAYLOR, DANIEL COCKRILL, TONY HUSBAND
When – Monday 29th November
Show Time – 8.30pm
Where – Screen on the Green Cinema, 83 Upper Street, London N1
Tickets – £15 can get them via Just Giving here
Find out more
