Christmas market in the English Garden, Munich | oil on canvas panel | 30 x 40 cm | ©2010 Julie Galante
There is a huge park in the middle of Munich, even bigger than Central Park, called the English Garden. Every year there’s a Christmas market in the middle of this park, in an area that is a beer garden in summer. There is nowhere better to be in this city on a snowy day.
I noticed the name of this hut is “Der Münchner Honigbär,” which translates to “The Munich Honey Bear.” Appropriate, I think, because this painting is too sweet for my tastes. I’m enjoying the practice of painting Christmas markets, since they are all around me right now, but I am finding it challenging to create paintings that aren’t too cutesy. Hopefully I can figure out how to strike the right balance. Anyone else ever have this problem?
I’m really enjoying your Christmas market paintings — I’ve seen more of the markets this year via your paintings than in real life!
Thanks, Adam. Glad I can take you on a little tour of the markets. Now get out there and drink some glühwein.
Ooh,
The light in this is so lovely.
I don’t see this as cutesy. There’s a warmth that comes through in the lit up hut juxtaposed against the snowy background. Doing the people in silhouette is a really nice touch. If you had lots of rosy cheeked people in the painting, now that might have been cutesy : )
I visited Munich twice in 2008 and just early this year in May. I still remember the pleasant afternoon I spent in Marienplatz. I wish I could see Christmas market over there too.
You have beautiful paintings, I enjoy looking at them very much!
‘Tis a sweet time of year, Giu, for sweet paintings.
Thanks for this one. The snow on the branches reminds me of one of my favorite Christmas songs, Neil Diamond’s version of Silver Bells.
Think local, Act Global, and vice versa. That’s YOU, Giu! It occured to me this morning.
I just had to tell.
Kevakis
I also don’t see it as too cutesie. The light (as it shows on my monitor) kinda takes the cutesy away. More like wistfulness. Perhaps a bittersweet hope. There seems a sadness to the darker parts which the hut sits within… (and then again, I could be projecting.
I love this.
Thanks, all! I really appreciate the feedback and encouragement.
@Julie – Art is all about the viewer’s personal experience with the piece. Project away!
great work!!
You are very talented!
The paintings are wonderful 🙂 The whole collection of them… I think they aren’t to cutesy – they are just right capturing the magic of the season and the wonderfulness of an outdoor market…
Happy ICLW from #37 and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!