Rooster, Kyparissi, Lakonia James Foot
Our logo, Christos the rooster from Kyparissi
When looking for an image for our logo, I thought of my wonderfully talented friend, James Foot--a water colorist whom I met 30 years ago in one of my favorite villages Kyparissi Laconia and who now permanently lives there. He captures the Greek light amazingly.
We fell in love with his painting of Christos the rooster for the logo. Not only has he captured the light, but also the colors of Greece and the feeling of authenticity and hospitality that one feels in Greece. For me, it conjures the iconic Greek village surrounded by natural beauty, vibrant colors, lovely people and aromas of delicious homemade food. Symbolically it heralds the dawn and Apollo's light—the famous Greek light, which will not only awake one physically, but also in spirit. Being in Greece awakes the senses, inspires curiosity and is always fun--just as the image of Christos, our favorite rooster from Kyparissi--and now mascot for Ambrosia Travel!
We fell in love with his painting of Christos the rooster for the logo. Not only has he captured the light, but also the colors of Greece and the feeling of authenticity and hospitality that one feels in Greece. For me, it conjures the iconic Greek village surrounded by natural beauty, vibrant colors, lovely people and aromas of delicious homemade food. Symbolically it heralds the dawn and Apollo's light—the famous Greek light, which will not only awake one physically, but also in spirit. Being in Greece awakes the senses, inspires curiosity and is always fun--just as the image of Christos, our favorite rooster from Kyparissi--and now mascot for Ambrosia Travel!
Paralia, Kyparissi, Lakonia by James Foot
The Light of Greece
What makes Greece unique? I would argue, as many others have in the past, that it is the light. The light that seems to come directly from the heavens--even the clouds seem to be much higher in the sky. The brilliant clarity of the Greek light bestoys such luminance that familiar objects seem unique, as one is seeing them for the first time, basking in the glory of their vivid color.
“The light of Greece opened my eyes, penetrated my pores, extended to my whole being. I went back to the world having found the true center and the true meaning of cosmic rotation”
"I'm crazy enough to believe that the happiest man on earth is the man with the fewest needs. And I also believe that if you have light, such as you have here, all ugliness is obliterated. Since I've come to your country I know that light is holy: Greece is a holy land to me."
“Here the light penetrates to the soul, opens the doors and windows of the heart, makes one naked…isolated in a metaphysical bliss which makes everything clear without being known."
“Greece is the home of the gods; they may have died but their presence still makes itself felt. The gods were of human proportion: they were created out of the human spirit”
Henry Miller The Colossus of Maroussi
The heavenly luminous light produces a palate of vivid colors for the eye to behold --bright bougainville contrasting with whitewashed buildings next to the sparkling, crystal sea--or brilliant red wild roses climbing the walls of mountain village homes surrounded by lush forest --or wildflowers growing around marble ruins which are spread throughout the Greek countryside as reminders of the glorious and turbulent past. And all of this in human proportions--it is the whole world in a microcosm.
“The light of Greece opened my eyes, penetrated my pores, extended to my whole being. I went back to the world having found the true center and the true meaning of cosmic rotation”
"I'm crazy enough to believe that the happiest man on earth is the man with the fewest needs. And I also believe that if you have light, such as you have here, all ugliness is obliterated. Since I've come to your country I know that light is holy: Greece is a holy land to me."
“Here the light penetrates to the soul, opens the doors and windows of the heart, makes one naked…isolated in a metaphysical bliss which makes everything clear without being known."
“Greece is the home of the gods; they may have died but their presence still makes itself felt. The gods were of human proportion: they were created out of the human spirit”
Henry Miller The Colossus of Maroussi
The heavenly luminous light produces a palate of vivid colors for the eye to behold --bright bougainville contrasting with whitewashed buildings next to the sparkling, crystal sea--or brilliant red wild roses climbing the walls of mountain village homes surrounded by lush forest --or wildflowers growing around marble ruins which are spread throughout the Greek countryside as reminders of the glorious and turbulent past. And all of this in human proportions--it is the whole world in a microcosm.
James Foot--the brilliant water colourist!
James at his home in Kyparissi with the label he designed for Monemvasia Winery Tsibidi
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James Foot is a very well accomplished water colourist, whom I have had the pleasure knowing since I met him in 1992 in Kyparissi, Laconia. He is originally from Cornwall, England, but fell in love with the lovely village that is now his home, where he paints gorgeous watercolours that capture the brilliant light and colors of Greece. He holds regular exhibitions in Gibraltar, Spetses and Athens AND hosts watercolour workshops every May and June in Kyparissi, where he teaches his techniques and bestows his insights to participants, as well as treating them to week full of culinary and cultural experiences, which all amount to great fun in one of the most beautiful seaside villages in Greece.
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