Kieran's Art

  Fish out of water Original artwork and inspirational verse by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025 Have you sometimes felt like a fish out of water? When someone said something they ought notta … Be like a duck that simply shakes off the water Remember what doesn’t matter, doesn’t matter Be true to yourself, the world will soon know The very joy that makes your heart overflow Ignore the haters, and get on with the show On your marks, get set and go go go

  Books - Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025 Books opened up unseen worlds, new frontiers and realms Timeless tales of seemingly flawed people at the helm No need for a passport or a ticket, if only you had a book Travel across space and time ... a few pages was all it took Shakespeare hilariously twisted out of shape by Armour "Elementary", said Holmes as he confronted her paramour Westerns by Louis L'Amour, Zane Grey and their ilk Unshaven, roughshod heroes and dainty women in silk The lone gunslinger on his bronco enters a sleepy town Skeletons in the closet soon turn everything upside down National Geographic put the whole wide world in your palm Potter and The Goblet of Fire - the storm before the calm Not time to read the classics, Reader's Digest had it all Carefully curated stories for everyone, both big and small 'All Creatures, Great and Small' and 'The Lord of the Rings' These classics, my friends, are some of my favourite things Footnote : This artw...

  Enchanted Woods - Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025 Into the enchanted woods, deep 'n dark I ventured one morning, up with the lark When all of a sudden, what should I hear? Sweet, soft sounds meandering in my ear Like Circe's sirens, it lured me in deeper 'n deeper Voila! A fairy in glistening gossamer on a creeper?  Swish! A flutter of wings ... then nary a sound  I found myself all alone, with no one around Just her lilting flute etched in my memory  Either that or the woods playing tricks on me Footnote : This artwork and poem are my composition

  The Strawberry Poison-Dart Frog ( Oophaga pumilio ) of Costa Rica is a tiny amphibian with a bright red body and blue, black, or purple legs, depending on the morph.  Depending on geographic location, there are over 15 known colour morphs, from bright orange to green to even completely blue. The frog secretes toxic alkaloid compounds through its skin, making it poisonous to predators and its bright colouration ( aposematism ) warns predators of its toxicity. The toxicity is derived from their diet — ants, mites, and other small invertebrates in the wild. Captive frogs lose their toxicity if not fed the right prey. It prefers leaf litter and mossy environments, often near streams or other moist areas in humid lowland forests along the Caribbean side of Central America, especially in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama. Females lay eggs on land and after hatching both the males and females transport tadpoles to small pools in bromeliads or tree holes. The mother feeds tadpoles ...

Tennis legend Rafael Nadal , aka " The King of Clay ," holds the record for most Grand Slam titles won by a male player on clay with a record-breaking 14 at the French Open (starting with his debut in 1982, giving him a record 97% win rate).  Alongside his record number of French Open titles, he is the most successful player in the ATP tour events of Monte-Carlo and Barcelona, with 11 and 12 titles respectively. On Sunday, May 25, 2025, Rafael Nadal was feted at the iconic Court Philippe-Chatrier in Roland-Garros, Paris - his stomping ground where he crushed anybody and everybody, winning an unbelievable 14 times. A fact now recorded for posterity by having his footprint displayed permanently on the centre court. Click here to watch the entire 45-minute ceremony  Choking back tears, Nadal declared, " When I saw it, I thought it would only be for this year. When they told me it would be forever, I can't describe my emotions. It's a great honour. I was thrilled ...

  The global coffee trade is estimated to be between $100 to $200 billion a year. How did coffee become so popular? The romantic albeit apocryphal legend of Kaldi, the Ethiopian Goat Herder: A young goat herder named Kaldi lived in the region of Kaffa, Ethiopia. One day, he noticed his goats behaving unusually perky, dancing and jumping around after eating red berries from a certain shrub. Curious, Kaldi tried the berries himself and felt a newfound sense of alertness and vitality. Kaldi brought the berries to a local monk, who disapproved and threw them into a fire. The roasted beans gave off a pleasant aroma, prompting other monks to retrieve them from the embers, grind them, and mix them with water — creating what is thought to be the first cup of coffee. The monks found the drink helped them stay awake and alert during long hours of prayer, and so coffee began to spread through monastic communities. The more probably story of how Coffee spread all over the world The more probab...

  Today's artwork is dedicated to Eric Clapton, an English guitarist, singer, and songwriter, widely considered one of the greatest rock guitarists of all time. There is a connection - " Peaches and Diesel " is an instrumental piece featured on his 1977 album Slowhand , and is   a serene and melodic track, showcasing Clapton's expressive guitar work.  The song's title was inspired by nicknames of two members from the British band No Dice, featuring Roger "Peaches" Ferris (vocalist) and Dzal "Diesel" Martin (guitarist) — whom Clapton met during recording sessions at Olympic Studios. Clapton was intrigued by their nicknames and used them as the title for an instrumental piece. Eric Clapton’s Slowhand, released on November 25, 1977, is one of his most iconic and commercially successful albums. The title is a nod to Clapton’s nickname, “Slowhand,” which was given to him by Giorgio Gomelsky during his time with The Yardbirds, referring to the slow h...

  Today's artwork is dedicated to Ballerina and Ballerinos. The mystique of ballet lies in the fluid, graceful symphony of human motion and emotion set to soaring music, creating a surreal experience that can transport any and everyone to a higher plane. The Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow is one of the oldest and most prestigious ballet schools in the world. It was founded by Empress Catherine II in 1773 as, 'The Moscow Orphanage'. Under the leadership of Prince Pyotr Urusov, evolved from an ugly duckling into a graceful swan, the pre-emptive crown jewel of classical Russian ballet tradition where the creme de la creme of students as young as 8 years are trained in  Classical ballet technique (Vaganova-based with Bolshoi stylistic nuances) Character Dance Pas de deux Contemporary dance Music, acting, and dance theory Over the years, the Bolshoi Ballet Academy has produced many world-class ballerinas including Maya Plisetskaya, Galina Ulanova, Ekaterina Maximova, Vladimir Vasiliev...

  Today's artwork brings to mind, two epic standoffs , one from the silver screen and the other from real life ... The climactic Mexican Standoff in the epic 1966 movie " The Good, the Bad, The Ugly " In the epic 1966 Spaghetti Western film " Il Buono, il Brutto, il Cattivo " aka The Good, the Bad, The Ugly, starring Clint Eastwood ( Blondie ), Lee Van Cleef ( Angel Eyes ), Eli Wallach ( Tuco ), director Sergio Leone meticulously crafted the final standoff, known as the " Mexican Standoff ," to maximize tension and drama.  Filmed at the Sad Hill Cemetery near Burgos, Spain, the scene features expansive circular camera movements and intense close-ups to emphasise the three characters' psychological states.  Leone's collaboration with composer Ennio Morricone was integral; they developed the score before filming, allowing the music to influence the scene's pacing and emotion. Ennio Morricone's score for The Good, the Bad and the Ugly...

  Unleash your Creativity - Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025 Oh how dreary this Life be without the Arts, All clubs and spades, no diamonds or hearts! We all have talents aslumber that need to awaken  So throw caution to the wind ‘n unleash your Kraken Uncage your magical fairy with her pixie dust But first believe in yourself, that is a must!! Ignore the naysayers, doubters and their sorry lot, Go with what gives you joy and what you’ve got! Start small, be consistent and soon you’ll feel the bliss, Once you get going, you’ll be saying, ‘Cool! I got this’ Then there’s no telling what heights you can reach, Who you’re gonna inspire or who you’re gonna teach! Mission Possible postscript inspired by Mission Impossible Haha. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to unleash your creativity. Pursue your passions, and you’ll be surprised. Resist it at your own peril. And your precious family will be wowed by your actions. Good luck, my friend. Your immediate action will self-de...

 Dance like no one's watching - Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025 Dare to dance like no one's watching you  Stop and smell the roses and lavender too We all have two lives, but here's where starts the fun The second begins when you realize you have only one Even coffee needs milk and sugar to come alive  So mingle with opposites and let your spirit thrive  The rain falls both on the righteous and the rotten Remember your roots, don’t forget the forgotten  You gotta live and let live, forget and forgive too For you can’t take a U-Haul to Heaven with you Footnote : Today’s artwork is dedicated to the Swedish Pop Group  ABBA,  whose youthful bubbly vibes and catchy tunes like ‘ Dancing Queen ’   and ‘ Mamma Mia ’ enthralled the Baby Boomer generation back in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Almost a year ago, on 31st May 2024,  ABBA  (consisting of  A gnetha Fältskog,  B jörn Ulvaeus,  B enny Andersson, and  A nni-Frid Reuss) were awarded Swe...

  Please, Mr Postman - Kieran Gonsalves (c) - 2025 Please Mr. Postman, look and see  If there's a letter in your bag for me? It's been a mighty long time Since I heard from that boyfriend of mine Ooh he’s so dashing, so very debonair His whiskers are of the very finest hair His meow is so mellow, oh so sexy And his casual laugh gives me cataplexy His sparkling eyes are deep Prussian blue He must've royal blood (I've got some too) He's utterly fearless prowling the catacombs Him on the catwalk, my heart goes boom-boom He’s the finest feline to dress up in furs When he purrs, ‘tis music to my ears Every full moon, he starts a caterwauling  I know ’tis my pretty name he’s a calling   Oh how my heart bleeds for my Soldier Blue Defending our country categorically for me and you Not hearing from him is such a catastrophe  Only you can make it purr-fect for me You better wait a minute, wait a minute (Wait, wait a minute) Whoa, you better wait a minute (Wait a minute, M...

  First time mother - Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025 She wore her hat, kept it nice 'n low Test was positive, she’s thrilled to the core Her heart is afire, her face all aglow, Her eyes are teary ... emotions start to flow Terror of untold joy, new life doth endow  And questions ... ten thousand maybe more The circle of life … it turns once more Borne of pure love, only a mother can know Footnote :  Primigravida refers to a woman who is pregnant for the first time. It is a Latin term used in obstetrics derived from ‘ primi ’ meaning first and ‘ gravid ’ meaning pregnant.

  Friends - Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025   Friends come and go, in all shapes and sizes Like a box of chocolates, life's full of surprises  There’s some you think you know well, but do you? Wait till you’re down and out, those that stay, stay true Friends come and go like passengers on a train Crazy energy, then pfft never to be seen again You’ll never know what you’re gonna get Carpe diem, live and let live with no regret

  Origin and Significance of Stained Glass Stained glass has ancient roots, but it became especially prominent during the medieval period, particularly in Christian church architecture. The earliest known examples of coloured glass date back to ancient Egypt and Rome used decoratively in windows and mosaics. In the 12th–15th century, stained glass became a hallmark of Gothic cathedrals in Europe, reaching its peak in France, England, and Germany.    Biblical Storytelling: In a largely illiterate society, stained glass windows illustrated scenes from the Bible saints’ lives, and moral lessons, serving as a visual scripture for the masses.    Spiritual Atmosphere: The interplay of light and colour symbolized divine presence, aiming to elevate the worshipper's spirit and represent heavenly light entering sacred space. Stained glass contributed to the aesthetic grandeur of cathedrals like Chartres and Notre Dame.  It influenced architectural design, as Gothic a...

  What's in a name - Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025 So tell me again, what’s in a name? Is a ladybug and a ladybird not the same? Just by chance, this morning l overheard Talk betwixt said ladybird and a true Lady Bird “You’re not what people say you are”, the ladybird said “But how you feel in your heart and inside your head Shakespeare spun a lot of stories, didn’t he? But on this count, my dear,  you can trust me” Ther e's  no difference  between a  ladybug  and a  ladybird  — they're the  same insect , just called by different names in different regions: " Ladybug "  is the term in  American English . " Ladybird "  is the term used in  British English . Both names refer to the small, dome-shaped, often red-and-black spotted beetles belonging to the family  Coccinellidae .  They are beneficial insects, known for eating aphids and other pests in gardens and crops. Fun fact : The bright red and black colours of a lad...

Do you know what  bow-riding  is? You've probably seen dolphins racing or swimming in front of ships and wondered why. It's because they're riding the pressure wave created by the moving propelling through the waters; this movement creates a wave at the bow (front), and dolphins can position themselves in this wave to be pushed forward with minimal effort, like a surfer riding a wave. Clever, right? Dolphins  ( Delphinus delphis ) are highly evolved mammals possessing a combination of reasoning and intelligence, social behaviour, communication skills, and their unique adaptations to aquatic life. High Intelligence Large brains: Dolphins have large, complex brains relative to their body size, second only to humans in some ways. Self-awareness: They recognise themselves in mirrors (a test of self-awareness that very few animals pass). Problem-solving & learning: Dolphins can learn new tasks quickly, use tools (like sponges to protect their noses while foraging), and eve...

  A Koshō (小姓) or samurai in training with his Sensei (先生) or teacher. This is my composition juxtaposing youthful restlessness with confidence that comes only with experience.

  Today’s artwork titled Ice and Fire  is dedicated to lovers everywhere

  The Unsolved Mystery of Champion Racehorse Shergar's 1978 Disappearance The disappearance of the champion award-winning Shergar, an Irish-bred thoroughbred racehorse owned by the Aga Khan, remains one of the most perplexing mysteries in equine history.  Foaled on March 3, 1978, Shergar was a bay colt with a distinctive white blaze on his face, was stabled at the Ballymany Stud in County Kildare, Ireland, owned by the Aga Khan.  Trained by Michael Stoute, he achieved remarkable success on the track, including a record-breaking 10-length victory in the 1981 Epsom Derby—the largest winning margin in the race's history.  He also secured wins in the Irish Derby and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, earning the title of European Horse of the Year in 1981. The colt, valued at $13.5 million, had commanded stud fees of approximately $100,000 at that time and had earned the right to be regarded as one of the all-time greats. When Shergar retired at the end of th...

  The 1971 top-5 hit song " Me and You and a Dog Named Boo "   [ click here to hear the song ] was a soft rock hit written and performed by Lobo (real name: Roland Kent LaVoie) ,  an American singer-songwriter born on July 31, 1943, in Tallahassee, Florida. He rose to prominence in the early 1970s with his soft rock and folk-pop hits, most notably "Me and You and a Dog Named Boo," "I'd Love You to Want Me," and "Don't Expect Me to Be Your Friend" - all sung a million times around campfires across the world. Life on the open roads The lyrics tell of a kinder, gentler time, when a young couple deeply in love travel across the USA with their dog, Boo.  It’s a tale of rebellion, freedom, young love, and adventure on the open road — driving through places like Georgia and L.A., stealing food when broke, and working odd jobs just to keep rolling.  It presents a romanticised view of the American road trip, resonating with the countercultural sp...

  Most of the time, I include some commentary, insights or thoughts along with my artwork. Today I invite you to share your comments, insights or thoughts ... what came to your mind when you saw this artwork?

  Pope Leo XIV On Thursday, May 8, 2025, the Conclave of 133 Roman Catholic Cardinals elected a new Pope for 1.4 billion faithful, the  267th in the line of Pontiffs that dates back to St Peter, who was handpicked by Jesus Christ himself. [ Matthew 16:18 ] Before he was elected Pope Leo XIV, Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Frost Prevost spent  much of his life outside the United States. Ordained in Rome in 1982 at age 27, he received a doctorate in canon law at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, also in Rome.  For the past two decades he was a missionary in Chilayco, Peru, serving as a parish priest, seminary teacher, and diocesan official.  Here he also became a naturalized citizen, then rose to lead his international religious community, the Order of St. Augustine. Under Pope Francis, he held one of the most influential Vatican posts, running the office that selects and manages bishops globally. His deep connection to Latin America helped him gain a...