Favourite bits.
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The story of the estate. São Lourenço do Barrocal has been in the same family for more than 200 years, and it was José António Uva (who is eight generation of the same family) who had a vision to turn the family property into a farm retreat he could share with others. The passion and dedication behind José António’s dream, and what he has created, is incredibly inspiring.
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The interiors. Perfectly simple and calming. The interior design was led by José António’s wife Ana’s design studio, AnahoryAlmeida (also responsible for the interiors of many of Lisbon’s finest restaurants) and it is a dream.
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Hortelão, their outdoor restaurant. The most beautiful place to dine between Spring through Autumn, this slow-food, farm to fork restaurant is located next to the pool, right by the organic kitchen garden, and is the perfect place to enjoy a dinner under the stars.
Isolating in Melbourne's Bayside.
Local artist Hannah Nowlan shares with us her new normal quarantine routine.
(As part of our #ItsBeautifulHereinIsolation series)
Introducing Australian painter, Hannah Nowlan.
I have been following Hannah's work for quite sometime now, and when I recently moved into a new place, I was so excited to finally be able to make a couple of her beautiful pieces my own. In Hannah's words, her art is all about "honouring timeless aesthetic, sustainability, sensory experience, family connection, local landscape and traditional craft". Living by the bay in Melbourne's Black Rock, Hannah's life in isolation right now is not too different from before, it seems. It is a privilege to share her insight here today.
Name: Hannah Nowlan
Star Sign: Sagittarius
Hometown: Black Rock
Describe yourself in 3 words or less... Creative, Passionate, Family
Describe Melbourne in 3 words or less... Coffee and Creatives
Tell us a bit about your work... I’m an artist working in the realm of painting. For me, my work is an act of story telling and method of healing. Mostly focussed on landscape, family ties and notions of identity I look close to symbology and mythology to inform my visual dialogue.
How are you adjusting to the new norm of social distancing and quarantine at home? I haven’t found the changes have impacted the way I work too much, as I already work from a home- studio. What I have found difficult adjusting too, is trying to remain focused whilst there’s so much uncertainty and anxiety filtering through our daily lives.
Do you have any tips you can share for sticking to, or starting a new kind of daily routine? I’ve found adding a daily habit to your morning routine is easy to keep consistent. For me, it’s less likely my day to day movements will get in the way. Sometimes I find we are already working with simple routines, we just need to reframe the way we think or view them.
Take an extra slice of ‘me time’ while making your morning coffee, draw the curtains to let light-in and make your bed. These are some of my morning moments to start my day before heading into the studio.
Do you have any daily rituals? For me my morning coffee tends to be my most committed ritual. It engages the senses and is warming for my body and mind. My other instrumental ritual is simply walking my dog.
Are you finding more creative inspiration in this time? I guess as my focussed has shifted away from a lot of projects that were postponed I’m now more aware of the personal projects that have fallen wayside. I’m now finding the time to work and develop these which feels inspiring in itself.
What other creative outlets do you turn to other than painting/drawing? I love working with my hands and have a keen interest in Leather Smithing. This is an opportunity for me to work very slowly, pulling together remnants and scrap leathers and piecing them back together as a piece of pure functionality.
Do you have any recipes you can share? I love pretty much anything from the Minimalist Baker website but my go-to isolation cooking as been the 1-bowl GF Banana Bread recipe.
What is on your stereo? The new Pearl Jam album, particularly Super Blood Wolf Moon.
My 2018 Lacuna exhibition was based around the Super Blood Wolf Moon eclipse so it feels poignant to be listening to this album now.
Do you have any reading recommendations? The Book Of Symbols by Taschen.
Have you still been getting out and about for movement/exercise? What does that look like for you? Walking with my dog Jasper down the beach or to local parks is movement I try to do every day. It keeps us both sane. Luckily I’ve been able to keep this mode of exercise during isolation. I’ve recently started going for a long bike ride once a week too. It’s still a new form of exercise for me but its beginning to feel great.
When this blooming virus goes away, where will you be travelling to next? Byron Bay. My partner and I are looking forward to road tripping there with our dog Jasper. We love the long expanses of driving, some of our best memories to date have been on the road, as a family.
Are you a window or aisle seat kinda gal? Admittedly aisle. I’d love the window if travelling with loved ones, otherwise I hate feeling locked in so I usually choose an aisle seat when travelling solo.
What 3 things are always in your suitcase? Bathers, Moisturiser and Sunscreen.
What are your 3 favourite hotels in the world? Unfortunately, I don’t have many noteworthy hotel experiences, I’m more of an outdoors, rustic-home kinda girl. Camp sites though ‘Paradise Valley’ in Gippsland takes the cake!
Words you live by... This is such a tough question! I guess more recently I’ve been tapping into the phrase ‘use what you have’
before I contemplate buying anything new. I feel there’s many more words I live by but let’s start here.
And lastly, who are you most looking forward to hugging when all of this is over?!! I’m very lucky to live with many of my loved ones but I’m really looking forward to squeezing my two nieces and Tim’s (my partners) two nephews who all live in Melbourne.
