Signs of Spring

   Snowdrops

A few days warmth has had everyone out with their heads bent down looking for the first signs of early spring flowers which are just emerging from the cold earth just like this old guy in this  painting by Gary Blunt whose work can be seen at the Portland Gallery in London

 www.portlandgallery.com

     

                                       

Snowdrops by Gary Bunt

 

 C.F. Tunnicliffe was one of the best illustrators of the English countryside. These two  illustrations appeared in  a Ladybird childrens' book   called What to Look For in Winter.Although they are out of print copies can sometimes be found in charity shops (which was where I found mine) or Amazon and eBay.

Aconites, snowdrops and crocuses are just coming through and hazeltree catkins are  out in sheltered spots.

Another favourite illustrator of childrens' books was Cecily Mary Barker with her incomparable flower fairy series.

                            

Aconites,Iris reticular,Crocuses  Snowdrops,C.F.Tunnicliffe

 

 

 

 

Hazel Catkins,C.F. Tunnicliffe

 

 

The Snowdrop Fairy,Cecily Mary Barker

 

St Valentine's Day

Love and Romance in Paintings 

                                                             

The Kiss , GustavKlimt

This close up of  The Kiss shows Klimt's ability to capture passion .His rich colours and use of gold are gorgeous making him popular society artist in the 1920s and 30s Vienna

There is an excellent film starring Helen Mirren, Woman in Gold,about a war time survivor's quest to recover one of her families' paintings stolen by the Nazis.

 

                                           

             

In Bed, Toulouse Lautrec

 There a sexiness to many of Toulouse Lautrec's paintings that defines  his drawings and paintings.His work  often depicted ordinary men and women taking time off in the cafes ,theatres and dance halls of Paris.

        

  

Van Gogh's painting shows a couple resting together in the heat of the day when they are supposed to be cutting corn.They have kicked off their shoes  and the animals in the back ground are eating the corn.The lovers have nothing in mind but each other.

Art in Cambridge 2

The Fitzwilliam Museum (continued).

Personal favourites.  

use this link to check for details   www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk

 

 

                                                  

           

        The Bridesmaid 1851
 

The Bridesmaid

 

 This bridesmaid is carrying out a popular Victorian superstition that if a bridesmaid passes a piece of wedding cake nine times through the bridal ring she will have a vision of her own future husband. This must have been a very messy procedure and I cannot imagine any present day bride being too keen for her new wedding ring to be used in this way.
Painted by John Everett Millais,1851


 

 

 

  The Last of England 1860,  Ford Maddox Brown

 

 

 

 

 The young family pictured is embarking on the 3 month voyage to Australia encouraged by the Victoria goldrush in the1850s.The anxiety on their faces and the way the mother is holding the tiny baby's hand under her shawl is just as relevant today as we see the desperate look of so many immigrants moving around the world.

I find this painting especially touching as this is exactly what my great grandparents did in the 1880s ,they travelled not to mine for gold but to sew working clothes for miners in New South Wales.After ten years the whole adventure ended in disaster when my great grandfather dropped dead and my great grandmother had to return to England with 6 children and his body.

 

 

 

 

 

Springtime, Monet,1886

 

 

 I have visited the Monet's garden in Giverny, France, several times and have found it enchanting whatever time of the year I have been.This is part of a family scene in the orchard.The dappled sunlight on the blossom and clothing typify the Impressionists use of colour and light.

 

 

 

Children Paddling,Walberswick,1894,Philip Wilson Steer

 

 

 

Paddling at Walberswick

 

 A good painting should touch something in the viewer  and this reminds me of summer holidays when I was a child in the 1950s that were spent on the East coast of England.This painting shows the big East Anglian sky that enhances the colours of sand and water.

Art in Cambridge,UK 1

 Cambridge is a treasure  house for lovers of fine art. It would take several days to see all of the wonderful sources ,many of the  major art museums and galleries are free.It is worth travelling from London where special exhibitions can be expensive to see the art available in Cambridge. I am going to list  my favourite works from some of the permanent exhibitions.

 

 Kings College Chapel

  

 

                                                         The Adoration of The Magi,Rubens

                                                                              

 

This glorious painting was donated to Kings College in the early 1960s.It stands above the altar in the Chapel, a lovely building in it's own right.A good way to enjoy this painting is to attend a service where you may also hear the famous choir singing.Check the website to make sure that a service is available .This is a quiet , prayerful space, not the place to eat your sandwiches or take a noisy phone call.

                                                                         www.kings.cam.ac.uk

 

There are plenty of nice cafes and a good Kings gift shop in Kings Parade .There are a number of private art galleries with  quality original paintings for sale.A lovely card would be an affordable souvenir from one of these shops.  

 

 

Kettle's Yard 

 

What I really love about this  gallery in Castle Street is that it is set in a house and the paintings are hung in the way that the owner Jim Ede, intended.  All the rooms are cottage style with simple furniture and layouts. The paintings bought mainly in the 1930s, reflect   naive,unfussy styles.                   

A new gallery has now been added for special, temporary exhibitions.There is also a very good cafe serving light meals and refreshments. The shop does not have to accessed through the gallery.

 

Check for opening times before you visit  kettlesyard.co.uk

 

 These  are my favourite paintings  by a Cornish fisherman,Alfred Wallis.He painted on any cheap base that he could get hold of like cardboard with limited colours. He had no art training, no lessons in perspective,which helped him to retain the naive , child like style that makes his work so attractive.

French lugsail fishing boat,Alfred Wallis

White house and Cottages, Alfred Wallis

 Christopher Wood sought to portray his work in bright colours and modern style .This flower painting from the 1930s is a lovely example of his work.

Flowers, ChristopherWood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cake

The fuss and hard work of the holiday season are now over.It is a relief to take a break and enjoy the remains of the Christmas cake in the warmth of the kitchen when the temperature outside remains below freezing.


                                          

The Cake

Christmas Cards

My Christmas cards are now with the printers .They are very quick so I should be able to send them out soon.

 I have decided to stay with the bird theme this year .

 

                                             

Blackbird

Happy Christmas

Winter Scenes on Pastel Paper

 Cool coloured pastel paper is good  for providing a background for winter scenes.I have used gouache for these .I shal have these designs as Christmas cards.


                                                               

Berry Feast

                                                         

    

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