The world is facing a new plague,Covid19,these are some paintings and illustrations from the past showing how artists reacted in their own time to similar disasters.
Death Seizing a Mother by Kathe Kollwitz,1934
The last great pandemic, Influenza 1918
The Doctor,Luke Fildes, 1891
Applicants for Admission to a Casual Ward, Luke Fildes 1891
We have not had any serious snow in the UK yet, I love it as long as it does not go on for too long.As soon as there is some snowfall I go out with a camera to find suitable views to turn into paintings.Given that I live in a city with many lovely old buildings that is not hard. Winter snow scenes remind me of memories of Christmas, friends and family returning home ,and the cool, cold silence and peace that a deep fall of snow imparts. Many famous artists have painted snow scenes , here are some of my favourites.
After a week of trying to set up an Amazon Selling account I have got absolutely nowhere.They keep telling me I have to send different documents to prove that I am me, perhaps I should stick with my ebay account.
At least it has given me more time to select a few books to sell.
When the account is finally set up I shall start with these two.
This book published in 1985 is full of charming illustrations to well known poems about elves and fairies.
A more recent book is
I bought this book very recently,it is a very full account of modern still life .It was not quite what I wanted and I shall be selling it for a lot less than the £22 I paid for it.
The time has come, I have to get rid of some of my stuff, it is taking over especially the books so I have spent hours opening an Amazon (UK) selling account and will be selling some of my lovely books under the name
Cambridge Attic
My attic is not quite as bad as this but it will be if I do not start downsizing soon.
Summer is over and I have used the things that I saw around me to make 3 paintings for an exhibition.
One of my academic neighbours let a rose bush grow wild and it has reverted to natural flowering for a brief period in June showing the pretty traditional Tudor rose blossoms. Still to be seen in our hedgerows in England.
I have inherited a lot of pottery and china from my grandmothers and mother .I shall have to cut down on it sometime but have fond memories of drinking tea with my family brewed in this old teapot.
Sunflowers did well in my garden , their big golden heads alive with bumble bees and butterflies.The shops were full of big cheap bunches of them too.I saw the Van Gogoh exhibition in London in July, who could resist having a go at a sunflower painting after seeing his?
The Final Result
Three paintings entered for the Cambridge Open Art Exhibition Grandma's Teapot sold already.
People reading have been the subjects of many famous paintings.Reading when travelling,with children,in the bathroom, or my favourite place which is in bed. We read to learn,for the pleasure of a good book,letters from loved ones, to catch up on the news or to find comfort from old favourites like The Bible.
These are some of the reading paintings that I like best. I wonder where you dear reader are reading this.
