Had there been airplanes in the 18th century, Angelica Kauffman would surely have been considered a Jet-setter. Because of immense privilege granted to her, Angelica traveled and studied widely, including Austria, England, her home country of Switzerland, and eventually lived in Italy for three years. These opportunities came about mostly because … [Read more...] about The Final Star; A Jet-setting Angelica Kauffman
Chiaroscuro and Other Oil Painting Techniques
Chiaroscuro is from the Italian language and the root meaning is chiaro, light, and scuro (obscure), dark. It is a perfect technique to use in oil painting to achieve drama of contrasts such as that used by the 17th Century Dutch. Another technique that helps attain this look is impasto oil painting, which is used freely in the main focus of the composition and then to a lesser degree in the shadow areas. It is very effective in all sizes and subject matter such as oil paintings of flowers, still life, and even landscape. Fumed Silica gel is a great medium to use for getting texture in oil painting. It is a combination of linseed oil and silica mixed together which forms a fluffy clear medium. When mixed with paint, the consistency retains its shape and stays put with no slumping.
Dancing Backwards with an Alsatian Nun in the Garden of Delights
During my research for this project, I have yet to delve so far back in history and this artist may be the most complex I have featured so far. The dilemma is having to coalesce religion, artistic skills of an Alsatian Nun, and feminism into one story about nuns, priests, and a convent during Medieval times. The Hortus Deliciarum Born circa … [Read more...] about Dancing Backwards with an Alsatian Nun in the Garden of Delights
Dancing Backwards with Phoebe Moss Traquair: How to Meet Your Spouse
One innovative way to meet your future spouse – create illustrations of fossil fish for the guardian of the Museum of Royal Dublin who just happens to be a young paleontologist himself. Phoebe Anna Moss did just that and ultimately married the young keeper. Phoebe was an endlessly gifted participant in the Arts and Crafts movement of the late 1800s … [Read more...] about Dancing Backwards with Phoebe Moss Traquair: How to Meet Your Spouse
Dancing Backwards at Miss Cranston’s Teahouse
Many common threads keep poking through the fabric of the stories of forgotten women artists. Like many of the previously featured women, this story illustrates the impact of strong family involvement in the development of young artists, especially the fathers. The 22nd artist to be featured in this series, Frances McDonald MacNair is no … [Read more...] about Dancing Backwards at Miss Cranston’s Teahouse
Uber Umbers and Other Colors from the Earth
Throughout the ages, since the very first scrawls were made in caves and tribal hunting events were recorded on walls, people have been using colors made of ochres, umbers, madders, bugs, mummies, minerals, shells, iron oxides, and plants. These pigments decorated sheets of papyrus, vellum, paper, faces, bodies, fabrics, clothing, tools, leather, … [Read more...] about Uber Umbers and Other Colors from the Earth
Dancing Backwards, Part 3: A Remarkable Life of Adventure and Art
Friend of and encouraged by naturalist Charles Darwin and painter Frederick Church, Marianne North was perhaps one of the most prolific yet unsung artist/recorder of the botanical world ever. Traveling to no less than 15 countries in the Victorian era was in itself a daunting legacy, but to top this, she did it mostly solo. Throughout her 50-year … [Read more...] about Dancing Backwards, Part 3: A Remarkable Life of Adventure and Art