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
pigments
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
Anna Waser: A Swiss Prodigy Becomes a Master
When I think about the origins of master artists, Switzerland doesn’t readily come to my mind. I mean, it's not Italy, or France, or Holland, or England, it's Switzerland. Of course, there are a few like Giacometti and Klee, and others, but their names don't readily roll out of the history books. Switzerland brings to mind scientists and … [Read more...] about Anna Waser: A Swiss Prodigy Becomes a Master
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; More Stories of Gifted but Forgotten Women Artists
Before the Renaissance period of the 16th Century, it was rare for women artists to sign and date their work. Catharina van Hemessen, born in 1528 in Belgium, broke that spell when she did just that! She also became one of the first female artists to become known as a sought-after exceedingly skilled portrait artist featuring women subjects. Only a … [Read more...] about Dancing Backwards Part 3; More Stories of Gifted but Forgotten Women Artists