Wednesday’s women
During my time in Rio I went to see Tarsila e Mulheres Modernas no Rio (Tarsila and Modern Women in Rio) As the title suggests there were some of Tarila’s work on show but much more about those who had influenced her and her work, and then those she went on to influence. So you can imagine for me with little understanding of Portuguese, I was at a loss as who or what related to anything. It did not spoil the experience, in fact it gave me much to think about later when looking out for influential Brazilian artists such as Maria Martins (1894-1973) and Rosina Becker do Valle (1914-2000)
Weekly Photo Challenge … Inspiration
I cannot answer this prompt, with a word or person, also I am unable to locate a suitable image. So unless I can point to my inspiration then I will have forego this week’s challenge.
I have a wonderful life; jogging along at work, a postaday, I do art, travel a bit and have happy personal life.
However, life has not always been kind and to find this place of contentment has not been without a struggle, professional help, friends, family, colleagues at work , many alternative tools, even divine intervention cannot be overlooked, all that and very hard work and lots of tea. No image can portray that.
On Monday and drawing again …
When I began drawing and painting again, I didn’t expect to find myself sketching cups and saucers as I had done almost 60 years before . The simple act of gathering a few bits and bobs to draw was comfortable and transported me back to when I was a little girl with my dad. Now, I was hoping to be a bit more sophisticated and even tried other techniques, but always the same subject matter crept in; pots, bikes, boots and even cotton reels. However, I sold a few works but harboured a little regret in my dishes of domesticity. Until, while I was away in Rio I came across Ibere Camargo (1914-1994) a Brazilian artist of great acclaim who celebrated the ‘spool’ in his art for 6 decades …
So while I will not perhaps make such an impression as Camargo I will continue to draw the delights that surround me.
Silent Sunday
It is holiday and time to draw!
It is Saturday; it’s been almost a week since I returned from Rio and still feeling a little woebegone. My so called plans of travel and exhibitions are now complete; over, all a happy memory. The plan for the next few months has not yet begun to unfold; I am in between plans ; not such a comfortable position; but one I am familiar with. I am well aware this will change; so no need to panic!
Nonetheless the feeling at the beginning of the summer holidays after a year of work, planning and doing; it is difficult to kick off the need to ‘work’
I am not talking about my 9-5 job here, that continues and remains a joy … it is rather, my other work as an artist and taking the opportunity to just draw and rest awhile is having mixed results …
Friday from my library …
Its is Friday and although I am back in UK and been so for 5 days there is still a little part of me back in Brazil. So while I gather momentum and establish a comfortable balance at home; here are some images from a book I bought when I visited the Museu Casa do Pontal, it written in Portuguese. I will not attempt to translate it yet, but it is my plan to research more fully this beautiful yet explicit form of popular art still practiced in parts of Brazil.
Alphabe Thursday … K is for Kiss
Oh dear! ‘k’ doesn’t feature much in the Portuguese alphabet so this week I had to clutch straws; but this is a pretty story, you will find. I have been going to Brazil now for a few years and not seen many Hummingbirds; this one we saw from my daughter’s kitchen window, on a Hibiscus Tree, a couple of years back. They are called ‘Beijo flor’ which means ‘kiss flower’ … isn’t that lovely?
Wednesday’s Woman
Yesterday was Beatrix Potter’s birthday, everyday I drink my tea at from a Peter Rabbit cup although I didn’t like her books too much; the cup previously owned by my daughter, is a delight at the end of a busy day! So I raise a cup and send belated celebrations to Beatrix Potter.
Images from item found in our Children’s Collection here at University of Reading, dated 1909 so a very early edition I think.
Weekly photo challenge … Close up
No profound thoughts about this week’s prompt, the flowers on these cacti in the Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro. They are so tiny and can only be seen close-up!
During my holiday …
One of the highlights of my time in Rio was ‘doing’ art with my daughter. She is also a printmaker and like me self taught. So we both enjoy any opportunity to learn even from each other!
She belongs to a printing community and I was able to take advantages of their facilities on a few occasions. Printing is practiced a lot in Rio but the techniques are traditional; the inks, tools and paper we find so easily in UK are almost unavailable and very expensive. So wood and metal are the most used with black and limited colours. With the most outstanding results; I was in awe and determined to hone my own traditional methods.
Nonetheless,we spent many happy hours drawing, painting and printing with our also limited collection of supplies from UK ; even if we were spied with gentle disquiet …
Coat Hanger Doll's House 