Fitzwilliam Delights and Some New Art

-

Has it really been over a month since I've posted here? I do believe it is!
I have some new paintings that I've recently finished but first of all I'd like to show you  some of the delights that I saw on my visit to the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge.

The picture at the top of this post is a beautiful embroidered silk portrait of the wife of Charles I. Her face is made from linen covered wood with painted features and the hair is real! The date is c.1660.

The picture below is a small section of a larger painting that caught my eye. I love the blue ethereal landscape, it could be a painting all of its own couldn't it?


more detail below...




The painting above is by Annibale Carracci (1560-1609). It was quite a small painting but something about it kept making me go back several times to look again. There's such emotion in her face.


The painting above is by Roelandt Savery 1576-1639. I love all the detail and the slightly surreal quality of the animals. The waterfall's pretty amazing too!

I found a small room off one of the main halls that I hadn't noticed on previous visits. It was a small treasure trove of medieval art...




 I took 2 pictures of this little statue so that I could enjoy all the details later on...(like today!)


 Isn't it exquisite?


I would describe myself as a very spiritual person although not at all in a religious way but I do find religious art so incredibly beautiful!


Sorry if you wanted to find out the whys and wherefores of these medieval pieces but I was so enamoured by their beauty that I forgot to look!

So then, are you ready to see some of my own newest creations?
This first one is called 'Under The Trees'. It's painted on board which is something I haven't done for ages. I enjoyed the feel of the paint on the board so I shall definitely be doing some more.

It's not available on Etsy yet because I'm going to be framing it before it's ready to go out into the world.


This one above is called 'Down By The River' and is on canvas measuring 20 x 16 inches.


Here are some close-up crops of 'Down By The River'.


 Please Click here if you'd like to see more details of how to buy it. :)



Lastly, I'd like to show you my painting (below) which I've called 'You Are My Sunshine'. This one is on heavy 300gsm watercolour paper and measures 12 x 12 inches.




I began 'You Are My Sunshine' as I do with all my mixed media pieces by layers of colours and abstract mark making. Before I knew it a goose appeared.. a GOOSE! I've no idea how or why but I knew it needed some love so I painted in a girl to take care of it and...et voila!

I'll be listing this one on Etsy very soon.

Thankyou for coming here to see my doings, it's very lovely to have you here. xx



Comments

Castles Crowns and Cottages said…
Jess, I love, absolutely LOVE your shares from the museum. But I equally LOVE your work! What happy shapes and colors you choose, that texture!

I am currently on holiday in Carmel-by-the-sea in northern California. YOU WOULD LOVE IT HERE! It is still an artist colony on the gorgeous shores of Carmel Beach near Monterey. The homes are all fairytale like in structure and the villages are rife with art galleries. Google it!

Lovely work! Anita
16 June 2015 at 14:42
Merlesworld said…
Just imagine a world without cameras the only way to preserve a image is to paint it, they did well .
Merle...............
16 June 2015 at 23:50
Gina said…
The Fitzwilliam is my local museum so your post has made me think I should go back for a closer look at some of the paintings. I love the colours in your paintings - so uplifting!
17 June 2015 at 08:05
Paper rainbow said…
I have a passion for medieval art although like you I am not deeply religious. I loved looking through your photos. That silk panel is exquisite! Your new work is full of beauty and calm serenity. What board do you use? Do you find framing it easy? I've been pondering framing recently. There are so many options it can be baffling!
17 June 2015 at 08:25
busybusybeejay said…
I love Down by the River!Superb.I like all the paintings but that is my favourite.Our son and family live in Cambridge and we never make time to go to the Fitzwilliam.We spend time with the grandchildren and don't do the tourist things.I think we need to go down for longer and when they are in school visit the Fitzwilliam.Thanks for reminding me what we are missing.Barbara
17 June 2015 at 21:03
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

More Cottages During Lockdown and a Change in Medium.

-
Image
I've been thinking about why I'm drawing cottages lately.  Maybe it's because there aren't many people around where we live and on our daily walks we rarely come across anyone else which I suppose is a good thing as we're still in Lockdown and have to practice Social Distancing which has now become a very well used phrase in our language! Maybe it's this lack of seeing people around that my mind is turning towards houses and flowers? The ones above are done in ink. I love the pearlescent inks, they're so beautiful when they catch the light. The paintings above and below are painted in acrylic. I've been obsessed with watercolour for a few weeks but I felt I'd like to get some acrylics out again. I've always been like this, going through phases of being obsessed with a particular medium thinking yes this is it! This is my final medium and then finding myself being drawn to changing once again to a different way of wor
Read more

Illustration Friday: Confined

-
Image
I thought this was quite an appropriate word for some of us this week with all this snow! It was very exciting at first to have everyone home on a school day but today they're back and I must say it's nice to have the space again to get on with my own things! I've given my Etsy shop a new lease of life and will be adding these 2 ACEO's later on this morning. I do like drawing birds!
Read more

Two Birds Colourful Painting

-
Image
I've finished the painting that I showed you in my last post. Above is a crop of it. Can you see the other bird on the right hand side? It looks as though that's the other bird's reflection doesn't it? As though he's looking in the mirror!  Here's another close up crop of the same painting. I made lots of layers of lovely bright pinks, blues and golds and made some scratching zig-zag patterns while the paint was still wet. Here's the whole painting. It measures 40 x 40cm, (that's 16inches square). It's hanging on my kitchen wall at the moment but it will eventually be exhibited in the summer. I'll tell you all about that another day. :) I've put a gallery on my new website, CLICK HERE to see. If you'd like to leave a comment on the guestbook page that would be lovely! :) Bye for now, have a lovely weekend. :) The sun appears to have arrived at last! xx
Read more