Nancy McKie IV

 

I do love the energy and fun of Nancy McKie's work and these budgerigars are just wonderful in colours and composition, a picture that gives me joy!

Una Maw

 

These wonders are in the collection of the London Museum  they were created by Una Maw, Una Maw died in 1941 was a British author, painter, These are some of the characters of "The Vegetable Kingdom," a collection of 34 handmade vegetable-themed rag dolls in the 1920s. 

Una travelled to India in 1916, so, perhaps, acquired some of the materials then, bringing them back with her to London before making the dolls around 1920. Of particular note are the outfits worn by Miss Lettuce and Mademoiselle French Bean, which seem to be constructed from the ornately patterned edge of a sari.

Sara Fanelli III

I have just bought a copy of 'The New Faber Book of Children's Verse' published 25 years ago in 2001, edited by Matthew Sweeney and illustrated by Sara Fanelli, whom I have long admired. It has the delicious madness of Edward Lear's illustrated limericks with Sara's illustrations in pen and ink scattered through the text.

Olga Ptashnik II

 

Olga Ptashnik loves owls and you can see it in her brilliant watercolour drawings.

International day of the forest

 

I have just found out that Saturday the 21st March was 'international day of the forest' and though this is not a forest, I claim this circle of oak as my forest, I laid my fathers ashes there today, and one day my ashes will join his and some of my other loves. There has to be hope, and releasing the ashes in the soil at the roots of an oak for me meant the start of reincarnation and new beginnings. 

Kristina Kemenikova II

 

The florist by Kristina Kemenikova.

Sibylle von Olfers I

 

Illustrations by Sibylle von Olfers (1881–1916) for Etwas von den Wurzelkindern  "When the root children wake up" (1906). 

Sibylle lived a short but very productive life dying at just 34 years old from a lung infection. Sibylle was born Maria Regina Angela Hedwig Sibylla von Olfers in the Castle of Metgethen near Königsberg, Prussia, one of five children to an aristocratic family. Her childhood was quite idilic she was encouraged in her creativity, tutored and closely supported by her loving family. Sibylle read extensively, the turn of the century across Europe was one of industrialisation and turbulence, but it was met with contemporary artistic movements that emphasised and celebrated organic form, decorative motifs, and harmony between art and nature. At age 25, she joined an order of nuns called the Sisters of Saint Elizabeth, and took the name Sister Maria Aloysia. She taught art in a Catholic primary school, and wrote, blending fine art with a love of the natural world to create the illustration in her children's books. 

Gosia Herba II

 

What a joy this is a three year in the making; 'Danse Macabre', by Gosia Herba, you can see this vibrant and eclectic parade of characters dancing past here.

Helen Wilson

 

Helen Wilson's painted watercolour tin portraits furnished with tiny objects and treasure are so magical. Helen originally from Paisley has an exhibition until the 28th March at the Open Eye Gallery in Edinburgh.

Es Devlin

 

“The work invites us to see, hear and feel our home, our city as an interconnected web of species and cultures, to learn and remember the names and sing those under threat into continued existence.” Es Devlin

These images are from Es Devlin's 2022 installation at the The Modern called, 'Come Home Again'.  I love the way that Es in yellow, looks like part of the monumental drawing scape she created of the 243 endangered species on London's priority conservation list.

Charley Harper I

 

Some spring from the geometric wonder and order of Charley Harper (1922-2007)