Artwork of the Week: Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum by Egon Schiele, 1910

With the warm and cold days stepping over each other here, I thought I'd share this striking Egon Schiele work that I'd never seen before. It somehow manages to feel warm and chilly at the same time, combining big twisted, gestural marks with that look of beautiful, raw decay that the artist is known for. 


- Cathleen


[Image via The Everyday Artist]

Artwork of the Week: Flowers for Susie

Flowers for Susie by Lulie Wallace

acrylic on birch wood panel, 16 x 20"

It was warm enough to pull on sweatshirts and go for a walk outside yesterday. It felt like spring was on the edge of the breeze as we bounded up and down the hills in our neighborhood. I even saw a few little shoots peeking out of a flower bed or two. Obviously these expectations will all come back to bite me when the temperature drops down below freezing again in a couple of days. It is still January after all. I get so sad seeing those premature pops of bright green on the ground knowing that those early buds will soon catch cold, some of their lives stamped out before they even had the chance to stretch and grow.

Let's shake off that morbid thought, shall we? This painting is an early shot of springtime in the face of the gloom that February probably still has in store for us. Lulie Wallace is a painter based in Charleston, SC who also produces some pretty textiles and lunch boxes. You can see more of her work on her website: www.luliewallace.com


- Cathleen 

Painter of Flowers

Have you seen these enormous peonies by Thomas Darnell? I’m pretty sure that peonies are the most romantic and ephemeral flowers on the planet. And I’m also sure that I could look at these paintings all day long. 

 Maybe I’m just in a romantic mood because I’m headed to a wedding this weekend, but seriously, aren’t they gorgeous? 

Happy Weekend, Friends!

-Alissa

Pretty Pretty Oven Mitt-y!

Not only will these beauties keep your hands burn-free whilst baking, but they tell a love story to boot!

" This cotton oven mitt/glove records a love poem written by a boy to a girl in the "language of flowers", the Victorian-era means of communication in which various flowers and floral arrangements were used to send coded messages, allowing individuals to express feelings which otherwise could not be spoken. Starting with the left side of the wreath to the right side, each flower reveals one more part of the missing puzzle. Included in the poem are amaranth globes, black eyed susans, daisies, poppies, dandelions, tulips, morning glories, roses, magnolias, laurel leaves, laurestine, forget-me-nots, honeysuckle. Try to decipher the poem with your guide here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_of_flowers " 

Designed by the lovely and talented Brittany Jepsen from The House That Lars Built blog (one of our favorites around here), one glove (or two!) can be pre-ordered on Etsy to arrive in time for Christmas at the bargain price of $23.75 each. It would surely make a sweet sentiment for any sweets (or savory!) maker you know. 

- Cathleen 

[Photo plucked from The House That Lars Built's Etsy shop] 

The NESTING Series: Part Deux: Bees

I know I promised it would be presented here every three weeks until I’d worn the topic out, and I know you were counting down the days until it’s arrival in your virtual mailbox. But when I was all set to launch into the newest subject last week, the wedding of Les and Gay went and blew all of my best-laid plans out of the water. That wedding was such an awesome brat. SO here we are, a week late and a holler short, with segment two in my miniseries on nests: BEES!

But not just any bee. There’s a certain type of bee that lives alone and lines its nests with a probably not delicious mud-and-flower-petal sandwich. Yes, scientists call this nest a “flower sandwich.” But this ain’t no Dagwood. The bee bites the petals off flowers (like the one above), and uses them to line its nest, a shallow hole in the ground, where it will lay its egg in a puddle of nectar and pollen. The pretty petals are held together with mud that hardens and protects the growing larva from intruders. These lovely little husks are soft cradles for a baby bee.

What’s crazy is the bee only lives for about a year, 10 months of which are the period spent underground as a larva, tucked inside the petal sandwich, sleeping! Then once it decides it’s time to claw its way above ground, it spends the last two months of its life looking for a place to lay its egg and build its nest, living only to create new life, living solely for its progeny. 

A while ago I stumbled upon these photographs from National Geographic. Apparently nests by the same species were discovered in Turkey and Iran on the same day, but the difference was that the nests from Turkey were made with yellow, pink, blue, and purple petals, and nests from Iran were made with only purple flowers. The scientists were confounded, wondering whether the difference in color choice was because of genetics or population. I think it’s probably more a question of just what’s in the area. You can only choose from what’s available. Case cracked!

- Cathleen