Hi everyone,
I am heading off to New York next week for the Etsy Seller's Advisory Board so this film seemed fitting for my Film Friday because it is set in New York.
The first few lines of the film also summed up my feelings (or lack of!) for pigeons but I found it really beautiful how the artist Duke Riley talks about taking time to look at the world around you.
This film totally shifts your perspective from viewing pigeons as mundane, ugly and something you ignore to a creature of beauty, resilience and intelligence.
The film is beautifully shot and watching them fly is somewhat mesmerising.
Flight of the Pigeon from NewYorker on Vimeo.
The Dorothy Days Xx
Showing posts with label art. Show all posts
Showing posts with label art. Show all posts
Friday, 9 September 2016
Friday, 15 January 2016
Film Friday - Elsewhere by Stefaan De Croock
Hi everyone,
Last week for my Film Friday feature I shared with you all a short animation by Tokyo based artist 'Summer House'(click here to take a look if you missed it). Today I wanted to share with you something totally different; a different 'type' of art, a completely different style of film.
The film shows the construction of Elsewhere, a mural by artist Stefaan De Croock in June 2015 in Mechelen, Antwerp.
Elsewhere is part of a wider project in the town. The town of Mechelen invited 10 artists from all over the world to make works of art on the walls of it's buildings.
Elsewhere is a recycled wood mural built from old doors, wooden planks and furniture which was, fittingly, installed on the side wall of an old furniture factory.
The artist behind the piece is Stefaan De Croock who was born in 1982 and lives and works in Bruges, Belguim. He trained in graphic design and this has a strong influence on his work and artistic vision.
He starts by drawing the basic lines and then his drawing becomes fast, spontaneous and even impulsive.
 |
| Photo Credit: Stefaan De Croock |
I think Elsewhere is a amazing work of art and I particularly love the beautiful colours of the painted doors and the different textures of the wood.
Please find more about Stefaan and his work here: http://strook.eu
The Dorothy Days X
Sunday, 24 August 2014
Tate After Dark - Tate Britain London
Hello everyone,
Haven't written an art related blog post in such a long time and I know lots of you said that you enjoy them so I thought I would tell you today about a fantastic project run by Tate called After Dark. Late at night for 5 nights the general public can watch live as other members of the public drive 4 robots around the Tate Britain gallery while listening to a live commentary by artists, lecturers, educators and critics. The commentary talks about the paintings the public are viewing through the robots and covers 500 years of British art.
It is fascinating to see these art works in a different light and rather novel way! I have seen art works I know and love and seen and learnt a little about lots of works I am unfamiliar with. You can apply to drive a robot and unfortunately I was unsuccessful but it was still fun watching others drive them around while the live commentary was running.
Here are some screen shots from After Dark
 |
Robot 4 showing Francis Bacon's Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion, even more haunting in this lighting and this time at night.    |
Verdict - Yes it is a gimmick, the microphones are sometimes a bit muffled and you can't always see the works too clearly. But, it is fun and will hopefully bring British art to a wider audience, engage new audiences outside the typical gallery-goer and perhaps spark an interest in art with someone who might not have visited a gallery otherwise so I think it is fantastic! The commentary was very informative and you get to learn a little about a huge range of artworks in a short period of time. It is a wonderful experience to feel as if you have snuck into the Tate after dark and was at times eery and at other times rather magical.
Thursday, 31 October 2013
Happy Birthday Hokusai
Happy birthday Katsushika Hokusai (born 31st October 1760) !
The Great Wave off Kanagawa - Hokusai - woodcut - c1829 - 32
Above is his most famous work, The Great Wave off Kanagawa. Isn't it just beautiful? To celebrate his birthday I thought I would share with you all 5 facts about Hokusai
- Over the course of his life Hokusai used over 30 different names (this was common with Japanese artists of this period but not to this extent!)
- His work, and Japanese art in general, was hugely influential to the Impressionists. Many of these artists collected Hokusai's woodcuts including Degas and Gauguin.
- Shortly before his death aged 89 he is quoted as saying "If heaven gives me ten more years, or an extension of even five years, I shall surely become a true artist."
- The Great Wave off Kanagawa is part of a series called Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji in which Hokusai recorded mount Fuji in varying weather conditions, at different distances and in different seasons. The 36 woodcuts were printed in a publication of his work but were so popular that another 10 were later added.
- Hokusai's style changed many times throughout his artistic career and sometimes as frequently as from one painting to another.
The Dorothy Days
Wednesday, 16 October 2013
Wordless Wednesday - Cat Graffiti
On Wednesdays all over the internet, bloggers post a photograph with no words to explain it on their blog. Hence the ‘wordless’ title. The idea is that the photo itself says so much that it doesn’t need any description.
The Dorothy Days Xx
Friday, 4 October 2013
Something beautiful for you to enjoy today....
Springtime by Claude Monet, 1872, Oil on Canvas
Maybe it is a bit strange to be posting a Spring time painting in Autumn time but to me this painting is so beautiful that I just had to share it. The painting is by Claude Monet and shows his wife, Camille Doncieux under a canopy of lilac trees. Look at the dashes of fleeting light on her dress which shine through the leaves from the tree she sits under, so beautiful! She looks so peaceful reading while shading herself from the sunshine and resting in the cool of the tree. The grass looks lush and green and she seems unaware of at peace with her husband sketching her. Just three years after this painting was painted Camille became ill and died from suspected pelvic cancer in 1879.
The Dorothy Days
Tuesday, 2 April 2013
What better way to start a Tuesday....
Hello everyone,
As most people are going to be back to work today I thought we could all do with some cheering up so what better thing to cheer you up with than a Monet's waterlilies. The colours are even more incredible when you are standing next to the real thing.
The Dorothy Days Xxx
Friday, 8 February 2013
The Dorothy Days' painting of the week
Hi everyone,
My painting of the week for this week is
Girls Running, Walberswick Pier by Philip Wilson Steer 1888- 94
Philip Wilson Steer was a member of the New English Art Club (discussed in my previous blog post) and this painting was in the 1892 NEAC exhibition. Steer was born in Merseyside, England. He studied Art at the Gloucester school of art and also the South Kensington Drawing School but was rejected by the Royal Academy and went to Paris. The painting was revolutionary at the time and Avant Garde. This work has similarities with the work of the French Impressionist but places equal importance on the figures as it does the landscape.
The painting has similarities with the work of Seurat, a French Post-Impressionist painter who developed a style known as Pointillism. Pointillism is a technique which involves placing lots of small dots of pure, unmixed colour on the canvas. The idea is that from a distance the small dots mix together to form lots of different tones and form a complete picture.
This painting is A Sunday on La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat where you can see the pointillist style. The painting is made up of tiny little dots of pure colour wbich blend together when looking at it from a distance. Up close you can see all the small dots of pure colour, below is an up close detail from another of Seurat's paintings when you can see the different dots of colour.
The painting is of Walberswick Pier in Suffolk, England. Walberwick is a village and is known as a place with attracts residents from the arts, film and media. It was a place visited frequently by the English Impressionists from the NEAC. The painting shows two girls running towards to viewer on the pier. They were originally holding hands but this has been altered. However, if you look in their shadows Steer has left them holding hands with one another. Unlike many of the French Impressionist works this painting was not painted en plein air (outside on the spot) but instead was painted from memory in the studio. Steer captures the pier on a sunny afternoon.
I think the painting is beautiful, it was a wonderful sense of movement and I love the afternoon light as well.
The Dorothy Days
My painting of the week for this week is
Girls Running, Walberswick Pier by Philip Wilson Steer 1888- 94
Philip Wilson Steer was a member of the New English Art Club (discussed in my previous blog post) and this painting was in the 1892 NEAC exhibition. Steer was born in Merseyside, England. He studied Art at the Gloucester school of art and also the South Kensington Drawing School but was rejected by the Royal Academy and went to Paris. The painting was revolutionary at the time and Avant Garde. This work has similarities with the work of the French Impressionist but places equal importance on the figures as it does the landscape.
The painting has similarities with the work of Seurat, a French Post-Impressionist painter who developed a style known as Pointillism. Pointillism is a technique which involves placing lots of small dots of pure, unmixed colour on the canvas. The idea is that from a distance the small dots mix together to form lots of different tones and form a complete picture.
This painting is A Sunday on La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat where you can see the pointillist style. The painting is made up of tiny little dots of pure colour wbich blend together when looking at it from a distance. Up close you can see all the small dots of pure colour, below is an up close detail from another of Seurat's paintings when you can see the different dots of colour.
 |
| Detail from one of Seurat's paintings where you can see the pure dots of colour.
When viewed from a distance this painting would look similar to the La Grande Jatte as the different colours would blend together.
|
I think the painting is beautiful, it was a wonderful sense of movement and I love the afternoon light as well.
The Dorothy Days
Thursday, 31 January 2013
The New English Art Club- London Impressionists.
Hello everyone,
Thanks so much for taking time to read my blog and thank you for all the lovely comments which I have been left recently, they are really making me smile!!!
Today I thought I would do another one of my art blog posts and tell you about The New English Art Club
The New English Art Club (NEAC) was founded in 1885 by young English artists, many of whom had returned from Paris where they had been studying art. Some of the founding members include John Singer Sargent, Phillip Wilson Steer and Stanhope Forbes. It was founded around a time of rapid social change and with the approach of World War I the NEAC became more diverse. The NEAC was revolutionary in that women's work was shown in equal numbers to men and Avant Garde art such as Impressionism was well represented in the group. It was to be an alternative to the Royal Academy, England and the academic style which was favoured by them. The Royal Academy was seen as restrictive and full of traditionalists who rejected the impressionist style. Many of the artists in the NEAC could not exhibit in the Royal Academy as they were not accepting of their style of artwork so the NEAC was founded as an exhibiting society alternative to the Royal Academy. They had their first exhibition in 1886. By the turn of the century the NEAC was no longer revolutionary or representing the Avant Garde English artists.
There were three groups associated with the NEAC:
London Impressionists
The London Impressionist painted urban London which was constantly evolving and changing during this period due to industrialisation. They often painted the new places and spaces in the city such as concert halls, theatres and cafes.
Walter Sicket, a member of the London Impressionists believed that it was a moral obligation of the artist to depict modern city life. He was heavily influenced by the French artist Degas (associated with French Impressionism) and following his approach, moved away from Aesthetic art towards scenes of urban environment and the atmosphere in these new space. Degas was fascinated by the stage and preparations for performance. He is particularly well known for his depiction of ballet dancers both on stage and practicing. Below is one of Degas' paintings of a ballet scene in which can be viewed in comparison to the Sicket in terms of the subject matter, the unusual angle of the image which was influenced by photography and how the viewer attention is being drawn to the figure/ figures on stage due to the use of spotlighting.
Sickert was criticised for mimicking the French Impressionists as the London Impressionist wanted to have a uniquely English style of Impressionism. The London Impressionists depicted the same subject matters as the French Impressionists, music halls, streets, outdoor space, pubs and cafes, but in London so this is what set them apart. They would travel around London on bus, a new mode of transport, and visit these place and observe and draw what they saw. This was different to what they were doing at the Royal Academy. In the RA they were classically trained so were producing their paintings in the studio as opposed to going out into the city. They were also using models and props rather than painting real people who they saw on the streets or in these new places.The scenes although similar in subject matter to the French Impressionists were still unique to London.
Hope that this has given you a little introduction to the London Impressionists and the work of Walter Sicket.
The Dorothy Days
Thanks so much for taking time to read my blog and thank you for all the lovely comments which I have been left recently, they are really making me smile!!!
Today I thought I would do another one of my art blog posts and tell you about The New English Art Club
The New English Art Club (NEAC) was founded in 1885 by young English artists, many of whom had returned from Paris where they had been studying art. Some of the founding members include John Singer Sargent, Phillip Wilson Steer and Stanhope Forbes. It was founded around a time of rapid social change and with the approach of World War I the NEAC became more diverse. The NEAC was revolutionary in that women's work was shown in equal numbers to men and Avant Garde art such as Impressionism was well represented in the group. It was to be an alternative to the Royal Academy, England and the academic style which was favoured by them. The Royal Academy was seen as restrictive and full of traditionalists who rejected the impressionist style. Many of the artists in the NEAC could not exhibit in the Royal Academy as they were not accepting of their style of artwork so the NEAC was founded as an exhibiting society alternative to the Royal Academy. They had their first exhibition in 1886. By the turn of the century the NEAC was no longer revolutionary or representing the Avant Garde English artists.
There were three groups associated with the NEAC:
- London Impressionists
- Newlyn School
- Glasgow Boys
London Impressionists
The London Impressionist painted urban London which was constantly evolving and changing during this period due to industrialisation. They often painted the new places and spaces in the city such as concert halls, theatres and cafes.
 |
| Little Dot Hetherington at the Old Bedford 1894 - Walter Sicket |
 |
Ballet scene from
Robert le diable 1876
Degas
|
Sickert was criticised for mimicking the French Impressionists as the London Impressionist wanted to have a uniquely English style of Impressionism. The London Impressionists depicted the same subject matters as the French Impressionists, music halls, streets, outdoor space, pubs and cafes, but in London so this is what set them apart. They would travel around London on bus, a new mode of transport, and visit these place and observe and draw what they saw. This was different to what they were doing at the Royal Academy. In the RA they were classically trained so were producing their paintings in the studio as opposed to going out into the city. They were also using models and props rather than painting real people who they saw on the streets or in these new places.The scenes although similar in subject matter to the French Impressionists were still unique to London.
Hope that this has given you a little introduction to the London Impressionists and the work of Walter Sicket.
The Dorothy Days
Sunday, 6 January 2013
Happy new year- Goals for 2013
Happy New Year everyone!!!
Hello everyone and happy new year!!! I can't believe it is now 2013. Just wanted to take this time to say thank you so much to everyone who has followed my blog this year, browsed or bought from my shop, followed me on twitter, left me lovely blog comments and tweets and to all my lovely cyber friends that I have made a long the way. You have all been fantastic!!
A big shout out to some friends that I have made on Etsy who have been wonderful and supportive with my shop, blog and twitter page.
Jayne from Handmade Cuties
Jamie from Chatter Blossom
Vicky and David from Vivid Please
Robin from NostalgicRose
Brittany from HopeStarBound
At the start of a new year I always like to set myself some goals to try and achieve before the year is up. I have a feeling that 2013 is going to be a good year for me so have high hopes for the year. I know 13 is unlucky for some but it was my Granny's lucky number so I am hoping 2013 is going to be a fantastic year and even if luck is not on my side I am going to do everything I can to make it wonderful!!!
Here are my goals for 2013:
Jayne from Handmade Cuties
Jamie from Chatter Blossom
Vicky and David from Vivid Please
Robin from NostalgicRose
Brittany from HopeStarBound
At the start of a new year I always like to set myself some goals to try and achieve before the year is up. I have a feeling that 2013 is going to be a good year for me so have high hopes for the year. I know 13 is unlucky for some but it was my Granny's lucky number so I am hoping 2013 is going to be a fantastic year and even if luck is not on my side I am going to do everything I can to make it wonderful!!!
Here are my goals for 2013:
- To blog more often!!!!
- To visit more art galleries across the U.K as seeing art up close makes me so happy.
- To have 100 items listed in my shop
- To reach my 100th sale on Etsy
- Spend more days down by the seaside
- Improve my knitting skills (I am pretty terrible at the moment!)
- To make more things on my sewing machine as it is something I really enjoy.
- To go on more adventures and visit new places
- Write some more blog posts on art pieces.
- To try some different types of tea that I haven't already tried.
- To smile more often and to make other people smile more often.
- Do more RAOK (random acts of kindness)
- Go to London more often
- Get much more organised!!!
- Continue improve and expanding my Etsy shop. I would love to expand the range of vintage items which I sell and also make more handmade items for my shop.
- Get involved in some more local projects and volunteer locally as it would be a lovely way of getting involved in the community and meeting some more local people.
- Go back to Rome as it is one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited.
- Trace my family history as I know very little about it and would love to know more and make a family tree.
- To keep a diary
This list is by no mean finished by here are just a few!
Have you set yourself any new year goals?
Hope that 2013 is a great year for you all and thank you so much for all your support in 2012.
Best wishes
The Dorothy Days
Wednesday, 17 October 2012
Ophelia by Millias from the Pre Raphaelite Brotherhood
Hello everyone,
I have been thinking about my blog quite a bit recently and have decided that along with my regular features I want to do some more personal blog posts. I really want to start blogging about things I really love and I am passionate about so you can get to know a little bit more about me :). So far you probably know that I am rather obssessed with vintage and I am more than a little addicted to tea! Something that you might not know about me is that I am an Art Historian! I studied the History of Art/ Art History at degree level and art is one of my biggest passions. I often post art based links on my Facebook page but it is not something I speak that much about on my blog. I spend lots of my time going to galleries and exhibitions and seeing works of art up close in the flesh so I thought I would share with you all some of my passion for art and some of my favourite artworks by writing a short piece about each. I hope that you shall enjoy these posts and also learn a little bit too :). Would love to hear what some of your favourite art works are :).
To kick things off I thought I would start with Ophelia (1851- 52) which is a work by Sir John Everett Millais who was part of the Pre Raphaelite Brotherhood. The brotherhood was founded by Millais, Rosetti and Hunt and rejected the popular Renaissance style of painting in favour of work Pre Raphael hence the name of the group, The Pre Raphaelite Brotherhood. There is a big exhibition on the Pre Raphaelites at the moment in England at the TATE gallery so I thought this would be a good place to start. I am really excited to be visiting the exhibition in a few weeks time. Has anyone been to see it yet?
This painting is one of extreme beauty but also sadness. Ophelia is a character taken from Shakespeare's Hamlet who drowns herself in the stream. This painting is one of the most prized in TATE Britain and was given to the nation by Sir Henry Tate who made his fortune from sugar. The painting has been beautifully painted with an incredible amount of detail. Millias believed that every element of the painting should be painted with the same importance so the flowers in the background are as beautifully and delicately executed as Ophelias face and body. The river in the painting is in Surrey, England and was painted on site by Millais so that he could get all the details correct. Ophelia was then painted in his studio. The colours in this painting are so beautiful and luminous due to the new colours which were avaliable around this period because of the advances in technology particually in the production of chemicals needed to make these brighter more vibrant colours.
Hope you enjoyed this small intro to this work :) . Please let me know if you would like more infomation on the paintings in my future posts or if that was the right amount :)
The Dorothy Days
I have been thinking about my blog quite a bit recently and have decided that along with my regular features I want to do some more personal blog posts. I really want to start blogging about things I really love and I am passionate about so you can get to know a little bit more about me :). So far you probably know that I am rather obssessed with vintage and I am more than a little addicted to tea! Something that you might not know about me is that I am an Art Historian! I studied the History of Art/ Art History at degree level and art is one of my biggest passions. I often post art based links on my Facebook page but it is not something I speak that much about on my blog. I spend lots of my time going to galleries and exhibitions and seeing works of art up close in the flesh so I thought I would share with you all some of my passion for art and some of my favourite artworks by writing a short piece about each. I hope that you shall enjoy these posts and also learn a little bit too :). Would love to hear what some of your favourite art works are :).
To kick things off I thought I would start with Ophelia (1851- 52) which is a work by Sir John Everett Millais who was part of the Pre Raphaelite Brotherhood. The brotherhood was founded by Millais, Rosetti and Hunt and rejected the popular Renaissance style of painting in favour of work Pre Raphael hence the name of the group, The Pre Raphaelite Brotherhood. There is a big exhibition on the Pre Raphaelites at the moment in England at the TATE gallery so I thought this would be a good place to start. I am really excited to be visiting the exhibition in a few weeks time. Has anyone been to see it yet?
This painting is one of extreme beauty but also sadness. Ophelia is a character taken from Shakespeare's Hamlet who drowns herself in the stream. This painting is one of the most prized in TATE Britain and was given to the nation by Sir Henry Tate who made his fortune from sugar. The painting has been beautifully painted with an incredible amount of detail. Millias believed that every element of the painting should be painted with the same importance so the flowers in the background are as beautifully and delicately executed as Ophelias face and body. The river in the painting is in Surrey, England and was painted on site by Millais so that he could get all the details correct. Ophelia was then painted in his studio. The colours in this painting are so beautiful and luminous due to the new colours which were avaliable around this period because of the advances in technology particually in the production of chemicals needed to make these brighter more vibrant colours.
Hope you enjoyed this small intro to this work :) . Please let me know if you would like more infomation on the paintings in my future posts or if that was the right amount :)
The Dorothy Days
Thursday, 9 August 2012
Something beautiful for you all to enjoy
Hello everyone :),
I hope you enjoyed my Olympic blog post :) . Thank you to everyone who has left me lovely comments on my blog recently, it has made me smile :). Can't believe we are already half way through the week....where has it gone !? Feels only like yesterday that I was writing the last Feature Friday blog post!!
This week has been another busy one, I have sorted through a mountain of paperwork which wasn't the most exciting task but it was a really good feeling when I had finished! I have also ticked some things off my To Do list but every time I cross something off it seems like I add another few to dos on! With all this paperwork and chores my tea consumption seems to have gone through the roof!
On the 15th of August shall be my shop's first year anniversary on Etsy, so excited about that and how far I have come since first getting the business online. Thank you to everyone who has supported my little business :), I really appreciate it.
I found a wonderful video tonight which is of an artist who did a art installation in Singapore Art Museum. The installation included hand painting flowers and other designs onto the floors and columns using stencils.
This video shows the time lapse over the 10 days it took to produce. The idea is that people walk over the flowers and the pigments and paints used to create the work will slowly fade, this has symbolic meanings and is meant to remind us of the transient nature of life.
If anyone is reading from Singapore, the exhibition is open until the 12th August so go and check it out!
I would really love this to be my bedroom, just put a lovely big bed in the middle of the room and it would brighten up any morning (even Monday mornings!!) by seeing this when you woke up. I think it is absolutely breathtakingly beautiful.
Enjoy!!
How amazing was that ?! Hope you enjoyed it :)
The Dorothy Days Xx
P.S: To see more videos like this and other beautiful things I have found on the internet please take a look at my facebook page . I am adding up beautiful images and little things I find to my page for you all to enjoy :).
I hope you enjoyed my Olympic blog post :) . Thank you to everyone who has left me lovely comments on my blog recently, it has made me smile :). Can't believe we are already half way through the week....where has it gone !? Feels only like yesterday that I was writing the last Feature Friday blog post!!
This week has been another busy one, I have sorted through a mountain of paperwork which wasn't the most exciting task but it was a really good feeling when I had finished! I have also ticked some things off my To Do list but every time I cross something off it seems like I add another few to dos on! With all this paperwork and chores my tea consumption seems to have gone through the roof!
On the 15th of August shall be my shop's first year anniversary on Etsy, so excited about that and how far I have come since first getting the business online. Thank you to everyone who has supported my little business :), I really appreciate it.
I found a wonderful video tonight which is of an artist who did a art installation in Singapore Art Museum. The installation included hand painting flowers and other designs onto the floors and columns using stencils.
 |
| via |
If anyone is reading from Singapore, the exhibition is open until the 12th August so go and check it out!
I would really love this to be my bedroom, just put a lovely big bed in the middle of the room and it would brighten up any morning (even Monday mornings!!) by seeing this when you woke up. I think it is absolutely breathtakingly beautiful.
Enjoy!!
How amazing was that ?! Hope you enjoyed it :)
The Dorothy Days Xx
P.S: To see more videos like this and other beautiful things I have found on the internet please take a look at my facebook page . I am adding up beautiful images and little things I find to my page for you all to enjoy :).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)