The artistic and creative musings of Gillian Olson who sells cards and prints through her PS Whimsy website and displays art on Gillian Olson Art website. The weekly "Whimsy Wednesday" Behind the Brush post will feature photographs, sketches and paintings, and give you a peek into what is happening in her studio.
This time of year is all about flowers. My painting "Pretty in Pink" is the Cover Award winner of the "Just Flowers" show on now, until April 30, at the Newton Cultural Centre. It is on the cover of the April "Spotlight on the Arts" magazine published by the Arts Council of Surrey.
Here I am with my painting at the opening reception:
I also received an orchid, here I am with Newton Cultural Centre curator Leah McCullough:
and now as promised, just flowers:
apple blossoms
Bleeding Heart
Camellia
Clematis
Grape Hyacinth
Oregon Grape
Tulips
------------------------------------------
So what do you think I painted this week?
Well a flower of course, in fact, an Orchid:
I haven't decided whether it is finished or not and haven't decided where to sign it.
I have been "in the pink" all week, often covered in several different shades of pink.
No, I haven't been painting the house, just a painting, but sometimes I just can't help myself!
Quinacridone red, permanent alizarin crimson, rose madder and quinacridone magenta are beautiful transparent (pink to purple) watercolours on paper but also make a statement when smudged on hands, chin and forearms!
So here is the "Pretty in Pink" hot off the easel:
It is a painting of Bougainvillea against a wall, basking in the Italian sunshine. I took this picture a few years ago and have finally painted it! I think the pink parts are actually leaves not flowers, that surround the small white flowers.
(14" X 20" on Arches CP watercolour paper)
---------------------------------
So am I "in the pink"? Yes, I think so, but
that has me wondering where the expression comes from and even what it means.
"The general usage of this phrase has altered somewhat since it first entered the language. We now usually see it with the specific meaning of 'the pink of condition', that is, in the best possible health. It is tempting but, as it turns out, misguided, to assume an association between 'the pink of condition' and the healthily glowing pink cheeks of new-born babies or energetic sportsmen/sportswomen and the like.
The earliest citations of 'in the pink' are from the 16th century and, at that time, the meaning was 'the very pinnacle of something', but not necessarily limited to health. The earliest example that I can find of pink being used with that meaning is from 1597 Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, 1597:
Mercurio: Why, I am the very pinke of curtesie.
The earliest citation I've found for 'in the pink' is from Leigh's Kensington Gardens, 1720:
"'Tis the Pink of the Mode, to marry at first Sight: - And some, indeed, marry without any Sight at all."
Why pink has been chosen to epitomise the pinnacle of quality is more likely to do with the Dianthus flower, many varieties of which are called Pinks. It is known that society in the reign of Elizabeth I admired the flowers, hence the first uses of pink with the 'excellent' meaning in that period.
What is interesting to speculate on is why the flowers were called Pinks. You may think that a silly question, as Dianthuses are almost always pink. There are two quite believable theories. One suggests, that it is the flowers that gave their name to the colour, rather than vice-versa, and that the name derives from the Dutch 'pinck-ooghen' - 'little eye' (literally - to blink). The second theory is based on the earlier verb form of pink, which means to cut or to pierce - in a style that would now be done using pinking shears. Dianthuses are said to be called Pinks because their edges are pinked. Take your choice." (http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/in-the-pink.html)
It is almost spring time and there is pink popping up all around, here is a sampling:
Tulips (above) and Camillia (below)
Pair of House Finches (above) and a bit of pink in the forest path (below)
Positively perplexing pink reflections:
.... and my favorite the pale pink of a back lit rabbits ear
the early cherry blossoms are out, hooray!
That is it for "pink" today but I have some more art news for you. A couple of weeks ago I posted this painting, which I had named "A Rest in the Shade", a not very exciting name I admit. There was a suggestion that I get rust in the title so it in now named "Rusting in the Shade", thankyou L, much better title.
Here is another new painting. I am calling it "Out for Lunch" but I am open to suggestions.
This is also 14" X 20" watercolour on Arches CP paper. It is a deux chevaux that I photographed in France last fall.
"The Citroën 2CV (French: "deux chevaux" i.e. "deux chevaux-vapeur" (lit. "two steam horses", "two tax horsepower") is a front-engine, front-wheel-drive, air-cooled economy car introduced at the 1948 Paris Mondial de l'Automobile and manufactured by Citroën for model years 1948–1990."
Wikipedia
Do you have any pictures of old vehicles that deserve to be painted? If so contact me at info@pswhimsy.com
I now have an all art Facebook page, if you would like updates on what I am up to in the studio youcan friend me at:
It has been very mild here recently and spring blooms are appearing earlier than usual.
We set a record of sorts on the weekend when we cut our lawn for the first time (February!) this year; that seems to be about a month early.
Feast your eyes of these early cherry blossoms:
Not just a blossom here and there, but entire trees and rows of trees.
Crocuses and Snow Drops are also blooming in abundance:
Forsythia is welcome for it's colour and fragrance.
Hellebores in many colours:
A few daffodils are blooming and still more are ready to burst into flower.
I love the "furry" buds of the magnolia:
One of my Camellia bushes is in bloom too.
Oregon Grape bushes are ready to bloom:
I can't remember what this one is called:
A robin taking advantage of early mild weather:
Of course the weeds are growing well too! There is a bee in the bottom left of the first picture.
I don't know the name of the plant above, I like it, but it is a pest when it gets in a lawn.
Below, well you know.
I hope Spring is here, can all these plants and the birds and bees be wrong?
I hope not, but I am not holding my breath.
The squirrel below had found a treat and settled safely behind some branches, not sure he realized I could see him quite well still.
This one was in the park; we are not happy with squirrels at our house since one or two of them chewed the lights off several strings of our Christmas lights! Seriously.
I have a couple of new paintings for you too.
I have been trying something new, painting watercolour on stretched paper and then varnishing it so that it does not need to be placed under glass.
The first is "White Hellebore":
The second "Early Clematis", below, is already in a frame:
Both paintings are watercolours, what do you think?
I also finished a painting of Gastown for the Vancouver section of my PS Whimsy website. It is ink and watercolour:
