Skookumchuck?

So what does Skookumchuck mean?

A Chinook term, Skookum means "strong" and "chuck" refers to water, so combined the term literally means strong or powerful water. It the case of Skookumchuck Narrows it refers to tidal rapids.

To view the rapids you need to walk a 4 km trail from the parking lot.

Near the parking lot is an old truck and a newer sign. Here is my painting of the old truck which I have named "Skookumchuck Truck":

 

It is an 11" X 14" watercolour on Arches CP watercolour paper.

It was a few years ago that we travelled to the park and I photographed this old truck and promised myself I would paint it one day and figure out what the sign meant. The sign the "Green Rosette Bake Shop" apparently points to a bakeshop nearby that has a reputation for making very fine cinnamon buns; it must have been closed when we were there because I love cinnamon and can track down a cinnamon bun from quite a distance!

Here are some photographs that I took and some more information on the park.

Skookumchuck Narrows Provincial Park:

"This park was established in 1957. Skookumchuck Narrows Provincial Park provides trails and viewing areas for visitors who wish to experience the awesome power of incredibly turbulent tidal rapids. On a 3 metre tide, 200 billion gallons of water flow through the narrows connecting Sechelt and Jervis Inlet.

The difference in water levels between one side of the rapids and the other sometimes exceeds 2 metres in height. Current speeds can exceed 30km/hr. The rapids are famous for their spectacular whirlpools and whitewater.

There are opportunities to view tidal rapids, waterfowl and abundant marine life at various tidal levels. Brown Lake provides further waterfowl viewing opportunities.

Consult with the tide tables for this area to get a schedule of the best viewing times of the rapids."

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/skook_narrows/

 

 First of all, I am always lagging behind because I am looking for photo opportunities, so I often see the rapidly disappearing form of my husband in the distance ahead of me, why should this trip be any different.

 

The trail passes Brown Lake ...

 

 

... and passes through a second growth hemlock forest.

 

 

 

By tumbling creeks and ...

 

 

many interesting tree stumps. This "foot" for example:

 

 

Several "tree monsters"

 

This one reminds me of an elephant:

 

 

A wolf:

 

Some octopuses, or is that octopi:

 

 

And these reminders of how magnificent the forest was at one time with their eye slots the remains of loggers springboard platforms.

 

 

And finally the narrows, you need to arrive near the tide change for the most impressive currents.

 

You can probably tell that the wind is blowing pretty hard, this little fellow is really hanging on:

 

A couple of tidal pools:

 

 

and more of the narrows...

 

 

A still picture just doesn't do it justice, so here is a video:

 

 

 

 

Here is the picture I took of a bulldozer and the truck.

 

 

 

Maybe I should paint the bulldozer too, what do you think?

 

 

I now have an all art Facebook page, if you would like updates on what I am up to in the studio you can friend me at:

 

https://www.gillianolsonartArt

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I guess that takes us full circle, I hope you have enjoyed the outing.

 

 

That's all for this week, happy Wednesday, with whimsy,

 

Gillian

 

I love to get your comments!

 

 

Pretty in Pink?

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)

 

 

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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 you can friend me at:

 

https://www.facebook.com/GillianOlsonArt

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Here is a wonderful video someone shared with me this week, I am passing it on to you.

Amazing video of Khalil Daweish Abu Adam:



 

 

That's all for this week, thanks for dropping by, and thank you for your comments,

 

happy Wednesday, with Whimsy,

 

Gillian

 

 

Tropical Flower Whimsy

I decided to start with my painting this week. This is a watercolour painting of Angel's Trumpet Flowers. I decided to use complimentary colours for the background,

hope you like the effect.

 

"Angel's Trumpets"

 

It is painted almost exclusively using transparent watercolours. I made up a palette for myself that contains only transparent watercolours but then a little bit of Cadmium Yellow and New Gamboge snuck in (not transparent); a watercolour palette malfunction?

 

The background isn't exactly complimentary because it uses colours through the purple-blue-blue green spectrum. I had a lot of fun dropping paint, spraying and then pouring some darker pigments to create the background. I like the effect, I hope you do too.

 

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Angel's Trumpet also called a Brugmansia (pictured below) it is "a genus of seven species of flowering plants in the family Solanaceae.

 Their large, fragrant flowers give them their common name of angel's trumpets, a name sometimes used for the closely related genus Datura. Brugmansia are woody trees or shrubs, with pendulous, not erect, flowers, that have no spines on their fruit." Wikipedia

 

 

 

 

A close up of the Angel's Trumpet flowers: 

 

 

 

Here are a few more tropical flowers.

 

Bougainvelia are abundant in Hawaii:

 

 

A Plumeria bloom fallen between lava rocks.

 

 

"Plumeria is the most common flower that you'll find in Hawaii since it is used in most leis that are given to visitors. It is, however, not native to Hawaii. It is native to tropical and subtropical America. It was named for the 17th century French botanist Charles Plumier who documented numerous plants in the Americas."

http://gohawaii.about.com/od/hawaiianflowersandtrees/ig/plumeria_photos/

 

The flowers are most popular in Hawaii, used to make flower necklaces (leis). http://www.floraexotica.ca/Flower-Plumeria.htm

Alamanda:

 

 

Hibiscus are seen in a wide range of colours:

 

A time lapse video of a hibiscus blooming:

 

 

 

 

This one is pretty but I have no idea what it is, can anyone tell me?

 

 

 

 

Here is a music video for you:

 

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star - Israel Kamakawiwo'ole

 

 

 

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Well it is almost spring and I have had a busy week tidying and organizing my paintings. I either need to stop painting or...

 

Time for a SALE!

 

To view the paintings and sale prices follow this link:

 

http://www.gillianolsonart.com/art-sale.html

 

That's all for this week,

 

thanks for dropping by, I appreciate your feedback,

 

 happy Wednesday, with whimsy,

 

Gillian 

 

 

 

A Little Sunshine

I am sending a little sunshine your way this week.

Here are some pictures of a bouquet of daffodils my husband bought for me from the weekend farmers market. First of the season and so bright and cheerful I thought I would share them with you.

 



 

It is still about a month to the equinox and it has been dark and rainy recently, too little daylight, too little sun!

 



 

Daffodils are members of the Narcissus family or genus.

 

"Narcissus is a genus of predominantly spring perennial plants in the Amaryllidaceae (amaryllis) family. Various common names including daffodil, daffadowndilly, narcissus, and jonquil are used to describe all or some members of the genus." Wikipedia

 

 

 

 

 

  

In Greek mythology, Narcissus was a hunter  who was renowned for his beauty. He was the son of a river god named Cephissus and a nymph named Liriope.

 

He fell in love with his own reflection in a pool, and pinning away and was changed into the flower that bears his name.
 

Yellow is one of the primary colours and can symbolise joy and delight as well as the sun and summer.

 



 

Spring is a great season to celebrate new beginnings.

 

 

Trolling the internet for music for spring a found the following article:

  

The "10 Top Songs for Spring" by Bill Lamb is his list of

pop songs. "These are the songs that bring to mind for me the hope, joy, beauty, and carefree spirit of springtime."  (http://top40.about.com/od/top10lists/tp/springpopsongs.htm)

 

1.  Lovin' Spoonful - "Daydream" (1966) (link below)

 

2.  Simon and Garfunkel - "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)" (1966)

 

3.  Hugh Masakela - "Grazing in the Grass" (1968)

 

4.  U2 - "Beautiful Day" (2000)

 

5.  Andy Grammer - "Keep Your Head Up" (2011)

 

6.  Cat Stevens - "Morning Has Broken" (1972)

 

7.  Dario G - "Sunchyme" (1998)

 

8.  Patti LaBelle - "New Attitude" (1985)

 

9.  Smash Mouth - "All Star" (1999)

 

10.  Jason Mraz - "I'm Yours" (2008)

 

 

I hope you enjoy following the links.

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

As promised here is "Daydream" and the Lovin Spoonful:

 

 

 

 

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Here are a couple of paintings that I have finished recently:

 

 

The first is called "Lilies 2" and is a watercolour:

 

 

 

Here is the second, "A Rest in the Shade", it is a painting of an old car I photographed when I was in France last fall. It is a watercolour too.

 I think it is a very old Citroen but I am not sure, does anyone recognise it?

 



Thanks for dropping by, I appreciate you feedback.

 

 

That's all for this week,  

happy Wednesday, with whimsy,

 

Gillian.