A Master And An Apprentice

Wildflowers Oil Pastel Painting | Whims And Fancies

 

Spring is definitely in the air.  Although I love finding little colourful wild flowers and photographing them, it is also the worst time of the year for me due to severe pollen allergies.  I still try to find a little time to be outside to enjoy the bright flowers swaying happily during the windy March days.   Last year, in my attempt to learn wild flower photography, I went to a few local parks in search of new flowers.

 

Napa Northern Califiornia Wildflowers | Whims And Fancies

 

I took this photo of the wild flowers at our local park.  When I posted it here as part of my Wandering Camera monthly photo collage, Janine mentioned it looked like a painting.

 

Van Gogh - Green Wheat Field with Cypress

  

Ever since I was a child, I have been drawn to the Impressionist/Post-impressionist paintings.  I didn’t know them by that name at the time.  I remember loving the small brush-strokes.  I specially fell in love with the paintings of Van Gogh.  Initially all I knew of him was the very crude introduction as an eccentric artist who cut his ear off.  As I got older I learned a lot more about him and how much he was tormented by his own demons.  If I don’t keep my emotions in check, his life-story makes me extremely sad.

  

The heart of man is very much like the sea, it has its storms, it has its tides and in its depths it has its pearls too.”  – Vincent Van Gogh

  

This is “Green Wheat Field With Cypress” which he painted while he was at the asylum of St. Paul.

 

Wildflowers Sennelier oil astel painting inspired by Van Gogh | Whims And Fancies

 

One rainy Friday, as I was looking at the photos of his paintings, I thought of what Janine said about my photo.  I often wanted to paint something of his style without directly copying his work.  I recently acquired a set of Sennelier landscape oil pastels.  Soon afterwards, I found myself working on this painting using those oil pastels.  It has become one of my favourites because of the emotional tie I feel.

 

Sometimes the state of the world makes me very sad, but if I have learned anything from Van Gogh, it is that even in the midst of torment and sadness, a speck of peace and beauty can be found.

Sometimes I long so much to do landscape, just as one would go for a long walk to refresh oneself, and in all of nature, in trees for instance, I see expression and a soul.” – Vincent Van Gogh

 

Happy Spring,
-Soma

 

I am also linking up on Life Thru The Lens, Through My Lens, Our World TuesdayWednesday Around The World, Seasons, and Friday Photo Journal along with other linky parties on my Events And Links page.

 

 

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Cast In Stone

Red Telephone Box Quilt Pattern | Whims And Fancies

 

Purchase Red Telephone Box Pattern

 

I hope you are having a wonderful Spring.  My husband and I managed to sneak in a break together before he starts his new job today.

I have been going through some of the photos from last year’s England travel. Considering I made it to England twice within the last six months and am already planning my third visit to Scotland probably indicates how much I love the British Isles.  I try to not mention the turmoil of the world here because this is my happy place, but I could not stay away from that this time after reading the news yesterday.  My heart goes out to my British friends.

 

It is a beautiful country full of old history and lovely people.  A visit to Oxford was a must because of its beautiful architecture.  I fell in love with the vine- and plant-decked Oxford windows.  I had the idea of this Red Telephone Box quilt pattern for a long while now.  Browsing the photos rekindled the urge of designing this block.  So I added a Victorian street lamp along with a lit-up window – an Oxford window, if you will.

 

A few photos I took of the Oxford windows –

 

Christ Church College, Oxford England | Whims And Fancies

 

 Christ Church College

 

 

Christ Church College, Oxford England | Whims And Fancies

 

  Christ Church College

 

 

Exeter College, Oxford, England | Whims And Fancies

 

 Exeter College

 

 

Magdalen College, Oxford England | Whims And Fancies

 

Magdalen College

 

All these stone structures inspired me to work on this watercolour sketch of a crumbling stone castle in Scotland.  I was practising painting the texture of crumbling stones as well as loose-hand painting.

 

 

Crumbling Stone Castle Watercolour Painting | Whims And Fancies

 

Van Gogh Watercolour Paint

 

I enjoy playing with different brands of watercolour paints.  Van Gogh watercolour is a student-grade paint made by a Dutch company called Royal Talens.  It is not very expensive, so I was really surprised by the quality of the paint.  They come alive even with the smallest touch of water and the colours are intense.  The paints blend with each other wonderfully, enabling me to create new colours very easily.  They are also quite permanent.  Unlike most watercolour paints, I couldn’t easily lift off the colours once they were applied.  Something to keep in mind before I put paint to paper next time.  I found the included brush to be a bit too stiff and harsh on the paper.  I wouldn’t recommend using it at all.  However, I highly recommend the paintbox.  The colours are also available individually, in tubes.

 

 

Red Telephone Box Quilt Pattern | Whims And Fancies

 

  Purchase Red Telephone Box Pattern

 

I was working on this block around the same time I was dabbling with the Van Gogh paint.  Since I love stone buildings so much, I used Stonehenge fabrics for the background.  I lit the lamp and the window for a warmer feel.

I pieced the red grid on my red telephone booth.  However, for easier piecing, I also included pattern sections without the grid.  The grid can be added afterwards via a thick-width machine stitch.  The finished block is 12″.  The Red Telephone Box quilt pattern is available in my shop, if you wish to make one.

It was nice to take break from the Harry Potter quilt blocks and work on something different.  I need a new day/travel bag, this block will be prefect for that.

Stay well,
-Soma

Luckily this was also my one monthly goal, which I am happy to say I have accomplished.  I am linking up with –

Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal Finish March Linkup 

 

I am also linking up on Life Thru The Lens, Through My Lens, Our World TuesdayWednesday Around The World, and Friday Photo Journal along with other linky parties on my Events And Links page.

 

 

 

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