This and That: A Blog

Linking to Skywatch Friday

P ompeii. The Race  ( P ompei. La Corsa ) i s a watercolor painting signed Scognamiglio,  inspired by ancient Roman wall paintings in the Pompeian style.  Scognamiglio is a common surname in Naples, so the artist can't be narrowed down.  Artist families would work together in the Neapolitan workshops near Pompeii producing fresco copies for tourists.  This piece dates to between 1935 and 1950. These dates are based on the paper type, and border and signature style.  I bought this at a yard sale with a lot of other works of art, so divided evenly probably cost a bit under $1. There's a P poetry form for this here , a Pareado. 

O ut of Order gets its title from the sign on the bathroom door in this pen and ink drawing I got at a Goodwill, framed, for $1.65.   Part of its charm is the note the artist wrote on the back. There is a light-hearted O poem, an Ovi, here .

  Green is this week's Color of Spring for Thursday Postcard Hunt .  Absinthe Robette ,  Henri Privat-Livemont,   a postcard version of the French poster advertising the Belgian absinthe brand. Oh, Garfield, don't we all?    The Japanese Garden in Portland, Oregon  Gauguin's Chair , Vincent van Gogh Next week's color is Purple .

  N ativity  is my name for this diptych (an artwork in two connected parts), a term from Greek meaning " pair of writing tablets ."  I found it in the Goodwill Outlet bins, and it's one of my favorite pieces.  The artist is  Marlinde von Ruhs , which is rather incredible to find!  The two parts are hinged, trimmed in gold braid and a tassel, with the backs covered in turquoise felt with beading.  It's the most amazing nativity I've ever seen! Marlinde often mounted her smaller works in felt or velvet, brocade, and gold braiding.  According to some sources she didn't want them to be just paintings in a frame.  She liked the idea of a tactile, handmade presence.  I had assumed the framing and edging was added after the paintings left the artist's possession, and to find they were done by the artist herself was actually moving!  An N poem form, Nonce, can be found here . 

  M agpie Goose (artist's title) is a limited edition (154/500) print by Australian artist  Doris Gingingara  (1946-1999).  I bought it as Goodwill for $2.06 with the signed and dated (9/99) Certificate of Authenticity on the back. I've written a Mondo poetry form for this one  here .

 I won't say Spring is in full bloom, but it's really starting to show.   Last year a friend gave me some daylily divisions.  I put some in the ground, others in pots until now.   Chorus Line in a line of two. That's a California poppy in the middle, against the house.  This bed used to have the Tuscan Blue rosemary and Munstead lavender, but they grew much too big, and dead underneath.  The rosemary stump still needs to be removed.  The daylilies here are Longfield Pink, Fragrant Returns, and Gentle Shepherd.  See all those poppies all along the path?  I'm taking most out. Take note of the violas, I'm going to mention them soon! The plant lowest in the middle is Cupid's Dart, moved from the space above the flat rock, which is now Country Fair Winds daylily.  It's a tall one, so I wanted it towards the back.  That bright green on the left is Little Lemon goldenrod's new growth.  I moved Rose Marvel salvia from the bac...