Dearest Deborah (🐝), another wonderful post! I studied history of art and design at university but find your posts are greatly adding to my knowledge and enjoyment! So many wonderful women artists I had previously missed out on (or maybe because I was at university over 30 years ago, many of these women had not been studied extensively?). Although, to be fair there was much of the 20th century I previously missed out on, eg. John Nash, Edward Bawden, Eric Ravilious, Cedric Morris etc. However, I digress! Thank you again for your fascinating posts. The Strawberry Hill pictures of both artists were interesting, Julian’s pink sky 😍, Mary’s magical figures 😍. Finally, as many of people have commented, thanks for the further reading suggestions. I haven’t read ‘Still Life’, but will add it to the burgeoning book list. 😂
My middle name is Debra (sic), it was nearly my first name, as my sisters were wanted me to be so named. However, when I was born my mum decided I was to be Ruth - Debra was obviously a very popular name in the late 1960s as every class I was in had at least 3. I have only learned to like my middle name when I discovered that Deborah means bee in Hebrew. Hope you are having a good weekend. ❤️
Deborah was far more common when I was a child, though I hated being called "Deb -bee" - think a West Midlands twang! But the bee association is a very happy thing. I am drawing today, so yes it will be good. Hope you are having a good weekend too.
Thnak you very much for your lovely comment. I think finally these women artists are coming out from the shadows, and thank goodness for it. I managed to get to the Tirzah Garwood on the last day on Monday and it was astonishing. The work was so moving and she was incredibly versatile.
How marvellous that your mother was a Land Girl! I love Fedden's cartoon. She obviously had quite a tough farmer who resented women workers. Do you know Evelyn Dunbard paintings of Land Girls, I will come to them one day...
I’m glad you made it to the Tirzah Garwood exhibition, sadly I didn’t but I am looking forward to buying the accompanying book! Yes, I do know the Land girl paintings of Evelyn Dunbar (I love her work) I have an affection for anything showing Land girls.
Lovely! I’ve just finished reading Jane Gardam’s wonderful book, The Green Man, which was illustrated by Mary Fedden, so it’s great to learn more about her life. I noticed there are quite a few videos about Mary on You Tube, including this one showing 115 of her paintings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAHFQAdrHPs
I learn so much from your posts Deborah, thank you so much! There are so many artists that I’ve just glanced over so I love that you are reminding us all about these wonderful women painters.
Thanks for the book recommendation-it’s been on my list and I keep forgetting so that’s now going to be my next audiobook listen. X
She was extraordinary and her late works are just as strong. I included the Icelandic poppies as it is such a striking painting and was one of the last. There is no sense of her fading! There is such a sense of joy in what she did.
I shall never look at a tube of it in quite the same way! I especially love her Strawberry Hill and found out later that she painted two versions and kept one herself. Thank you for reading it.
Thank you for this beautifully written portrait of a painter who's new to me. I really enjoyed finding out about her work, which is very impressive. I especially liked "Masque at Strawberry Hill".
Thank you, Jeffrey, she was incredibly productive, and it was hard to choose works to include, so I ended up choosing one per decade. Lots more to discover!
Thank you Deborah.Such a vivid account of their lives and how much I enjoyed listening to your reading of it, and what a delight to hear that Mary eventually reaped the financial rewards for her talent.
I’m going to have to do a shout out in support of Prussian Blue though!
And I couldn’t stop myself going digging into Family Trevelyan (yes, this late at night) because surely Julian part of the aristocratic clan and yes, he certainly was and connected to many other well-known Trevelyans..poets, historians & co. I’d like to slot Gertrude Trevelyan, a writer I’ve been meaning to read, into the mix too but it’s late so that will have to wait.
Thank you very much. I am not sure why Prussian Blue was so loathed, and that every colour has something going for it! Yes, I had to stop myself, while reading for this, going down too many rabbit holes or I would never have met the deadline, but it is a very rich seam for both of them. Although I found some of Julian's ' encouragement a little excessive, I do think he was right, and wonder whether she would have experimented without that push.
Wonderful coincidence just now! I’m reading Rachel Cooke's book 'Her Brilliant Career' about working women of the 1950s. I picked it up because there is a chapter about Patience Gray - future post from me about her. Gray's book Honey From A Weed has Ben a favourite of mine for decades
Shoot! Can’t edit the above. Honey from a Weed - Gray’s book is about cooking around the Mediterranean when she lived with her lover Norman Mommens - when Gray met him he was married to Ursula ex Trevelyan - she left Julian for Norman and he left her for Gray…
l had no idea of the connection! I have had the Rachel Cooke ( I love her writing) for a while but just haven't got round to reading it. I don't know Patience Gray’s writing, but now I want to. It all sounds very small indeed and thank you for the next rabbit hole!
Oh yes, and I loved Mary’s sketches of the Land Girls! Imagined and real. My mum was a land army girl and I noticed in the ‘real’ image a pig in the background- my mum was often sent to work on the pig farm. It made me think about the difference between her beautiful portrait in her new uniform and what she would have looked like mucking out the pigs 😂❤️
My whole bookclub read it and we spent hours on a rainy spring afternoon reading favorite passages to each other while sipping a little white Italian wine. Especially in the U.S. right now we are needing something hopeful and the kindness in this book was tonic for us.
What a wonderful way to read it! We need books like that, especially during these times. Although I read it a year ago, it has stayed with me. Thank you for reading my post.
Dearest Deborah (🐝), another wonderful post! I studied history of art and design at university but find your posts are greatly adding to my knowledge and enjoyment! So many wonderful women artists I had previously missed out on (or maybe because I was at university over 30 years ago, many of these women had not been studied extensively?). Although, to be fair there was much of the 20th century I previously missed out on, eg. John Nash, Edward Bawden, Eric Ravilious, Cedric Morris etc. However, I digress! Thank you again for your fascinating posts. The Strawberry Hill pictures of both artists were interesting, Julian’s pink sky 😍, Mary’s magical figures 😍. Finally, as many of people have commented, thanks for the further reading suggestions. I haven’t read ‘Still Life’, but will add it to the burgeoning book list. 😂
I have just spotted my lovely bee - thank you! Apparently I was very well named🐝
My middle name is Debra (sic), it was nearly my first name, as my sisters were wanted me to be so named. However, when I was born my mum decided I was to be Ruth - Debra was obviously a very popular name in the late 1960s as every class I was in had at least 3. I have only learned to like my middle name when I discovered that Deborah means bee in Hebrew. Hope you are having a good weekend. ❤️
Deborah was far more common when I was a child, though I hated being called "Deb -bee" - think a West Midlands twang! But the bee association is a very happy thing. I am drawing today, so yes it will be good. Hope you are having a good weekend too.
Thnak you very much for your lovely comment. I think finally these women artists are coming out from the shadows, and thank goodness for it. I managed to get to the Tirzah Garwood on the last day on Monday and it was astonishing. The work was so moving and she was incredibly versatile.
How marvellous that your mother was a Land Girl! I love Fedden's cartoon. She obviously had quite a tough farmer who resented women workers. Do you know Evelyn Dunbard paintings of Land Girls, I will come to them one day...
And do read Still Life! Have a lovely weekend x
I’m glad you made it to the Tirzah Garwood exhibition, sadly I didn’t but I am looking forward to buying the accompanying book! Yes, I do know the Land girl paintings of Evelyn Dunbar (I love her work) I have an affection for anything showing Land girls.
Lovely! I’ve just finished reading Jane Gardam’s wonderful book, The Green Man, which was illustrated by Mary Fedden, so it’s great to learn more about her life. I noticed there are quite a few videos about Mary on You Tube, including this one showing 115 of her paintings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAHFQAdrHPs
And thank you very much for the link!
I held back on this til the next one as it was growing out of control! Isn't it wonderful? The perfect match of illustrator and text.
I learn so much from your posts Deborah, thank you so much! There are so many artists that I’ve just glanced over so I love that you are reminding us all about these wonderful women painters.
Thanks for the book recommendation-it’s been on my list and I keep forgetting so that’s now going to be my next audiobook listen. X
Thank you, Cally. It is the most moving and uplifting book and one of those novels that you want to push into people's hands!
Loved learning about these two fascinating artists. Thank you!
And, the book “Still Life” is a great recommendation- just read it and savored it.
Thanks for all the reading and watching tips!
Isn't it a wonderful book? I was bereft when I finished it. Thank you very much for reading it.
Wasn’t she a marvel! I hope I’m still being creative in my 90s. Thank you Deborah - a great read as always.
She was extraordinary and her late works are just as strong. I included the Icelandic poppies as it is such a striking painting and was one of the last. There is no sense of her fading! There is such a sense of joy in what she did.
Thank you Deborah, a really interesting portrait of a marriage. The Prussian blue!
I LOVE the Strawberry hill paintings.
I shall never look at a tube of it in quite the same way! I especially love her Strawberry Hill and found out later that she painted two versions and kept one herself. Thank you for reading it.
I really enjoyed this post, thank you! I have always loved Mary Feddens work, it was fab to learn more about her.
Thank you very much, I am so pleased you liked it!
I'd never heard of her, but now I will always be looking out for her. Wonderful. That first film is marvellous. Thank you so much
Thank you, Sarah. She was so prolific and her work always beautiful. She seemed such a generous and lively person, she was a joy to research.
What a wonderful read. Thank you!
It is lovely to find you here! Thank you very much.
Thank you for this beautifully written portrait of a painter who's new to me. I really enjoyed finding out about her work, which is very impressive. I especially liked "Masque at Strawberry Hill".
Thank you very much for sharing this, Jeffrey .
Thank you, Jeffrey, she was incredibly productive, and it was hard to choose works to include, so I ended up choosing one per decade. Lots more to discover!
Thank you Deborah.Such a vivid account of their lives and how much I enjoyed listening to your reading of it, and what a delight to hear that Mary eventually reaped the financial rewards for her talent.
I’m going to have to do a shout out in support of Prussian Blue though!
And I couldn’t stop myself going digging into Family Trevelyan (yes, this late at night) because surely Julian part of the aristocratic clan and yes, he certainly was and connected to many other well-known Trevelyans..poets, historians & co. I’d like to slot Gertrude Trevelyan, a writer I’ve been meaning to read, into the mix too but it’s late so that will have to wait.
Thank you again, lovely piece.
Thank you very much. I am not sure why Prussian Blue was so loathed, and that every colour has something going for it! Yes, I had to stop myself, while reading for this, going down too many rabbit holes or I would never have met the deadline, but it is a very rich seam for both of them. Although I found some of Julian's ' encouragement a little excessive, I do think he was right, and wonder whether she would have experimented without that push.
The world of Bohemia in the 1960s was actually quite small…
Wonderful coincidence just now! I’m reading Rachel Cooke's book 'Her Brilliant Career' about working women of the 1950s. I picked it up because there is a chapter about Patience Gray - future post from me about her. Gray's book Honey From A Weed has Ben a favourite of mine for decades
Shoot! Can’t edit the above. Honey from a Weed - Gray’s book is about cooking around the Mediterranean when she lived with her lover Norman Mommens - when Gray met him he was married to Ursula ex Trevelyan - she left Julian for Norman and he left her for Gray…
l had no idea of the connection! I have had the Rachel Cooke ( I love her writing) for a while but just haven't got round to reading it. I don't know Patience Gray’s writing, but now I want to. It all sounds very small indeed and thank you for the next rabbit hole!
Oh yes, and I loved Mary’s sketches of the Land Girls! Imagined and real. My mum was a land army girl and I noticed in the ‘real’ image a pig in the background- my mum was often sent to work on the pig farm. It made me think about the difference between her beautiful portrait in her new uniform and what she would have looked like mucking out the pigs 😂❤️
My whole bookclub read it and we spent hours on a rainy spring afternoon reading favorite passages to each other while sipping a little white Italian wine. Especially in the U.S. right now we are needing something hopeful and the kindness in this book was tonic for us.
What a wonderful way to read it! We need books like that, especially during these times. Although I read it a year ago, it has stayed with me. Thank you for reading my post.
Grateful to have discovered your Substack and to have learned of the art work of Jean Cooke and Mary Fedden.
Just watched the 115 paintings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAHFQAdrHPs. A treasure!
Welcome! I am so pleased you enjoyed their work. They are very different painters, but I love them both.