I'm sorry your mum's illness is dominating your life at the moment, Deborah. It's so true what Winifred Nicholson said about life never being free of commitments and emotional things. I mean, of course, but so often more so for women artists than for men.
I knew next to nothing about Winifred, and it's an eye-opener to see her beautiful art and to realise that she was Ben Nicholson's wife before he met Barbara Hepworth. I already had thoughts about how Barbara's life must have been after she had triplets (having triplets myself – now aged 39 – I recall the absolute intensity of it when they're little!). I hadn't realised that Winifred had just had a third child with Ben when he went off with Barbara. One part of me thinks 'How bohemian'; the other, the pragmatist, thinks, 'What a rat!'
Thank you, Wendy. The shift has been so sudden and the last weeks have been ghastly. Thankfully this morning she sounded brighter for the first time in a while, so today is looking more hopeful.
Barbara Hepworth has been criticised, very unfairly, I think, for working and having someone to care for them when they were young, but she had to work and really had no alternative. Would a father been criticised in the same way? I think not!
It must have been very tough for Winifred too, and her stoicism and generosity amazed me.
His constant tooing and froing must have been such a strain. A fact I forgot to mention was that when she exhibited her abstract works, he asked that she exhibit them under a different name than "Nicholson" to avoid confusion with his own work. I confess I am less sympathetic to him...
Absolutely, Deborah! I’ve huge admiration for Barbara Hepworth. And I know she already had a son when the triplets were born. There is no way she could have continued as an artist without help.
I didn’t know about Winifred being asked to exhibit under a different surname. Gah. I’m not endeared to Ben!
Thank you so much for this post. I love Winifred Nicholson and my family are originally from Cumberland, which I know well and feel a tremendous pull towards. So the landscapes suggested through her windows are also very meaningful to me, as well as the flowers in their jugs and jars in the foreground. That deep grey-purple sky behind the blue hyacinths in their glass, is exactly the colour of clouds laden with snow. The glimpse of a mountain fell seen through the windows is just perfect in colour and form. The yellow flag iris on the windowsill, together with the bluebells and pussy willow, would have been picked from the shallows of a lake that morning. Such a lovely collection of memories brought by her beautiful work. All this will help you through this difficult time, and all good wishes for you and your mother.
She captures colour perfectly, doesn't she? I too was struch by that moody sky and would love to visit Cumberland which she clearly loved so much. She cultivated wild flowers in her garden and was ahead of her time in terms of "wild gardening". I shall return to her Cumberland work in the autumn as I love these paintings!
Thanks Deborah, I will really look forward to learning more about her, it will be great to see more about her and her work. Although - I went to the Ben Nicholson exhibition at the Pallant Gallery last year, and didn’t realise what a horrible time Winifred must have had in her marriage - he was a terrific painter but apparently a truly terrible husband (to her and also his subsequent wives).
I love his work too. He made some wonderful drawings of trees I discovered recently, but I cannot warm to him. Winifred Nicholson was very forgiving, I think.
I have a print of Gate to the Isles, which gives me endless joy!
I'm so sorry to hear about your mother. The strain of caring for an elderly parent at a distance is something my sister and I know only too well. We found that getting good sleep, and eating well, were absolutely invaluable. Please be kind to yourself xx
I have a print of it too, bought in the Tate St Ives, many years ago. It is joyous, isn't it?
Thank you for your kind words. Yes, I admit sleep has been in short supply of late, partly because I keep thinking I am going to get a call in the night, as I did initially. I wish I had persuaded her to move, but she was determined to stay at home, and I know it would be a huge wrench. But it is very hard, as you know, and please take care of yourself too xx
Hyacinths in water is a yearly ritual for me, it's something that connects very tightly to memories of my childhood and my mother. It makes going into the dark weeks of winter a little easier having a little bit of hope in a jar to tend. I found these window paintings especially powerful as age and infirmity mean that often the only "outside" I get is a window view, and the changing skies, light and trees can bring such joy and grace.
I love growing hyacinths in this way and watching the roots fill the bowl. I love their scent. It seems that the muntjac deer are particularly partial to them in the garden , which is very annoying!
I think because I have been indoors looking out so much that prompted me to write about her paintings now. She somehow captures light so well and I find it so uplifting. I am so pleased you found them so too and thank you very much for getting in touch.
Thank you for such a wonderful post again, Deborah (I always look forward to them). It must be so hard to focus on anything with your Mother's illness, and I do hope that you get some space at some point to paint, even if that is a long way away. I have been thinking of you, and sending best wishes to your Mum too.
I admit to not really looking too much into Winifred Nicholson's work, simply because she has always seemed to be 'there' so I've not made the effort to really look at her work in detail. And I see now how much I have missed out on. I love the Easter Monday painting, it's so joyful! Though I really love the one with just opened curtains, what a brave composition, I really admire her for that.
I'm going to search for your book recommendations, as they are always great.
As the weather has been a little cold and rainy, I'm reading this on my lunch break at home-today is a print day so I've been carving away and have saved up your post for my lunch.
Take care, and thanks as always for sending cheer and lovely things xx
Thank you very much, Cally. I am really hoping things settle for a day or two as there are so many practical things to sort out, and haven't have the brain for it!
There is something about how she captures moments that I find so beautiful. I love the parted curtains painting, you can really sense the early morning light of a late spring day. It makes sense that she painted so quickly and seeing them really made me want to get back in the studio.
It has been such a cold, damp February that I thought she was the perfect choice and she certainly made me feel better xx
So do I! She said she painted for homes, not gallery walls, and seeing them on the walls at Kettle's Yard, they really light the space. I think if I could chose one artist to have on my wall, it would be her.
Winifred Nicholson and her paintings are such a comfort.
I feel she was a stoic woman and let time and tide come and go.
Her Highland, Wester Ross, paintings have a haunting quality. The half-open gate leading to a distant beach, echo the longing that we cannot be all things or paint all things and that fleeting moment is just a precious.
That "gateway" is a particular favourite, and like you love these Highland paintings.
When I began looking at her work for a post , I was overwhelmed, as there were so many I loved, so decided to focus on one aspect, but will return to others. How could I not?
What a delight to be introduced to this artist...clearly, she paints all these blooms for herself. To see iridescence and color play that others cannot makes life sing- thanks for sharing!
Such a joy of a post to read in what feels like the first proper springtime day here in Devon.
I’m so sorry to hear about your mum but thankful that things seem to be settling into a calmer recovery phase. It’s incredibly hard to keep so many plates spinning when something like this happens, especially a site like yours (been there etc) and I definitely understand how that focus can ultimately help keep you afloat.
Lots of love and wishing you gentle days ahead, hopefully with a little sketchbook in your pocket xx
Thank you very much. I know you understand how hard it is and trying to keep it all going is so difficult. There are now so many practical things to deal with now things have changed, but I am trying to take it a step at a time. I really hope things settle for a while at least.
Spring has yet to appear in Norfolk! It feels as though the rain will never end, but the Tete a Tete and February Gold are peeping through today, which is a sure sign that it is on the way. xx
Allow me to complete my unfinished message. She continued her painting despite the demands on her time. She found solace in her work. Art is a solace for me right now; a world filled with hope. Thank you Deborah for your compelling piece on Winifred. Our family is also in the midst of both parents, age 94 and 96, being ravaged by Alzheimer’s and myriad other physical and mental incapacities. While we children are 10, not one, the struggle is real. You sound like a caring, loving daughter; a testament to your mother’s parenting. Much love to you as you travel this journey back towards your art.
Deborah after reading your substack letter on Winifred Nicholson I found a precious moment of peace. I yearn for the light she infuses in each painting even though I live in sunny AZ. I speak of a different light; one from within, one that brightens the pall enveloping this country. Could I possibly choose to live within my own light setting aside the hard heartedness around us? Your research and story on Winifred’s life convinced me with a resounding yes! She maintained a friendship with the father of her children even though he had moved on. She continued her painting passionately.
Dear Maureen, thank you so much for your kind and generous message. I am so sorry to hear of your parents and know how hard Alzheimer's is to cope with. I think we all feel that we can never do enough and yet we do the best we can.
I find Winifred's generous spirit very moving and the work she created so uplifting. She was a deeply spiritual person and I think that is evident in her paintings. How wonderful to leave a body of work that affects others so positively.
I think we all need such light now, and it was in part why I chose her work now. The news is very hard to listen to and we need to find hope where we can.
Thank you so much for making time to compose this lovely post about Winifred Nicholson, color, light, flowers, art, and life. Hearing you speak of these tender and timeless wonders lifts me up and sharpens my focus.
Dear Kath, I am so glad to hear it. We all need some hope and cheer at the moment and these paintings are filled with wonder and life. Thank you for your lovely message.
Thank you Deborah for sight of these wonderful Winifred Nicholson paintings, such a treat… I’ve always been drawn by her use of colour, a kind of spiritual overlay, and by her love of wild flowers too!
I love the phrase "spiritual overlay", that is it perfectly. There are so many of her paintings I could have chosen, but decided to keep to those of spring for this post. I read that she cultivated wild flowers in her garden at Bankshead and there is a lovely photograph of them in jars on her window sill there. Somehow she captures their spirit , without any detail, which is such a difficult thing to do.
I love her writing on colour - eg she said only the great colourists knew how to unleash all the shades of violet —wine, vieux rose, mulberry-"It is a safe indication of their mastery."
I was going to put it in a future post! Aren't the description on it wonderful? She wrote so much on colour that I decided to write on it separately later. I have found notes too on the colours she used so it will be fun to try them out. She was a wild gardener too and certainly ahead of her time.
Lovely post, and just the pictures to match the sunshine today! I hope things calm down as much as possible for you to carve out some space for painting.
I'm sorry your mum's illness is dominating your life at the moment, Deborah. It's so true what Winifred Nicholson said about life never being free of commitments and emotional things. I mean, of course, but so often more so for women artists than for men.
I knew next to nothing about Winifred, and it's an eye-opener to see her beautiful art and to realise that she was Ben Nicholson's wife before he met Barbara Hepworth. I already had thoughts about how Barbara's life must have been after she had triplets (having triplets myself – now aged 39 – I recall the absolute intensity of it when they're little!). I hadn't realised that Winifred had just had a third child with Ben when he went off with Barbara. One part of me thinks 'How bohemian'; the other, the pragmatist, thinks, 'What a rat!'
Thank you, Wendy. The shift has been so sudden and the last weeks have been ghastly. Thankfully this morning she sounded brighter for the first time in a while, so today is looking more hopeful.
Barbara Hepworth has been criticised, very unfairly, I think, for working and having someone to care for them when they were young, but she had to work and really had no alternative. Would a father been criticised in the same way? I think not!
It must have been very tough for Winifred too, and her stoicism and generosity amazed me.
His constant tooing and froing must have been such a strain. A fact I forgot to mention was that when she exhibited her abstract works, he asked that she exhibit them under a different name than "Nicholson" to avoid confusion with his own work. I confess I am less sympathetic to him...
Absolutely, Deborah! I’ve huge admiration for Barbara Hepworth. And I know she already had a son when the triplets were born. There is no way she could have continued as an artist without help.
I didn’t know about Winifred being asked to exhibit under a different surname. Gah. I’m not endeared to Ben!
I’m glad your mum sounds brighter this morning.
It is hard to warm to him, isn’t it? Have you seen this little film on i-player? https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p013h27r/barbara-hepworth I think it is marvellous.
thank you x
Ooh no, I haven't seen this before, Deborah. I'll watch it. Thank you for the pointer.
She must have been so strong! The footage of her hammering away!
Thank you so much for this post. I love Winifred Nicholson and my family are originally from Cumberland, which I know well and feel a tremendous pull towards. So the landscapes suggested through her windows are also very meaningful to me, as well as the flowers in their jugs and jars in the foreground. That deep grey-purple sky behind the blue hyacinths in their glass, is exactly the colour of clouds laden with snow. The glimpse of a mountain fell seen through the windows is just perfect in colour and form. The yellow flag iris on the windowsill, together with the bluebells and pussy willow, would have been picked from the shallows of a lake that morning. Such a lovely collection of memories brought by her beautiful work. All this will help you through this difficult time, and all good wishes for you and your mother.
Thank you very much, Penny.
She captures colour perfectly, doesn't she? I too was struch by that moody sky and would love to visit Cumberland which she clearly loved so much. She cultivated wild flowers in her garden and was ahead of her time in terms of "wild gardening". I shall return to her Cumberland work in the autumn as I love these paintings!
Thanks Deborah, I will really look forward to learning more about her, it will be great to see more about her and her work. Although - I went to the Ben Nicholson exhibition at the Pallant Gallery last year, and didn’t realise what a horrible time Winifred must have had in her marriage - he was a terrific painter but apparently a truly terrible husband (to her and also his subsequent wives).
I love his work too. He made some wonderful drawings of trees I discovered recently, but I cannot warm to him. Winifred Nicholson was very forgiving, I think.
I have a print of Gate to the Isles, which gives me endless joy!
I'm so sorry to hear about your mother. The strain of caring for an elderly parent at a distance is something my sister and I know only too well. We found that getting good sleep, and eating well, were absolutely invaluable. Please be kind to yourself xx
I have a print of it too, bought in the Tate St Ives, many years ago. It is joyous, isn't it?
Thank you for your kind words. Yes, I admit sleep has been in short supply of late, partly because I keep thinking I am going to get a call in the night, as I did initially. I wish I had persuaded her to move, but she was determined to stay at home, and I know it would be a huge wrench. But it is very hard, as you know, and please take care of yourself too xx
Hyacinths in water is a yearly ritual for me, it's something that connects very tightly to memories of my childhood and my mother. It makes going into the dark weeks of winter a little easier having a little bit of hope in a jar to tend. I found these window paintings especially powerful as age and infirmity mean that often the only "outside" I get is a window view, and the changing skies, light and trees can bring such joy and grace.
I love growing hyacinths in this way and watching the roots fill the bowl. I love their scent. It seems that the muntjac deer are particularly partial to them in the garden , which is very annoying!
I think because I have been indoors looking out so much that prompted me to write about her paintings now. She somehow captures light so well and I find it so uplifting. I am so pleased you found them so too and thank you very much for getting in touch.
Thank you for such a wonderful post again, Deborah (I always look forward to them). It must be so hard to focus on anything with your Mother's illness, and I do hope that you get some space at some point to paint, even if that is a long way away. I have been thinking of you, and sending best wishes to your Mum too.
I admit to not really looking too much into Winifred Nicholson's work, simply because she has always seemed to be 'there' so I've not made the effort to really look at her work in detail. And I see now how much I have missed out on. I love the Easter Monday painting, it's so joyful! Though I really love the one with just opened curtains, what a brave composition, I really admire her for that.
I'm going to search for your book recommendations, as they are always great.
As the weather has been a little cold and rainy, I'm reading this on my lunch break at home-today is a print day so I've been carving away and have saved up your post for my lunch.
Take care, and thanks as always for sending cheer and lovely things xx
Thank you very much, Cally. I am really hoping things settle for a day or two as there are so many practical things to sort out, and haven't have the brain for it!
There is something about how she captures moments that I find so beautiful. I love the parted curtains painting, you can really sense the early morning light of a late spring day. It makes sense that she painted so quickly and seeing them really made me want to get back in the studio.
It has been such a cold, damp February that I thought she was the perfect choice and she certainly made me feel better xx
The light in her paintings is pure joy. Amazing. I wish I could have some in my house!!!
So do I! She said she painted for homes, not gallery walls, and seeing them on the walls at Kettle's Yard, they really light the space. I think if I could chose one artist to have on my wall, it would be her.
Yes! I rarely see anything I fancy in galleries these days to be honest. You?
Nothing as lovely as hers, I must admit!
Sorry to learn your Mother's illness.
Winifred Nicholson and her paintings are such a comfort.
I feel she was a stoic woman and let time and tide come and go.
Her Highland, Wester Ross, paintings have a haunting quality. The half-open gate leading to a distant beach, echo the longing that we cannot be all things or paint all things and that fleeting moment is just a precious.
I adore her work.
Thank you very much.
That "gateway" is a particular favourite, and like you love these Highland paintings.
When I began looking at her work for a post , I was overwhelmed, as there were so many I loved, so decided to focus on one aspect, but will return to others. How could I not?
What a delight to be introduced to this artist...clearly, she paints all these blooms for herself. To see iridescence and color play that others cannot makes life sing- thanks for sharing!
I love how she painted what she loved, as a result others share her vision and love them too. I am so glad you like them too.
Such a joy of a post to read in what feels like the first proper springtime day here in Devon.
I’m so sorry to hear about your mum but thankful that things seem to be settling into a calmer recovery phase. It’s incredibly hard to keep so many plates spinning when something like this happens, especially a site like yours (been there etc) and I definitely understand how that focus can ultimately help keep you afloat.
Lots of love and wishing you gentle days ahead, hopefully with a little sketchbook in your pocket xx
Thank you very much. I know you understand how hard it is and trying to keep it all going is so difficult. There are now so many practical things to deal with now things have changed, but I am trying to take it a step at a time. I really hope things settle for a while at least.
Spring has yet to appear in Norfolk! It feels as though the rain will never end, but the Tete a Tete and February Gold are peeping through today, which is a sure sign that it is on the way. xx
Allow me to complete my unfinished message. She continued her painting despite the demands on her time. She found solace in her work. Art is a solace for me right now; a world filled with hope. Thank you Deborah for your compelling piece on Winifred. Our family is also in the midst of both parents, age 94 and 96, being ravaged by Alzheimer’s and myriad other physical and mental incapacities. While we children are 10, not one, the struggle is real. You sound like a caring, loving daughter; a testament to your mother’s parenting. Much love to you as you travel this journey back towards your art.
Deborah after reading your substack letter on Winifred Nicholson I found a precious moment of peace. I yearn for the light she infuses in each painting even though I live in sunny AZ. I speak of a different light; one from within, one that brightens the pall enveloping this country. Could I possibly choose to live within my own light setting aside the hard heartedness around us? Your research and story on Winifred’s life convinced me with a resounding yes! She maintained a friendship with the father of her children even though he had moved on. She continued her painting passionately.
Dear Maureen, thank you so much for your kind and generous message. I am so sorry to hear of your parents and know how hard Alzheimer's is to cope with. I think we all feel that we can never do enough and yet we do the best we can.
I find Winifred's generous spirit very moving and the work she created so uplifting. She was a deeply spiritual person and I think that is evident in her paintings. How wonderful to leave a body of work that affects others so positively.
I think we all need such light now, and it was in part why I chose her work now. The news is very hard to listen to and we need to find hope where we can.
Your message meant a great deal to me, thank you.
Thank you so much for making time to compose this lovely post about Winifred Nicholson, color, light, flowers, art, and life. Hearing you speak of these tender and timeless wonders lifts me up and sharpens my focus.
Dear Kath, I am so glad to hear it. We all need some hope and cheer at the moment and these paintings are filled with wonder and life. Thank you for your lovely message.
Thank you Deborah for sight of these wonderful Winifred Nicholson paintings, such a treat… I’ve always been drawn by her use of colour, a kind of spiritual overlay, and by her love of wild flowers too!
And hoping that all turns out well…
Thank you, Mari.
I love the phrase "spiritual overlay", that is it perfectly. There are so many of her paintings I could have chosen, but decided to keep to those of spring for this post. I read that she cultivated wild flowers in her garden at Bankshead and there is a lovely photograph of them in jars on her window sill there. Somehow she captures their spirit , without any detail, which is such a difficult thing to do.
She created the most fabulous descriptive colour chart - I’ll find it!
I love her writing on colour - eg she said only the great colourists knew how to unleash all the shades of violet —wine, vieux rose, mulberry-"It is a safe indication of their mastery."
What a wonderful quote, thank you. The more you look at her work, the more you appreciate how perfectly she caught colour.
I was going to put it in a future post! Aren't the description on it wonderful? She wrote so much on colour that I decided to write on it separately later. I have found notes too on the colours she used so it will be fun to try them out. She was a wild gardener too and certainly ahead of her time.
Lovely post, and just the pictures to match the sunshine today! I hope things calm down as much as possible for you to carve out some space for painting.
Thank you very much.
It is another day of rain and gloom here so hopefully some sunshine might appear soon!
This brought me so much joy. Thank you so much ❤️
What a lovely message to receive, thank you very much.