The Tree of Forgiveness-Edward Burne-Jones

In case anybody is wondering what all the fuss is about, regarding beauty/ Pre-Raphaelites,  I thought I would post my all time favourite picture.

I discovered this artist when I was studying Geography (both scientific-Hydrology,ecology and conservation, as well as arts orientated) at Durham.  Having worked very hard  at school, to make up for appalling teaching I had sickened myself of Geography- so spent most of my time at uni, first time round, reading  Modern Art History books, plays and Russian novels..........as you do....but wouldn't now!!!
Came across this picture in Mugwump, a card shop in Durham that is still going strong today (card and gift have been my thing for a very long time). As a result I became a fan of B-J and his fellow artists, mainly due to their amazing lifestyles, rather than some of their Art.  I still am as enthralled by the Pre-Raphaelites group today as I was when I first discovered them................if reincarnation were true then I must have been a Victorian !!!!

I am not someone who particularly  likes nudes, although I have enjoyed doing life drawing in the past. An earlier version of the  picture caused a furore when it was first exhibited.  Although it had been ok to paint full fontal women nudes this was the first time a full frontal male had been exhibited. B-J withdrew his picture and reworked into this MUCH  better, chaster version.  Another reason the earlier version caused problems was because the woman was so obviously his mistress Maria Zambuco.  This later version is a more generalised female and the male has a wisp of gauze to cover his offending parts!!!!!!!!

What I love about the picture is the wonderful white blossom, the beautiful models and the look of intense emotion passing between the two figures, as well as the legend it is based on ( Phyllis and Demophoon-the woman was turned into a tree by the gods, when she thought she had been abandoned, but regained human form when her lover returned after all -ahhhh!!!:-) ) I also like the da vinci and Michaelangelo elements/influences. Foregiveness is a concept I wholeheartedly and finally embrace after a dreadful divorce and many years of being unable to..........


Well, you either love or hate this kind of thing but if you love it and want to find out more there are many internet sites devoted to this group and it's individual artists- first, second and third wave. My favourites are B-J, William and Waterhouse , all their pictures are beautiful, mainly based on lovely old legends stories and poems, incredibly detailed,and painted in wonderful colours.

The Cult of Beauty...

As my last post said, all I have ever wanted was to produce beautiful images (although beauty is very much in the eye of the beholder).  This exhibition at the Vand A looks WONDERFUL with many of my favourite and inspirational artists work on display and a feast of decorative arts too.  If I can find a dog sitter and finance (!!!) I am hoping to go, before it closes (17th July I think).  There is a lovely book to accompany the event and Liberty, one of my target markets and most favourite shops is sponsoring the event, as it played an important part in the Aesthetic movements marketing.

Check out the V&A website for more details and related events and literature.

well guess that's it................

So, I have posted all my work. Although I am pleased with my imagery, as it depicts 'Oriental' exactly the way I wnted it to, is me to a 't'  and I even think the odd one has achieved what I see as beautiful, I am not sure others would agree.  Not very hopeful about the outcome now.

The imagery that is currently in vogue is not me, I freely admit I'm different and 'follow a different drummer'-guess always have and always will.  I gain comfort from the fact that my Art heroes, Rossetti, Morris and Burne Jones were the same, in that they questioned the Art of the day. They were 'true to nature', returning to a brighter/truer past as Pre-Raphaelites. As a result they produced , in the case of the last two, beautiful imagery and Decorative Art. From being slated in the press by the critics they were championed by Ruskin and became the artists of choice of the buying public. Don't expect that accolade but do feel slightly like them in going completely against the mainstream, with my work whilst trying to fit it to trends!!!

Well time will tell- all I know is I couldn't have tried any harder whilst finally studying Art after waiting for all those years and at least I have remained true to myself and what I believe to be beautiful, however others may judge it.

Not sure whether I shall be doing much more blogging, despite having become a bit of an addict.  So GOOD LUCK , HEALTH AND SUCCESS to anybody who has looked at any of my posts....your support has been so much appreciated over this past year.  

Tracy Franklin Durham textile and embroidery courses.

Just incase any one is feeling lost after their course have just been sent latest info on City and Guild as well as Hampton Court Master Embroider Tacy's own workshops.  They look amazing and just wish we were taught techniques as well as process with the odd 'masterclass' thrown in .  I did want to attend a goldwork workshop there last year, for my FMP, but there were no dates available.  So, I went to a local, very good/experienced embroiders' for a workshop and supplies-Dinsdale Embroideries, they do internet sales- and had a go at a few different stitches.  It was interesting but in the end I used gold single thread and stitiches I knew that suited the designs (see Snetterton pine sprig/ snowflakes and lazy daisy posts)

So, if you fancy more textiles/embroidery the contact is Tracy Franklin Fowlers Yard Durham

My last and favourite product boards

Strange to think it was only a week ago that I was still trying to tie up loose ends! These are my last two boards featuring a bird in a branch image.

They are my favourites....because they are pretty.... and fit my home and me perfectly!!!

I had wanted to do a 'bird in a branch' design, as it is something that has been associated with the Orient since time immemorial-with wallpaper designs for big country houses and recently Fromantal being awarded a prize for its modern twist on the theme.

I used colours I love- old shades of blue mixed with gold.  I have goldwork sleeve bands in this colourway on my walls at home and a modern/old style chair, as you can see in the photo (haven't got a Pekinese... but ...Dog Tust adoptee ,Toby, looks very like a chinese fu/luckydog, when he is sitting beautifully!!)

As I said, in a previous post, I used my Bonsai drawing again for this design and placed a bird on the image. This was put into a larger scale repeat than Chinoiseri Madam Butterfly. I just loved the way the image coloured blue (like willow pattern designs) looked on vaarious papers.  I also loved gilding it with gold foil and the way it looked when cut out with a scalpel and placed on a subtle gold paper. There is also something rather Victorian ( like me) about the last gold design , reminding me of the Aesthetic Movement (initiated by Rossetti, one of my Art hero's) and the Peacock Room, designed by Whistler. Wonder whether anyone would agree??!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

To Mavis, Bev, Coleen  (plus Joy in reserve)on their selection for New Designers , Coleen and J oy for their Bradford Textiles success and for Coleen for her selection for Texprint!  What a very talented group of people to have studied with....

Chinoiserie Mme Butterfly!

Having produced papers and gifts with the chinoiserie paper I decided to develop it a little further and so produced a second board that I like even better than the last one.

This is probably what I would regard as my best board, due to the amount of design that went into it as well as the designs themselves.  They convey just the feeling I wanted of the past but with a modern twist-the altered art image. The papers are the same as before but are printed on subtle gold and silver and embossed with gold and an irredescent sparkle that is brilliant for conveying the whimsical/romantic imaginary view of the women of the past as well as being very similar to the original green tropical butterfly I used to draw Madam Butterfly's wings.

The first card is a 3d figure placed against this sparkling background.  The card in the middle is an attempt to replicate the antique pith/rice paper picture I used as inspiration and from which I obtained an authentic antique Chines lady's head,  Madame Butterfly was printed on thick tracing paper, which was perfect.  then she was placed in a plain surround with two tiny butterrflies-again to represent freedom.

The bottom item is not a card, it is a photograph frame or could be a mirror if one were inserted.  I was pleased with this as it was a completely the result of  experimentation/development.  The paper developed from the bonsai, when closely inspected had a perfect circle formed by the leaves. I embossed two different magnifications (after some trials) of the same image with rough gold, mounted it on black and-hey presto /abracadabra- I had created the most chinoiserie thing ever !!! I couldn't believe it!!!