Saturday, May 23, 2020

Irises


I would like to have been around to visit many of my blogging friends on Friday.  However, a thunderstorm that produced high winds, hail, and a 2 inch downpour allowed water in my basement and a mess in my yard and garden early Friday morning.  I spent the day and evening cleaning up the mess because we have more rain and high winds on the way this afternoon.  I hope to be finished before the rains return and if so, I'll share photos.  No way to mow, though, because of the rain, rain, rain.

Today I'm once again joining Art Journal Journey and our host Mia, who many of you know as Craftartista.  As I'm sure you know by now, her theme is Flowers.

That prompted this two page spread in my Stress Free Altered Book.

"When I see a field of irises,


I immediately think of van Gogh."


I started this spread by coloring my pages with metallic blue craft paint.  I added the Irises napkin sent to me last year at Christmas by Yvonne (Meggy May).  I tried to cut the napkin a bit, but I still could have cut it better on the right side.  I added the words, then wondered if I should have written them across the two pages, or if I confused people by writing them as I did.  Regardless, I am grateful to Yvonne for sending this napkin so I could share this spread today.

I also have a trivia question for you.  If you like the art of van Gogh, are you familiar with the painting

called The Starry Night?  If so, did you know he painted another painting, also called

The Starry Night?  This one, although catalogued as The Starry Night, is often referred to as Starry Night Over the Rhône.  I own both these painting on canvas, but these images were taken from Wikipedia.  I only mention this because van Gogh's brother Theo showed Starry Night Over the Rhône along with Irises at an 1889 exhibit at Paris' annual exhibition of the Société des Artistes Indépendants.

Thanks for dropping by today.  I am really grateful for your visit and also hope to see you on your blog or at Art Journal Journey

19 thoughtful remarks:

Valerie-Jael said...

Beautiful journal spread. Have a great day, Valerie

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

I instantly thought of Vincent when I saw the little thumb nail picture in my blog reading list today... sigh!! I could waste away weeks just looking at his work. Beautiful double page spread of the Iris's I've been working with that flower myself this week in many different ways.
Sorry to here about the storms, hope you have a better day today and can spend it doing what you love.
Take care & thank you for sharing this lovely piece Tracey xx

Helen said...

sorry you are having trouble in the basement again, hope the rain later doesn't cause more problems. I love the irises. Fab pages

aussie aNNie said...

So pretty and the colours are stunning. Just love your pages...enjoy your weekend.x

Elkes Lebensglück said...

But you had a lot of work in the storm. Your diary page with these flowers has become beautiful!
take care of yourself and stay healthy, hugs Elke

RO said...

This reminds me of the puzzle I sold he other day!(lol) It's so lovely too! My goodness - water in the basement?! I sue hope it wasn't too deep, but I know any water can just be a big headache to have to deal with. We had lots and lots of rain here, but no thunderstorms. A few of my plants were a little messed up too, but with 80 degree weather here today, everything will dry out very quickly. Be well and safe my friend.

craftytrog said...

A beautiful spread Elizabeth, I love Van Gogh's paintings! Our irises are blooming right now, I wish they lasted longer.
Hope you don't get anymore storm damage, and your basement dries out quickly.
Alison xx

Let's Art Journal said...

Wow, what a beautiful page! The iris look amazing, I'm loving the napkin and you captured Van Gogh so beautifully in your design and colours - amazing 😁. We haven't any iris in our garden, I think we may have to try and get some for our flower beds, thanks for the inspiration. Wishing you a wonderful weekend! Take care! Hugs, Jo x

CJ Kennedy said...

Sorry about the water in the basement. I hope it didn't cause too much damage and the basement dries out quickly. Your iris page is so pretty. Starry Night is my favorite painting. I knew about the lesser known Starry Night Over the Rhone. There was an article about van Gogh capturing the concept of fluid dynamics and the mathematics behind it. You'd probably get a kick out of it. https://www.brainpickings.org/2014/11/13/van-gogh-starry-night-fluid-dynamics-animation/

My name is Erika. said...

Those irises o the napkin do look so much like Van Gogh I understand where this page came from. Wow. The colors are gorgeous and it all works to make a super page. Sorry to hear about your rain. Sounds like a mess and work you didn't need to do. But there's nothing anyone can do with the weather, but it is so frustrating. I am late visiting blogs myself. Hope you have a less wet and less messy weekend. Hugs-Erika

Mia said...

Elizabeth, as I am an adult educator of History of Art, I am in love with Van Gogh and his paintings. In fact, I think I am inspired from his art, as I love filling all the empty spaces in my creations and I often use swirls and little paint brushes on my art. As you understand, I ADORE your spread. And I love that you used a book for the background and that you did not add a lot of embellishments there. This way, the amazing art of Van Gogh pops up. Thank you so much for joining my challenge at AJJ with this fabulous creation, my dear friend. Kisses!

Jeanie said...

This is really lovely, Elizabeth. Van gogh is a favorite but I love technique that you used with the blue and the napkins. I like the simplicity and elegance of this -- it's really quite wonderful!

Divers and Sundry said...

The iris is our state flower, and I don't have any on my patio. Yours are a joy to see :) I discovered van Gogh when I was a teenager and used to have several books on his life and work.

We've had quite the wind here, too, and the oak "flowers" swirling like mini-tornadoes are strange to watch.

peggy gatto said...

I love these pages!!! Very clever!

Sandra Cox said...

What a lovely tribute to Van Gogh.
You certainly got smacked weather-wise. Wish there was a way to store the rain for the dry periods.
Stay safe. Stay healthy, my friend.

kathyinozarks said...

Beautiful and No I did not know he had named two paintings the same we have gorgeous weather here today

Meggymay said...

Gorgeous journal pages Elizabeth. I really like the way the iris flowers seem to be gently blowing in a breeze. You can tell how your inspiration came from Van Gogh 's art. I love how you used the napkin as well.
Sorry for the late visit here, the old computer is being a pain.
Take care and stay safe.
Yvonne xx

Lowcarb team member said...

In many ways I prefer Starry Night Over the Rhone …
I like your journal page.

So sorry about your storm and water in the basement.

All the best Jan

pearshapedcrafting said...

The page is making me smile more than I have smiled for a while and then when I come to Starry Night Over The Rhone I am immediately take back to last year in Arles and seeing this view for myself (although in daylight)...just what I needed dear Elizabeth! Thank you! Big Hugs, Chrisx