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Musings: to meditate, think, contemplate, deliberate, ponder, reflect, ruminate, reverie, daydream, introspection, dream, preoccupation, brood, cogitate.

Sunday, February 22, 2015

Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady - February



In 1906 Edith Holden wrote in her diary on the first of February:  Dull day with slight drizzle of rain in the morning but bright and mild in the afternoon.  The month was much like ours....just about all kinds of weather--rain, snow, wind, sunshine, thaw, and then more snow and cold.

I didn't practice drawing at all this past month because of some other projects I've started--one not even on my list of goals for the year (see previous post).  So I was quite eager to spend the day with The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady.  I particularly enjoyed this month's episode of the TV series on the book.  There were many scenes of the English countryside.  You can go to Jacki Kellum's website to see Edith Holden's February diary and then to Bunny Mummy's Blog to see February photos of the English countryside.  Bunny's Blog features Edith Holden's 1905 diary, Nature Notes.  

I'm also rereading The Edwardian Lady, Edith's biography by Ina Taylor.  Edith illustrated several books and painted over 50 oil paintings before she died in 1920.  It was her handwritten and painted diary for 1906, which was found 70 years later on the bookshelf of an English country house,  that made her famous when it was published a year later in 1977.  Edith's mother had been a governess before marrying Arthur Holden.  She taught her children many subjects including drawing.  Her father had a good knowledge of birds and wild plants in the area and would take the children on nature walks.  Their mother would often remain at home due to illness, so the children would always bring her wild flowers.  Edith and her sisters would eventually go to art school.  Edith spent a year studying drawing in Scotland with Denovan Adam when she was 20, living with his family.

Two of my readers were interested in getting a copy of the Learn to Draw Nature in the Style of the Edwardian Lady and went in search on-line.  We were shocked to find only two copies available at around $200 each!  I see they've come down in price.  They're now $156 and $186.  This is my drawing and painting for this month from the Learn to Draw booklet. . . .
Edith's talent is really brought to my attention when I try to attempt the subtle colors and details in her drawings.....and she was drawing from real life!

While I was looking for another drawing book for my readers I found and bought a couple more books based on Edith's diary. This 1981 engagement calendar is good for this year and had not been written in!   I don't think I'll write in it either.   I'll be able to use it again in 2026. . . .

I also found this cookbook that uses her drawings and features recipes from the Edwardian period. . . .

For my second drawing I did a partial drawing of the title page for February in Edith's 1906 diary. . . .

As you see, I'm very much into strong colors and just could not "mute" them as Edith did.  Nor do I have the patience to draw so many leaves!  You just have to imagine the rest in the pile.  I rake up enough dead leaves as it is.  I didn't want to spend time drawing them, too!   I'm eager for Spring to arrive in the diary because I think I'll have the most fun drawing the colorful flowers.

If you are new to my Blog you can read my post for January here.

Until next month. . . . .

.•*¨`*•. ☆ .•*¨`*•
Take Joy!





24 comments:

  1. Cathy, I'm glad you didn't mute your painting. It would be my preference also--that is if I painted. I can see you are enjoying yourself! Very nice painting of the little birds and flowers. ♥

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    1. Thank you, Martha Ellen. Once I feel confident tackling an original drawing I think I'll enjoy it even more. It's very relaxing to apply color to paper in small strokes. It reminds me of coloring pages when I was little, trying to stay within the lines.

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  2. Oh I just love love LOVED this post!!! Cathy You have made such pretty paintings!!
    I really enjoyed reading that biography by Ina and enjoy collecting the same books (I have been through some stages of Edith Holden obsession I must confess hee) You got me to watch my video tape the other day!! (someday I'd like to get the dvd)
    Cathy you must keep painting and drawing!! You have a lovely talent!! :-)
    Many Blessings dear, love and warmth, Linnie

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    1. Did you click Denovan Adam's name to see his paintings. I love his work and only discovered it when I did a search on his name for this post. Thank you, Linnie, for your encouraging words about my drawing and painting. I need to spend more time on it if I'm going to make any headway, but I feel I can do it now--that is, draw. Before I didn't think I could get my pencil to move on the paper and have it look like anything recognizable. As I gain more confidence I'm more likely to keep at it and get better and better.

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  3. My immediate reaction was that yours looked better than hers, and it's probably that the colors were not muted. You are doing nice work. I love hearing about your "dailies!"

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    1. Thank you, Dotsie! I'm not sure what you mean by "dailies" but I'm glad you love hearing about them. ☺

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  4. Dear Cathy ~ you are now encouraging me to revisit my Edwardian Lady books. I wonder if the television series aired in the UK, for I would love to see if it is available {probably have to buy it} Your drawing and colouring is so good, it puts me to shame. By Wednesday I am expected to draw and colour a group of Fritillaria meleagris {Snakes Head}
    for a birthday card ~ I personally predict a visit to a card shop in my near future ~lol~
    ~~~Deb in Wales

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    1. I'm very glad to hear that I have reawakened your interest in Edith's books, Deb! You may surprise yourself, like I did myself, and discover it's not as hard as it looks. Mastering her technique is another matter, however, which I need to spend more time on.

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  5. Thank you for the introduction to Edith Holden! I hadnt heard of her, but she sounds fascinating and I love her illustrative style. Oh, what fun to find a book like that on a dusty shelf of an old English manor! What a tale to tell!

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    1. Heather, I'm so glad you have found Edith Holden! As an artist yourself you can appreciate her in spirit probably more so than those of us not quite there yet.

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  6. Hello from California. I discovered your blog a couple of weeks ago and read your post on Edith Holden. I have since purchased both of her books; one has arrived and I'm awaiting the other one. It's not only a fascinating book, but her story is special too. Your watercolors are stunning. They look so real. Thanks for writing such a wonderful post. I look forward to learning more about Edith.

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    1. Stunning?!! I'm blushing now. I just tried to follow what Edith drew and watercolored--with lots of erasing and painting over. Jeri Landers told me about this special pen that is like white-out for watercoloring. Great stuff!

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  7. Cathy, you are really coming along with your art. Seriously. Practice doesn't make perfect but it definitely does make improvement, doesn't it? I remember those "Country Diary" calendars back in the day. They were in the stores for quite a while, if I remember correctly. I used to love browsing around in stationery stores every Fall, picking out a calendar or date book. I always had to look at virtually every one for fear I'd be missing the perfect book for me. Of course, once I discovered Susan B, it became easy. Now I get her mini-calendar every year for my fridge, and I use her "Days" book as a date book [which I don't write in either!]. I agree with Martha Ellen too. You should be doing YOUR painting YOUR way, and if that means more vivid color, so be it! Keep tackling it your way and let your style emerge! PS - I can't wait for Spring and like you, for the colors. SO tired of white. Wanna see green [grass, crocuses], and yellow [forsythia, daffodils] and blue [hyacinths]. All the other colors too. At this point even cold brown mud is going to look pretty good. Take care and talk to you soon! xoxo

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    1. Janet, thank you for your support for my learning to draw project. I was looking through my iPhoto album this morning looking for a photo for one of my other Blogs and when I saw how green and colorful my garden will look in a couple months I got very excited that Spring WILL come even though it feels like it won't. Time changes in 2 weeks and we'll have more light in the evening will should go a long way in lifting everyone's spirits.

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  8. Your February pictures are fantastic! I too have the autobiography! Sarah x

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    1. Thank you, Sarah. Are you familiar with Denovan Adam's paintings? I would love to see them in person.

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  9. Such lovely drawings, it makes me want to get my water colours out. They have sat in a cupboard for a few years now, perhaps when the children are older I will find time again.
    I love seeing all your work.
    Fondly Michelle

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    1. Thank you, Michelle. I hope you will get your watercolours out. I suspect you are quite good at it just from seeing what your daughters can do. I'd love to see yours if you have some to show us now.

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  10. HAHA, you are very funny about the leaves..okay, we will imagine them! If you are into strong color it IS hard to mute them. I have a terrible time when I try to paint in the style of Edith or Beatrix Potter or Marjolein Bastin, I just CAN'T do it. Maybe you can''t either, but that is okay, it is your own style to be more bold.I think you are doing just fine.

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    1. ☺Thank you, Jeri. My plan is to practice "Edith Holden" all year, then see what style emerges from my brush when left to my own devices. I have my own ideas of what I want my little story book characters to look like (for my Poetry and Gabriel stories), but for now I have to "copy" someone in order to gain the confidence I need to go out on my own. You could say Edith is my guide for now.

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  11. Hello again. I've nomimated your blog for the Liebster Award. Feel free to join in if you wish at http://lillymycat.blogspot.com/2015/02/liebster-award.html

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    1. Thank you, Lilly's Mom. It looks like fun....I only looked briefly, though, because we're in the midst of a remodeling project. I'll take a closer look and let you know next week, if that's not too late.

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  12. You are so very talented, Cathy. I admire your diligence to pursue excellence in so many creative endeavors. It is inspiring.

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    1. You're so sweet to say that, Elaine. I hope I've inspired you to pursue your creative endeavors a little more (like your writing! ☺)

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