I’ve just returned from far away – geographically, and even further mentally – so this week is a light post as I herd my thoughts and gather new contents. Wherever I go, I like to bring back a memento; not some useless knick-knack that’s going to gather dust on a shelf but ideally something that will get used up and create no waste, like artisanal soap or a local delicacy. Better yet: something from the land, mineral or vegetal, that I can use to make art or even just make marks.
Hope you had a good time in my home state of California, with its California poppies and elephant seals. Don't know if you were in Antelope Valley, that's THE place to be when it comes to tons of California Poppies in bloom. (at a certain season, of course)
I'd be most curious to find out if you can make a pigment from California poppies. (If you procured the means recently, or if a chance emerges in the future) I don't know if bark is conducive to producing pigments, but the bark of the redwood has a distinct color as well. While I don't think they used California poppy pigment, there were a number of local Impressionist painters in the early 20th century who produced, in my opinion, the most distinct oil paintings to come from California. Whether it's distinct, special or unique enough artistically is for those who know more than me to say: but it reflects the color of the landscape beautifully, especially some of those by Benjamin Brown. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Impressionism
Apr 6, 2023·edited Apr 6, 2023Liked by Joumana Medlej
How wonderful to read more about colour from Iris! I accidentally made my first lake pigment when experimenting with my own Iris flowers - and managed to dye a small bandana green as well. (Pure luck as I didn’t know much about dye/pigments at the time.) I’ve been intrigued by the clothlets idea ever since I saw them. I’ve heard fleece works well, but yours look like a canvas style material? Off to track down your book... thank you!
As I was looking at the pics of your processing the iris, I found myself wondering if poppies produce any interesting colors. Sure enough, you are thinking about it too! I live in Southern California so poppies are on my mind a lot right now!
Where did you find the pebble? Any conglomerate it washed out of would have clast origin profiles and I’m really curious as to what it is (as a geologist). The iris green is lovely. For your next spring trip, there are lots of poppies in non- natural settings you could collect. Thanks for show casing my state!
Hope you had a good time in my home state of California, with its California poppies and elephant seals. Don't know if you were in Antelope Valley, that's THE place to be when it comes to tons of California Poppies in bloom. (at a certain season, of course)
I'd be most curious to find out if you can make a pigment from California poppies. (If you procured the means recently, or if a chance emerges in the future) I don't know if bark is conducive to producing pigments, but the bark of the redwood has a distinct color as well. While I don't think they used California poppy pigment, there were a number of local Impressionist painters in the early 20th century who produced, in my opinion, the most distinct oil paintings to come from California. Whether it's distinct, special or unique enough artistically is for those who know more than me to say: but it reflects the color of the landscape beautifully, especially some of those by Benjamin Brown. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Impressionism
Fascinating and inspiring 🌿I shall get your book to read more🌻
How wonderful to read more about colour from Iris! I accidentally made my first lake pigment when experimenting with my own Iris flowers - and managed to dye a small bandana green as well. (Pure luck as I didn’t know much about dye/pigments at the time.) I’ve been intrigued by the clothlets idea ever since I saw them. I’ve heard fleece works well, but yours look like a canvas style material? Off to track down your book... thank you!
As I was looking at the pics of your processing the iris, I found myself wondering if poppies produce any interesting colors. Sure enough, you are thinking about it too! I live in Southern California so poppies are on my mind a lot right now!
Where did you find the pebble? Any conglomerate it washed out of would have clast origin profiles and I’m really curious as to what it is (as a geologist). The iris green is lovely. For your next spring trip, there are lots of poppies in non- natural settings you could collect. Thanks for show casing my state!