Why are Van Gogh's Sunflowers fading to Brown?

Someone seems to have discovered the reason why over the years Vincent Van Gogh's famous yellow Sunflowers have been fading into a brownish haze. Don't leave us, Van Gogh's Sunflowers! Even if you are a floral symbol of monarchy!

(Sun = Leo = natural ruler = divine right of kings, as they think.)

Well, truth is, I have no sunflowers about the place for publishing here but I can sympathize with one of my favorite master painters. If only he could be around to decry this unfortunate fading which is seemingly due to something Van Gogh added to his palette himself to make his colors...brighter! It's a sad and classic case of unintended consequences, right?

This reminds me of some artwork I perpetrated in 1996, the first I'd drawn on black paper since high school art classes; then I had photos taken of the pieces which were transferred onto slides - no desktop publishing then, at least not for moi.

But when I scanned the slides for my art files later on, I found that a certain fading, yellowing, or, browning had occurred which you may just be able to peek through in this example of an original illustration from 1996, Pattillo Armadillo Arrives Late:



There's Pattillo on the grassy bank, upper left, as he arrives too late for an important neighborhood meeting (as the story goes.) If only the community's organizers had had Twitter in 1996! That's a falling star plunking into the water and some curious fish investigating.

Actually, this is one of the first portraits I ever did of my children's book character Pattillo Armadillo and it illustrates a story which I won't regale you with now. Compare the above drawing's 3rd generation, muddied tones to the much more recent drawing, same character, Pattillo Finds Mystery Footprints (at the Pond), below:



A clear difference, yes? ;p

Well, great tasks can be accomplished these days by expert art restorers and I hope their skills and experience may successfully rescue the fading Sunflowers of Vincent Van Gogh.

To read a brief yet intimate profile concerning the hero's journey of the inestimable Pattillo Armadillo, click here for a Gather feature with pictures.

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Scroll this blog's sidebar for links to Art Slideshows of all sorts, floral and more.

And for 24/7 art browsing, mosey on by Blue Tiger Art Shop, or check out my Zazzle Store as you wish...

A Fairy on Threshold Path!

Perhaps it's no surprise to you that there's a Fairy on Threshold Path!

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For 24/7 Art Browsing drop by Jude Cowell Art Shop!

Tea Party at 318 Silvery Tree Path!

318 Silvery Tree Path is a fairly recent drawing inspired by the first children's dummy book I ever created called Silvery Tree Path. Fairies were not supposed to show up in my drawings back then for they weren't consciously invited, yet pink fairies appeared anyway which is a typical happening when you draw on black paper!

You know, there's something about black paper that I've always liked. Perhaps it's the 3D feeling I get when shading layers of colors as images form and seem to come out of the blank page toward the viewer which encourages whatever visionary or visualizing ability a pencil artist possesses. Actually there's almost a sculptural quality which I never get when drawing on white paper.

There can be a definite spiritual, cosmic quality as well - perhaps because the black areas suggest an abundant cosmos of vast space to my astrologer's eye. I am a fan of the cosmos!

Anyway, you see here one of my 'shroomhome' illustrations wherein tea and buttery scones are served in front of the fireplace each evening and one reads fascinating books late into the night...

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If you like cosmically inclined art, you may also be interested in viewing Night Scene of a Secret Moon which retains a lot of the black paper before the drawing was completed and colored. Wish I'd left it in this unfinished version!

Oh, and I added some Cetus the Whale info, too, for good measure.
jc

Debut! Secret Moon Art Calendar 2011

Before leaving town for a New Years weekend (and birthday) spree, I've managed to create and publish the first-ever Secret Moon Art Calendar 2011! Cosmic, Moon, Fairy, and Botanical illustrations are included for kids and adults of all ages, and you know that this Sun Capricorn loves the usefulness of using my artwork on a wall calendar.

Above you see a snippet of the new calendar's cover image, a mossy Hidden Garden with a fairy visitor, and I hope you'll sashay over to Jude Cowell Art Shop at Zazzle where you may view each month of *Secret Moon Art Calendar 2011's images.

Happy New Year, Everyone! See you again in 2011...

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*Titles of each illustration are listed on back of the calendar so that images are without text and may be framed later on, as you wish. jc

Secret Moon Art says, Happy New Year 2011!

Happy New Year to All!

Well, today is December 28, 2010 and with 2011 soon upon us Secret Moon Art offers a thankful and bubbly toast to all its viewers, visitors, and discriminating art supporters - you're the best!

Waiting round the January 1, 2011 bend is a Solar Eclipse on January 4, 2011 @ 13Cap38 which 'eclipses' my natal Sun. As you know, eclipses are considered 'wild cards' in Astrology (well, in life actually!) so there's no certainty how having a Solar Eclipse for my birthday will play out for the erstwhile artist and blogger who types at you now.

One thing I do know: 2011 will be an important year in some fashion for me personally and it remains to be seen just how. What to expect? Well, 'wild card' evokes similar vibes as those of quirky planet Uranus in a horoscope so 'expect the unexpected' may be my best personal prognostication for the moment!

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Astro-Notes: Opposing our nation's natal Sun (the leader), the Solar Eclipse 13Cap38 of Jan 4, 2011 is part of the 13 North Series whose initial eclipse occurred on August 14, 1776 @ 21Leo52 with Jupiter 14Can40 conjunct US natal Sun. It is closely associated with the founding of America and its energy has these particular influences:

large groups and associations; ambitious group projects that require the breaking of an existing bond which leads to shared success; separation, then joint achievement. (Paraphrasing Brady's Predictive Astrology.)

Compared to what our nation has experienced in the last decade, this eclipse's influence could be a lot worse, couldn't it? And manifesting so near New Years Day, the eclipse will 'mark' the entire year of 2011 so I sincerely hope it bodes well for our nation and for the world because we could all use a fortunate break about now.

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Image above: Celebrate! by Jude Cowell whose latest blog Cosmic Lilith Art is now under construction for the New Year! Celebrate! was originally drawn for the New Year in honor of the New Millennium and has been serving festively online ever since. jc

Dog Clouds Gird the Moon!

For Holiday Season 2010 and the wintry weather so prevalent across the land, this never-before-published and somewhat brightly colored drawing from 2003 is titled Dog Clouds Gird the Moon.

Wishing Merry Holidays to all Secret Moon Art viewers and supporters and their kith'n'kin!

Jude Cowell

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Concerned over Science's plan to clone a woolly mammoth back to life? Me too, over @ Woolly Mammoth Chronicles.

Like 24/7 Art browsing? Please visit my Jude Cowell Art Shop @ Zazzle, and a Big Thank You goes to All who purchased my art-decorated merchandise in 2010! jc