The artist at work. Personalizing a leatherbound journal.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Remember the Reason We Celebrate Easter

CELEBRATE!
The Empty Tomb
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone has been removed from the entrance. So she cam running to Simon Peter and he other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!"

So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first, He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind them and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus' head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. Finally, the other disciple who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus has to rise from the dead.) John 20: 1-9

Thursday, April 21, 2011

One of the Earliest Known American Depictions of the Easter Bunny

THE EASTER BUNNY
This drawing is an example of a Pennsylvania German tradition of decorated manuscripts known as fraktur.

Winterthur Museum recently acquired one of the earliest known American depictions of the Easter Bunny. Together with the Christmas tree, the custom of the Easter rabbit and colored eggs was brought to America by immigrants from southwestern Germany in the 1700s, and has become a favorite American tradition. This delightful image is attributed to schoolmaster Johann Conrad Gilbert (1734–1812), who emigrated from Germany in 1757 and ultimately settled in Berks County , Pennsylvania . He likely made the drawing as a gift for one of his students. A similar drawing, also attributed to Gilbert, is in the collection of Colonial Williamsburg.

These drawings are examples of a Pennsylvania German tradition of decorated manuscripts known as fraktur, which include birth and baptismal certificates, family records, writing samples, and bookplates. Lisa Minardi, a fraktur expert and assistant curator of the museum’s current exhibition, Paint, Pattern & People: Furniture of Southeastern Pennsylvania, 1725–1850, notes, “The Easter rabbit drawing is one of the rarest of all fraktur, with only two examples known, and is a major addition to Winterthur ’s collection.” “This important acquisition allows Winterthur to document the Germanic beginnings of a beloved American tradition,” adds J. Thomas Savage, Winterthur ’s director of museum affairs.

The drawing will be on view in the museum Galleries starting Thursday, April 21. It will remain on display through the Easter holiday and Mother’s Day, when it will be taken down and treated by the museum’s conservation staff to remove dirt and grime from the paper. Ultimately, it will be placed on long-term view in the museum’s renowned Fraktur Room, where it will join about two dozen other examples of Pennsylvania German fraktur art.
This information is from www.artdaily.org   The first art newspaper of the net.

Great Blue Heron Fraktur

GREAT BLUE HERON FRAKTUR
WATERCOLOR PAINTING
SOLD

GREAT BLUE HERON FRAKTUR
ink and watercolor
Approx. 9" x 11"
Painted on the inside of an old book cover.
SOLD


Sunday, April 10, 2011

COLONIAL BLUE BOX: WATERCOLOUR SET



Watercolour set in Colonial Blue wooden box
SOLD!

 As you know, I really enjoy making  for a vintage watercolor set out of an antique wooden box or vintage tin. This Colonial blue set is one that I recently made up. It is a neat watercolor set. I added four Windsor-Newton / Cotman watercolors to complete the set, a nice brush, pencil and an antique dip pen as well as a handmade dip pen. 



Friday, April 8, 2011

RECEPTION REGISTER FOR JIM & KAREN PEASE: CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Just finished and delivered this leather bound and antiqued Reception Register for some dear friends. This is what the inside title pages look like. Opens horizontally instead of short side. Approx. 8" x 11".

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Monday, February 21, 2011

Happy Birthday, General.


The General
Ink, Watercolor and Pencil
on an antiqued book cover.
SOLD

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

New! Noah's Ark


NOAH'S ARK FRAKTUR
WATERCOLOR PAINTING
Noah's Ark
Watercolour, Ink and pencil
Painted on the inside of an old book cover
Unframed. Image size approx. 10.5" x 14".
Mounted on black. Will fit a standard 13" x 18" frame.
Contact artist for pricing

Alternate Views

Monday, January 3, 2011

Leather Covered Artist Portfolio

This leather covered artist portfolio has a set of twin owls "Poker etched" into the leather. In Colonial times this artistry was created by taking a hot poker out of the fire and burning an image into leather or wood.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Bird Fraktur

Virginia Gold Watercolour set

Virginia Gold Tin Watercolour set

As you know, I really enjoy making a vintage watercolor set out of any antique or vintage tin. This virginia Gold tin is one that I recently ran across. It has been now and turned it into a neat watercolor set. I added the Windsor-Newton / Cotman watercolors, some brushes, pencil and handmade dip pens. Also added a water siphon for adding water to the colors. This one has been sold. But if you are interested in having me make you a similar set, just contact me at my email address  kenscottart@att.net
Items included: Feather quill, water siphon, pencil and holder, three brushes and three dip pens. Also included is an envelop with additional dip pen nibs.

Friday, December 31, 2010

Noah's Ark

This painting is done in ink, watecolor and pencil. As usual, I painted it on the inside cover of an old book. I really enjoy using  old book cover for the art. It gives it a touch and patina that really adds an appearance of age of the finished work.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Vinegar Pie Recipe: A Favorite!!

A little unusual for an art blog...but, you've got to eat. This has been one of my favorite recipes for years. It has been called a "poor man's lemon pie". Tastes great. I found this in a newspaper in 1994. It originally appeared in the Huntington, Indiana, Newspaper in 1854.. Try it. The baking directions are not included, so just bake it as you would a regular custard pie. Check it often so that it doesn't burn. Let me know what you think of it.

Carolina Parrot Queet Fraktur

Carolina Parrot Queet
Ink, Watercolor and Pencil
Painted on the inside of an old book cover.
Approx. 9" x 11"
Sold.

Turkey Hunter

Turkey Hunter
Ink, Watercolor and pencil.
Painted on the inside of an old book cover.
Approx. 9" x 12".
Sold.