Echostains Blog is 1 Year Old Today! My 362nd Post

one whole year

Yes it’s one year today when I first started my WordPress blog!  So far I have managed to write 362 posts.  The idea was to write one per day, but  it was a while before I discovered being able to schedule these posts.  My aim for the next year is to beat my record!

art is everywhere

What have I blogged about? wittered on about?  Well all sorts – mostly Art.  Art can be found everywhere though!   I didn’t want my blog to be dry academia (succeeded there alright), but neither did I want it to be full of too personal stuff either: outpourings, confessionals.  Rantings? occasionally…. moaning?  trying to keep it down to a minimum.  I also try to steer clear of politics.  I do have views but I think there are too many blogs that focus on political matters.

Branwell Brontes Barbers Tale by Chris Firth next book on my list

I have LOTS of categories!  Including our travels, books I’ve read, TV and films I have watched and of course artist’s birthdays.  I am adding to these.  Those I missed will get an airing soon.  The only criterion for selection is that I do actually happen to like the artist’s work, otherwise it would be a never-ending task, bit like the sorcerers Apprentice filling the buckets…

I have still got more things planned, and when I can work out how to link gallery pics with written pages about artist’s (as in my Altered book) I will do so, as this shall make it tidier.  Many thanks for those who have commented on my blog, it is very much appreciated!  I would like to thank my right and left middle finger for typing…I would like to thank GOD that I still don’t smoke, or I would be dead by now smoking AND typing…….that’s it really!  Cheers!

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Watched: ‘Enid’ BBC4

This post has been moved over to my Bookstains blog here

Watched: Hollywood Diva’s; Tamara de Lempicka, BBC 4

I watched this programme the other nights, wrote about it, then ‘lost’ the post! Art Deco artist, as she is often referred to, Tamara de Lempicka has always been a bit of a favourite of mine since I was at Uni. She has many fans, amongst them the artiste Madonna, a keen collector of her work. ‘The Baroness with a brush’ was born in Warsaw Poland (1898 – 1980) and enjoyed a privileged life as part of the St Petersburg Literati as a girl before she fled to Paris France with her first husband Tadeusz Lempicki to escape the Bolshevics.

Lempicka’s art was defined as being a kind of soft or synthetic cubism. Her images were glossy, elegant and emotionlessly chic like fashion photography in the magazines of the time; Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue.

 Lempicka’s peak as a fashionable artist came roughly between 1922 – 35. After that, she seems to have lost her way a bit, embracing a new unconvincing sentimental style that just didn’t seem to work for her. She also flirted with abstraction, which also failed. Towards the end of her life though, there was a resurgence of interest in her art.

 There has been much written about the artist’s personal life. She was a free spirit and notorious for her exploits. But she also supported herself with her art and was a very single minded independent woman too.

 It is not my intention to retell the artist’s life story here, though it does make interesting reading. Amongst the many books written about her, I think Stefanie Pencks’ and ‘Tamara de Lempicka’ (Pegasus) and Gilles Neret ‘Lempicka’ (Taschen) are good books.

portrait de madame Alan Bott

 Lempicka’s paintings have been featured on Madonna’s music videos ‘Open your Heart’ 1987, ‘Vogue’ 1990 and ‘Express yourself’ 1989

See my other post about Lempicka HERE

 For more Lempicka images, see HERE

 More Watched stuff ;

‘Twenty Thousand Streets under the Sky’

Watched: Joan Collins in ‘Joan Does Glamour’

 

joan-collins the legendary

I watched Joan Collins in ‘Joan Does Glamour’ the other night.  This ITV programme was hilarious!  What a legend this woman is!  I think she looks good for her age.  She certainly doesn’t believe that less is more does she.   But I do like her approach to glamour and age.  I didn’t agree with some of her tips (like an extra sharp eyebrow pencil..ouch!) and she can come across as a bit snobby at times, but I think that’s just the ‘luvvy’ in her.  I don’t know,… these theatrical types lol! artistic license I suppose.  She is great fun though!

But she’s right, why shouldn’t women look glamorous at any age.  I know I wouldn’t be seen dead without my make up on (and don’t worry, I won’t be seen dead without my make up on,  that will be arranged!!)  Joan got to glamorise three generations of the Littlefair family from Plymouth (and made quite a good job of it, I thought).  It was hilarious to see Joany in Primark, picking out loads of bargains for herself lol!  “Fleeces belong on sheep!’ declared Joan dismissing these warm items and saying  that every woman regardless of age, should have a black leather jacket in her wardrobe. (well I have Luvvy, but I’ve not worn it for years…)  She is absolutely delighted that shoulder pads are coming back.  I would be too (if I still had my waist…  I would look like a cereal box now)  I hope this programme is one of a series!

Britain Has Got Talent After all!

Shaheen jafagholi star talent

I told myself I wasn’t going to bother watching this after last night, which I thought was abysmal.  But I’m so GLAD that I did!  Britain has got talent alright!  and it comes in the form of a 12 year old lad from Wales called Shaheen Jafagholi . Thought this  lad was really good!  Lets hope he gives Susan Boyle a run for her money!

MD SHOW GROUP Fantastic dancers and SHOULD have been in the final!

BUT then again, what about the MD Showgroup from Liverpool!  Who wouldn’t be moved by their energy and passion!  Absolutely FANTASTIC dancing from these kids!!  and YET more competition for the Susan Boyle bandwagon!  The importance of their message and what these youngsters are trying to get across, is something they obviously feel strongly about.  It is a subject that concerns all of us (or should do)

Stavros Flatley WELL DONE! Not my choice but if you beat Susan Boyle I shall LOVE you!

BUT what happened……… the judges had to choose between my two faves!  I felt so sorry for MD when they got sent home…and Stavros Flatley got through.  What ARE people thinking?  Very Well done Shaheen though!