I think I've solved a family mystery. I am the Matriarch so there isn't too much debate. It began with me as a girl noticing my mother and sister sharing the same middle name, Inez. To me, this was an exotic name and I wondered if the name might be connected to a long forgotten Spanish Land Grant or the name attached in some way to my mothers Spanish made silk dancing shoes? Recently I went on Wikipedia and found a very famous Inez Milholland Boissevain who was a suffragette, labor lawyer, World War 1 correspondent and public speaker. She died young but her fame and popularity was great. About that same time my great grandmother (a follower of the women's movement) named her daughter Inez.. Some years later my grandmother names my mother Inez after that sister-in-law and last my mother passed the name to my sister. My mother didn't make the connection to the popular suffragette Inez as my great grandmother was very old when she was a young girl. I'm just betting I'm right! The code for Inez is APBX. I may go back an add some gold bits here and there. Maybe its the colors but this reminds me of Russian dolls.
How cool that you were able to make a connection between your family and the name of the suffragette! Do you feel like one of those people on "History Detectives" on PBS? I love that kind of stuff- it's like Sherlock Holmes goes time traveling! I can see what you mean about Russian dolls, too. I now see the dolls as the 3 Inez's. Great piece, great story!
ReplyDeleteSharmon, I do so enjoy those detective shows such as on PBS..I really think I'm right on this one. The Russian doll imagery was not my plan but I like it. thank you!
DeleteCold wax is a medium made up of wax and resins and is quite wonderful. Truly like a butter mixed with oil paints or powdered pigments.
Really delightful composition, with exotic colours that really work well together. I hadn't thought of Russian nesting dolls until you mentioned them, but for me now it's obvious in their shapes; 3 individual dolls with their rounded forms that stand out. Wonderful how your personal history/mystery is symbolically recounted in this painting--and that you figured it out and told it here.
ReplyDeletelouciao, Thank you. I was going for tower shapes but as you said the colors worked well for the Russian dolls in a row. I missed my calling...could have easily enjoyed being a detective, except no gun or danger.
DeleteWhat a rich story and expression! The colors are bold and unique for your work - and you blend your markings, layers, and texture in such a wonderful composition.
ReplyDeleteJoyfulwild, Thank you. I was going for complimentary colors with starting with green and then overlaying with reds.
Deleteoh i love this one. so bright and tapestry like. yes, russian dolls which i didnt connect before either. and i do love your story about Inez. I am sure you must be right. it makes a lovely story.
ReplyDeleteSuki, Thank you. I agree the story is a good one and again hard to prove either way!
DeleteI simply had to post my excitement over this piece and the family mystery - solved. :-) Love it! The colors are terrific, too.
ReplyDeleteKaren, Ahhh the family mystery...I do remember being told this great-grandmother was very much involved with the "movement" ! I met the great-aunt Inez a couple of times...she was married to a professor UC Berkeley and lived on a rocky shore in Alameda in one of those beautiful houses (long torn down) with the windows looking out on the water and the walls lined with rich wood bookshelves. She was a little lady and served us all tea.
DeleteGosh, I'd loved to have visited your great aunt Inez with you, and experienced her house. It sounds like a dream,,,,like this new work. I see the doll reference, sure.
ReplyDeleteBefore reading, I saw totems.Colors are perfect,and I like very much the white textures in the center doll, and the wheel of her head.
Oh, and I do love me a good mystery.Unfortunately, the story goes that some of my ancestors were horse thieves.Kind of exciting though,,,,
Babs, I'm fondest of the center image too! We have horse thieves and cattle rustlers too! Those must have been tough times for both men and women!
DeleteYou would make a fine detective! Your work reminds me of Russian Dolls too. Lovely bright colours.
ReplyDeleteCarole, Thank you...I think I would make a good detective...safely behind a desk!
DeleteThis is a great colorful piece...it reminds me of an abstracted game board, complete with coding! Love the code idea!
ReplyDeleteIs there a good book or tutorial for using cold wax and oils? I looked on the net and havn't found anything very helpful. I found a cache of oil paints at an estate sale that I'd like to use up.
Marie, Oh, I like your take on the game board idea! I don't know of any book on cold wax and I am just experimenting myself. Used as a medium with oils makes a great buttery spread. I'm learning as I go!
DeleteThis is a great story and a beautiful piece
ReplyDeleteMim, Thanks so much...I like the colors and have added gold bits here and there.
DeleteI quite like your work in general but I LOVE this one! And a great story too!
ReplyDelete