Anna Karenina

A few years back I watched the movie The Last Station and it rekindled my interest in Tolstoy. After seeing the movie Anna Karenina I wanted to read the book. However I do recall in grade school reading a Tolstoy novel and perhaps it was Anna Karenina... for some reason I can't remember. This book looks rather textbook like with it's 870 pages. It's a first printing, 1978 and is translated by Contance Garnett. - JW  

I painted this awhile ago however never posted it. This is personally one of my favourite paintings. 

© copyright artwork and image by Jacqueline Williams. A Neesha B. Project, 11x14 acrylic on canvas. Reproducing image and artwork strictly prohibited.  

Getting back into the swing of things and messing around with my charcoals! 

© copyright artwork by Jacqueline Williams.  

Indispensable Souls

He said

look 

at the clouds in the sky

looks like rain

it will rain

She said

not where we are standing

it won't rain 

where we are

it never will

© copyright poem written by Jacqueline Williams. Publishing prohibited unless with the author's permission. ** This poem appeared in the Cobourg Pic - Poetry In Spaces for 2 consecutive years. ** 

Brit Bits

Brit Bits is a limited edition book. That has been handwritten and drawn by Chris Price and Delisia Howard. It's signed by Chris Price and is number 50/400. It was purchased at the Victoria and Albert Museum Bookshop in London. From it's triangle shape to the artwork, the stories, the gold and mylar pages and to the hand-painted covers. It's opinionated and witty about all things British! 

My Painting

I put the baking aside yesterday and decided to finish this painting.    

For the Birds. Acrylic on 9x12 canvas. © copyright image photo and artwork by Jacqueline Williams. Any use of the image, artwork and photo strictly prohibited unless with the artist's permission.  

Silhouetted

Silhouettes intrigue me. possibly brought on from an art class in grade school when you stood in front of the over head projector and the teacher traced the outline of your profile, the head and shoulders only, on to a piece of paper that was taped to the chalkboard. then you had to cut it out and mount it on an already prepared cardboard like paper. i remember how for the major of the school year everyone's silhouette bordered around the top of the classroom walls. 

this is my current painting. no paper cutouts. acrylic paint on a 9x12 canvas. this painting comes with an appropriate sized wooden easel for display. i can also see this being painted in a very colourful style. 

© copyright image, photo and artwork by Jacqueline Williams. any use of the artwork, photo or image is strictly prohibited unless with the artist's permission.          

Gammer Gurton's Garland

Curious? i found this book and couldn't quite say no to it. it's another Winchelsea Book Fair find. small, slightly worn and is all about children's nursery rhymes. the illustrations are by T. Webster, R.A.  - jw  

Ted Hughes

i picked up this book from the Winchelsea Book Fair in England. i haven't read any of Ted Hughes poetry before. Don't know why really. when i saw the book i though why not for the one pound thirty pence it cost me it's a nice addition to my poetry collection. i found it kind of ironic because i brought Colossus and Other Poems by Sylvia Plath with me on my trip for reading material and there i find Hughes tucked away in Winchelsea.- JW 

flowers and poetry

While traveling throughout England I would stop at a few quaint villages. I can't remember the name of the village or town... it may have been Faversham. Spotted a small used bookshop down a side street. Took a browse and found this palm size book. Tell The Wish Of Thy Heart In Flowers: Language and Poetry of Flowers; Milner and Sowerby 1860; top, side and bottom edge gold gilt. It's filled with interesting references of flowers and how they can be used in poetry and the poems inside are a treat. Not bad for £1! -JW  

one would like to say that not much had changed in the past two years since visiting England last, however this year was marked with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and London was the host city for the Olympics and the Paralympics. 

Although i arrived the day before the closing ceremonies of the Olympics, those Olympic mascots were popping up everywhere, flags flew high in support of England and the Union Jack for all. bunting decorated shop windows, homes, pubs, gardens, packaging and products. the Victoria and Albert museum bookshop was the place to be. the Albert Monument across from the Royal Albert Hall left me in total awestruck!!! the Twinings Tea Shop/Museum is a tea totallers delight. had a unforgettable delectable meal at Fortnum and Masons. took in a gin distillery tour with Sipsmith. pubs were the places to eat. ploughmans were the menu item of choice. cracked open a bottle with friends at the Harvey Nichols champagne bar and then headed to Cafe Rouge for a meal. not before spotting the Julian Assange supporters outside Ecuador's Embassy. Ellen Terry's House/Museum was enchanting. viewing her death mask was haunting! Sissinghurst Castle was a garden of delights. the 99's fluctuated in price from £1.40p to £2.20. Winchelsea was full of book fairs and i had the best latté there oh... and of course another Royal scandal. Keep Calm and Harry On is all one can say. England was England!  -jw