Sunday, August 26, 2018

Another Delaware artist

Graham Dougherty is another artist from Delaware and he is still very much alive.  He doesn't seem to have a web site however.  Here are some examples of his paintings.  I like the way he uses soft blended color with just a hint of geometry.




Friday, August 24, 2018

Artists from Delaware

Ellen Bernard Thompson Pyle (November 11, 1876 – August 1, 1936) was an American illustrator best known for the 40 covers she created for The Saturday Evening Post in the 1920s and 1930s under the guidance of Post editor-in-chiefGeorge Horace Lorimer. She studied with Howard Pyle and later married Pyle’s brother Walter...Wikipedia

Here is some more personal biographical information from the SATURDAY EVENING POST website.  She was widowed young and supported her large family with these illustrations.







Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Artists from Delaware - Chalfant

Time to look for artists from Delaware.  Here is a fine artist I bet you never heard of (too many good artists nobody ever heard of)

Jefferson David Chalfant 1856-1931, born in Pennsylvania but moved to Delaware as a young man and lived there his whole life.  He was self taught although he did manage to spend 2 years in Paris where he studied art.  He is probably best known for his still lifes although I could not find too many on line.  Chalfont painted himself into the first picture.  He is on the lower right.








https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_David_Chalfant#External_links

Thursday, August 16, 2018

DELAWARE #6

 Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787, five days before any other province or colony.  In 2002, a first grade class requested that the nickname "The First State" be made official....and it was.












Tuesday, August 14, 2018

DATA OF STATES LAND USE

I think you will be surprised at exactly the way we use the land in the United States.  These graphics are very well done.

https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2018-us-land-use/

Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Delaware #4

Let's begin looking at art from Delaware by taking a peak at this very old relic of the Lenape.

Even though it was discovered in Pennsylvania, since it was seemingly created by the Lenape I think we should look at it now.  Can it really be a drawing of a Hairy Mammoth from 9,000 to 12,000 years ago?  Here is a lengthy discussion about it.

Here is a more recent piece of art work from the Lenape tribe, an elaborate beaded men's coat.


Tuesday, August 7, 2018



During the 1600s Delaware was governed by William Penn along with Pennsylvania.  Delaware declared its independence from both Pennsylvania and Britain in 1776.  Delaware became the first state to ratify the Constitution of the United States, and has since been known as "The First State".[13]

At first indentured servants from England worked alongside slaves and often intermarried but as the traffic in indentured servants became smaller because of better economic conditions in England, cast lines hardened.  However, because of the influence of Methodists and Quakers people were encouraged to set their slaves free and since tobacco was ceasing to be the main crop grown, most of the people voluntarily did just that, so that by 1860 91% of the black population was free.

Delaware did not secede from the Union even though they were still officially a slave state and was the only state who did not have a Confederate army.  They freed their slaves officially after the Civil War but did not ratify the 13th, 14th and 15th amendment until 1901.  So Delaware was deeply divided on their attitude towards the rights of African Americans for a long time.


Monday, August 6, 2018

Delaware #2

The Native Americans who were the first people in Delaware were the Lenni Lenape.  They were located all up and down the Delaware River in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.  We have been looking at the art of Native Americans around the country so far so let's take a look at some of their medical solutions.  Most of them seem to involve roots and bark which makes sense since these were at hand.  Some of these remedies seem to have been proved to have merit in other cultures, and since it is always advisable to do something when someone is in physical distress, the mere application of a poultice may have worked restorative properties or drawn out the poison.  Imagine instead of being in a hospital you were in a tent with this ritual going on.  Might be just the ticket to scare away dis-ease!





Sunday, August 5, 2018

While looking to see if there was any music on YOUTUBE associated with Delaware I came across this guy who is traveling around the country for real and posting his videos as he goes.  It is only 5 minutes and I found it rather funny and there are some good shots of Delaware as well.
Here you go NOCANTANT in Delaware.

Delaware #1

Delaware is a funny shaped little State nestled between Maryland and New Jersey with a bit touching Pennsylvania and a large coast on the Delaware Bay and part of the Atlantic Ocean.  Since it is summer, and I am dreaming of the seashore, I probably will look for some action along the Rehobeth Beach shore to paint.  Google maps for some reason actually travels along the boardwalk there where I can almost smell the sea breeze.  Here is a link to a spot to start your own trip to the beach.





Wednesday, August 1, 2018

one last word about Connecticut

Judith Secco did get back to me about her methods for creating those photos that look like paintings.  She does use photo shop and combines various photos with textures and filters.  Having done some of this kind of work while planning my paintings I can tell you this work requires a great deal of skill and she certainly has it!  Tomorrow it's on to Delaware.