lucynewman

Rockwell’s methods

Normal Rockwell painted over 300 covers for the Saturday Evening Post. I didn’t think I would be interested in Normal Rockwell’s paintings (on display in Dulwich Picture Gallery), but I was. The pictures often show cute and sentimental caricatures. There are puppies, children, clowns, grandfathers, turned up toes of shoes, santas; these magazine covers areContinue reading “Rockwell’s methods”

Munch-like super moon

The biggest full moon in eighteen years shone on the weekend of the 19th March. A super moon happens itself when the moon is closest to the Earth at the same time as it is ‘full’. (more). Close to the Earth, the moon looks huge. Seeing the blue water, the reflection of light and darkContinue reading “Munch-like super moon”

Yorkshire rainbow

Elephants cooperate

These two elephants have worked out that if they pull the ropes at the same time they will get a reward.

Thermal waters in Iceland

The Blue Lagoon Geysir

Bad Oyenhausen’s salty springs

Postcards from Bad Oeyhhausen, West Phalia. The pigs remembered in this fountain lead to the discovery of the thermal waters. As they wallowed in a muddy field, the farmer noticed a crust of salt on their backs. (The story reminds me of the cows who found epsom salts). The king set up a salt mine.Continue reading “Bad Oyenhausen’s salty springs”

Beppu bath salts

A packet of mineral bath salts from the thermal springs in Beppu, Japan. The sacred hot spring pools are coloured turquoise blue, milky white and ‘hell’ red by the mineral content in the water.

Poseidon Terme

A leaflet from the Poseidon thermal complex on the island of Ischia in Southern Italy. The Ancient Roman Emperors and other elite took holidays in their villas on the near by island Capri. The islands are near Naples and it’s volcano, Vesuvius. It can take an afternoon at least to try out all the poolsContinue reading “Poseidon Terme”

Black and white and yellow

Director J.Lee Thompson chose to rely on our imaginations in his 1953 black and white film, The Yellow Balloon. In the setting of bombed post war London, a boy loses his pocket money and the chance of buying a balloon. Upset, he steals his friend’s yellow balloon, an incident which leads to tragedy and blackmail.Continue reading “Black and white and yellow”

Time and events change a logo

In 2006, the Conservative party changed its logo to a rough sketch of a British tree. Has the logo changed its meaning since it was launched? The logo was meant to associate the party with care for the environment and the tree doubled up as a symbol for growth. The hand drawn, sketchy brush markContinue reading “Time and events change a logo”