8 September 2009

Illustration Friday - Strong


Click to enlarge


This week's Illustration Friday theme is STRONG. Marigold (Calendula) flowers have a strong colour and scent. I've used some real petals here on this collage of coloured pencil and ink drawings. If you enlarge the pic you can hopefully read that the flowers were being used for hair colourant in the16th century. I wondered if they were still used today so googled and discovered modern day recipes for natural hair colourants here ! Let me know if you try any of these!

Marigold flowers were also used to dye cloth and are still cultivated as an eco-friendly alternative to chemicals to dye textiles today. According to J Parkinson in 1629 they were good to be used in 'possets, broths and drinkes as a comforter of the heart and spririt'. This plant attracts hoverflies which eat aphids and is thererfore a good companion plant with tomatoes and cabbages. If you have skin problems calendula ointment should help - it was used to heal wounds in World War I. You can eat the orange or yellow petals sprinked on a salad or stick them on your illustrations, like me! And if that's not enough information you can find out more about this extremely versatile, natural medicine plant here

22 comments:

  1. Caroline I love this and I love when you paint.

    Love Renee xoxo

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  2. Oh, this looks like a wonderful nature journal page! I love how you sprinkled the real petals there too. Very beautiful piece Caroline!

    When we lived in California we had a marigold bush in the front of the house. You either love or hate the smell. If you rubbed against it you'd end up smelling like cat pee :(

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  3. Beautful and so fresh just like a marigold!Warm Breeze blowing , lifting spirits. My hair is already so yellow I don't think that marigold would have any effect whatsoever. I LOVE your illustration so much!

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  4. Lovely!
    I have some calendula oil that my skin loves!

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  5. I love marigolds and grow them to attract aphids but they also look lovely in a vase. Your illustration is wonderful especially the turquoise with the orange

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  6. Absolutely lovely ATC...is it traded already? I could trade with you if you like.

    I used to plant marigolds around my veggies in the garden when I did that.

    I dare say I knew they were real petals when I enlarged your work of art.

    I do love the language in which you wrote this piece as well.

    Just a wonderful informative post and ATC!!! I might just go out and buy a plant to see how it dyes fabric.

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  7. Beautiful and informative! I was not familiar with Marigold flowers and how useful they've been throughout the years. What lovely, bright petals and color...

    About ATCs, I'd be delighted to trade with you. Let me know which one you'd like and I'll send it your way. :-)

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  8. I love how you incorporated the pressed petals in your sketch. Very beautiful indeed.

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  9. Yeah, I can feel the mood and scene with this lovely flower.
    Such adorable "strong" theme!

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  10. Awesome blog! So looking forward to our ArtsySoulSisters trades

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  11. Hi Caroline! Glad to meet you. I guess I missed mentioning your corner of the world in my post about the new sketchbook exchange. Sorry for that.
    I like your blog and I will be stopping by frequently. Your art is wonderful.

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  12. nice one! I use calendula. my mum hates them...strong feelings for a strong flower. I love your illo, the flower is excellent. You inspire me to get out my pencils again!

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  13. beautiful work!!! I love this piece...

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  14. Interesting post. I always love your drawings, Caroline.

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  15. caroline, before i read renee's comment, my first thought was "i love it when you paint."

    i am friends with marigolds. give them sun and they are the easiest annuals. i also plant them between my tomatoes and basil because they are crop complimenters.

    you could do a fabulous map of blogland lane. just saying, you know...

    love love
    kj

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  16. And how proud your mother must be of you now (wherever she is).

    Love Renee xoxo

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  17. How interesting....I never knew these things about marigolds! But they do smell strong!!

    Thank you so much for adding my ABC Children's Book badge to your sidebar Caroline.... I really appreciate it!

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  18. Aaah, but I cannot eat your illustration, can I?

    This is wonderful! So free and bright, just like marigolds. I love them. And they're my favorite color, too. Drats, I should have planted more around my roses so I could have gotten rid of those ugly aphids.

    And what a FANTASTIC watercolor cockerel you have there! Very cool.

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  19. This is really nice - love the handwriting style too.

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