Monday 2 April 2018

Julia Margaret Cameron Collage

Hello Friends,

Today I'm showing another of my collages using vintage book covers from unloved garage sale books. This one features a photo by Julia Margaret Cameron, a British photographer whose career was only 11 years long, from 1864-1875. 

She was given  a camera at the age of 48 by her daughter.

Her style fitted in with pre-Raphaelite artists, and she approached photography as an art form, often dressing up her subjects as historical characters. Her images were dreamy and ethereal. 

Lace collage by Jesse rowan
Lace Collage by Lace Age Girl


I used dried flowers and leaves, a dried fern, lace daisies and a rose I made from cheesecloth dyed with avocados, and a fine scrap of old lace. 


Lace collage by Jesse Rowan


I love Julia Cameron's work. I have a large framed print of this picture in my front entry. 


My front entry by Jesse Rowan


Over the Summer I collected and dried some hydrangeas. Their papery texture and various colours are gorgeous.


Hydrangeas by Jesse Rowan



Hydrangeas by Jesse Rowan


Old suitcases - one of my favourite storage displays - but it's so hard to remember what's in each case! I will do some labels for them, I think...


Suitcase by Jesse Rowan

I'll leave you with a quote from Julia Margaret Cameron which I've put on a collage of some of her photos... such an inspiration!


Digital Collage by Jesse Rowan


There is a wonderful essay about Julia Margaret Cameron's life by Malcolm Daniel, Department of Photographs, The Metropolitan Museum of Art. You can find it at 

https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/camr/hd_camr.htm

I'm heading over to Wen's blog at Apple Apricot to see what other neutral beauty is on display there.

Please join us there for Simply Neutral Tuesday # 40...





19 comments:

  1. Especially i lke the pictures with the dried hydrangeas !
    Enchanting colors in all your other photos.
    I like it all very much.
    Visiting from "Simply Neutrals"

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    1. Thanks, Jutta. Best wishes for a lovely week,
      Jesse

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  2. What a wonderful and inspiring post Jesse- this beautiful Julia Margaret Cameron collage you created - I am in awe of this rose you created out of Avocado dyed fabric - wow! - Your decorations, the dried hydrangeas - all so beautiful !
    I just read in an old art magazine about the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood- of Millias, Hunt and Rossetti and now you made me curious about Julia Margaret Cameron!
    The digital collage is so beautiful as well!
    Happy week and great to meet at SNT again!

    oxo Susi

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    1. Thanks for your kind comments, Susi. I love the pre-Raphaelite artists, too. Julia margaret Cameron kept good company with many artists of her time. She sounds like an interesting and intelligent woman with an artist's eye.

      Love,
      Jesse

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  3. Jesse, I have not seen your blog before but I came over from Wen's at Apple Apricot and I just want to tell you that I have Loved, Loved, Loved Julia Margaret Cameron's work for many years. I discovered her while I was studying photography at our local community college twenty or more years ago. I think what you have done with them with collage is beautiful. Every time I see those little girls' faces I think how sweet, innocent and thoughtful they look. I hadn't tho't of Julia Cameron for a long time and want to thank you for jogging my memory. Anyway, I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed this post and have signed up to receive more!

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    1. Hi Naomi, Thanks for visiting my blog and for your lovely comment. Yes, I have a couple of books on her works and life and I want to dig them out. She is such an inspiration. The atmosphere she creates is mesmerising; I get lost in her pictures.
      Sending love,
      Jesse

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  4. I love sepia toned photographs and your embellishments add so much to it. I have a thing for old suitcases, particularly train cases, and buy them whenever I seem them no matter the condition!

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    1. Hi AnnMarie, Me too for suitcases! They have such a sense of story and personality, and the different colours and textures go so well together. I like to stack them.
      Wishing you a great week,
      Jesse

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  5. I have been a fan of Julia Margaret Cameron now for some years and have honored her photography through my artwork! She has a very unique way of capturing expression like no other! Your collage is very sweet Jesse and love the use of the dried flowers, fern and the avocado dyed rose! So beautiful!
    Your dried hydrangeas are gorgeous too in those lovely shades! Will you create with them? I wondered if you have picked any of your lovely roses for drying also?
    Isn't the Autumnal weather sooo beautiful at the moment?
    Sunny day hugs to you,
    Suzy xx

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    1. Hi Suzy,
      I've seen some of your collages with Julia's work - and loved what you did with the images. Apparently she was a hard taskmistress with her models, expecting compliance and very particular in telling them how to pose. I'm not sure what to do with the hydrangeas - I've used some in a wreath, which I'll feature soon. I dried some roses too, but their colour is fading. I think the humidity here makes it difficult. We are so lucky with our beautiful Autumn...
      Sending big hugs,
      Jesse

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  6. Hello sweetie, your collage is so gorgeous! The beautiful neutral and brown tones combine so well with the gorgeous photo. Julia was truly an amazing photographer and artist. Love your suitcases too and the Hydrangeas, I love love Hydrangeas! Big hugs and love xx

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    1. Thanks, Wen, I remember your beautiful hydrangeas, too :)
      Sending Spring Love,
      Jesse

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  7. Wow, what an amazing collage with the dried flowers, lace and cheesecloth rose! I can see why you love the photo so much, it is so beautiful and the one in your entry hall looks stunning too 😁. Such pretty hydrangeas, the petal colours dried beautifully. Wishing you a happy and creative week! J 😊

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    1. Thanks, Jo, for your kind comments. I'm looking forward to visiting everyone's blogs now, too. :)
      Love,
      Jesse

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  8. Such beautiful work Jesse; "dreamy and ethereal" to pair with Julia's photography~~ Amazing post today~ what a wonderful break for me to stop
    in and see your gorgeous post! Thank you & lots of hugs, karen o

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    1. Hi Karen, Thank you :) I'm going to visit the other blogs now and enjoy...
      Sending love and hugs your way,
      Jesse XX

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  9. So very beautiful, dear Jesse, I love your art, and also the photos of this clever woman. So lovely to have a view into your home, with the many beautiful displays there, and love the dried hydrangeas,- and suitcages .
    Beautiful Simply Neutrals !!
    Hugs, Dorthe

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    1. Thank you Dorthe. It is fun seeing other people's homes and styles, isn't it? I hope your week was not too hectic. Sporry i'm late to respond - my email program is playing up.
      Sending love,
      Jesse XX

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Thank you so much for your friendly comments. It makes my day to hear from you about my artworks and topics.