Celebrating Caroline's Contribution to the AnArt4Life blog

Caroline's first venture into the world of blog writing was to showcase Mangle Wurzels as works of art! I didn't even know what a mangle wurzel was, let alone think of one artistically.

Mangle Wurzel, Vegies & much, much more

I was mulling over Mother Nature and her paint brush & I was inspired to take some photos at our local Boroondara Farmers Market. What an array of colours, shapes and textures on show at the market where the seasonal produce is lovingly displayed by the artisan farmers and producers.

Anne Newman ArtistCaroline

Caroline followed up with a more conventional post on the works of the remarkable Australian artist Clarice Beckett - discovered as a result of going down a rabbit hole! To quote from the beginning of Caroline's post:

Recently Anne posted an insightful blog on Michelle Clarissa Redcliffe’s work based on Clarice Cliff’s Summer House Vase. This rekindled my interest in Clarice Cliff and I subsequently went searching for more information relating to her. In my quest I stumbled upon another Clarice; Clarice Beckett. (I call it going down the rabbit hole, never knowing where you end up when you divert from topic!).

And there it is - proof that Caroline is our Keeper of the Rabbit Holes.

You can read her informative and entertaining post on Clarice Beckett below.

Another Clarice... Australian painter Clarice Beckett

Clarice Beckett was an Australian Tonalist painter (born in Casterton, Victoria 1887, died Sandringham, Victoria 1935) known for her misty and foggy works often painted in and around Melbourne and the Bayside suburbs especially around Beaumaris and Sandringham. Image: glenicewhitting.com

Anne Newman ArtistCaroline

Down in her rabbit holes Caroline discovers many different topics that I would not even begin to consider: she even questioned Is the Queen sleeping on the job?!!

Is The Queen Sleeping on The Job?

Showcasing the Tudors to Windsors: British Portraits- Bendigo Art Gallery, Central Victoria, Australia. Includes the famous Ditchley Portrait of Queen Elizabeth 1 by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger.

Anne Newman ArtistCaroline

Caroline's most popular post was on bees - in fact we had a whole week on bees. When she suggested this topic my response was - why? Bees can't paint or sculpt!

Oh, just wait and see, she replied. Have you heard of bee space?

Through Caroline's research we learnt how bees, if left alone, will turn their honeycomb into amazing shapes. And we also learnt about the relationships humans have had with bees throughout history. And of course discovered amazing works of art based on the incredible shape and wonderful colour of bees.

Here are three of the Bee Posts from Bee Week.

Bee Hives and much more

Here we first explain the meaning of ‘bee space’ and then go on to explore the notion of bees as members of the family who were informed of events such as births, marriages and deaths through the tradition of ’Telling the Bees.

Anne Newman ArtistCaroline

Bees: Where to Begin?

As this is the first Bee Blog Caroline and Anne take you back to the earliest recorded bee which is 100 million years old. From there we move forward to bees in Ancient Egypt and the Middle East and conclude today with Napoleon’s obsession with bees and their symbolic significance.

Anne Newman ArtistCaroline

Bees: Where to Next?

Today we give you some directions as to where we are going with preserving bees and how to bring them back into our gardens and cities. Artists such as Wolfgang Buttress and Matthew Willey are creating projects to promote bees.

Anne Newman ArtistCaroline

Caroline and I worked together on the story of Australian artist and broadcaster John Pickup OAM to commemorate John receiving the Medal of the Order of Australia in the 2020 Australia Day Honours for his work in broadcasting.

Extensive work was required as John's broadcasting career spanned more than 50 years and thanks to Caroline and her research ability (plus help from John who generously provided old photos and anecdotes from his past) we were able to publish a thorough account of his contribution to the world of radio. A special thanks for this sterling effort.

John Pickup OAM

Bringing you the news that John Pickup received an Order of Australia in the 2020 Australia Day Honours. The award was granted in recognition of John’s service to the world of broadcasting. Here is a summary of his broadcasting career.

Anne Newman ArtistCaroline