FINISHED!!!

Here are my finished Reina socks. I LOVE this yarn! The pattern was great, the yarn was soft and wonderful to work with. I received the sport weight yarn. I am SO glad that I joined this sock club! I am now patiently waiting for the next installment for the club!

Wendi N, the Knitted Squirrel
http://knittedsquirrel.blogspot.com/

Contest entry

I hope I'm not too late to the contest either since I just joined the club today. Hooray! Anyway, this painting is my favorite GOK one too. I never really noticed poppies until I moved here to France and am currently seeing them everywhere and just love the vibrant color.

Georgia O'Keefe Contest

I hope this isn't too late and I am sure that others have picked this but it is my favorite painting bu Georgia O'Keefe. Poppies have special meaning to me because of my grandmom and I like to surround myself with them. Even my favorite necklace is a sterling poppy that I got on etsy!

Contest #1 - Favorite Georgia O'Keefe Art

1941 - Red Hills and Bones - I love the shades of red. They make me feel so vibrant. Georgia O'Keefe was a wonderful artist and a great role model.

Georgia and me

Nothing like me waiting till the last minute to post to the woolgirl sock club blog for the Georgia O'Keefe contest (blogger wouldn't let me log on last night). What took me so long is that I needed to get over to my parents' house because they have a framed pastel drawing that I did during college. I was an art major and greatly affected my Georgia O'Keefe's work...especially her nudes. I experimented with her method of gradiation of color to create a mood specifically with pastels. I later moved on to very large oil canvases and did my own 'thing'...blending music and words into the canvas but still using her shape creation. Here's my facial self-portrait and then Georgia O'Keefe's Nude #12 from 1917:

Contest Entry

This is my favorite. I love all of the contrasts in this painting:

-the light & dark

-the soft and strong

-the near and far

-it is loud yet quiet

-it is warm and cool

I love Georgia!

Contest #1

I do not know much about Georgia O'Keeffe, but looking through her paintings, I have a clear favorite; A Sunflower from Maggie, 1937. I love sunflowers, they are just such happy flowers. I think this is such a nice painting of a sunflower...the flower looks like it is reaching for something.

Note: I can't figure out how to add a picture of it here, but you can see it here: http://www.art.com/asp/sp-asp/_/PD--10356235/SP--A/IGID--1148936/A_Sunflower_from_Maggie_1937.htm?sOrig=CRT&sOrigId=514&ui=071DDDDFC30F41B7B34FE99387098DC2

Contest Entry - Abstraction White Rose

This rose, upon first glance, is pristine, but if you take time to look, really look, you see it for all its imperfections. As the petals unfurl from the center, there are moments of darkness and shadow, untidy curls and ridges, and on occasion some yellow of its youth or else age.
And I know that is life
and life is beautiful.

Red Canna

I think Red Canna is my favorite painting. All of the bold colors bring to mind trying something new. The excitement of stepping out of your shell. And the flame like petals, reminding to be cautious when embarking on an adventure.

Contest 1: Sky Above Clouds III

I really love the colors of this work. It makes me feel a sense of serenity and peace. And at the end of the day all that is ahead of me is the vast beauty of the unknown and the endless possibilities beyond the horizon.

Image from: http://www.artst.org/okeefe/1963+-+Sky+Above+Clouds+III+.jpg

Georgia O'Keefe Contest

This is the O'Keefe piece that speaks to me. It's called "Black Place". As a person who suffers frequently from depression I spend a lot of time in that "black place". But if you look at the picture you see that the black place is surrounded by grey, white and pink clouds. I always know that when I'm in that black place the softer pink and white places to await me. The picture is soft and comforting to me. I always keep in mind that the pink is there and life will get easier.

For me, O'Keeffe's art is about color and form, reducing an object or landscape to its essence. This painting reminds me that what is now desert was once an ocean.

Her choice to live most of her life in New Mexico makes perfect sense, with its intense big sky, distinct forms, strong light.

The Colors

A few things strike me when viewing Georgia O'Keefe's prints. One is that she captured more than just a flower or a nature scene. They are decidedly intimate and feminine. The other thing is the colors. Oh the colors are just striking and fabulous. It was hard to choose a favorite, but I can't help but think that this would make a lovely yarn:

O'Keeffe as Man Ray?

I am a big fan of Georgia's flower paintings, but this work, called "In The Patio" (1950) recalls another one of my favorite artists, Man Ray. It's interesting to see her more modernist/surrealist side. It reminds me the big sky over Santa Fe.

The Contest

I first remember studying Georgia O'Keeffe in high school art class when our teacher wanted us to create our own O'Keeffe like paintings. All her large flowers are beautiful but I was especially taken by her poppies. So my finished project was this painting with three warm colored poppies. I still love this little art project and it hangs in the bedroom of every place I've lived since then.

my favourite .... dont think I have one

I think this is going to be one of the least popular blog comments .... to be honest, I had never heard of Georgia O'Keeffe prior to getting my WoolGirl shipment, so I went on line to check her out and have been keeping an eye on what other people have been saying about her wonderful work.

there have been some very interesting paintings .... the "Pink Dish and Green Leaves" and "Poppy" is actually quite lovely, and the pink rose posted a few below me is actually quite stunning. Morning Glories and Autumn Leaves are both quite nice also, but seem to be in such a different style. where the Pink Rose one could almost be a photograph, the latter are more interpretive .... and then there are the ones that just look like swirls of paint but for the most part you can pick out her intent.

although there are many nice ones to choose from, unfortunately there also seem to be many of her works that I find almost "disturbing". I'm not sure why, and I probably couldn't even tell you why a particular painting bothers me ... but it's because of this, that I don't think I can really name a "favourite". I've read many of the other blog comments, and most of the time I can understand why a particular member has chosen that picture based on what they have written (i.e. the colours are lovely, etc). I hope that all the Georgia O'Keeffe lovers out there are not offended by my lack of understanding or appreciation of her work.

Waterfall

This is my favorite--For me the colors are relaxing and hypnotic...and the blending is so beautiful, it almost has gentle movement. Is it a waterfall..or a beautiful flower?    The colors and shades all belong with each other so well---it won my vote!

I feel like a Queen

I've been a bit tardy getting my sock pictures up on the blog. These socks have been done for two weeks now and thanks to some rainy weather they're getting a bit of wear in before summer. Love, love, love this color in the skien and knit up. This is in the sport weight version which only took a week to knit up the pair. They fit great too with all the ribbing in the back of the leg. As always the woolgirl sock club rocks!

Georgia O'Keeffe contest

I love Georgia O'Keeffe's flowers and the beauty and power they represent.  However, one of my favorites is Pink Dish and Green Leaves, 1928, a pastel on paper.  Alfred Stieglitz also used this city view in his photographs.

In this pastel it is noted ' the drastic contrast between the natural and the man-made world.'  It is described as 'two leaves forlornly in a dish, the last relics of organic form within an otherwise geometric architecture. In an urban landscape in which trees and plants have vanished, everyday objects must preserve the memory of nature.'

I understand this statement, but to me it represents hope as well.  As long as we keep our love of beauty in creation, we can look for beauty in our surroundings.  Hopefully this will make us more aware of preserving and respecting the world we've been given.  And also to find ways to look at nature and be responsible in our lives. 

The flower - I was drawn to this one for the shades of pink and the the love of roses. The curl of the petals wth the deepening pink center. I tend not to go for overly pink or girly except for my flowers.

From the Lake No. 1 - I find this one to be a constant. Constantly relaxing, inspiring, re-focusing when I look at it. With this on my wall, I would be able to find the focus and re-center when needed.







This worked out finally after I figured out how to turn off the transliteration button, lol....

While I enjoy Georgia's paintings, I love the pictures of her. Such an ordinary looking woman, her uniqueness and the love her husband had for her makes her all the more beautiful. She seems so introspective, so quiet, thoughtful. This is a beautiful picture of her, she's wearing a sweater (knitting!), and seems protective of herself and her gaze is so non-chalant. I love pictures like this and I believe that Georgia is reflected in this picture, quiet, subtle and beautiful.

Two Pear & Stieglitz

I love the Two Pears but I thought I would also show you one of my favorite Stieglitz photo's of her hands--

Contest #1

It has been delightful to see all the different paintings that everyone has chosen, many of which I have never seen. I had really only seen some of her flowers, of which the poppies had been my favorite. Now to see what a variety she had, that her inspiration changed over time, as most artist experience. There are many paintings here that I find inspiring, but I chose "East River from the Shelton 2". The blues and pinks together are so wonderful and I absolutely love the way she painted the sky! The silhouette of the buildings is in such contrast to the softness of the rest of the painting. It just makes me want to play with the delicacy and intricacy of color!

Georgia O'Keeffe

I'm sorry that this is not very introspective, but I'm not a huge art fan. I like this painting though. Every time I see it I think of the song "The Spirit in the Sky".

Red Canna

I've always like"Red Canna" because of it's fiery colors. Sometimes it makes me think of a volcano, sometimes a bonfire. Lately I look at it as a prayer for summer, particularly when the rain just keeps coming....

Morning Glories

Morning Glories by Georgia O'Keefe seems to capture the essence of each day for me, from sunlight centers to dark edges. I love how the morning glory offers itself up each day to meet the daylight and closes itself up at night as though it is drawing new energy for the next day. There are many beautiful choices! Teresa

Georgia O'Keeffe

I've long been fascinated by Georgia O'Keeffe's paintings and life.

"I've been absolutely terrified every moment of my life - and I've never let it keep me from doing a single thing I wanted to do." Georgia O'Keeffe.

Her paintings are enduring for me because they are a brief glimpse into how another person looked at the world, a moment where you could see through their eyes if you looked long and hard enough. This aspect is what usually draws me to art, the artists way of looking at the world. Art reminds me to keep my brain and my gaze engaged.

My favorite work of hers is Autumn Leaves, Lake George, NY-- a place near and dear to me not far from my own home near the Adirondack Mountains. It never ceases to amaze me how very different leaf paintings can be by different artists, even while leaves are one of the great distinguishing characteristics of the tree because of their uniformity.

Contest entry

I love this one, it's called "Rose". The movement, the colours -- it's peaceful and beautiful.

Manon (aka Musclemom)

Georgia

I'm going to go with:

It's very pretty and calming. It doesnt have any deep meaning for me on the surface. I like all of her flower paintings. This one just stands out to me and will probably be making it's way to my living room wall in the next few weeks.

Fave painting

I also have never been a huge fan of Georgia O'Keefe. Her work just isn't my cup of tea. However, as I was browsing through her work, I saw this piece:



Daisies have always been my favorite flower. They're simple and classic. This work also "tells" me to always remember no matter how small you are, you can still stick out and make a difference in your landscape. Be that spot of difference in the world and revel in your uniqueness. It's always nice to have little things like this painting to remind you of that idea.

Another Contest Entry

I'm sorry to admit that I'm one of those that wasn't a huge O'Keeffe fan. After a bit of Googling and Yahooing, I came across Abstraction IX from 1916. I like that it's simple colors and lines but still expresses so much emotional and movement. Maybe liking this explains why I like plain stockinette socks best?

Contest #1 - Melissa H

When I received my shipment and read about the contest, the first painting that came to mind was "Red Poppy." As I was growing up, my mother loved this painting. She loved poppies, and was also an artist. So I guess I always just thought about this one as being my favorite......UNTIL I looked around a bit more at all of the beautiful paintings she's done! I've never really explored her artwork before, and was glad I had the opportunity to do so because of this contest.

I think that "The Lawrence Tree" is my new favorite. One of my most favorite things to do to relax, and take a moment to myself is to lay in my hammock, under the trees in our backyard and just stare up at all the branches and leaves. It's always so beautiful and peaceful to me and this painting just captured that love of mine. I might even have to purchase a print of my own so that I can admire it - especially on rainy days when I can't lay in the hammock!

Yellow Calla - Green Leaves

Yellow Calla Green Leaves speaks of hope and rebirth. On a back drop of soft, moving grey, the lilies spring forth, fertile and full of possibility. I find the image empowering, expecially as a woman. There is a soft sensuality to the background that grounds the bright colours of the flowers. The use of the calla lily, so often associated with grief, alters your perspective and sings of life - it's tenacity, it's challenges, it's spirit and it's triumphs.

This painting was my first exposure to anything Georgia O'Keefe and has always stuck with me.
Wendi N- the Knitted Squirrel

Ode to Georgia

Georgia

You have been my dearest friend these past 30 years.
You have kept me company while sewing...

And when I dine.

You are there when I correspond with my loved ones.

And when I talk to my friends.

Your works inspire and educate me.

And now I find you have joined forces with my other great love...KNITTING!

And if that wasn't enough.... this is my favorite painting.

(It is true!!! I was fortunate enough to see this painting in person at the San Francisco Palace of Fine Art's exhibit "the poetry of things" - a traveling exhibit of Georgia O'Keeffe's work in 1997). Thanks, Jen, for the inspirational yarn!

Contest #1

I have never been a big fan of Georgia O'Keefe. Today when browsing her paintings, I ran across this one and I love it! It is my new favorite!

My favorite Georgia O'Keefe painting

I have seen Georgia O'Keefe's paintings around, but if I had tried to think of one I'm sure nothing would have come to mind. Google is my friend, though, and that is how I found Ladder to the Moon. I really like it, probably for the surrealism but also for the idea that one could climb a ladder floating in the sky and get to the moon. I'd try it!

My favorite Georgia O'Keefe Painting

I am not a great fan of Georgia O'Keefe works. Some of them are very pretty, but some I feel,

have double meanings (xEnglish major here!). Here is my choice after studying them all and

the reason I like it.

I find myself humming:

"Oh beautiful for spacious skies,

For amber waves of grain.

For purple mountain majesties,

Above the fruited plain.

America, America,

God shed his grace on thee.

And crown thy good with brotherhood-

From sea to shining sea.

Georgia O’Keeffe’s “Blue River” is the painting that really speaks to me. The colors are so warm and inviting (they would make a fantastic colorway for sock yarn!!). The flowing river leaves me with such a calming feeling. The soft greens, tans and oranges are just so soothing to look at.
Now I really want sock yarn in those colors!!! How pretty they would be!