Jan (Frederik Pieter) Portielje 1829-1908

Jan (Frederik Pieter) Portielje - (b Amsterdam, 29 April 1829; d Antwerp, 6 Feb 1908). Dutch painter. He studied under Valentijn Bing (1812-95) in Amsterdam and later with Jan Braet von Uberveldt (1807-94). In 1849 he went to the Koninklijke Academie voor Schone Kunsten in Antwerp, where he took lessons with J.-L. Dyckmans (1811-88). After this period of training he spent two years in Paris and travelled in France and Germany. Settling in Brussels, he made a name for himself as a portrait painter, especially in English circles. He also received commissions from Dutch and American patrons. Between 1857 and 1884 he took part in exhibitions in Amsterdam and The Hague. He painted genre scenes and portraits (Gypsy Woman, c. 1873; Rotterdam, Mus. Boymans-van Beuningen; Woman in Historical Costume, The Hague, Rijksdienst Beeld. Kst). He also worked with Frans Lebret (1820-1909) and Eug?ne R. Maes (1849-1931). His sons Edward (1861-1949) and Gerard (1856-1929) were also painters.

I just love this portraitist. I am not an art critic, I just know what I like and when I look at these pictures they speak to me of his celebration of women and their strength and beauty. Sewing, looking at a picture, holding a rose, reading a letter or looking into the distance, the colours, the details in the clothing and the faces just draw you in and once your inside the picture you keep on seeing more and more of his artistry. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. Cheers Julz 

Susie McMahon Dolls: A Special Little Something

Susie McMahon Dolls: A Special Little Something

Cat Lover Heavenly Doll By the Artist: Susie McMahon

A Simply Transforming Cloudbox By Artist: Susie McMahon

Cloudbox 2 -Poe-try by Artist Susie McMahon

WinterRose by Artist Susie McMahon

Zozzle Doll - Enchanting and magical by  Artist Susie McMahon

I am loving this blogspot and the Artist's work is quirky, fun, vibrant and magically embracing. I love her latest piece called the "Sukeshi" doll which is a one of a kind special order for a cat lover. The doll is simply adorable and the work and detail magnificent. You must visit and check out the very talented Susie McMahon's blog and her art dolls and mixed media artwork.

One very talented lady worthy of a "Gold Two Thumbs Up" for her delightful work and enchanting blog. Cheers Julz

Anna Whelan Betts (1875-1952) - Artist and Illustrator

Today I was going through my favourite Artists and Illustrators and I found my folder on Anna Whelan Betts works. Anna trained under the noted illustrator Howard Pyle and these pictures are the only body of work that I could find on Anna on the net. I became entranced with Anna's work whilst looking through some old magazines on line and decided to find out as much as I could about the artist. I don't believe in re-inventing the wheel so have taken the below information from the Wikipedia which is an amazing site that I often use and whole heartedly support. 


Anna Whelan Betts (1875–1952) was an American illustrator and art teacher who was noted for her paintings of Victorian women in romantic settings. Betts is considered one of the primary artists of the golden age of American illustration during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.^[1]

Betts was born on May 15, 1875 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the oldest of three children of the physician Thomas Betts and Alice Whelan.^[2][3] Her sister, Ethel, would also become an artist. Betts studied art at the Pennsylvania Academy in Philadelphia with Robert Vonnoh. After graduating, she moved to Paris where she was tutored by the French painter Courtois. Upon returning to the United States, she studied illustration under Howard Pyle, founder of the Brandywine School. Betts's first published illustration was for Collier's magazine in 1899. Her work later appeared in many of the popular magazines of the early 1900s including Century Magazine, Harper's, The Ladies’ Home Journal, and St. Nicholas Magazine. Her book illustrations appeared for the first time in 1904 in Eleanor Hoyt Brainerd's Nancy’s Country Christmas. Betts was honored as a fellow at the Pennsylvania Academy and won several medals including a bronze medal at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition (1915) in San Francisco.^[4]

After her eyesight began failing in 1925, Betts was advised to retire from illustration. She joined the faculty of the small private boys' school,Solebury School, where she worked as an administrator, hostess and art teacher. In 1944, Betts retired from teaching and moved to New Hope, Pennsylvania, to live with her sister Ethel.