Watercolors by Nita Engle

I often see different ideas on Pinterest and the other day I came across a very beautiful watercolor. That's how I learned the name of the artist Nita Engler. Today I want to introduce you to her work. 

Nita Engler (1925 – August 29, 2019) was an American watercolorist.  She was born in Michigan in 1925. Her parents were Charles and Sally Engle, who immigrated to the United States from Sweden. Charles was a state police officer and sergeant.

 

Nita  has painted landscapes from Alaska to her home on the shores of Lake Superior in northern Michigan. She exclusively painted outdoor scenes and nothing she has not experienced.  

 

Engle attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago for four years, during which time she studied at Roosevelt University. In the 1940s the art world was a male-dominated field, so early on in her career she signed her work "N. Engle"

She participated in annual Great Women Artists of America Show, in "International Waters," a show of works of artists from the United States and Great Britain. 

 

 

In Marquette, Michigan Engler set up a studio overlooking Lake Superior. She gave workshops in the United States, Asia, Africa and Tahiti, which were inspiration from some of her wilderness and nature paintings. 

 

 

 

The documentary film of her work, was made in 1985 in Anchorage, Alaska.  She has said, "There is so little wilderness left; we are surrounded by pavement. My goal is to take you into the landscape through my painting."

 

 

 

She was an award-winning, long-time member of the American Watercolor Society. Millions of people have seen her artwork on the covers of such well known magazines as Reader's Digest. 

I decided to show you some of Nita's watercolors on my blog, maybe not all of you have read this magazine. I hope you enjoy some of these watercolors.

Source 

Source 

Kovrov Clay Toys

Today I want to tell, friends, about the original Russian Kovrov clay craft. These are clay toys painted in the national style. Once they were toys for children, and now these crafts are used as souvenirs. Because children like modern iPhones more than clay toys. 

Kovrov clay toy is a folk craft, which was formed in the area of ​​the city of Kovrov, on the banks of the Klyazma River in central Russia in 19th century. 

Kovrov craftsmen created not only figurines of animals and fairy-tale heroes, but also everyday scenes from Russian life, and depicting all the details with the utmost clarity.

 

• Well-dressed ladies greet guests with a ratchet.
• A cheerful buffoon is playing something on the balalaika.
• Girls in colorful dresses lead round dances.
• Grandmother and grandfather are standing near the painted stove 

 

 

 

 

• A guy with an accordion and a girl with a red cat sing.
• 'Babushka' with a pot of porridge
• The date and sunflower heads.

Kovrov toys bring people back to their roots. Traditional craft on the Kovrov land began to revive at the end of the 20th century. Today, the Kovrov toy is a Russian folk souvenir craft.

 

 

  

 

• Chatterbox girls
• Fairy tales "Turnip" and "Emeliy on the stove".
• A girl with buckets of water

Toys of our time are clay whistles, bells, original compositions from the  life of people of 19th century, as well as figurines of animals and birds. 

Are similar clay toys made in your country?