Jesse Mockrin 2 – Witchy Women

On By ResaIn Jesse Mockrin69 Comments

In Botanicals

Women healers practiced medicine for thousands of years.

Old Magic (2025) Oil on Linen

“In the late Middle Ages (1300-1500 CE), these practices were criminalized, and women who worked with plant medicine were rebranded as witches.“

Witches became an archetype for story telling.

Forbidden Fruit (2025) Oil on Linen

“In her recent paintings of witchy women, Mockrin depicts lush, fertile landscapes replete with plants women used to promote menstrual health, sexual health, and for abortion.”

Botanicals included mandrake, mugwort, fennel and dittany.

In Myth

DAPHNE

Daphne is a river nymph from ancient Greek Mythology.

She was the daughter of the river god Peneus.

Daphne “took a vow of chastity and rejected all romantic advances toward her.

The god Apollo fell in love with the river nymph, and when she rejected him, he attempted to rape her.

Daphne ran to the banks of her father’s river, begging him for help.

Intending to protect his daughter from Apollo’s violence, Peneus transformed her forever into a laurel tree.“

I’m intrigued by how Mockrin depicts Daphne as 3 different faces.

A Story told this many times becomes a forest (2024) Triptych – Oil on Linen

Turns out it is 3 stages of transforming – right to left. It comes originally from a poem by Sophia Stid (2020) DAPHNE PURSUED BY APOLLO.

The polestar of Mockrin’s painting is Daphne’s face. Apollo is banished to the outside of the frame.

SYRINX

A Greek and Roman myth, it resembles the tale of Daphne.

Syrinx (2018) Oil on Canvas

“Srynx ran from the satyr Pan, who tried to rape her.

As she approached the shore of a river, she called out to her river nymph sisters for help.

They transformed her into a crop of reeds, which Pan cut to fashion a flute from her.

Even the invention of wind instruments was used to justify sexual violence in the ancient world”.

Sexual violence and even the invention of wind instruments…? I didn’t find further info re; that statement, but…

Oil on canvas – 1722/24

I did stumble upon a painting of Pan chasing Srynx, by – Jean-François de Troy. The free download (& more info) is from the Getty Museum. Click Srynx on the left to view the page.

Could not resist a compare image of Jesse Mockrin’s vision, with Jean-François de Troy’s.

Pics taken by Resa – May 14, 2024

Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, Canada

Source: Getty Images – Flag Art Foundation & Art Gallery of Ontario – “Bold italics in quotes are from the plaquards by the paintings”.

The Fairie Queene, Judith & a Bolognese Elite

On By ResaIn Making Her Mark148 Comments

Lady Diana Beauclerk

British (1735 – 1808)

This watercolour is an illustration for Canto XII, verses 30-33, from The Fairie Queen: written by Edmund Spencer.

Circa 1781- Watercolour on paper

Diana Beauclerk was the daughter of the 3rd Duke of Marlborough and Lady Diana Spencer (Lady-in-Waiting to Queen Charlotte, 1761)

A scandalous figure, she left her husband.

She then had a clandestine affair with Topham Beauclerk, had an illegitimate child, divorced and remarried. Diana wound up having to earn a living with her artistic abilities.

An amateur artist, she was touted as painting in crayons. She worked as an illustrator, did admirable caricatures and created ceramic designs; notably for Wedgewood.

Click on poetry to read it more clearly.

The Fairie Queen is available to download for free from the Project Gutenburg.

Fede Galiza

Italian – (1578 – 1630)

Judith with the Head of Holofernes – (1596) Oil on canvas

Fede’s father, Nunzio Galizia was a miniature portraitist who taught his daughter. By the age of 12 she was an accomplished artist.

Although she gained prominence in her lifetime, she did not acquire commissions, as her male counterparts did. Largely forgotten, she was rediscovered in the early 20th century.

In her lifetime, Galizia painted at least forty-four still lifes, some of which have been sold for millions. These represent about two thirds of her work. She is credited with having helped define early 17th century still life painting

The biblical tale of Judith is possibly the most feminist in art history.

A beautiful Jewish widow, she went with her faithful maid to the Assyrian enemy general Holofernes tent, and seduced him.

This gained his trust, and she was allowed into his tent freely, thereafter.

One night as he slept drunkenly, Judith decapitated him. She brought his head back to her timorous countrymen.

“Fede Galizia portrayed a calm, bejewelled Judith, with immaculate clothes and accessories at odds with the violence of her act.”

Lavinia Fontana

Italian – (1552 – 1614)

Portrait of Costanza Alidosi – (circa 1595) Oil on canvas

“Like many Renaissance artists, Lavinia Fontana used symbolism to convey messages in her paintings.”

In this painting, the noblewoman’s lap dog (an accessory must of the times) represents her faithfulness.

The juniper blossoms peeking from her neckline represent chasteness.

“Fontana also highlighted her sitter’s status through luxurious clothing and accessories.”

Note the pearl necklace, gold embroidered dress and fabulous lace details!

She was a celebrity, who documented not just fashion of the era, but also fashion accessories.

“Alidosi was one of many Bolognese elites who commissioned their portraits from Fontana”.

Lavinia Fontana was one of the most successful female artists in Bologna, Italy. Fontana left the largest body of existing art by any woman, who was painting prior to the 1700’s. Although much of her work is recorded but lost, about 150 works remain.

This is a lovely large painting.

As one can see, it sits about 18″ from the floor, and rises high above the information placquard, which is at low eye level.

Lavinia Fontana, was recently covered in an earlier post of Making her Mark. To learn more about her, please head over to the following:

Jesus – Paintings by Women in the 16th & 17th centuries

Photos taken by ©️ Resa McConaghy – May 24, 2024

Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, Canada

Quotes in bold italics are from the Art Gallery of Ontario display placquards.

Click on banner to go to resource links.

Two 2-Faced Faces

On By ResaIn Faces, Street Art98 Comments

With Four – 2-faced bonuses

Not the nicest hole between walls, but these faces lured me in.

With all the trash underfoot, a dumpster and strange fire escape to nowhere, It was difficult to get clear head on shots.

It seemed like it would be fun to mix and match the half faces.

More recently,

..this half face popped up in my hood.

Above is a slideshow of all the half faces on their own. I matched them all different. Now, there are 6 altogether.

Presenting – the 4 mismatched up half heads!

Pics taken by Resa – May 18, 2025 & June 12, 2026

Toronto, Canada

The artists:

Daniela Rocha (purple half head)

An Abundance of Swans

On By ResaIn Reposts

Presented by: Blue Swan

Hello! Blue Swan here, and I love all things SWAN!

I’m sure you love swans too, so head over to Robbie Cheadle’s latest post on Different Kinds of Art, and check out all the action!

Different Kinds of Art: An Abundance of Swans – A collaboration by Resa and Robbie

EXCUSE ME!

But you are no more a Blue Swan, than I am. YOU are a Blue Pigeon.

I am a Blue Swan!

Blue pigeon!

SWAN!

PIGEON!

There’s just no talking to some blue people! Check out the Abundance of Swans post, and leave your comments there!

Pics taken by Resa – May 15 & June 17, 2026

Toronto, Canada

The Artists:

Old Hues (pigeon) &

Blue Face (unknown) – This is a 14 year old face in Kensington Market, that has just been lovingly restored. It was one of my earliest posts, then was tagged and weathered over the years. I was thrilled to see it refurbished.

I AM A SWAN

Birds of Davenport

On By ResaIn Murals, Nick Sweetman83 Comments

Or as I call them, Nick’s Birds.

After all, Nick painted them.

First up is the Black & White Warbler.

Then we have the Blue Jay.

White-breasted Nuthatch

As one can see in the header, the birds are painted in a curved semi amphitheatre seating area. It semi-surrounds the entrance to the Davenport Subway station. Hence The Birds of Davenport.

I also took the mural in sections. The first section features the first six birds; up to the Red Breasted Grosbeak. Above – Cedar Waxwing

Northern Flicker

Red Breasted Grosbeak

The 5 birds after the Grosbeak are:

The White-throated Sparrow

Scarlet Tanager

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

European Starling

Red-tailed Hawk

And the last 5

House Finch (personal love)

The Ruby-crowned Kinglet

A Turkey Vulture

Blackburnian Warbler

And finally, the Common Grackle.

Pics taken by Resa – April 30, 2026

Toronto, Canada

The Artist:

Woman in a Window & Pretty Trashed

On By ResaIn Graffiti Alley, Windows132 Comments

I went to the Junction to see if any of the holiday window art had been kept.

Every holiday season artists paint, usually frost-like images, on the windows of shops.

It’s only there for a month, a cold and snowy month. This is why I’ve never made it there for the happening.

I found only one. It’s on a record store window. I don’t know if it’s from the art fest or not, but I like it.

I was in a window once,

in a pantyhose ad.

Photo by Taffy Rosen

Found this when tossing stuff from the back of a closet. Kinda glad I still have it… crumpled & stained though it may be. (I touched amap out as possible.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She’s Pretty & she’s on a trash bin, so she’s Pretty Trashed.

Pics taken by Resa – May 25 & 30, 2026

Toronto, Canada

Artists: Unknown to me at this time

Dan Antion’s Doors Challenge

On By ResaIn Thank You's, Tributes

The 2026 Annual Edition

A BIG THANK YOU to Dan at No Facilities for hosting his annual Doors Challenge!

Dorabella & Dorinda do Doors

Above is my response to the challenge.

Above are the 3 doors I submitted. Following are all the creators that responded to my doors.

Robbie’s Inspiration – TDWC26: Ode to Light, A Song Parody

It’s lots of fun to read the creative results. Most are stand alone posts, some include other topics.

#TDWC — The Pumpkin Hat Girls: Secret Handshake, a Short Story
Roberta Writes – Esther Chilton’s Writing Challenge, TDWC26, The Flower Hour, and Thursday Doors
Luck – A Haiku Series TDWC
Wings – A Sijo TDWC
Tanka Tuesday
Thru
Cottage by the Sea
Series: Behind Closed Doors 37
The Observer’s Crime
Dissolves – An Ekphrastic Cinquain TDWC Writing Prompts

THANK YOU DAN!

To go directly to The 2026 Doors Challenge page and see all the doors and links, click on the Doors Badge above!

Comments are closed. Please comment directly on Dan’s blog, or on the blogs of the talented contributors.