Now that April Fool’s long gone, I may safely proceed with my interpretation of… April.
Lame excuse huh? Well, better late then never, here is
April!
Fourth month of the year. Its name originates from the Latin ‘Aprilis’ [from the verb aperire, “to open” for spring, the season when flowers ‘open’. The Greek word Anixi ‘Ανοιξη’ also means opening].
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• April colors: Pink & Purple
• April Birthstone: Diamond
• April Flowers: Daisy & Sweet Pea
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speaking of daisies:
“April Daisies” Marina Kanavaki © 2016
Watercolor digitally edited
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• Word* of the month: Innocence
*also: Blissful, Curious, Delicate, Departure, Lasting Pleasures, Playful, and Tenacious
• Astrological signs: Aries & Taurus
On number four:
• Four is the only number that has the same number of characters as its value in the English language [not the case in Greek though: ‘tessera’! ;-)]
• Four cardinal directions: North – East – South – West.
• Four blood types [ABO blood group system]: A, B, O, AB
• Four is the atomic number of beryllium.
• Valency of carbon (basis of life on the Earth) is four. Because of its tetrahedral crystal bond structure, diamond (one of the natural allotropes of carbon) is the hardest known naturally occurring material.
• According to Aristotle there are basically four causes in nature: the efficient cause, the matter, the end, and the form.
• Four seasons [although lately their boundaries are becoming obscure!]: Spring – Summer – Autumn – Winter
• Greek classical elements: Fire – Air – Water – Earth
• A leap year [like this one] occurs every four years
• Four is the number of strings on a violin, a viola, a cello, double bass, a cuatro and a ukulele, and the number of string pairs on a mandolin.
[source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4_%28number%29%5D
For more information on the number four, visit Bumba‘s page here: FOUR
Also visit Frank‘s Salutes To Numbers
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So, before this month ends…
Diamond Four
Diamond Four © Marina Kanavaki
Technique: mixed media [Indian ink and oil on colored tissue paper, digitally edited]
from the series “journey of numbers” © 2016
SHOP Diamond Four [FRAMED OR ON CANVAS] @ IMAGEKIND
[museum quality printing and framing]
SHOP Diamond Four [FRAMED OR ON CANVAS] @ Society6
By clicking on any of the images, you’ll be directed to my art shop.
Visit my shop for art prints, framed or on canvas or printed on iphone cases, laptop skins & sleeves, cards, mugs & travel mugs, t-shirts, tank tops, v-neck tees, biker tanks, onesies, hoodies, allover print tees, pouches & leggings, tote bags, shower curtains, tapestries, throw blankets, pillows and duvet covers at Society6
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For the musical April,
Chick Corea & Gary Burton – Four In One • Devo – The 4th Dimension • Ella Fitzgerald – April in Paris • Eric Dolphy Quintet – April Fool • Keith Jarrett – Four • Led Zeppelin – Four Sticks • Miles Davis –I’ll Remember April • MK-O – 4Wheel Animal • Nat King Cole – Lost April • Nina Simone – Four Women • Nine Inch Nails – The Four Of Us Are Dying • Peter Hammill – Four Pails • Pink Floyd – Free Four
…
Trilogy by Emerson, Lake & Palmer
For Keith Emerson – the master of keyboards.
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My best wishes to everyone.
About months & numbers: Back in September 2015, inspired by Bumba’s “The Numbers Game Is Here: Mathematics for Dummies” The Whole Nine Yards, I started working on images for each month. First month was September, so this series will be completed in August 2016!
Categories: BuyM, Digital Art, Dreamscapes, Illustration, RentM, UseM
Marina Kanavaki 
‘Four!’ is also what you yell when your golf ball is about to knock someone’s 🎩 off. No wait, that’s ‘Fore!’– sorry… 😐
Sometimes ‘Four’ is the number of ⭐️’s you give something that’s really good– like a 4-star hotel, for example. But I could never give 4 stars to a Marina painting. Nor could I give 400 stars. Both numbers are much too low. I would have to give all the stars in the universe!!!
Well, guess I’d better start collecting them… 🚀🌕🌖🌗🌘🌑💥🚑👽👽👽🍨😊
Well, I’m afraid you won’t find many as I’ve been collecting them a long long time to give to you!!!!!!! You may find however some homeless 👽👽👽👽👽👽👽👽 around…
Many shinning thankyous to you, my friend! 🙂 🙏 😊😊😄😄😃😊🙂🙃😊😄😃🙂🙃
LOVE all of your images, especially the daisies!
What a compliment, coming from you! Thank you, my friend! 🙂
Hi dear Marina!
Love all paintings specially daisies！ really beautiful❤️❤️❤️
xxxxx
Violet! So nice to see you back!!!!!! I knew the daisies would bring you out of hiding!!!! 😉 Thank you, my dear friend! xxxxxxxxx
Lovely watercolor. Digitally edited, hmmm. That is very interesting. Wondering what you did with the painting on the computer.
It’s a secret!!!! Nuh – joking! I do a collage using colored tissue papers, Indian ink and oil colors for the suns. Then I scan and edit it digitally. As for the daisies, well, it’s a watercolor I did but then I decided to add more daisies! That was done digitally, and usually when I start editing, I end up with a piece very different from the original! 😉
Wow.
I like the drawing, the design for the four very much. Also those daisies. I always like your watercolors. But, as you talked of Aristotle’s four substances, let me remind you that Plato cited the fifth, the quintessential, the five regular solids, the fifth dimension and not the pop group. All going to say that May the fifth month approaches and we are all expecting something magnificent. I already started my May magazine. So….
Sooooo late!!!!!! At least I made it and posted on the 5th of May! 😉 As you may have read, I directed my friends to your May magazine, hoping to pacify Plato’s mood! 😉 Happy May, my friend! 🙂
The fifth of May. That’s perfect. Happy Cinqo de Mayo! When I get to my computer I’ll link too.
😉 Happy Cinqo de Mayo, signor!
Muchas gracias:)
I was a fan of their unplugged theme ‘In the beggining’. Oh Marina, thanks for sharing and kisses.
A big loss for music… Apologies for the very late response – our Easter was last week. Happy May! 🙂
Hi Marina, don’t worry, any message from you makes me glad. Thanks, love and luck ❤
🙂 🙂
Running back by to visit the daisies – they look so carefree in the watercolor. Perfect for the weather here today
The daisies [albeit a little late!] are very happy to hear that! We both thank you very much! Hope your weather is nice and warm. 🙂
4 ,for beautiful creative mind forever.Best regards.
I’m sorry for my very late response! [just saw it!] Thank you so much, my dear Jalal! Best regards to you! 🙂
You welcome Marina .Have a delightful weekend.
You too, Jalal! 🙂
You shine like a diamond, Marina. Your painting is as unique and sparkling as you.
Incredible things you’ve spoken about for April. Daisies blowing in the wind screaming Spring … so lovely.
Innocence is the perfect word for the beginning of mother natures rebirth. The innocent children
born, as well. A gloriously perfect tribute to the month of April. Well done, my dream friend, Marina.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Isadora ❤️😍❤️
Awww, my dear Isadora, you always bring light and kindness with you! Thank you so much for your most flattering words!
Wishing you a joyful and peaceful weekend too, my sweet friend! 🙂 xxxxxxxxx 😘😘
❤️
A perfect blending…i can hardly wait for May…my birthday month! You always share such vibrant creations! Hugs to you dear sister!
Ah, thank you, my dear Wendell! I can’t wait either! [first May drafts are already on paper! 😉 ] My best wishes for a beautiful weekend.
Oh it’s been long since I said hello dear Marina. But seeing your beautiful Daises more than makes up for the gap. And of course there are the Four Vedas: Rigveda, the Yajuveda, the Samaveda and the Atharvaveda these lay down the basis of Hinduism and said to be composed between 1500 and 700 BC. (From the Wikipedia)
Regards and many good wishes 😃😃
So nice seeing you here, my dear Dilip! Elementary, huh?! I should have mentioned the Vedas, but …that’s what friends are for! 😉 Thank you so much for your kind words, my dear friend AND the reminder! 🙂
Frankly I may know there are four Vedas but what I understand is perhaps not even a drop in the ocean 🙂
I do really find your paintings always so beautiful. Will be in touch more often dear Marina. 🙂 🙂
Oh, I’m so happy to hear that, my friend!
I wish I knew more on Vedas but I fear that one lifetime may not be enough! 😉
Love the daisies. But that diamond is just brilliant Marina! How do you manage to achieve that translucence?
Pardon my ignorance, but how do you digitally edit a watercolour? Do you scan and upload it for editing?
Ah, thank you so much, Madhu!!! 🙂
Both images [‘Diamond Four’ and ‘April Daisies’] are digitally edited.
For ‘April Daisies’, I scanned a watercolor I did and then added daisies I clipped from photos and digitally edited the final image.
For ‘Diamond Four’ I scanned a collage I did [tissue paper – indian ink and oil color for the sun] and added a detail from a diamond photo. Then edited the image. This series originated from a project I did many years ago: “1-6: A trip”, which was a journey from number 1 to number 6! You can see it here: https://marinakanavaki.com/2012/11/01/1-6/ 🙂
Brilliant technique Marina. I am almost inspired to try my hand at it. Have to find myself some time first 😦
🙂 Oh, you will!!!! 🙂
April Daisies speak to me, what a beautiful kiss of Spring for us to enjoy – so light and special this piece is. Innocence, yes that is the symbol of your work. I do love the Diamond Four Marina – gorgeous play on colors and also the sparkles of this precious stone. Hope you are having a beautiful April, hugs to you my friend from TX – Mary (sorry I am so late in responding to your post my husband and I are in the middle of doing some major work around the house and it’s taken me away from blogging and art – another two weeks and I’ll be back at it).
My dear Mary, your words always brighten my day. Thank you so much for your lovely comment.
Work around the house sounds great [some kind of renovation is always refreshing -sometimes even creative 🙂 ] I’ve also been on-off lately and tend to get very late in responding! Enjoy life, my dear friend, be it house work, creating or simply …being! 🙂 xx
Love Love Love the colors.
thank you thank you thank you!!!!! 🙂
unique…. as always….
Ah, thank you, Arlen! 🙂
Marina! I enjoyed learning the source of your inspiration for the Diamond 4 🙂 Beautiful! My favorite color is pink so I’m pleased we’re in its main month of April right now ❤
Hi, Christy! Thank you so much, my kind friend! Happy pink April [and weekend too!] 🙂 xxxxx
Excellent.
Ah, thank you!! 🙂
April Daisies is so lovely Marina. It really makes me look forward to the coming warm weather.
It does [even though we have been taking an early taste of summer already …too early!] Thank you, my dear Donna and happy weekend! 🙂
Loved this Marina.. April always a favourite month.. and so loved your design.. especially the enhanced diamond.. Of which you are a wonderful facet shinning brightly within your creations.. 🙂
Your April Daisies so restful to view.. ( I am growing sweetpeas 🙂 too.. )
Have a beautiful weekend Marina.. Enjoy..
Love Sue xxx ❤
Well, I am certainly glowing now, after reading your beautiful [and o-so flattering] words! Thank you, my sweet friend. I hope your weekend is a peacefully colorful and pleasant, Sue! 🙂 hugs + love xxxxx
🙂 Dear Marina.. you leave me glowing so many times after your visits my friend.. 🙂 I was happy to repay a perfectly True compliment.. 🙂 Keep shinning!… xxx ❤ Hugs
Awwwwwwwww………… 🙂 YOU TOO!!!!! xxxxxxxxxxxxx 🙂 😘🤗
❤ ❤
Bright like a diamond… I love your artwork, dear Marina. Sending love and wishing you a happy weekend ahead. Aquileana😉
Ah, Aquileana… thank you so much, sweetie. You too enjoy a beautiful weekend!! 🙂 xx
It must be very rare that beryllium gets a blog mention – almost as rare as the element itself. I had to look it up. I had completely forgotten, of course, that “it is created through stellar nucleosynthesis”. I much prefer the daisies, really… RH
Poor beryllium! No one cares about it! 🙄
What kind of April post would this be, without the presence of …BERYLLIUM, huh?!!!!!! 😉
Thank you for my daisies RH! 🙂
The diamond sparkles in your creation! Your inclusion of Mr. Emerson isn’t a surprise. Many readers on my blog loved Julie London, so here’s her tribute to April. https://youtu.be/JdQzZkmjxik
Awww… thank you Frank and for that Julie London treat! 🙂
Wishing you a wonderful weekend! 🙂
It’s sad such a brilliant musician left in bitterness…
Interesting handbell weekend. A regional conference of a national handbell organization is an hour away – so the choir is attending. There are rehearsals, workshops, a guest concert, and a massive concert at the end of the 2-day event. I’m guessing the large choir will be about 700 ringers! Also, during the two days, our choir will have a workshop with another director – which involves playing a prepared piece and receiving constructive comments and drills. Should be interesting. I’ll report on it afterwards.
Wow! A very busy musical weekend!!!!! Have fun and …report back! 🙂
A lot of standing on your feet.
hmm… not even a small parachute allowed to get the weight off the feet?
LOL … Will have to take wine along to breakout sometime Saturday afternoon.
okay, that’ll do too! 😉 🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷 cheers!
April’s half way done and spring is well and truly here, hooray for daisies!
Hooray for daisies! 🙂 I hope we don’t jump straight to summer before we get a chance to enjoy colorful spring! [30ºC already!] 🙂
You use purple so well 🙂
Ah…. thank you. Seems that many months are …purple! 🙂
Four big cheers for Marina……..well done!
and four big ‘thank you’, Robert! 🙂
Really gorgeous design, Marina. Love your beautiful April daisies. 🙂
Ah, thank you, Sylvia! Have a lovely weekend ahead! 🙂 xx
Lovely post, beautiful pictures! x
Thank you very much! 🙂
I learn every time I visit your blog. April has so much to give. Exquisite colour combination.
Ah, you are so kind, Rebecca! Yes, April is a beautiful month, full of color! Hence, I wish I didn’t have the constriction of ‘April birth color’ 🙄 Happy April!!!! 🙂 xx
striking gorgeous colours for April – but I love the way the daisies are leaning to the right – suggests summer is not so far away
🙂 Thank you, my dear Laura! It is round the corner, isn’t it?! At least here: 30ºC already! 😉
Lovely work, Marina! Hope you’re having a good week.
Happy you like it, my friend. So far, yes. I hope yours is a lovely one [and creative as usual] too! 🙂
Of course April is a diamond! I love the daisies painting!! I’m beaver busy…love to you! xoxoxo
🙂 !!!! Beaver busy sounds GREAT!!!!!!! Happy creating! I can’t wait to see! 🙂 hugs + love xxxx
xoxoxo!!!!
Beautiful and elegant colour combination.
Thank you very much, Jo! 🙂
Marina, I love those shades of pink and purple! ~xx
Ah, so nice to hear, Patricia! Even though the colors were ‘given’ [April colors], it wasn’t easy getting them …’likeable’ [well, to me at least!] 😉 xx
Beautiful Marina ☺️❤️
Thank you, my dear Hedy! 🙂 xx
❤️ you’re welcome Marina ☺️
🙂 xx
love these, especially the daisies!! so very soft and Spring like 🙂 plus the 4 Design is great, very Bold and makes a statement, with great color pairing. cool!!
Ah, thank you so much, Debi. The month/number illustrations have been a good ‘exercise’ of color limitation -as the colors are ‘given’ [colors of the month or birth colors]. This one was not a favorite of mine [white / pink / purple] but I am glad it worked out in the end. 🙂