Contact Me

My agent is Simon Trewin

Simon Trewin Ltd, Adam House, 7-10 Adam Street, London WC2N 6AA

simon@simontrewin.co.uk

http://www.simontrewin.co.uk

35 thoughts on “Contact Me”

  1. Patty Clarke

    I am having trouble finding a copy of Victoria’s book Color: A Natural History of the Palette. My father is 88 yrs old and an artist. I know he would love that book & I want to get it for him for Christmas. He’s not getting any younger 🙂 so time is of the essence! Can you help?

    Many thanks

    Patty Clarke (we are in western Canada in Calgary)

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  2. jason haye

    “On occasion we have an idea that is so clear and simple and elegant that we are astonished, as if a rare and precious meteor fragment just landed at our feet. We pick it up and examine it closely. And we ask ourselves, where could this have come from. Looking back to the blue sky we marvel. But we can never figure out what to do with the idea. Some meteors become doorstops or paperweights. The same is true for these special thoughts. We marvel at their novelty for a while and then tend to forget them. But ideas, like a seed crystal, need to be nurtured so the can grow and influence us. An idea with beautiful symmetry must be planted deep in the mind with long and considerate reflection. Then it can be the seed crystal of thought that will grow, reflecting internal beauty and geometry.”

    – The Structure of Delight

    5am…

    A moment that can happen at any time.
    when everything falls into place,
    clarity is at it’s clearest,
    confusion transforms into oneness
    and when fate…
    Welcomes you with open arms.

    http://www.wix.com/project5am/project-5am

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  5. Hamid Zavareei

    Victoria, there is a piece in the National Gallery in your neck of the woods if you are in London now, by Rogier Van der Weden; Magdalen reading. I think it is a tsitsit she is wearing. It has seven dinglies though. and I beleive he used Indigo to render that. hopefully someday I will see that in person but for now I will suffice to look at it on screen. you can get a good degree of resolution on their website. take a look and see what you think.

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  6. Fran Ginn

    Hello, Victoria, I bought Color in 2003. Six months after buying the book I was in Nurnenburg Germany and visited Albrect Duher’s studio. There on the wall of his studio was a map of the world as he knew it, with scallop shells filled with raw pigment and a ribbon leading from each shell to the place on the map where the pigment originated. it was a visual of your book. Based on your description of the “lost blue” at Chartres, I visited the cathedral to see that blue. Since 2003 I have given that book to 14 friends who are either artists or interested in color. In relating the story of the lost blue last evening to an artist friend, she asked if I had ever told you how much I enjoyed the book. As soon as she said that, I determined to search out an address for you. Now I find this terrific blog! The book has made me look at color in a new way. Thank you for writing it.
    Best,
    Fran Ginn

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  7. Sylvia

    I found your book COLOR at the Jung Center of Houtson, Texas. I’m an art teacher and was very excited to read it and I loved it. I also shared it on my blog for all my students and colleagues to read. Thanks so much!

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  8. Joanna Chumas

    I loved your book Colour – read it while living in Australia years ago. Have just dug it out of my library to reread it. Would love to be put on your blog mailing list. I will try and read your other books too. Love the subject matter. Love the writing. Very best wishes, Joanna

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  9. gökçe

    hi, ı am gökçe and ı am from turkey and gemolog ı saw your book about gemstones so ı was very happy. I wonder that you write second book about gemstones because ı read your book , ı liked it.
    ı want to ask a question did you go to sappihire, emerald and other gemstones mining realy because it is so beautiful

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  10. Olga Om

    Hi, Victoria!
    Your books are wonderful! I studied culture anthropology and history of art in Odessa, Ukraine. So, your works help me to understand Đ°n interconnection between chemistry and art.

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  11. negxl1

    Ms. Finlay:
    I am a quartz collector who has enjoyed your Color & Jewels books, and the segments of your website about agates. One quibble however:

    You write at:
    Castellani, Augusto. Gems: Notes and Extracts. Trans. Mrs John Brogden. (London: Bell & Daldy, 1871.)
    “…Ear agates are the parts of the stone where, in the cutting, are discovered circular bands, small in diameter, arranged with regularity abut one spot. The first round is white, the second is black, green, red, blue or yellow…”

    You do caution us that this section of your website consists of your notes on agates, which you have not fact-checked. Upon some further hunting on my part, I believe you meant to say EYE agates, not ear agates.

    This can be checked easily in several online versions of the Castellani book, for example:
    http://www.farlang.com/gemstones/castellani-gems/page_025
    Castellani, Augusto. Gems: Notes and Extracts. London: Bell & Daldy, 1871.
    “Eye agates consist of those parts of the stone in which the cutting discovers circular bands of very small diameter, arranged with regularity round one circular spot. These circles are frequently so perfect that they appear to be traced by the compass, and consist of two or three, seldom of a greater number. The first round is white ; the second, black, green, red, blue or yellow ; the most rare are those whose circles are at equal distance from the centre.” (pp. 22-23)

    Too bad! I keep up with the literature on agates, and really wanted to believe in this new type, “ear agates”!
    Keep up the good work, as you have a fine suite of interests and a gift for description.

    Robert, in California

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    1. victoriafinlay Post author

      Dear Robert. That is an excellent quibble. Though as you say a shame that ear agates are not a rare cousin of eye agates but simply a slip of my typing fingers. I imagine them, if they existed, to be rather whorly. Thank you for your sharp editing and I will go and change that straight away. Glad you enjoyed the book and thank goodness I didn’t put anything about ear agates in that! Best wishes, Victoria

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  12. Nathan Evans

    Hello Victoria,

    I recently finished your book Color: A Natural History of the Palette. Fantastic book! Its sense of adventure is infectious; so infectious in fact that I have decided to switch to the use natural dyes. Thank you for inspiring this decision its added a new level of intimacy to my work.
    I was wondering if you had any suggestions on reading material about making traditional fabric dyes perhaps even recipes.

    Thank you so much for your time,
    Nathan

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    1. victoriafinlay Post author

      Hi Nathan

      That is wonderful! What were you thinking of dyeing? I’ve got one book which looks great and has loads of recipes – it’s called Wild Colour by Jenny Dean and seems to be extremely comprehensive and clear, with really good photographs. She’s done another one, I see from Amazon, called Colour from Nature, A Dyer’s Handbook… I don’t know how different that would be. I have another book, more anecdotal, called The Colors of Casa Cruz which is far more local-specific, about the colours found around Oaxaca in Mexico, and about how Fidel Cruz – the dyer I mention in the book – finds his colours but unless you’re in Mexico or New Mexico it would be less useful than interesting. I’ve not done much dyeing at all so if you have a successful vat do let me know…

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  13. pondery

    Dear Victoria,
    I am reading “Color” with such gusto that I have to talk myself into putting it down often.
    I was reading Orange last night, and I wanted to share a thought as I was reading the part about mastic production on Chios. On page 181, you talk about how the Turkish harem bought 3000 kilos of mastic for the harem. I believe, the Turkish women used that mastic not for bad breath (so much, hopefully) but for waxing body hair, which I believe was something attributed to Turkish women and very much desirable. Although the mother of the Turkish sultan might not have revealed to harem’s secret to her producers.
    I enjoy the book so very much, mostly with a smile on my face and a realization of how much we take for granted.
    Thank you,
    Nihan

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    1. victoriafinlay Post author

      Dear Nihan
      That is a terrific story – I had no idea about the waxing potential of mastic though if I’m ever given the chance of revising Colour for a new edition then I’ll definitely add that. Brilliant! It certainly explains the astonishing quantities. Thank you…
      Best wishes, Victoria

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  14. patti Elliott

    I have read your book Color once from cover to cover, But I have read all of the colors individually many times. I return to each color when the emotion calls it out, when I need a break from my work mind or a spark for my next project. Each color’s story has a personality and adventure uniquely it’s own, but they are all so passionate in how people have found a way to release them.

    I am reading Orange right now, As I wore amber jewelry to an event last night. Thank you for writing this wonderful book

    Patti

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  15. Sarah Redway

    Dear Victoria,
    Thank you for your amazing book. It has taken me 7 years to complete reading your expedition through Colour – which is entirely my own fault and nothing at all to do with your writing. I have relished dipping in and out of Colour and read and re-read the chapters in the rare quite moments in amongst having 3 young children and running a business. It has been my sanity and reminder that I am part of a world of wonder beyond my front door that doesn’t revolve around nappies and putting food on the table. Your fascinating research and travels have been an inspiration and constant reminder to me to instil a general curiosity of all things into my children. And also, to try to answer as patiently and fully as I can their unending questions.
    Thank you – I now look forward to tracking down and reading a copy of your book about Gemstones.
    Sarah

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  16. Falling Raiine

    Victoria your book “Colour” responds to me on a very deep level – I take it with me almost everywhere – I’ll say no more because Patti has virtually read my thoughts!
    It’s strange though and you may find this peculiar it seems to be pushing me into some amazing direction – as if it is giving me answers of what action or direction or…..? to take – all good though – please keep writing…..

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  17. Stevo SchĂĽling

    Just finished reading your book (in a German translation). Liked it. Don´t know if you heard this about dyeing with woad: In our area here in Westfalia in northwest Germany we say about a woman who can do ANYTHING: “sie kann hexen und blaufärben” she can do witchcraft and bluy-dyeing. Probably because the complicated process -as you describe in the book- does not create the desired blue colour up until the vey end (which may appear like witch craft) and also because it involves the little secrets any decent craft carries…

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  18. Johnathan Guarneros

    Hello, i´m having trouble to find a spanish version of the book Color: A Natural History of the Palett, in a electronic – spanish version, i usualle use a Kindle for reading, could you please let me know where can i buy it?

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  19. Pamela Hunter

    Thank you Victoria for “JEWELS”. i read “drival” according to my husband.. but a copy of JEWELS was in a bunch of books given to me by a friend. If I had read on a kindle I would have never seen it this is why paper books must stay in print. This book was greater than any fiction I have read. I will never look at any stone the same again and know that each one has its own story. Thank you again.

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  20. warm2

    Hi again.
    I have learnt my preorder for The Brilliant History of Color in Art is now on its way. Can’t wait to start reading …
    Tony

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  21. Nancy M. Waggener

    I really enjoyed Color: A Natural History of the Palette. I taught drawing to my own children and continue to teach other homeschoolers. I love being able to take drawing lessons to improve my skills and observation. I work parttime at a bookstore, which has a used book dept as well, where I came upon your book. I am scooping up other copies to be able to give them as gifts. Such fascinating stories and great information.

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  22. June Harvey

    Dear Victoria Finlay, I have only just discovered your wonderful book on Colour and to my excitement I find you discovered Captain Walter Sherwill well before me in your search for the colour yellow! I failed to find his report on Bihar in the British Library although I did know he had written some – but in fact wouldn’t have had room for it anyway in his youthful “Sherwill Journals” which I transcribed, edited and published last year. (Cambridge Scholars Publishing 2020). I will make a point of going and finding it now though, just from curiosity. I wish I had had your book to hand when I was training as a Colour Consultant for Berger Paints back in 1963! But thank you now best wishes June Harvey

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    1. Victoria Finlay Post author

      Dear June. Thank you! How wonderful that you transcribed Captain Sherwill’s journals… I’ve just found the Foreword on Google books https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=W0fhDwAAQBAJ&printsec=copyright&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false and I think that your book is something that would be hugely useful for future researchers. The kind of absolute gold dust that leads to so many new thoughts. Just the foreword makes me sick for longing to be back in the Himalayas (and in my 20s once again, with knees capable of striding, and that courage that we need to go exploring.) And that sketch of Mount Everest, “Great Peak”… Wow.

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  23. AA

    The book Fabric was amazing! However, there was an incorrect reference to the Persian Gulf (incorrectly called the Arabian gulf), which reduces credibility of the research. Hope it is corrected in future versions

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  25. MJ Ewing

    Hello Victoria, I am currently reading “Jewels”, and ran across this today on a genealogy insider blog by Maureen Taylor. Maureentaylor.com
    Vulcanite
    Victorian mourning jewelry was an outward symbol of one’s grief. Jet, a type of coal, was usually used in mourning jewelry but it was expensive. It could be made into pendants, necklaces, and pins. The cheaper alternative was Vulcanite, made from black rubber. Jet and rubber shared qualities of being lightweight with a warm feel. Photographic frames, brooches, and, pins featuring the deceased could be produced. Author Amelia Soth, profiled this technique in her JSTOR column, Cabinet of Curiosities.
    These connections lead me to think there are so many paths we travel, just as you did to find your gems, that can make great stories.

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  27. Theresa Darrough

    I grew up surrounded by fabric, piles and swirls of fabric. My mother taught herself to sew at age 12, and she didn’t stop until just a few months before she died. The last dress freed from her machine was a wedding dress for a friend. The cover of your book, Fabric, instantly drew me in, and throughout those pages I got to spend time with my mom. Priceless. So, thank you for all the time you dedicated to research, writing, editing. Just now, I read the bit where you quoted Psalm 91, and I heard my mom’s voice read it. She read to me over the phone on the day she told me about her terminal diagnosis. Our mother’s heartbeat is our first lullaby. They are in our canoe paddling for all they’re worth to get us safely through life’s waters. When that lullaby is silent and we’re in that canoe all alone, that is when adulthood truly begins. All my mom’s fabric is now mine. After reading this book, I can embrace the task of parsing it out into my daughters canoes. Thank you again.

    Theresa Darrough

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    1. Victoria Finlay Post author

      Dear Theresa, What a very lovely, moving email. And how extraordinary that this was what your mother read to you. I’m guessing she wanted to protect you, as well as herself with it. Thank you.

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  28. Heather Brady

    Thank you for all of the hard work and exhaustive research you put into your books. I have loved all of them. I just finished Fabrics, and as a weaver myself it was fascinating. I wonder if you came across any examples of card (or tablet) weaving in your travels?

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