Birds in a Boudoir

This commission for 3 long box framed paper and mixed media artworks was for the most lovely young lady's bedroom.  It was french inspired with the palest pink mixed with black trim - glamorous and girly!

Here are some of the elements to the artworks as they evolved... then the final pieces.

They were almost 2 meters long!

The art piece from my Paper Trail exhibition that inspired the trilogy

Layers of hand cut birdcages, paper flowers and paper garlands.

I embroidered artwork onto actual hoops that were incorporated into the frames.

 The pieces are called:  

"In the stillness of my heart", 

"In the secret of my Dreams", 

"Is the place where I am free".

Viola! 

Flamingo!

 

This flamingo is stepping out in style. The title of this artwork is "Places to go".  It is done in pen and wash.  I love flamingo's, so kitsch and cool.  

I have 8/10 prints left @ R 200 ea unframed.

Give Away, Portraits of two birds

I have decided to to do a giveaway each month from now until December!  This giveaway is exclusively for followers of my blog and is my way of saying "thanks" to the loyal few who have shown interest in my ramblings and artworks! See details for this giveaway below...

  For the month of September I am giving away this pair of birdies.  To enter, I am looking for a title for each birdie picture - post your entry as a comment and the most original will win!  I love to give my works fun and interesting names!  Entries close Friday 23rd of September.
The winner will be posted the pictures with their title on them, signed by moi!  

Bird Cage Boudoir

I am working on a large commission for a young girls room based on this artwork.  I need to do 3 very long artworks (1.65m long!), all in 3D and layers of paper.  The room they are going in is magnificent - black, cream and flesh pink with gorgeous bird cage wall paper!  It is a daunting task but the end result will hopefully be worth it!

Happiness is...

Something about red and pink together makes me very happy!  It gives me a zingy feeling.  This is a small canvas painting of 2 little birdies - I like to think they are having a little lovebird chat.

Tweet tweet .... more bird paintings

Inspired by God's promise to take care of even the little sparrow!

This picture was done on recycled block picture

Small canvas paintings on my studio windowsill

Bird Portraits... thank you for posing!

I have had this idea in my head for a while now...birds done portrait style in little old fashioned frames.

Aha!  I managed to translate my vision on to paper exactly the way I wanted it to be.  This is a one and only original and is now in ikhaya store at R 1499.  I may have to do more as word has got out amongst high society birds and they all want portraits done!

Mrs Peacock

Just picking up a black pen and sketching is still one of my favourite things to do.

I have a riddle book on Noah's ark where the some of the animals have human bodies and wear suits. This lady was a postcard that I saw online and I have done my own version.  I like the like the way this plays on the idea of humans having "animal-like" qualities and animals having "human-like" qualities.  I want to do a few more sketches along the same lines... Mr Wise owl perhaps.  I also want to do some "bird portraits". Formal poses,  I can see it in my head, just need to get it on paper!

I had some fun playing with effects and creating a "negative" version of the drawing.

Bird curiosity!

It has been mulling around in my head lately the idea that there is a common consiousness that draws us to certain themes, symbols and colours. Some may call these "trends".

I have been feeling curious about the idea of trends being more than just fashion but being something deeper that draws us to certain things.

It was birds in particular that got me thinking about this. About 2 years ago I started doodling birds and birdcages on little tags for cards. I was not drawing or painting "professionally" at the time but they were in my mind.

They have become a significant theme for my work and when I recently started to blog and explore the creative universe through the web I was amazed by the bird obsession out there. It was as if we were all on the same page....

I have done some contemplating on this and some research and will post about my thoughts on it in the next few blogs!