Baroque Studies

With crinolines, ruffled collars and powdered wigs on my mind, It' not surprising I've been sketching a lot of Baroque portraits recently. Even though the pieces for my mini show at the Zichy Palace are already finished, I can't get enough of the whole Baroque style.

I watch Annie Lennox's clip "walking on broken glass" at least once a day (worth it just to ogle Hugh Laurie and John Malkovich dressed up as French aristocrats). The clip itself is genius - a lot of these sketches are taken from the stills.

I'm finally reading "Dangerous Liasons" (the Hungarian version is fantastic, they have an incredible vocabulary). I'm looking forward to watching the movie, with a cast including Keanu Reeves, John Malkovich, Glenn Close, Michelle Pfeiffer and Uma Thurman.... I can't believe I haven't already seen it.

All this frivolity is getting in the way of doing serious work. But hey, life is short, and this is fun.

Unrequited

I painted this intimate scene to fit the last frame I had. This small series of "Baroque Portraits" will be exhibited in a weeks time at the Zichy Palace in Győr, during a very frivolous Baroque themed Costume Ball. I myself will be set up in one of the palace rooms, in an extravagant gown, painting delicate portraits during the evening. 

I’ve always loved this era, and am a huge admirer of the "Marie Antoinette Cult" (I don't know what else to call it!). Imagery of decadence and carnal frivolity, contrasted with pastel prints and refined etiquette... I’m glad this Baroque Ball has lent me the excuse to engage in my fantasies for a little bit!

The Demand

Another decadent piece for the upcoming Baroque-themed Ball and mini Solo exhibition at the Zichy Palace in Győr. This time, a demanding young member of the spoiled aristocracy.

Wounded Rhymes

Perhaps the gentleman she wanted to dance with is dancing with another lady? I'm not sure, but this damsel is quite dissatisfied with the situation she finds herself in.

Another piece, framed and ready for the upcoming Baroque Ball I will be painting at. I wonder if a handsome gentleman will ask ME to dance? At any rate, I will not pout like this powdered and rouged coquette, I will be busy painting ephemeral little Baroque-style portraits to entertain the guests at the Zichy Palace.

Baroque Palaces

I’ve mentioned before how charming I find the inner town of Győr, with its pastel coloured Baroque houses and Palaces. Due to its rich history, the Baroque theme is heavily pushed by the town with special occasions and street festivals during the year. To my immense joy I was invited to an exclusive Baroque themed costume ball, held in the incredibly beautiful Zichy palace here in Győr.

I have already been for my costume fitting – a honey-pink gown, with layers of organza and silk, and a matching ostentatious costume hat decked in delicate roses and vines. I begged for the largest, most extravagant crinoline they had. And I got it. If you’re going to go to a Baroque Ball you might as well go all out, no?

During the night I will be one of the “entertainment”; with a little easel set up in one of the palace rooms to paint delicate portraits in my ephemeral style. A formal dinner is followed by a night of dancing, to which I am most looking forward to!

As I will be exhibiting some of my work during the Ball, I decided to raid the frame store again for some decadent, ornate gold frames. How gorgeous are they? I cannot wait to fill them with dames and coquettes.

Give me the words...

I like poetic titles. But I am stuck on this one... the song that was playing as I pondered what to name this piece sang to me softly: "give me the words....that tell me, everything..."

How appropriate... Please help me find the appropriate words to title this piece... what story do you cypher?

Part of my ongoing attempt to finish all the drawings that I started and never completed. I drew this one well over a year ago, and was too trepaditious to colour at the time, as my watercolour skills were still utterly feeble. Very very happy to have finished it!

New T-Shirt - Dia de las Muertos - Marie Antoinette

Inspired by the celebration Dia de las Muertos (Day of the Dead) and her coquettish highness Marie Antoinette! The moment I finished this watercolour i knew it would look great as a t-shirt design...

I love this design most of the ones I have so far made available, full of frivolity and fun, yum!! I can't wait to get it as a hoody and sew pink ribbons all over it!

Dia de las Muertos - Marie Antoinette

 

Dia de las Muertos - Antoinette

Inspired by and anticipating the arrival of a new little porcelain friend I found myself greatly attracted to the Day of the Dead celebrations, aesthetics, and face painting styles.I found myself googling and flickr searching extensively, loving what I saw. We do not celebrate anything like this in Australia, and whilst other traditions (such as Christmas) have migrated over here, holidays such as this and All Hallows Eve (Halloween) have not. One day I would love to be able to visit South America at this time of the year.... wow! To be immersed in such a vibrant cultural tradition would be an incredible experience.

I've been quietly working on ideas and themes for my next "series" of artworks, and this piece is an example of the analogous and minimal colour scheme that will be dominant throughout the works.

Next blog post..... introducing this as a T-Shirt and Hoody design, hurray!!

Personal Effects

This piece was inspired by fellow artist and friend, Caitlin Shearer. I’ve always loved her little compositions showing fragments from her day-to-day life.

During my pieces I have to often stop and wait for a layer of watercolour to dry before I can continue. During those little stops I doodled some of the various articles from my daily existence

Polka dots and pastels, who wouldn’t adore them? : ->


I hope Caitlin doesn’t mind!!

Orchid Border

I've decided to try and complete all my unfinished pieces before I start any new ones....

(now stop right there.... I know you were about to say you've heard me say THAT before.... but this time I really mean it!)

I've found that I've slowed right down at the "colouring" stages of my process again. I'm taking a lot of care but pieces are taking days to weeks to complete. Surely if I solely concentrate on the thirteen images I have sitting here uncoloured, and colour all of them, I'll learn a thing or two and even get my speed up a little bit?

So it's a count down. This one was number 13. I finished it today. Twelve more to go....

The problem is I started this piece so long ago (I finished drawing it a year ago and only got around to adding the first dabs of colour a couple days ago!) that there was obviously a use I had intended for it.... but it's long since forgotten.

Any ideas of what I could use it for? It seems a shame to waste such a nice inviting space in the centre......



(I might have to talk to my website designer!!)

A doll-like countenance...

It's clear I've had little else besides dolls on my mind lately... all my latest coquettes have been looking positively dolly recently.

Remember that secret project I was meant to be working on, nothing else, everything put aside till it's done?
Well, I happen to be very well trained in the art of procrastination.
Allow me to introduce these two little time-wasters I completed when I should have been working on that afore mentioned project!!

I cannot even begin to deny (and won't try) that the latter of the two ended up looking very Black-Eyed Suzie-esque...

ps. They'll both be skipping off to etsy soon, too :-)