Mousetoinette

A new project I am working on. Even though it is so top secret I haven't even figured it out properly, I wanted to start sharing my little Baroque Mice paintings!

Here is my first mouse.....

Here are some detail snippets of my Mousetoinette. Right now, I am all mouse and rabbit obsessed.

She is watercolour on paper, A2 scale.

Baroque Portraits

A selection of the watercolour portraits I painted during the 2012 Baroque Ball hosted at the Zichy Palace in Győr.

Baroque Ball

Some photographs from the Baroque Ball I attended as the "court painter" held at the Zichy Palace in Győr. I know it looks like there were just three of us, but I selected just a few out of the hundred blurry shots I took.

My paintings exhibited in the "blue room" (we couldn't hang them on the walls due to the beautiful fresco's.)

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.