Cherry Hood Workshop (part one)

This last weekend I participated in an intensive portraiture workshop with Australian Archibald prize winner Cherry Hood. An amazing artist I have admired for a very long time, it was a true honour to watch her work and receive artistic guidance from her at her fantastic studio in NSW.

Over the two day period I created two portraits in her style, working with very watery drippy paints on a far larger scale than I have ever painted. For my subjects I chose my own photographs of two sisters - thus further challenging myself to not only paint a good picture, but achieve a likeness as well. 

It was a highly enjoyable experience, and I can't wait to paint in this scale using my own approach and subjects. Seeing her huge studio has made it imperative for me to find my own place in which I can throw some paint around.

For more photo's from the workshop, Cherry's studio and the paintings, visit FourFinger Photo

All My Stars - Strychnin Berlin Exhibition

Here is my piece, "The Secret" 

Exhibited at Strychnin Gallery Berlin

For inquiries and to purchase please contact the gallery

The Secret - exhibited at Strychnin Berlin

Watercolour on Paper

Poster Prints Available

"From Dust" is still available for those interested in ordering her as an A1 sized poster-print. 

From now on all my images can be made available on this size as special canvas prints - a great new development for shows and exhibitions internationally, as they can be rolled up and posted in a tube, then unrolled on location.

For artists interested in ordering their own prints, my other-half is now able to produce large-scale prints in our printing studio, so inquiries and orders are welcome.

A bit of a size.comparison - "From Dust" printed on A1 scale VS me

"The Dead Reef" on exhibit in Central London as a hanging print.

Crazy Cat Lady at 26

A new illustration for a written rant my good friend Sasanki wrote  about deciding to become a crazy cat lady at 26. Her piece is in the process of being published for a way awesome magazine - if all goes well my picture will be accompanying her writing.

Stay tuned for my screaming glee if we are published together. Fingers crossed!

Perfume and Rouge

A couple of the touched-up illustrations for the fashion and product sections of my new illustration portfolio...

Stop-Motion Portrait

My adventure-man and I put together a short stop-motion clip of a small portrait I painted in watercolours for the "about" page on my new illustration portfolio. 

It's the first time we've made something like this, and we'd love to get some feedback. We've had a couple of tips already, (like placing the camera on my left side) which we'll have to do a bit of studio re-arranging to accommodate, but all good ideas! (we won't be able to do a birds-eye-view one because as you'll see in the clip, I practically lie all over my drawing as I work, so a continuous stream of the back of my head might not be so interesting! hehe)

Later we made a "zoomed-in" version too, with different music (perhaps in some countries the old video cannot be played because of the track chosen to accompany it)

which do you like better?

Amber & Rose Progress

Some work-in-progress snapshots of my latest A2 sized watercolour, Amber & Rose.

I hope to finish her today - it is tricky with only two sporadic days off to dedicate to my art. During the week I try to take lots of shots on instagram (follow @monikaviktoriaart) and update my facebook art-page to get feedback and keep me motivated by everyone's support and encouragement. If you don't follow my page yet, please do: www.facebook.com/monikaviktoriaart

Love is always welcome :-}

Pastel Sugarskulls

A couple more little pastel-coloured sugar skulls. 

~ in my shop ~

And below is Ambrosia, inspired by the dolls of Hemlig

Opening Tonight

The preparations for my Solo Show “Elillanó Mesevilág” (A Delicate Disillusionment) opening tonight!

I’ve conducted a few radio interviews, and have been pleased to see it represented in print by the local media.

As well as the framed pieces on the wall, I have five vitrines displaying sketches, studies, small framed watercolours, sketchbooks and various paraphernalia related to my work practice. Photographs from the opening tonight later on! 

Thank you for all the online support and encouraging comments everyone!

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.

Official Website Launch

Party Streamers fly through the air, fireworks crack in the sky in a blazing bravado of colour and light, and children run through the streets decked in flowers and screaming for joy.

Well, if this was in the real world, and not purely digital, the festivites woud be wild and raucus. As it is, things go on as usual, but inside me is a great and bursting joy.

It was pointed out to me that today, the day of my website launch, is also the Winter/Summer Solstice (and a full Lunar eclipse) - a time of rebirth and renewal. This feels incredibly perfect - I'm in need of a bit of a renewal. I'm happy that having this site will mean a beautiful online portfolio for people to see my artwork in a creative and unified way. After all, my art is who I am and why I am, it is everything about me, it is what I treasure most.

I invite you, dear readers and friends, to visit the site, take a meandering stroll through the woods, and let me know what you think! Both my website designer and I are positively jumping around, eager to know everyone's response.

Comments left before December 27th will all be considered in the running for presents!! I will be giving out some Giclee Prints and little arty goodies in return for your valued and much appreciated feedback (Bribery? perhaps.... :-)

So, without further ado, may I present....

monikaviktoria.com

Website Announcement!!

 I have been wanting a beautiful, girly website for so long now… for so long. I spent years (no joke) trying to find the perfect designer to bring my extravagant dreams to life (well, to digital life anyway) and pretty much thought I was on a hopeless mission…

Until now! It’s all about to happen, I am besides myself with anticipation and excitement!

To celebrate the official launch I will be hosting some festivities and give-aways here, to share my joy.

Participants need to visit the website, have a little wander through the woods, then return here and let us know what you think!! I would love to hear everyone’s responses (good or bad, seriously! This isn’t a cry for pure adoration and praise….. well, maybe a little, heehee)

Prizes will be handed out, including Giclee Prints and other fantastical goodies!

Curious? You can get a preview here: www.monikaviktoria.com

A HUGE thank-you to the absolute angel who finally brought this dream of mine to a reality, and has worked tirelessly for the past year to bring this to fruition. Thanks Amal, I am indebted and forever grateful xx

The launch will take place NEXT WEEK on Tuesday the 21st of December!

If you follow me on facebook, I’ll be sure to scream about it when it’s officially launched!!

Kisses!

Officially: Giclee Print Edition!!

I am most pleased, most excited, most thrilled to finally be able to announce: they are for sale!

I contacted the lovely gentleman who printed my first proof prints; picked out my ten most favourite, most beautiful artworks; and put in my order for one thousand prints!

So I can now officially announce: I have ten of my watercolour arworks available in a strictly limited edition of 10 copies each, up for purchase in my Etsy Shop!

Printing out such a vast number at one time meant two things.
First... it has sent me completely broke! I saved for a long time to be able to make such an investment!
Secondly.... this is where you little lovelies benefit - it allows me to offer them at a much lower price than I had originally calculated! (Cheer, hurray, yay!)

Also.... The first ten people to purchase a Giclee print from me will each recieve a bonus print!



A little incentive to try and get the ball rolling :-) All ten prints can be viewed in my etsy shop filed under Prints.

The information is the same, purchasing a Giclee Print VS a normal digital photo print assures archival professional quality, a beautiful lustre and immaculate mimicry of the original texture and watercolour subtleties.

Professionally printed on luxurious 310 g/m2 ARCHES cotton rag paper: 100% cotton, completely natural with no chemical additives. Printed with Archival Giclee, acid free Inks.

Cameo Brooches - Now Available!

I'm delighted to finally be able to show these off!!

I have made a small selection of unique wearable brooches, feauturing my illustrations, and am so pleased with how they turned out. I wear my one all the time, and have been floored and delighted by all the compliments I get... it's nice to hear such feedback!

I adore the vintage Victorian feel to them.... I like to pin my one through a lace scarf of velvet wrap around my neck... it makes me feel very elegant, haha! ^_^

They're available in my etsy shop, but I'll also be taking them with me to the Art & Design Markets I have lined up this summer. If they sell, well I might make more, otherwise these are the only ones that will be made
(ie: guarantee of a unique, individual one-off piece!)

I think they're utterly delightful... I hope you do too!!!

Available NOW in my Etsy Shop!!

To the market - part two

Thank Goodness it was a beautiful, sunny, warm spring day.

 As I don't drive, I was lucky enough to score a lift early in the morning to get to the markets. This is the one thing that is stopping me from booking every single market I can for the next few months, and taking my art out there. Without access to a car, it is actually impossible for me to lug my suitcase full of arty goodness, the display stands, a foldable chair and the pavilion tent around Sydney on public transport.

I need one of those carnival carts that I push around on two big wooden wheels, that I can push a button on and it opens up into a musical, moving, colourful art-filled market-stall extravaganza!! Still working on that one....


Here are some photographs from the day, I hope we can do it more frequently!!

Flickr Account

I was recently given some advice that I really should use my flickr and facebook more to promote my artwork. This made me squeamish.

My flickr? You mean... that messy scrap-book monster with all sorts of random photographs thrown into my account that serves basically as a hosting service so I can then upload it all into my nice, thought-out, ordered blog?? It's like being told to clean your room when your nine years old.... as you stare at the impenetrable fortress of mess and junk (that is essentially all your loved possessions thrown into a huge pile) you think it is surely impossible....

But I went through, created folders to house sub folders, ordered them into themes, and got it all looking semi decent. So if you ever feel the need, here it is:

My Photostream

ps. the silk dollies for the newly acquainted are made by Crystal A Suh