The Bearded Flower

Did you know flowers have beards? Well apparently this one does at least, the "Bearded Iris" is a rather showy flower, all ruffles and frills. Maybe there will be some popping up for spring soon, I actually saw the first green leaf on the tree outside our apartment window this morning, finally!

"Bearded Iris" oil on board, 8x8"

Thinking Pink

This is part of the new series of work that will be going to Jane Packer NY. As it's still snowing here and tropical fresh flowers are not exactly the easiest to come by, I worked on this painting from a photo I took in Bermuda early last summer. I love the hibiscus flower, it's such a happy flower and grows in such abundance, I'd love to have a big hedge row of them at the bottom of my garden like I did growing up.

"Bermuda Pink" oil on board, 8x8"

Greeting Cards

I have been away for a couple of weeks and been a bit slack with the old blogging so I have some catching up to do! We were on holiday in Arizona and Utah which is pretty inspiring when it comes to landscapes and colour. For now though I have to stick with all the projects I already have on the go such as creating a range of greeting cards. I think I am a little obsessed with cards, I love browsing through rows and rows of them and selecting just the perfect one for each person I need to send one to. I often buy them even if I don't even have someone to send it to just because I think its a great card. As a result I tend to have rather a large stash of them in our stationary draw. Anyway, I would love to design a range of cards and have started with a few little sketches to see what might work. When I get them finalised and work out all the logistics of printing etc they will be available in my Etsy shop and also at Jane Packer New York which is exciting!

More Flowers

Pile of Pansies, 8x8, acrylic on board

I've been back to the flowers today - this time a pile of blue pansies. This is a small painting, only 8x8 but I love the vivid electric blue colour. I chose to back it on a pink/red background so that the whole painting is pretty much based around the 3 primary colours which I think works well here.

I also did this slightly larger anemone painting (got to love anemones!) which is going to be part of a tryptich... watch this space for the next two!

Red Anemone, 18x18, acrylic on canvas

A Sale for Charity

I had a message from my friend at Jane Packer last week telling me she'd just sold my "Tears for Japan" painting. This could not have come on a better day as I was feeling a little disheartened. I had just had coffee in London with my fellow artist friend who is by all accounts rather more established than me and doing very well. I was just thinking what a lot of work I would need to do to get up to her level when the message came through. It has really boosted my confidence and spurred me on to get back in the studio promptly following our return to New York. Even better was the fact that the lady who purchased it is apparently also an artist - a real vote of confidence. I am also thrilled that it was this painting in particular as I can now donate the proceeds to the much needed earthquake relief fund through the American Red Cross.
So back to the studio first thing tomorrow morning to work on some new flower paintings for Jane Packer as having now sold 4 the walls are getting a little empty! 

Last Nights Event

Thank you to everyone who came to the opening last night, we had a great turnout. Gemma and her team had done a fabulous job of coordinating flowers to compliment the paintings and the shop looked really stunning. It was a huge success and I hope you all enjoyed it. Here are a few shots from early on before my camera died on us!

Tonights Event

The paintings are up and we're just about ready for this evenings event - here's a little preview.  I'm very pleased with how it's all turned out and can't wait for everyone to see them tonight.  Hope to see you there!
(Jane Packer, 328 E 59th Street, between 1st and 2nd Avenues, Manhattan)