I'm currently wanting to develop a more playful approach to my paintings, and inspired by the amazing Rima Staines at Into The Hermitage I've started making split pin puppets again! My lovely illustrator friend Line and I spent a whole yule hooked on these and they're such a hoot. I'm working with my bird people characters and want to get to know them a bit more - musical, magical, dancing and dreaming!

Golden egg guardian 2!

The Golden Egg Gals

A beakful of sneak peeks from the new commission sketches!

I'm thinking of going with indigos, ochres and gold for this one.

Katla & Bird Figure fully conjured and delivered!

I've just finished conjuring this commission of feathered figure and cat, and delivered the pair to their new nest on the bus yesterday!

It was such a hoot working on this canvas. It is a 73cm x 92cm canvas and conjured with gesso, texture medium and water-soluble oil paints. There are little flecks of gold paint in the feathers too.

Now I am embarking on a new canvas, this one for my Prince's cousin and family, of a feathered figure holding a golden egg.

It is such bliss working on these big canvasses! I love that they feel like living entities.

Bird Figure Canvasses

Ochre Bird & Feathered Lady

Katla & Bird Figure

Final sketch for a canvas commission currently being conjured :)

Feathered Figures

I'm painting a series of Feathered Figures at the moment.

The nature of birds is a mosaic of mannerisms ~ they are merry, serene, inquisitive, hopeful, curious & courageous, and I love that they communicate through song. Wings are both strong and gentle. I think their anatomy is fascinating by being so contrary ~ the whole wing can be heavy and swooping while comprising individual components that are delicate and light ~ that seems so beautiful! To me, the way the wings of the entwined figures curve around each other encapsulates the feeling of being held. Arms like meadow~blankets. Birds are connected to the elements ~ they can be earthbound - pecking at the grass, or airborne, or sweeping the surface of water, and mythical birds like the Phoenix and Firebird relate to fire. It feels so blissful working with these winged entities!

Una's Dragon

Husnisser (house elves) for Ringve Museum, Trondheim

Mr Nisse

A sneaksy elfin nisse

Fluffiest nisse!