Hi Five .... Hibiscus!

Ever since I can remember, everywhere that I have lived my garden has always had a few hibiscus trees (except UK!) And my present garden is no exception we have hibiscus of all different colours and species. We have the single flower type along with double petal ones and the kind that looks like a Chinese lantern.

Over the years I have often included hibiscus in sketches for different pieces but for some reason or other they never make it to the finished work.

I have been wanting to put a hibiscus in my work for so long that this week I just went for it! 

I started by painting in a green background. Initially I was going for an abstract leafy look, but it ended up in a swirly pattern!

As I have mentioned before in previous posts I am not so good at realistic perspective so I really took my time studying the flowers in different lights, trying to get an idea of colour and depth.

I did do a pencil sketch and played with colour using coloured pencils - I used this sketch as the outline for the hibiscus on the canvas. 

I painted in the darkest areas of the flower around the base of the stamen and in the creases of the petals using Cobalt Violet paint. This colour is quite transparent and dries very dark - almost black.  So then I continued with a dark pink in Rose, trying to add form and contours with the brush strokes. My plan was that this initial laying down of the colours in light and dark would show through the next 'all over' layer....

As you can see above I started adding in some hints of blue and lighter shades of greens to the background here and there. 

Using the brush strokes as a starting point I started to define the swirls and wavy lines with a very fine brush and black paint. The lines looked too stark however so I found that smudging them with a finger gave a nice shadowy glow. The more smudging I did the darker the background became so I added some white and more lime green and yellow to the background colours.

I filled in the petals with a vibrant bright pink and added a stripe of orange down the center of each petal with touches of yellow midway for highlights to help add contour to the petals. I went back with my dark violet and added more depth to the center and a few veins to the petals. My petals were still looking a little flat so I tried to deepen the shadows by lightening areas of the petals with a lighter pink - at this point I threw caution to the wind and dabbed a little blue here and there and was happy with the  effect. I was scared to ruin what I had done so restraint myself from added too much detail (veins) in the petals.

I outlined one petal with a fine black line but wasn't happy with the way it made the flower 'pop' from the background so I outlined the whole flower with a charcoal pencil that I smudged with my finger especially around the bottom to create shadow and in the points at where the petals overlapped. And then painted each petal with a thicker black outline in paint. 

Lastly I finished the pollen bits at the end of the stamen in ochre, yellow and black and added a few hints of Rose -pink to the background. 

And here it is - the finished painting! 

20x20cm Acrylic on canvas. Prints are available on canvas and Giclee Paper in a variety sizes - simply drop me an email for more info. 

Visit my Facebook page to see more of my work  www.facebook.com/lionfish.seychelles

And.... The finished piece!

More to come soon.... I will give an explanation of my methods and techniques in a following post. 

But for now here it is! 

'Dans le jardin aujourd'hui No.3#'

This is the 3rd in a series of magical garden pieces. 

Mixed media textile art mounted on a wooden frame. 

20 x20cm approx 3cm relief (2D)

Created by layering assorted fabrics into pictures  (collage) and embellished with different textile techniques such as quilting, embroidery, beading and fabric dying

See the whole series on my page.

www.facebook.com/Lionfish.Seychelles

textile art piece created by Michelle Griffiths

Just a quickie to let you know what been up to lately....

Two of my small 2D textile/fiber art pieces sold on the opening night of the exhibition so I am getting busy on some new pieces to fill the empty wall space... Here is a in progress pic. 

Creamy dreamy Almond Milk.

I'm not a big fan of the taste of cows milk so am always on the look out for alternatives. On my little island most of the time it is difficult to even find soya milk and when you can it tends to be expensive. 

I use Coffeemate in my coffee but it tastes really bad in tea, so I when I don't have soya I use cows milk for tea but can't stand it in my coffee? Go figure... 

Other than in tea the only other time I use cows milk is in cooking (I find soya is not good for cooking) so a carton of cows milk lasts a looooooooong time in my house and more often than not ends up going lumpy and off. 

Recently I purchased an extremely expensive carton of Almond Milk. It was nice - but I found it watery and very almondy flavored it also had a sweet after taste that I didn't fancy too much - oh and did I mention OMG expensive! 

So yesterday when I went to check out a new Indian grocery store that a friend had recommended, I was delighted to find 500g bags of Almonds at a reasonable price. A while ago a pin on Pinterest had caught my eye about DIY almond milk so I decided to give it a go.

I soaked one cup of almonds in boiled (and cooled) water - with enough water to cover double the quantity of nuts overnight.

In the morning they had swelled to almost twice the volume and the water had turned a murky brown. I rinsed the almonds with fresh water. 

And then dug out my trusty blender from the back of the cupboard. 

In went the almonds with two cups of filtered water and whizzzzzz! I blended it for around a minute shells and all. It turned a thick creamy off white colour. 

I needed something to strain it in and remembered the pinterest had said use cheese cloth to squeeze the excess water out. The closest thing I have to cheese cloth was an old pareo/sarong that I used to wear at the beach so I cut a square from it, dipped it in boiling water for hygene's sake 😋 and lined a sieve with it. 

Next I poured in the whizzed almonds and let it drain drip by drip for a while - but it was taking too long and I have no patience, so I gathered up the corners careful to keep the mixture contained inside and twisted the top firmly but not too hard as I was cautious not to split the fabric with too much force. 

With gentle kneading twists the milky white liquid easily squeezed out of the mush. And I ended up with just under two cups of creamy dreaminess. It was delicious! So creamy - not sweet like the commercial store bought one and thick like full cream milk. The almond taste was so subtle and I was surprised there was no gritty floury feeling in the back of my throat as I find with soya milk. 

I am sold! 

But wait there's more......

I emptied the "cheesecloth" mushy nut mixture onto some baking paper, chopping up the lumps with a knife and put it in the oven on a low heat for 30mins to dry it out. After 15 mins I took it out to check it, chopped up the lumps a bit more and put it back for another 15mins. 

After 30mins total I took it out and let it cool completely then stored it in an air tight jar to use later. I can use it in a cake or a fruit crumble topping, I might even attempt some sort of pastry with it.  

 

I made a cup of tea using the almond milk and you know what? It wasn't bad. Im liking being able to make small quantities as and when I need it and the best thing is the nuts will last for ages. I keep the excess nuts in the freezer (because of the humidity and tropical climate) so will have an on-hand supply whenever I need them. I have yet to use the almond milk in cooking so when I try out a sauce or something I will let you know how it goes. But for now I'm gonna have to go soak some more nuts tonight because the almond milk was nice, I've drunk the lot already!!!  

Along came a mermaid...

If you remember way back in March I posted this pic of a bubbly background that was finished and just waiting on a cute little mermaid to come swimming by.

I don't know how other artists transfer their designs on to canvas, if they sketch it out straight on to the canvas or just go ahead and start to paint from their imagination. I have never been bold enough or confident enough to sketch straight on to the canvas for fear of making a mistake and not being able to erase the pencil line. 

Sometimes I do draw on a black or dark background in a white chalk (dress makers pencil) that can be removed by water but even then it sometimes leaves a residue. So with trial and error I devised my own method of drawing out my design on ordinary note pad paper ( sometimes any old paper I have to hand - telephone bills, envelopes, newspaper - you never know when inspiration is going to strike!) 

so once I have my design on paper I erase all the vague and unimportant lines so only the bold outlines remain - next I turn it over and draw over all the lines with a black charcoal pencil. With toilet paper or tissue I then rub the charcoal over the underside of the design to fade it so it's not too dark and to get rid of excess charcoal powder that could mix with the paint layer and make it murky. 

So then it's just a matter of laying the paper down and tracing the design onto the canvas. I use a ball point pen that had run out of ink. I don't press too hard because I have learnt from experience that grooves left by pressing hard causes all kinds of havoc if you change the design whilst painting and there are underlying grooves beneath the paint - eg: if you move the mouth on a face or the position of an arm. I guess essentially I am just creating my own "carbon tracing paper" and they can be used over and over just adding more charcoal when needed. That's why I use the pen with no ink as tracing over and over the lines with ink will eventually cause it to tear. 

And with that done I get busy painting...

I usually paint the flesh all one colour and then add contours, shape and highlights with darker and lighter paints - I find it hard to blend colours once one paint layer is dry ( especially in my climate where my paint dries so quickly) so some times I resort to coloured pencil and even aquacrill pencils. If the pencil is too dark or not the right colour this can be corrected with some watered down flesh colour or even white paint to smooth it out and even the graduation.

Facial features are added using techniques I learnt in Suzi Blu's book mixed media girls. You can get it at www.alovelydream.com or as I did on Amazon because she couldn't ship to my country. But just remember it is always better to buy directly from the author so she gets all the money$$$ ! 

The key with painting eyes is to build up the layers slowly slowly until you have achieved the depth you require. As my girls don't usually have noses or mouths I need the eyes to be very deep and hold all the emotions I am trying to convey. 

Et voila! The finished article, look who just swam by...... 

Mounted canvas prints of this painting are available through my Facebook page. www.facebook.com/lionfish.seychelles so stop by and have a look at my other work and if you like what you see please like and share my page 😉

Oh wow has it really been that long??

Seems I have been so busy in recent months that blogging has fallen by the way side. So in the next couple of days will try to catch you up of what I have been up to; including some progress photos of recent paintings, along with a post with step by step instructions on how to make a stuffed seahorse hanging toy. So stay tuned..... 

Saturday Doodles

Nothing better than spending a Saturday morning doodling bug eyed whimiscal characters.

Got busy with a bubbly background too...

All ready for a pretty little mermaid... Keep posted for the finished work.

I have no perspective I am unstructured and unsymmetrical !!!

Well at least I am trying to be....

My favorite artists (like the previously mentioned in another post) Suzi Blu and Susanna Tavares create amazing works of art that are so free and seemly unstructured and unsymmetrical. It gives their work a childlike feel, loose and surreal with figures as tall as houses and  body parts in awkward positions and yet on closer inspection the pieces take on a sophistication all of their own. 

I am trying to learn this loose freeness in my drawing and painting. I find it very difficult to embark on a painting with out first sketching it out in great detail erasing and redoing sections multiple times getting it just right.  I have never been good at perspective and my analytical mind screams for symmetry. 

I have been trying out some sketches trying to break down the need for symmetry that holds me hostage and just drawing without thinking, here are some examples....

Une petite Sirène - the finished article!

I was so pleased with how she turned out, I will definitely be doing more of these. 

Another day - Another painting!

Who else finds it so hard to let go and be free when it comes to unleashing the creativity? 

I find myself conflicted by the urge for symmetry in everything I do. 

I'm working on breaking those bonds and freeing my creative spirit 😊

Here is today's offering....

Acrylic on Acrylpapier, hand cut stencils from cereal box card and old x-rays! 

21 x 29cm

Getting back into painting - big time!

Hello all,

It's been aaaaages since I last posted and so much has changed in my life since then - for the better!
I have seriously gotten back into painting and so full of ideas and creativity. I feel so stressfree and calm.
Awhile ago I had the good foresight to purchase Suzi Blu's book - "Mixed media girls" and I am so glad I did - a whole new world was opened up to me.

Suzi Blu is a quirky whimsical artist that combines alsorts of mixed media techniques such as collage and encaustic wax. She's crazy and funny and also very cool.
The book comes with a DVD with some video crash courses in her techniques. (That's what the big blue spot is on the cover)
I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn how to draw cute little doll like girls.
I bought mine from Amazon because she couldn't deliver to my little island - but for those who live in the more accessible parts of the world it is best to buy it directly from her at www.suzibluart.com

So here are some pics of what I have been working on lately....

"Pti Fiy" 20 x 20cm (Seychelles Creole translated - "little girl")

Marriette 20 x 20 cm

Une Petite Sirène (a little mermaid) she's still in progress...

Okay I apologize right now for the following empty squares! No matter what I do I cannot get rid of them. :-( arrrrrrrrrr  I have downloaded the Blogger app onto my iPad and am attempting to blog from here from now on - I know it's gonna drive me crazy! Where is the undo arrow??? Ha ha bear with me for future posts....

Mariette 20 x 20cm

Une Petite Sirène

Michelle Mischkulnig - Amazing Artist

Today I'm Loving...Michelle Mischkulnig !

I love art - but most of all I love textile art or fibre art. Amazing works made of textiles that are manipulated and collaged and sewn into fabulous eye candy.

My history with textiles stems from the age of 4 years old when my parents gave me a sewing machine for my birthday. It was a singer hand cranked one (no electricity) with a bobbin case that looked like a spaceship. I loved that machine and created all sorts of exotic creations on it.

But enough about me for now - I want to introduce you to the amazing works of Michelle Mischulnig. She is an Australian textile artist who - like me was introduced to sewing by her Mother and Grandmother. If I ever have a daughter (or a son) I am definitely going to pass on this wonderful gift.

When I grow up I wanna be a textile artist just like Michelle Mischkulnig!



By Michelle Mischkulnig

 

Here is a little bit from her website;

...I hand paint my silks, I collect threads, cords, paper, fabric and find objects — a  bit like a bower bird (only my collection is a kaleidoscope of colour). I build up layers of colour and texture, tearing, cutting, twisting and fraying. I love the way silk absorbs and reflects colour. Each textile piece evolves as I am making it. I never know what will inspire me to go in a new direction, try some new ingredient and push myself to experiment with something new. Creating is always exciting, like reading an embracing book, when you can’t wait to turn the next page and the next and the next...

 

By Michelle Mischkulnig

Wonderful colour and texture.....

By Michelle Mischkulnig

 

By Michelle Mischkulnig

I would suggest to take a look at her Facebook page as there are more photos and posts are up to date.

Check out her website here:  www.chelletextiles.com.au
And find her on Facebook here:  https://www.facebook.com/Chelle.Textiles

Good Food, Good Company and yummy FOOD!

LOL anyone who knows me  - knows that I loooove food!
Today I was treated to lunch by an old friend at the new recently opened Eden Bleu Hotel - situated on Eden Island, Seychelles.

The Hotel Restaurant opens out to the amazing vista of the turquoise waters of the marina where huge and I mean HUGE million dollar yachts loll lazily in the midday sun.



Eden Bleu Hotel - Restaurant

 My friend went for Caesar Salad that came served in a bowl/basket made of parmesan cheese - it looked fabulous - almost a shame to eat it!



Caesar Salad - Eden Bleu Hotel, Seychelles Islands.
 

 I went for the tried and true favourite - Fish and Chips, which was presented in a miniature, cute little frying basket. Now you may be asking - why I chose to go with something so normal as fish and chips at such a swanky place? Well here in paradise we do have the luxury of having the best fish in the world (gloat gloat!) so I had a feeling that it was going to be anything but ordinary.

Fish and Chips - Eden Bleu Hotel, Seychelles Islands.

And I was not disappointed! So often battered fish is overdone and becomes dry and tasteless  - but the Job fish was cooked to perfection and the Tartare Sauce was creamy yumminess!

So today I'm loving.... Eden Bleu Hotel Restaurant! (And lazy lunches with crazy French men that make me laugh)

Happy New Year 2015!!

Oh dear I haven't be doing so well with my posts of late so this year I will endeavour to post at least once a week (or more).

This year I intend to focus on the positive and I want my blog to be all about things I love and things that make me happy.

I love that feeling of giddy excitement when I discover a new artist that I love or notice some incredible piece of nature that is just breathlessly beautiful in its simplicity.

So from now on instead of stepping over that gorgeously coloured leaf or simply staring out at an impossibly colourful sunset - I will post it here.....

And to start the year off right - "Today I'm Lovin......" (LOL of course it has to be food!!)

Danone - Saveur Citron yoghurt!!

 Yummoo!

Saveur Citron translated in English is .... Lemon flavour... ha ha sounds so much better in French!

 A perfect blend of tangy zingy lemon creaminess and it even has all the bacterial and what-not in it so its even healthy as well  - it was the perfect conclusion to my rather odd lunch of  boiled eggs and vegetable curry!

And I don't mean boiled eggs AND vegetable curry - it was boiled egg vegetable curry! - I was in my experimental phase last night and I was trying to recreate a really scrummy curried boiled egg extravaganza that I had a few weeks back (purchased from Foodmart on Eden Island) and well I kinda failed - mine was a poor imitation of that culinary delight (a very poor imitation!) mainly because I added the vege (because I didn't have many eggs and was trying to bulk it up a bit) ah but we live and learn my experimental cooking days are by no means over!

Anyways there we go my very first "Today I'm Lovin..." post

So like the advert says ... "Mmmmm Danone"