Wednesday 8 January 2014

The vintage birdcage



collaged papers,acyclic, pebeo liners, modelling paste, embossing powders

This is a little tale of the magical colour-changing songbird!

It was a commissioned piece I finished over Christmas. As you can see below the little bird started off yellow, but something was wrong. He gazed out from behind the bars of his silver cage and wondered....

first he was yellow!

What if I could sing...
What if I could sing so loudly the bars would open and I too could fly with the butterflies....
And he did..
He sang, and he sang, and slowly he changed, from yellow to a warm golden peach,
The clear blue air began to surround his silver cage, melting the bars and setting him free.

Detail ( mixed media on canvas )
                                                                            The freedom to fly

This piece is a very good example of how my collaged paintings change and evolve. I often decide colours don't quite work together and change things after a coat of gesso, I like working with textures and layers so another layer just adds to the fun :)

Linking up to Paint party friday
and for the first time moo-mania now the challenge is accepting larger formats of art

32 comments:

  1. Boy do I love this, it is so beautiful.....wow. xox

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  2. I love the finished piece, especially after seeing how it changed, each change just adds so much depth.

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  3. What a gorgeous bird and birdcage. Love the colours and composition of this piece. Beautiful!
    xx Monique

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  4. It's so beautiful, magical!
    Jess xx

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  5. Hi, you are so very talented. I love this piece.

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  6. Beautiful painting, such rich colouring and texture. I'm sure the person who commissioned it must be highly delighted with it. I like watching the way your paintings evolve, and certainly when the bird transmutes into the peach colouring he brings the whole painting to life. Your lovely poem adds an extra layer of meaning and texture to the image - lovely.

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  7. Oh Morag this is truly enchanting! Your work is so special and magical, another wow from me! Truly beautiful and poetic!

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  8. Lovely piece, and I am always astonished how collages change and evolve! Valerie

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  9. This is a wonderful commission painting I am sure your client must have been thrilled! I love the colours and textures, the cage almost looks embroidered! The story is an enchanting addition :)

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  10. Beautiful and magical piece and beautiful and poetic story behind it. Thank you for sharing!

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  11. Wow Morag this is soooo gorgeous!! I am the same...the painting over my fireplace still calls to have a few things changed on it!! I love how it turned out and I'm sure the person getting it was thrilled! Thanks for sharing your talented self! I agree that bird does look better!!

    Hugs Giggles

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  12. This is gorgeous! I love your layers and the depth and interest they create. Happy PPF

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  13. I agree with everyone's comments. I can feel the pure pleasure you get from the act of creating. Have a lovely week.

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  14. Your birdcage is magical! Love the layers, textures and colors of this piece :)

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  15. Wow! What a beautiful picture,
    I love the colours and textures you have used :)

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  16. yes, enchanting is the word for this-I love the changes you made and the story to go with this painting!

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  17. Collage is so tricky for me...you do it VERY well! The color combination is wonderful.

    Happy Paint Party Friday!

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  18. So beautiful! I am in love with al of the collage elements in this piece. It's so interesting to see how it evolved. I love the texture in the final version, but the earlier version with the yellow bird is lovely, too. Gorgeous work!

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  19. Such a beautiful art piece! Love the layers and all of the textures. It's gorgeous and so nicely done :)

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  20. luv the layered effect; have a nice Friday

    much love...

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  21. Happy New Year!! Lovely artwork! So colourful and delightful!

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  22. I am totally in awe of this painting! So magical and you were right that the bird needed to be a bit more multicolored! I have pinned you on my pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/pin/10766486583614467/?e_t_s=pin-text&e_t=58f6a455883a495984890c2b0dd32680&utm_source=sendgrid.com&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=share_pin_user
    Happy PPF

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  23. Magnificent in every way, I can keep looking at it for the whole day!

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  24. Ooohhhh..... Really gorgeous birds in delicate cages.....lovely!
    Sue x

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  25. This is so gorgeous!! I love the colours and the lovely details!

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  26. oh my gosh! This is simply WONDERFUL-- I love the silver cage --- amazing!

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  27. Oh, I love this so! It is so beautiful and darling at the same time!

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  28. What a gorgeous painting, Morag! I really appreciate you showing the different phases how it evolved. One can learn so much from series like yours! The change of colours from yellow to orange bird and green to blue leaves really makes it work better.

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  29. This is an awesome piece. The colors are stunning and the cage looks so real. Well done
    Nicole/Beadwright

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  30. Gorgeous painting, wonderful work! <3

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  31. Happy New Year! I've been away from blogland for a while and just getting round to trying to catch up again!! This piece is beautiful - I love the vibrant colours and the warmth of the little bird's colour when he evolved from yellow to peachy coral!

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  32. This is wonderful work and I love all of your vibrant colors! :)

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