Last week it was thistles, this week my inspiration is the thistle-like Knapweed flower which blankets much of the highland landscape. Its more friendly than the thistle as it does not have the jagged thorns. I love it's colour and tufty blooms.
I enjoy reading old folk-law tales about wild flowers and apparently Knapweed in days gone by was picked by eligible young women who pinned a bloom to their blouse. When its florets began to open it was said the man of her dream would be near! This is not a theory I have tested, but it certainly sounds exciting! :)
I worked in a more abstract style on board, unusual for me as I usually collage on canvas or wood panels.
A few weeks back I read a blog post written by the very talented Jessica Stride . She used the hardboard backing from a picture frame to work on. I thought this was such a great idea I would have a go. It does away with the dilemma of how to frame a board piece as the frame was meant to fit!
I'm not sure I really need the glass in front of the collage, I feel it takes away from the texture a bit, but I can always take the glass out and just keep the surrounding frame. I'm not sure whether to paint the frame either... decisions decisions. ;)
Other bits this week inspired by more wild flowers
Sea-thrift and tern.
I had to check in my wild-flower book to see if I was using the right shade of pink paper.
The tern is covered with old book papers and crackle glaze to give it a feathery look.
Linking to Paint party friday
Oh my goodness I teared up when I saw this...that is the first time that has ever happened to me with art...it happens with music but never art... This piece is so stunning and my all time favorite. I am in awe of it! If it were me I would paint the frame either white or black so it doesn't take away from the painting.... If you ever sell it put a big price tag on it! Tears and goosebumps are my gauge for excellence!!
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Oh wow! I am in awe at the beauty here, your art only gets better!! This is such a favourite, the sea, flowers, textures, all of it fabulous. It may be abstract but it certainly gives me a feeling of being by the sea amongst the wilderness, wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThat sea gull hovering in that other piece is another master piece! I love the Summer feel here and your delightful sea pieces so much.
Beautiful and very inspiring work! Have a great summer, Morag!
ReplyDeleteYour technique gives so much depth and texture to your work Morag, and these pieces are both fabulous. I love them both, and the framing idea using the backing board is brilliant.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful work as always, Morag. Love the tern especially! Judith xx
ReplyDeleteBeautiful work - I love the flower heads, and that's a very clever idea using the back board of the frame! The tern is stunning - one of my favourite sea birds and much more elegant and acrobatic than the black headed gulls - I do love your technique to make him look 'feathery', it worked superbly well!
ReplyDeleteThese are beautiful Morag, particularly love the sea tern, very beautiful x
ReplyDeletethese are both beautiful pieces. what a great idea to use the backing board of the frame! I like it in the natural wood colour or maybe if you could do it in a shabby/distressed sort of pale turquoise/duck egg it would look good with the collage too.
ReplyDeleteI love the tern - they're such agry little birds at this time of year protecting their nests on the beah - our first summer here they kept dive bombing me as I was walking the dogs and I was so busy looking up at them I fell flat on my face on the sand - thank goodness for empty Scottish beaches!!
All your paintings are lovely. My favorit is the last one.
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Morag, your art is always amazing. This one is really exceptionally beautiful.
ReplyDeletewow-these are both absolutely stunning pieces of art! what a clever idea to paint on the frame board too-it looks great!
ReplyDeleteYes very interesting knapweed painting.....a little bit psychedelic I started to hear 'magical mystery tour' in my head when I looked at it but I am a bit barmy. Happy PPF
ReplyDeletewow! These are wonderful! I love all the papers used and the very textured backgrounds. I really love the Tern painting, too.
ReplyDeleteI love the bits of collage that are visible in the water. I would take the glass away for sure, such a shame to not be able to see and feel the texture..... That last painting is a beauty as well....
ReplyDeleteThey are both beautiful. I especially LOVE your flower collage painting.
ReplyDeleteOh, my, I love all of the patterns and pinks of the knapweed! Beautiful representation!
ReplyDeleteI love this piece! I looked up your inspiration but did will hunt further to find her technique. Maybe collaged flowers? I agree, you probably don't need the glass. I use my glass from frames for palates in my studio. First I tape the edges so I don't cut myself inadvertently :)
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