Sunday 5 July 2015

Knapweed and thrift. Wildflower collages



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

17 comments:

  1. 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!!

    Hugs Giggles

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  2. 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!
    That sea gull hovering in that other piece is another master piece! I love the Summer feel here and your delightful sea pieces so much.

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  3. Beautiful and very inspiring work! Have a great summer, Morag!

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  4. Your 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.

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  5. Beautiful work as always, Morag. Love the tern especially! Judith xx

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  6. Beautiful 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!

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  7. These are beautiful Morag, particularly love the sea tern, very beautiful x

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  8. these 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.
    I 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!!

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  9. All your paintings are lovely. My favorit is the last one.
    Happy PPF ♥

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  10. Morag, your art is always amazing. This one is really exceptionally beautiful.

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  11. wow-these are both absolutely stunning pieces of art! what a clever idea to paint on the frame board too-it looks great!

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  12. Yes 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

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  13. wow! These are wonderful! I love all the papers used and the very textured backgrounds. I really love the Tern painting, too.

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  14. I 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....

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  15. They are both beautiful. I especially LOVE your flower collage painting.

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  16. Oh, my, I love all of the patterns and pinks of the knapweed! Beautiful representation!

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  17. I 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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