My paintings on Home Design with Kevin Sharkey

As if my feature in Martha Stewart Living wasn't enough, I've also been fortunate enough to have had a cameo on Kevin Sharkey's fabulous blog.

'Kevin Sharkey is Senior Vice President and Executive Editorial Director, Decorating, and Executive Creative Director, Merchandising for MSLO.' 

In other words, Kevin is a creative genius. In a nutshell. 

my blue and white Chinoiserie paintings as seen in Martha Stewart Living were also shown on Kevin's blog....

...along with my 'Bouquet in Flow Blue' as well! 

A big thank you must again go to stylist-extraordinaire Scott, who got the party started way back in December. By the way, Scott, along with some other super-stylists, has his very own blog called Canvass. This is what they have to say..."We are editors, scavengers, stylists, crafters and writers. Together we bring you a canvassing of all things amazing, lovely, cool, chic and inspiring." Couldn't have said it better myself. Here's a taste.

100% fabulous. Check it out here.

Well, that's it for me. It's the weekend and I'm going to savour every second of it. And school hols started today as well. Love it!

Not one, but ten new paintings!

Well, it's been a big week. I've packed up and sent nine originals off to the US for a very exciting project (more on that later) and I've finally finished the latest in my 'Interior Portraits' series - 'Modern Vintage'. I absolutely loved Anthropologie's Louisa Settee as soon as I laid eyes on it, and I thought it would look great teamed with a blue and white display on the wall behind. If you look closely you might notice that the china pieces are my own 'Ginger Jar' paintings (and a chinoiserie plate which I'll be sharing soon as well). A bit like art imitating art really.

'Modern Vintage'

210mm x 297mm

watercolour and gouache on paper

for sale now in my Etsy shop

And here are the nine originals, just before they were sent on their way...

I can't share the details just yet, but as soon as they arrive safe and sound and I know they're in place, I'll be back to share the details. Can't wait to tell all....patience is so not one of my virtues!

Chinoiserie in Ming....and more

It's been so nice to finally get back into the studio over the weekend, and I definitely made the most of it. I've got some new blue and white paintings on the go, and yesterday I finished the first of them. I was commissioned to paint an antique chinoiserie plate to add my my client's collection, and here it is:

 'Chinoiserie in Ming'

watercolour and pencil on paper

210mm x 297mm (8.3" x 11.7")

original sold, prints for sale now on Etsy

I've often been asked whether my Chinoiserie series would ever be available in other colourways. Another client of mine collects vintage china in red, as does my lovely mum (I'll share some pics soon of her huge collection) so it was logical that these followed:

  'Chinoiserie in Pink'

watercolour and pencil on paper

210mm x 297mm (8.3" x 11.7")

 prints for sale now on Etsy

 'Chinoiserie in Ruby'

watercolour and pencil on paper

210mm x 297mm (8.3" x 11.7")

prints for sale now on Etsy

And that's not all.....check out my Etsy shop over the coming days for lots more new goodies, in all sorts of glorious colours. If you 'like' my Facebook page, or follow me on Twitter, you'll be the first to know whenever a new painting is added. So pop on over, I'd love to see you there!

And before I forget. I will make sure I reply personally to each and every one of you that commented and messaged me recently. I've read and appreciated every one, so thank you and I'll make sure I reply over the coming week. Another twenty or so hours in each day would be rather handy right now!

My good friend Martha Stewart...

..has featured my blue and white paintings in her little magazine. Just sayin'.

the iPad edition launched today, and it's sensational as always. Couldn't love it any harder if I tried.

A few months ago, I woke to an email from the lovely Scott, an editor for Martha Stewart Living Magazine. He said they loved my blue and white paintings, and would I be interested in sending some to New York for a feature in the magazine? Oh, and they had to be there in under four days. After I picked myself up off the floor, of course I said yes, and then spent the next few hours in a state of panic. Did I mention it was December? Or that the US had extra security in place for checking mail over the holidays? Anyway, I sent them on their way, and today I saw the end result. So thrilled. The editors used large-scale prints for the shoot, and I'm pleased to say they're now available in my Etsy shop:

'Ming in Indigo'

20" x 28" (510mm x 710mm)

available here

'Dynasty in Ming'

20" x 28" (510mm x 710mm)

available here

'Ginger Jar in Ming'

20" x 28" (510mm x 710mm)

available here

My paintings were part of a feature on blue, and the whole story is stunning - take a look:

So thank you Martha (and of course Scott!), I'm thrilled beyond belief to have my work featured in such an iconic magazine. It was sooo worth the nervous breakdown! Still pinching myself :) 

Have a great day everyone,

Last chance!

Just a quick reminder that today is the last day of the 20% off sale in my Etsy shop. Last orders will be posted tomorrow, and then I'll be taking a break until the 18th January. Thanks so much everyone for your overwhelming support, and I can't wait to share all my plans for the new year. I finished my very last original painting yesterday - a new addition to my blue and white Chinoiserie series:

'Ginger Jar in Cobalt'

original watercolour on paper

Right, I'm off to finish decorating the house, ready for Christmas day. Thankfully, the pool is now finished and ready to go, and although the forecast is for rain, rain and more rain, it's actually a beautiful day here today. So I'm going to make the most of it and get the place looking all pretty and festive,  and play with a few ideas I have for zhushing up the table. In general, I plan to enjoy one of the only summery days we've had in ages! 

Hope you all have a great day, and I'll catch you all soon.

New painting...at long last!

As I get ready to fly out the door for what seems like the millionth time today, I thought I'd pop in and share my latest painting. After sending myself almost blind trying to get this finished last night, I realised that:

1. I cannot paint at night, unless I'm happy for coke-bottle goggles to be a part of my wardrobe in the not-too-distant future.
2. Rushing a painting like this means blobs of blue paint appear in places they shouldn't. Which leads me to...
3. Painting at night only ends in tears...see number two above.

**Edited to add: I think I should clarify that, after making a mess of my first attempt, I started from scratch with this one. Just in case you were thinking I was trying to pass off a patched-up, less than top notch painting!**

So after all that, here it is:

"Ginger Jar in Ming"

original watercolour on paper, 210mm x 297mm

At the moment, this one is on hold for a client, otherwise I'll list it on Etsy later today.

I'll try very hard to pop in to all your lovely blogs today as well, I'm having serious withdrawals! 

See you soon,

Kerri 

In the picture

I was having a little look through Wisteria's latest catalogue last night, and as always there were so many gorgeous things to see. Btw, if any of the good people of Wisteria are reading this post (which I'm sure they are!) I'd like to suggest that Australia would be the perfect place for your new store :) Anyhoo, amongst the many lovely things to see, I came across this:

Some lovely blue and white paintings that look rather similar to these, that just happen to be available in my Etsy shop:

'Dynasty in Ming'

'Ginger Jar in Indigo'

Now you've indulged my little bit of shameless self-promotion ;) there is another reason for my post. I'm looking for some lovely, unique frames to pair with my new paintings. I quite like the idea of some sort of chinoiserie frame, but they seem to be few and far between. Any thoughts or suggestions? If you know of any that might suit, I'd love to hear from you. 

Ok, back to some more pretty pics courtesy of Wisteria:

Seriously Wisteria, we need you here. Stat.

Chinoiserie watercolours - and a huge thank you!

Firstly, let me thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for the wonderful support of my mirror makover at Design Refuge.  I know I've said it before, but I consider myself so lucky to have met such wonderful people since starting my blog earlier this year. I've found the blogging community to be so warm and friendly, and I'm so glad I bit the bullet and started my own blog after reading and enjoying so many others.Thanks to you all for taking the time out of your busy lives to vote for me - you guys really are the best!

Ok, just a quick update on this not-so-sunny Brissie morning. Instead of our planned surfing safari with Gidget to the beach, the weather has given me the perfect opportunity to finish a painting in a new Chinoiserie series I'm working on. After my lovely artist friend Mariska (from I used to be Snow White but I Drifted) suggested I add some blues and greens to my next painting, I took her advice and this is the result:

 Chinoiserie in Green

The new series will feature chinoiserie of every description, in lots of different colourways. Oh, and I've just started a new Facebook page specifically for my paintings - here's the link if you'd like to pop on over and say hi:

Original art by Kerri Shipp

Hope you're all having a wonderful weekend,

images by Driftwood Interiors

artwork copyright 2010

linking up to Remodelaholics's For Sale by Owner link party

Chicky Babe

Morning all,

Hope you've all had a wonderful Easter break, full of chocolate and all things yummy. Now, the topic of eggs has reminded me that you haven't yet met my menagerie. We have a small farmlet of sorts. Make that all-sorts, as we seem to accumulate homeless animals. Meet some of my girls...

...ok, so that may be Bunny Williams' hen house and not mine, but hey, I can dream can't I?

 ..and boys. This is our boy Barney

 ...and Spicy

..and Hot (goes with Spicy, of course!) and Ava and Charlotte

... ok, so they aren't chickens, but we found them wandering down the street so home they came

..no, not mine either, but isn't it just too fabulous for words? 

...be still my heart - a Chinoiserie chook house!

You know, it's fascinating to watch the social heirarchy of chooks. We could all learn a lot from them. They have such distinct personalities. Our bossiest chook was 'KFC', although I truly believe she may be a product of her environment. My husband named her this, thinking himself completely hilarious. Of course, my son then named subsequent additions to our brood 'Hot' and 'Spicy', and he and his father promptly fell about the place, complete with much self-indulgent belly laughing. Our boy Barney is a blue-ribbon, bona-fide best in show winner at Brisbane's biggest agricultural show. And he has the attitude to match.

Now, there is a point to this rambling post. If you choose your chickens wisely, you can get yourself some instant Easter eggs. Truly. You see, KFC and Barney are Araucanas. Not only are they gorgeous to look at, but check out their eggs:

aren't they pretty...instant Easter Eggs!

Have a great week everyone,

 

image 1 from here

images 6 and 7 from here
image 8 from here

all other images Driftwood Interiors