Thursday, May 5, 2011

the silence is suddenly broken by bird calls

I’ve shared a few images of my husband Andrews’s artwork in the past, but I am really excited to share his latest. Why? Because it is filled with fantabulous plant shapes. Bromeliads, big leafed exotics, and all sorts of crazy things found in the Amazon rainforest. As this piece opens and unfolds the viewer discoverers different adventures playing out in the landscape. Black Howler Monkey. This work was a commissioned piece created for an orchid collector who spends time in the Amazon. There are references to his experiences scattered throughout the work. Like this panel that depicts the time he and his traveling companions were rounded up by the locals, some not so friendly (one old woman’s shouts translated to “just kill them”). This set of three panels is my favorite. I keep telling Andrew that I want to live here, and then he reminds me about the snakes, insects and not so cuddly furry creatures. Ok, he has a point. But look at those plants! I would be happy if even a few of these plants could grow in my garden. Before he put it all together I scanned each image separately to have a record of their details. Some of these are repeats from above, and you’ll probably notice a little color discrepancy between the two sets. Neither one is spot on… the photos look cloudy and the scans are washed out in spots and over saturated in others. Still you can get a better idea of the dense landscape adventure he has created. Like the cobbler's kids with no shoes on their feet my walls are not yet full of these wonderful plant shapes...still I can dream.

17 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing Andrew's art works. They are completely charming. Maybe you should at least get some prints of them onto your walls.

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  2. AnonymousMay 05, 2011

    These are wonderful!

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  3. Yes, make prints and sell them here! Is that feasible? They are indeed charming.

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  4. Those are wonderful. A sunny room with those plants as a mural on the walls...wow! Would be like living in a magical garden: way cool.

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  5. How awesome...he's quite the talent! I love the stylized nature of the illustrations...are those watercolors? Either way, I hope you have lots of similar pieces around your house...they are so full of character...does he freelance much?

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  6. how weird and fantastical, exactly my kind of thing! I bet this style of thing would be a big hit at the local craft fairs. Please let us know if he ever does an exhibition. it sounds like all this plant imagery is new for him, you must be having a positive influence on him.

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  7. ricki, I oversimplified of course and there are a few pieces gracing our walls, but I want BIG plant shapes painted directly on the walls.

    Mary Ann, you said it!

    Jean, uhm....you might be on to something!

    Hoover, exactly!!!! This is my dream.

    scott, yes they are watercolors. I really wish I could have better represented the color and look of them. It's somewhere in between the photos and scans. We do have several pieces from past shows around the house so I do get to enjoy those. He has only done a couple of commission works.

    Ryan, weird and fantastical is a great compliment! Actually he recently pulled out of a couple of galleries. He had been showing at one in Spokane and Augen here in Portland. I'll definitely let you all know if something new comes up in the future. And no, I can't take credit for the plant imagery, it's been a constant (and one of the things that I love about him). What's different about this piece (and part of why I love it so) is the jungle-ness of it. He usually has a more open and sparse style...open desert vs. this dense jungle.

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  8. Ugh the bugs... and crawlies, and get under your skin to livies... NO THANKS!

    Would like to visit, tho.

    Hubby's work is wonderful!

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  9. Wonderful! So glad you provided a peak into Andrew's world. I can see these on fabrics, wallpaper...

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  10. AnonymousMay 05, 2011

    Utterly splendid. Thank you for sharing.

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  11. Those are so charming! You DO need them on your own walls. I'm surprised, though, that there aren't more spiky, *dangerous* plants in his watercolors. ;-)

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  12. Splendid ! I love botanical art of almost any kind , and these are so unique..

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  13. The fun in these is absolutely bewitching! I was laughing out loud as I looked at each of the details. I love the way Andrew stylizes his depictions of plants, animals and people: that howler monkey is all mouth, and the people are so evocative of their cultural setting.

    What works so beautifully is the journal-style illustrations and notation labels with bits of added detail. These are wonderful worlds unto themselves!

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  14. Jenn, "get under your skin to livies"...YUCK!

    Denise, oh that could be cool!

    Thank you Patricia!

    Pam, he does draw a mean agave...

    ks, agreed on both accounts.

    ChrisU, yep.

    MulchMaid, oh I just loved reading your comment! He will like your saying "journal-style illustrations" too.

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  15. I would love to see a book of his work!

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  16. I love all the color that he used in this one! In fact, I think I just love this one in general!

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