Animal Portraits

Anyone who knows me knows that I am fascinated by animals.  I can't live without animals.  At present, I am being restrained and only have 2 dogs, a goldfish, 2 budgies, and my slightly feral, neurotic, spoilt cat, Bridie O'Reilly, which my eldest son kindly saved from a rampaging farmer ( who didn't appreciate hordes of feral kittens appearing on his property, getting ready to breed ferociously), and donated to me.

But, in the past, I have had everything from stick insects ( a Christmas present), chickens, Sun Conures and blue tongue lizards to a toad, a hamster, a squirrel,a sulpher crested cockatoo and a kangaroo.  I love watching them in the wild, in zoos, in pet shops, on farms, and on TV. I read about animals - my childhood heroes were David Attenborough, Gavin Maxwell and Gerald Durrell.  My bookcases are crammed with books on animals. Every day, during my walk with the dogs, I keep up to date with the little families of animals I have got to know.  These little black ducks are residents of a  pond on this walk and are very eager consumers of spare bread from the locals, along with the resident eels, elegant dusky moorhens, and dabchicks.

 (By the way, the way to make me love you forever, unconditionally, is to give me a horse (hint, hint) ). 

 So, it isn't surprising that animals appear frequently in my work.


This is the latest fabric printed with lino cuts that I have created.  It is inspired by Japanese drawings of insects and is very buggy as you can see:

 

Miranda, Elizabeth and I also used the press this week at the BIA to do some work

 

 

  and I caught up with my printing.................... only to discover that this lino cut of fish, needs a little more refining.

 

  I have realised that I now have quite of a collection of animal themed work.  I did this tapestry of frogs years ago for an old chair.

This series of sharks is inspired by my son-in-law, Rob.  He is a keen fisherman and loves catching and eating gummy sharks, but occasionally the sharks try to take revenge and bite him.  It also pays homage to the Aussie reputation for danger overseas.  So many of my overseas friends seem convinced that the animals of this country are all conspiring to eat them or poison them.

( "Mako shark".  Lino print.  Size of print: 8.57 cm X 2.75 cm. $50AUD plus postage and handling).

 

(" Black tip shark".  Lino print. Size of print: 6.6cmx 18cm.  Price $50 AUD plus postage and handling)

 

 

("Gummy Shark". Lino print. Size of print 30.5cm x9cm. $60 plus postage and handling)

 

 

( "Nurse Shark" Lino cut.  Size of print: 18cm x 6.5 cm.  Price $50 AUD plus postage and handling).

 

I love dogs.  These, rather plump, greyhounds are a result of me trying to decide whether we need to get a child-friendly whippet or greyhound for our grandchildren. They are supposed to be fantastic.   Unfortunately, the council only allows 2 dogs.

 

 

("Waiting".  Size of print 15.5cm square.  Price: $40 AUD plus postage and handling.  Lino print.)

 

And we looked after this little dog for a friend while he was on holiday.

 

 

 

("Bella".  Oil on canvas board.  Size 40 cm x 30cm.  $50 AUD plus postage and packaging)

 

These brahmin cattle remind me of my childhood in Trinidad.

 

 

 

 ( "Curiosity". Size of print :13 cm x 17cm. Linoprint. $35 plus postage and packaging)

This is a detail from a quilt I made when I first came to Brisbane:

And this is a detail of one I made for my youngest son, Jon, many years ago:

I think this love of animals will continue in my future work. I am currently trying to think of a way to incorporate the Brisbane symbols: the ibis, the water dragon and the bush turkey. Stay tuned.