General gallery view showing my two Tulip drawings selected for the Group Exhibition of North East artists' work at Gallagher and Turner Gallery, Newcastle from 23rd August to 5th October 2019.
Red Riding Hood Tulip h:70cms x w:53cms (framed). watercolour and pencil on paper 2019
Watercolour and pencil study of Red Riding Hood Tulip. I made the cloak for this doll from my childhood dolls house collection: she is fully aware of the power of her red cloak.
Tulips have a long and exquisite history in art. Inspired by the Dutch seventeeth century flower paintings in the Ashmolean museum, Oxford and the 'Turkish Tulips' exhibition at the Bowes Musem in 2017, I decided to make my own tulip tributes. Taking the name of specific tulips as a starting point I drew at 1:1 scale directly from the botanical specimens: I juxtaposed them with objects from my collection, with the flower bulbs' packaging labels and with origami tulips I made following instructions from the 'Turkish Tulips' show. These drawings bring together fact, fiction, observation, classification, myths and folklore. By referencing scientifc botanical studies, the legacy of women painting flower watercolours, curios and storytelling these images both celebrate and subvert the tradition of flowers in art.
Black Jack Tulip h:80cms x 63.5cms (framed). watercolour and pencil on paper 2019
Watercolour and pencil study of a Black Jack Tulip. This tulip was so tall and strikingly beautiful. I didn't have a doll that would exactly partner this flower, so I used Black Jack cards from a pack I brought back from Prague many years ago along with two from a tiny pack of cards from a Christmas cracker. Tulips have a long and exquisite history in art. Inspired by the Dutch seventeeth century flower paintings in the Ashmolean museum, Oxford and the 'Turkish Tulips' exhibition at the Bowes Musem in 2017, I decided to make my own tulip tributes. Taking the name of specific tulips as a starting point I drew at 1:1 scale directly from the botanical specimens: I juxtaposed them with objects from my collection, with the flower bulbs' packaging labels and with origami tulips I made following instructions from the 'Turkish Tulips' show. These drawings bring together fact, fiction, observation, classification, myths and folklore. By referencing scientifc botanical studies, the legacy of women painting flower watercolours, curios and storytelling these images both celebrate and subvert the tradition of flowers in art.
