Lets go on a journey together…

land rover web imageI was lucky to be selected to take part in the coaching with Cultural Enterprise Office with Lynn O’Neill.  I really enjoyed the bespoke personal service and allowing myself the time to develop.  I was encourage to think BIG, so I wanted to showcase my patterned artworks on a product that would dispel the myth that my artwork was only for scarves.  So I started an self initiated project, for my all time favourite car the Land Rover Defender.

I think the brand really matched the essence of what I’m about and my love of the great outdoors.  I wanted to use my patterned artwork and signature style of delicious colours, patterns, and expressive mark making with a rhythmic flow capturing the essence wilderness of the landscape to create sophisticated, natural and beautiful designs suitable for Land Rover Defender.

land rover section by louise kirby

So I set about creating some hand painted paper designs using imagery of the landscape, fields of pattern and animals.  My visualisation was that I see the Land Rover Defenders as something that can go anywhere with no obstacle and I wanted to capture this in my artworks by merging and blending a variety of terrains into one another to give the feeling that Land Rovers can go anywhere, with spontaneous marks the emphasise the thrill, and adventure of the Land Rover Experience through the rugged British countryside.

I could imagine my patterned artworks on  – exterior bodywork, spare wheel covers, interior upholstery, promotional leaflets, collectable toys, and water bottles to hoods.

From there I needed to visualise the artwork on a product, so without getting my hands on the real thing I tried putting my designs on simple line drawings.  Here are some of my samples.

Land Rover Repeat in Product web

land rover red in product webI searched for the biggest model I could afford and got this lovely toy and set about applying my design idea on the product.  I also made a hand printed silk wheel cover too!  I loved the little model so took it to the park to do a wee photo shoot. Here are some of the photos from that day.

Land Rover web

Land Rover View webLand Rover water web

Land Rover Grass web

I hope you like my creation; do you imagine driving about with my design on it?

I’d love to go on an adventure with Land Rover where I bring the creativity and they bring the wheels!

wheel commission louise kirby web

New year and new products – cushions, cards, art prints and canvases

Stripy Fields Framed ArtI’ve signed up to Society 6 that allows designers to have a range of products.  I have 3 of my designs Fields of Pattern, Stripy Fields and Spotty Fields on this website producing cushions, cards, art prints and canvases for me.

Cushions come in 3 sizes 16″ x 16″, 18″ x 18″, 20″ x 20″ and you can choose to have the cushion pad included or not, available in all 3 designs.  Please click on the cushion and you will be taken to the website.

Fields of Pattern Pillow

Spotty Fields Pillow

Stripy Fields Pillow

 

Cards come in a pack of 3 of the same design and are available in all 3 designs.  Please click on the card to be directed to the website.

Fields of Pattern Card Spotty Fields Card

Stripy Fields Card

Art Prints come Framed or Unframed and in various sizes in all 3 designs. Please click on the card to be directed to the website.

Fields of Pattern Framed Art

Spotty Fields Framed Art

Stripy Fields Framed Art

 

Canvases  in various sizes on white canvas using the latest Epson archival inks, are also available please click here to see.

All products are available directly through Society6, the website is in dollars and it ships  to the UK for a small fee.  Enjoy shopping!  Part of my mission to cover the world in my patterns!

for your tootsies, hoofs, trotters, paws or feet

I’ve moved to the countryside allowing me to be surrounded by my inspiration of Scottish wilderness and thousand of pheasants!  After days out exploring the area I would come home with muddy welllies or walking boots, so I decided to make myself a doormat  to keep my house nice and clean!  Here’s some examples of my hand painted doormats.

Hand Printed Doormat

Indoor use only

Helping to keep your home clean

Each one unique

Material – Coir Mat, PVC backed.

Introductory offer of £25, only available for collection from my studio, please email me if you would like one hello@louisekirby.com

I also had a little play with some other silhouettes and patterns I like!

 

 

All Wrapped up…..

It’s that season, the leaves are changing colour and their is a chill in the air!

I just wanted to let you know about my artwork being used on 2 Anthropologie scarves called Wings of Braemar.  They are only available through Anthropologie stores and online.

They are a lovely quality of wool and I love wearing mine!  I’m really proud that my logo features on the edge and sold in their stores all over Europe and USA and online.  It’s great   having my work reaching a wider audience and with such a high profile that I really admire.

I hope you like them!

Thanks for reading my blog!

All Bagged Up

I’m delighted to announce that Anththropologie have chosen one of my design for their new collection. One of my pheasants is now fashioning itself on a tote bags in the USA and UK.  You can check out the tote bag here, they are only available directly through Anthropologie.

I love seeing my artworks on different products and how Anthropologie have styled it with it’s plain back and slightly sparkly handle – and of course seeing my logo on their products with their tags.

It’s exciting to think that my artwork is reaching a bigger audience here in the UK and the USA.

I personally think myself and Anthropologie make a great combination for collaborations and the whole experience has been a pleasure!

WASPS CREATIVE POP UP WEEKEND

 

My studio will be open as part of this fab event.  I’m based at Airlie Place (just off the Perth Road and down from the students union)  There’s a great mix of Artists and Designers and Special Guests taking part.  I will have a range of luxurious silk and wool scarves for sale, and a bargain box for you to have a rummage.  Feel free to invite lots of people to this creative event happening in Bonnie Dundee.  For more information the facebook page click here.

WASPS Artists at Airlie Place – Genna Delaney, Nicola Morrison, Jennifer Robson, Paola McClure, Louise Kirby, Volker Rosenberg, Neil McIntee, Casey Campbell, Jill Skulina, Louise Ritchie

WASPS Artists at Meadow Mill – Kirsty Doig

WASPS Artists at Douglas Court – Cathrine Holtet, Jonathan Hood, Allan Beveridge,

SPECIAL GUESTS –
Two Dolls
Steven Higginson artist
Howard Callow
Dot Stewart
Juliette Townsend ceramicist
Amanda McAllum
Patricia Griffin
James Skelton Smith
Lee Mitchell
Christina Hirst
The Scarlet Bakery
Yoke

Shortlisted in British Airways Great Britons!


I entered the Art Category for the British Airways Great Britons competition to design the exterior surfaces of their aeroplanes – it was the ideal opportunity to showcase my work on 12 BA aeroplanes flying around the world.  It couldn’t get any better!


[Thanks to Cara Pirie who helped me with my film clip]

The competition linked to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games; and I created a design especially for it as I thought my style would capture the excitement and drama of the Olympics!

After submitting 3 images (as above), a 2 minute film and 500 words, I was so excited to be shortlisted and to be in the final 10!  I received a giant posted parcel, with lots of exciting goodies from BA – a model plane, colour swatches and profile drawings and CD of BA planes, interview guidelines.  I loved the glossy swatches of paint!

The shortlist selection was held in the Royal Academy of Arts in London; where I had to give a 10 minute presentation and interview in front of a very high-profile panel – Tracey Emin (artist),  Eliza Bonham Carter (Curator of Royal Academy), Luiza Fernandez (British Airways), David Barnes (British Airways).  You can image how nerve racking that was!  And to top it off there was a film crew and I had to be miked up!

Here’s me sitting waiting patiently! Portfolio – check! artwork – check! power point – check! nerves – check! Psychological pee – check!

I wanted to engage the panel to visualise my work in 3D, so I got them to make a paper aeroplane and fly them as part of my presentation.  I was a bit apprehensive about asking them to do it but they were up for the challenge!  Here are the planes made by the panel – they only had 30 seconds!

I got to meet some of the other shortlisted artists as we sat nervously waiting – Andrew David Green, Jayne Stephen, Martin Herbert.

Congratulations to Pascal Anson who won, this will really showcase his work to an international audience.

I’m very proud to have been shortlisted to the final 10 but obviously a wee bit disappointed not to be the winner!  It was good experience and it’s all part of my mission to see my artwork on different contexts.

For the full British Airways press release click here.

Royal Academy Summer Show


When for a whizz round the Royal Academy Summer Show in London.  I really enjoyed it and came out feeling all refreshed and invigorated.  There was a great mix of artworks from architects models, photography, sculpture, painting and printmaking.

I loved the way the paintings cover the walls and each room had a different theme.  Here are some of the things I liked.

The show is now finished but it’s on my to do list for visiting next year!

 

 

Edinburgh Anthropologie Opening

I had a fantastic night at the opening of the 1st Scottish Anthropologie Store in Edinburgh on George Street.

What an amazing store! There’s so many great things about it, it’s boutique-like on a large scale, with lovely displays, lots of lovely textures, and amazing clothes and home ware.

I can’t believe how they have used my artwork form the hoarding, amazing blocky feature near the stairs – much bigger and better than I could of imagined.  Some of  my pattern used within the artwork spanning over 2 floors.

It was funny as lots of people recognised me from the video of me creating the hoarding artwork.  Concept & Graft were there too.

It was great to see my hand printed scarves within the store and also being worn!

Cocktails, delicious hor d’oeuvres and oysters – top night!

Lindsey Gardiner and her quirky dog paintings, fantastic!

Also there’s an photography exhibition by David Eustace.

Live auction for With Kids and the lovely ceiling.

Here’s a link to the Press Release on Textiles Scotland website.

Artwork taken off….

The giant artwork I created for Anthropologie Edinburgh George Street is now down.  If you missed me creating the Artwork or didn’t get a chance to see it in person in Edinburgh you can check it out the video of me creating it here.

A big THANK YOU to Concept & Graft for creating the film of me and my work for Anthropologie temporary storefront hoarding.  I love the film, I think it really captures a sense of me and my work.  Film maker David Council was great – really down to earth, which made me feel at ease, so much so that I forgot the camera was there and just smiled as I painted, printed and stencilled all my colours and patterns.  You can check out the other projects  Concept & Graft website.

I just saw the film on the Guardian website too.

Looking forward to the store opening on the 15th June 2011!