Nature and wellbeing artworks – ‘Outside In’

These piece are my creative response to ‘Outside In’ which links the outside world to our inner self. Inspired by noticing the positives in nature and the feeling of gratitude creating an inner positive wellbeing. Journeys in nature continually inspire me with its cycles of growth, transformation, rhythm and flow as I explore the harmony and contrast of layering of colour and pattern inspired by moment of wonder in nature. If you would like to add a bit of artwork into your home or office I have each once listed below and you can contact me directly to purchase by emailing hello@louisekirby.com

Details of one off artworks

Title: Dappled Light

Medium: Acrylic collage

£180 (framed in 12″ x 12″)

Title: Abundance

Medium: Acrylic collage

£180 (framed in 12″ x 12″)

Title: Spot of Joy

Medium: Acrylic collage

£180 (framed in 12″ x 12″)

Title: Connection

Medium: Acrylic collage

£180 (framed in 12″ x 12″)

Title: Amongst The Trees

Medium: Acrylic collage

£180 (framed in 12″ x 12″)

Title: Flow

Medium: Watercolour collage

£250 (framed in 12″ x 12″)

Title: Harmony

Medium: Watercolour collage

£250 (framed in 12″ x 12″)

Title: Ripples

Medium: Watercolour collage

£150 (framed in 12″ x 12″)

Title: Reflections

Medium: Watercolour collage

£150 (framed in 12″ x 12″)

I loved working with circles and you can read more about my circle love here.

Title: Bouquet of Pheasants

Medium: Acrylic on paper

£300 (framed 51cm x 71cm )

Title: Flying Pheasants

Medium: Acrylic on paper

£180 (framed 43cm x 53cm)

Title: Escargotorie

Medium: Acrylic on paper

£180 (framed 43cm x 53cm)

I think they look good grouped together so if you would like more than one I can offer a discount.

I have a vision of the world full of colourful creative interventions to bring more joy to the spaces we play, live, work and travel through.  My aim is to uplift and connect people and highlight the positives by creating artworks that capture a sense of place which creates a sense of belonging.  I love to do this with my use of playfully applying colour and pattern.

If you would like to know more about my work and see samples you can see more on my website 

What has no corners or beginning or end?

Circles keep popping up in my life! I’ve been reflecting on my design practice through the years (24 years ago since I started professionally in the creative industries from leaving DJCAD. I’ve gone down a bit of a rabbit warren and found a whole series of designs and artwork from the last 24. years through my time as a textile designer into more recently where I create bespoke artwork for the public realm. It’s funny how different themes stay at my core.

More recently I found lots of circles in my research of all the departments within Dundee Contemporary Art building for their site-specific window design commission.

The various patterns inside the circles captures the range of activity that goes on inside the building and I loved playing the layout of the of them bouncing/floating as if they were moving and falling into place.  Giving an energetic feel!  I adored this commission, from the research, problem solving, developing the concept and the trust of the DCA to create my creative response to the building. If you want to read more about the process of this you can here

With each design commission I am responding to the place, the people who use the space and the purpose of adding designs so that I can give the best results possible with the biggest impact. 

These circle designs have a more homely feel as they were for the communal corridor in a sheltered housing unit and tenants wanted to have a less clinical and corporate feel.  The circle shape allowed me to group together common themes that came from the tenant consultation and the arrangement of the circles in colour groups to aid wayfinding. If you would like to read more about my sheltered housing work you can here

Then popping up more recently is the circle shutter art part of a parade of artwork for Stobswell in Dundee, for the the local Chinese takeaway.  I love the clashing of colour and impact from a distance but when you get closer you can see the meaningful decoration inspired by the local area. This giant circle was made using a makeshift compass with a bit of string and chalk – old school methods at their best! If you want to read more you can here

For the Riso Soup Misprint publication and exhibition of exploring the concept of misprints and serendipitous errors I chose to explore exciting combinations of how colour and pattern sit together, playing with layout and movement to create this composition as if elements are misprinted.

Most recently circles are for my creative response to ‘Outside In’ which is inspired by noticing the positives in nature and the feeling of gratitude that creates an inner positive wellbeing. I loved playing with the composition of the different textures, images and surfaces to create these circles of circles.

Circles are such satisfying shapes to play with….. I’m sure you’ll see more in my future work! And check out the lovely stacked circles in in this lovely eco house at Guardswell Farm that I saw last week.

I have a vision of the world full of colourful creative interventions to bring more joy to the spaces we play, live, work and travel through.  My aim is to uplift and connect people and highlight the positives by creating artworks that capture a sense of place which creates a sense of belonging.  I love to do this with my use of playfully applying colour and pattern.

I am ready to take on new design challenges and if you have a project, collaboration or commission in mind please get in touch hello@louisekirby.com or you can check some samples on my website to give you a flavour of previous projects.

Fun A Day Exhibition

Fun Fun Fun!  

During the month of January I took part in Fun A Day, where you do something fun every day.   I wanted to explore and play with an idea with no defined outcome to see where it takes me. Adapting the ‘Five Currant Buns’ nursery rhyme as a starting point.  I went on a journey and did some sketches of bakers shops, ink drawings, illustrations, patterns and then focused on creating a range of paper cuts of local shop fronts and all cool things they sell.  I love local independent shops on the high street.  

The exhibition opens on Friday 13th April at 7pm, and is on over the Saturday and Sunday from 10am – 7pm at Gallery space, 4th floor, WASPS Studios, Meadow Mill, Dundee, DD1 5BY.   The exhibition will have an eclectic mix of projects that happened in January.

A few of the things I created during Fun A Day will be developed in the future, I can imagine a range of illustrations to a 5 Dundee Cakes in the bakers shop counting book. Doing the paper cuts allowed me to think about the positive and negative space and keep designs quite simple.  I’ve been playing with these by adding colour and texture since January.  Here are some test pieces

Some of my pieces will be for sale, please contact me directly hello@louisekirby.com or call/text 07841423335. 

For more info on the whole event check out the Fun A Day exhibition page

WASPS Open Studios 28th & 29th October

WASPS Open Studios 2017

When: 28th & 29th October, 12noon—5pm on both days
Where: 2nd, 3rd & 4th floors Meadow Mill, West Hendersons Wynd, Dundee, DD1 5BY

I will have my new Dundee Delights cards, enamel pins and tea towels available (and hopefully some screen prints)

Continue reading

Drawing Dundee by illustrator Louise Kirby

Dundee PehToday I’m starting a new project called Drawing Dundee.  I am going to draw local products and places in the city and around the city and post every Wednesday on my social networks –  so keep your eyes peeled. (starting Wednesday 2nd March) Continue reading

Vote for the Oak

I am delighted to be commissioned by The Woodlands Trust Scotland to help draw attention to an oak tree in Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Park to help it win European Tree of the Year. Continue reading

It’s dreich outside but these will brighten up your day

red pudding Louise KirbyHere is some of my festive designs on cards –  tasty Christmas Pudding, well fed Robin and Winter in Dundee. Continue reading

Festive Forbes of Kingennie

festive brochure web I’m always inspired in the great outdoors so being asked to create an illustration for Forbes of Kingennie Country Resort Festive Brochure was perfect match for me and my work. 

They wanted to do something different and part of my job is to capture the essence of the place and to bring their vision into reality.
photo 2 small Continue reading