Tag Archives: inspired by nature

Perth Pillars: Thriving Tay

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I am delighted to be commissioned by Culture Perth & Kinross to create artwork for the pillar wraps for the entrance of AK Bell Library.   The brief was to capture their vision for ‘reinvention and renewal’.  I took my inspiration from the River Tay with water being a symbol for renewal, vitality and life, layering meaningful local imagery with colours and surface patterns to capture a sense of place.

Design experience

These site specific artworks are designed to be seen from different angles.  Entering from either side or walking, wheeling or driving past so that they have an impact from a distance as well as close up.    

Viewpoints

View 1 – Capturing moments in time with the heron standing patiently camouflaged in its surrounding then gradually flying off.  Progression of the colour palette and variation of ripple and movement of the water catching the light.  

View 2 – Uplifting warm colours with positive imagery playfully combined highlighting local features on The Tay – daffodils along the bank, butterflies flying, mushrooms, ladybirds, golf, heather, bridges, flowers, swans.

View 3 – The chevron striped artworks are seen from a distance bringing attention to the building.  The contrast of colour and patterns flow from one pillar to the next, from a more contrasting combination to a harmonious one, echoing gradual transformation.

View 4 – As leaving the building or walking past you can see the chevron stripe with details of the pattern, imagery and texture closer up.  

Consultation

Artwork was informed by the consultation with: staff, a family workshop for 2-5 year olds and their adults, LGBTQ+ group and the knitting group that are held in the library.  

During the consultation I found out what made the area meaningful and unique to the participants, finding out favourite places, things people liked to spot such as herons, golf, ripples, daffodils in the spring, sun on the water, swans, butterflies, dragonflies, heather, leaves, mushrooms, bridges, sunsets, current on the Tay. We explored colour combinations to bring joy. You can see these references in the final designs.

Site Visit Research

I enjoyed walking along the Tay capturing colour, texture and imagery – lovely rhythm and movement of the water, reflections of the bridges and buildings, the variety of public art sculptures in Rodney Gardens, the colours of the heather, the activity of the ducks and swans.

Moncreiffe island is quite unique with having a golf course in the design you can see a sunny pattern of golf balls and blooming daffodils and patterned paving. I loved seeing  ‘Soutar’s Menagerie’ by Rhonda Bayley on Tay Street – you’ll find a wee nod to this in the artwork.

Development and Installation

I drew, played with different elements and mocked up concepts, lots of more technical elements linked to measuring, sampling and installation, then created the final artworks ready for production.

Culture Perth & Kinross Vision

The brief was to animate the familiar space in a new way.  To contribute to the recognition of Perth as a creative place to live, work and visit and be a new visual marker as a destination.

The aim of my artwork is to capture the positive progress and shifting of perspective in the city of Perth with my striking artworks that uplift and bring joy and a sense of place creating confident, uplifting, joyful designs capturing the shifting perspectives of the city.  I hope you enjoy seeing them, they are up for up to 6 months.

Thanks

Thanks to librarian Louise for reading ‘love your earth’ by Jane Cabrera and ‘A home on the river’ by Peter Bentley and Charles Fuge as a great start to the crafty consultation workshop with families. Thanks to Kirsty for being my contact at AK Bell, thanks to Paul for initial chats on previous pillar wraps used. Thanks to the families, LGBTQ+ group and knitting group for your help. Thanks to Circle Signs for fabrication and Barry for installation.

My Creative Practice

With my artwork I like to create work that captures a sense of place and is meaningful and unique to space and the people who use it.  You can find out more about my projects and  commissions on my website where there are examples of a range of projects from outdoor active travel public artworks, healthcare corridor artworks, illustrations for books and much more.

Painted Elephant Trail

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Photo by Derek Gerrard Photography

I loved painting this lush and leafy design onto a plain elephant, it was a great shape to paint on. I built up layers of greens, turquoise and olives to create depth and the feeling of a tropical rainforest. I then added hibiscus and ditzy flowers with tropical leaves in an allover pattern. And of course a striped trunk and tail! I named it Lush + Leafy, I was inspired by elephants of the tropical jungle of Borneo, camouflaged in the luscious tropical patterns.

Photos by Derek Gerrard Photography

Work in progress video

Work in progress video

My elephant is part of The Big Trunk Trail in Luton raising money for Keech Hospice Care. Big thanks to the sponsor HBD Places. If you are in Luton you will spot Lush + Leafy in The Moor Park, please tag me in on social media or send me a photo! hello@louisekirby.com Here are some work in progress photos

The elephant sculpture was massive and wasn’t going to fit into my studio on the 4th floor at Wasps studios. I’m super grateful for the kindness of Derek from Circle Signs offering me space in his workshop to paint!

Thanks to the Sandra Webster for escorting my elephant to Luton with her colourful elephant also on the trail.

Finished painted elephant – Lush + Leafy

I love taking part in the Wild In Art trails as they allow me to use my skills of applying colour and pattern to objects and surfaces. They raise money for charities and the trails themselves are great at encouraging people to get out and about and explore the area.

Next one to look out for is my Lighthouse, part of the Light The North Trail. You can see my other Wild In Art painted sculptures on my website

Thanks for reading!

Artwork for your home

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I loved painting these 2 bespoke murals in a cool kitchen.

Process involve, a chat with the lovely couple about what they wanted, we talked about their favourite things, love of vintage style and what they liked about my signature style. This helped me form the brief and created a couple of sketches of ideas that they chose from (options to have changes but loved what I created.) From there we picked dates to suit, and defined the vintage colour palette. Then I painting all the layers of colour and pattern, which was joyful. (See me in action)

I’m grateful they were brave to ask me and trusted I would create something they’d love! They wanted 2 murals, one next to the alcove and a homely one next to the wood burning stove, they look good individually and also connect through colour and imagery so work together in the room. 

I think they turned out well, what do you think? Can you imagine a mural in your home or office? I love taking people’s ideas and creating bespoke designs.

Art Shows the Way

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ART Shows The Way!

New dementia-friendly art and design projects at three Perthshire sheltered housing units have been created to help residents find their way around the complexes while adding new positive character.

Tayside Healthcare Arts Trust (THAT) in partnership with Perth & Kinross Council has commissioned these creative art and design solutions at the Carpenter Court and Strathmore Street sheltered housing units in Perth and at James Court in Pitlochry

Developed using dementia-friendly principles, the artworks and enhanced design will help make navigation around the buildings easier for the tenants.  

THAT commissioned designer Louise Kirby to hold consultation workshops with staff and tenants looking at themes and colours that residents responded well too. Louise then devised different plans, each appropriate to the individual sites. The concept was to use imagery that was based around the changing seasons and nature, and reflected the established colour coding system for each floor of the Carpenter Court and Strathmore Street. Within the third unit at James Court Pitlochry these designs reflected tenants’ and staffs’ love of the local animals and landscape and provided positive images that brighten up the corridor.

Louise said: “I loved the challenge of using my design skills to improve how tenants find their way around and across these sheltered housing units. The buildings are very different in size and layout and so required different solutions, but the principle is the same. The design elements link and flow with the established colour coding to provide positive visual markers for people. This has been a great opportunity to see how my design can help people living in these complexes.”

Perth & Kinross Council’s Housing and Communities Convener, Councillor Bob Brawn, added: “These   are lovely images and we have been getting a lot of positive comments about them from both tenants and visitors, who are really enjoying the colour they’ve brought to the complexes. They are a great addition to all the units and our tenants and staff are really pleased with the outcome.”

THAT promotes the therapeutic value of the arts based programmes to enhance environments, quality of life, and promote social inclusion by empowering individuals to make an important contribution to their health and wellbeing.

For more information about the THAT project, please contact Karine Neill Development Officer THAT on 01382 835509 or if you would like to chat to Louise Kirby about enhancing your space contact hello@louisekirby.com

Colours and pattens inspired by the River Tay for Artist Support Pledge.

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During lockdown the simple things in life became even more important to me, from watching the waves in the River Tay to spending time painting for fun on the kitchen table.  During this time I created a series of watercolour collages playing with rhythms of stripes with the juxtaposition of colour and pattern inspired by my local surroundings of the River Tay. It’s great what’s on our doorstep here in Dundee.

Prices range from £15 – £25 each, if you would like one for your home or office drop me an email on hello@louisekirby.com   Each one is a one-off original piece, initialled with free delivery. Each one is numbered under the image so please quote that in your email.


26.Costal Calm Watercolour Collage B. (fits a standard 8” x 6” frame). £15 – SOLD

31.Mindful Watercolour Collage B. (fits a standard 8” x 6” frame). £18

35.Sandy Shore Watercolour Collage C. (Fits a standard 8” x 6” frame) £18

41.Meditation Watercolour Collage D. (fits a standard 8” x 6” frame) £20

42.Meditation Watercolour Collage E. (Fits a standard 8” x 6” frame) £20

43 Colour Study Watercolour Collage A. (Fits a standard 8” x 6” frame) £20 – SOLD

44.Zesty Summer Watercolour Collage. (Fits a standard 8” x 6” frame) £20

45.Colour Study Watercolour Collage . (Fits a standard 8” x 6” frame). £20

46.Tranquil Tay A Watercolour Collage . (Fits a standard 8” x 6” frame). £20

48.Seaweed Watercolour Collage. (Fits in a standard 8” x 6” frame).  £20

49.Rustic Watercolour Collage (fits a standard 8” x 6” frame). £20

51.Ripple Watercolour Collage A (fits a standard 8” x 6” frame) £20

52.Ripple Watercolour Collage B. (Fits a standard 8” x 6” frame) £20

53.Rhythm Watercolour Collage A. (Fits a standard 8” x 6” frame) £20

54.Rhythm Watercolour Collage B. (Fits a standard 8” x 6” frame) £20

55.Teal Tay Watercolour Collage . (Fits a standard 8” x 6” frame). £20

56.Journey Watercolour Collage A. (Fits a standard 8” x 6” frame). £20

58.Accent Watercolour Collage A. (Fits in a standard 8” x 8” frame).  £25

59.Accent Watercolour Collage B (fits a standard 8” x 8” frame). £25

60.Accent Watercolour Collage C. (Fits into a standard 8” x 8” frame) £25

62.Costal Calm Watercolour Collage F. (Fits a standard 8” x 8” frame) £25 – SOLD

64. Sand Meets Seat and Sky Watercolour Collage . (Fits a standard 8” x 6” frame). £20 – SOLD

65. Brightness After the Rain A Watercolour Collage . (Fits a standard 8” x 6” frame). £20

66. Brightness After the Rain B Watercolour Collage . (Fits a standard 8” x 6” frame). £20

67. Rhythm A Watercolour Collage . (Fits a standard 8” x 6” frame). £20

68. Rhythm B Watercolour Collage . (Fits a standard 8” x 6” frame). £20

When my sales reach £1000 I pledge to buy £200 from another artist to help support others artists through this difficult time. This initiative was set up by Mathew Burrows Studio to support artists who have lost commissions, teaching and gallery work through the Covid-19 pandemic.

If you’re interested in my design commissions or Dundee Delights products you can see more about them here