Have you spotted these vans around tayside?
I wanted to share a commission I did for local business Flora Gardening.
They liked my drawing style and thought my artwork would reflect their passion for their brand. My design is on vans to gardeners t-shirts.
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
Here is some of my festive designs on cards – tasty Christmas Pudding, well fed Robin and Winter in Dundee. Continue reading
Last weekend for Easter I created a wee bit of magic in the woods with a trail in the countryside with clues and things to do for my family and friends. Ending in the woods where I created a giant nest filed with golden bunnies as prizes, blue painted stones round tree trunks and on a tree added some windows, doors and washing line to encourage a bit of imagination.
I loved playing and coming up with the idea for space outside and for everyone to experience the magic too. I think the adults enjoyed it as much as the kids! Continue reading
Here’s my new images for next years 2014 Autumn/Winter Hallyburton Collection. All inspired by where I live on a country estate in the heart of Perthshire, Scotland. I’m surrounded by an abundance of inspiration on my doorstep!
I’m continually inspired by the changing seasons and fascinated at the harmonisation of the flora and fauna blending together. You often find me exploring knee deep amongst the grasses and dotted wild flowers, wandering through the woods of dappled trees and patchwork fields – I hope my designs capture the essence my surroundings.
This new Autumn/Winter 2014 Hallyburton Collection uses a palette of greens and a hint of warm chestnut. Some of my artworks include my fascination of pheasants as I follow their footprints around the estate, textured of stacked logs and expressive dotty marks of nature’s elements.
I create sophisticated patterned artworks for your products using my signature style of a lovely organic movement using repetitive marks and textures in delicious colours.
Patterned artworks collections can be licensed or I can be commissioned to create something bespoke for your products.
I wanted to showcase a different type of work that I do. If I’m not designing my own surface patterns I do some work for Angus Council Education Development Service creating and delivering project for schools.
One of the projects I worked on was Wee Wellie Wander, I worked in partnership with Angus Council Ranger Service at Crombie Country Park to develop a Learning Resource to support teachers and early years practitioners to engage very young children creatively in using the park as a stimulus to looking, exploring, listening, talking, making and doing.
I created a colourful self-led teacher pack includes includes images and descriptors for a variety of rich and creative learning activities using simple tools and natural materials.
I loved doing this project as it really matched my passion for the great outdoors and being playful and creative. It was great coming up with ideas and taking the ideas to final pack where I’ve seen children enjoying taking part and asking interesting questions and seeing their learning and curiosity. I also brought on artist Astrid Leeson to bounce ideas and have a few creative days in the park coming up with ideas. It was great to feel like a big kid and come up with things others would enjoy doing and discovering.
Park Ranger Lisa King was a wonder to work with, as she’s is so passionate about the park, open to ideas, very proactive and practical. I wanted to do some sort of weaving using natural materials, so we chose the best spot and she made a frame by the time I came the next week – you might see it if you’re in the park (look out for the Magic Spot), feel free to add to the natural cloth!
With my own work I’m fascinated with colour, pattern, mark making and I wanted to bring elements of my work came into the park. I used my bird stencils but instead of using paint as I do in my studio we used bird seeds to create pictures that repeat and also can play with symmetry and watching the birds eat them. I’ve got a fascination with yarn bombing and I love moss growing up trees which I though looked like leg warmers so we decided to get lots of colourful balls of wool and wrap the trees. Other activities include recording markmaking and memory string that allows pupils to collect mementos from their day so they can revisit it.
I highly recommend Crombie Country Park for a wander it’s one of my favourite places.
Pupil quotes from using the Wee Wellie Wander pack
“I liked squashing the plasticine to get bumpy bits from the trees” – P1 pupil
“I made a sun picture, and we made it with seeds and it’s going to feed the birds” – Nursery Pupil
“I liked reading the story in the forest and doing al the actions and noises” – P1 pupil
Teacher quotes from using the Wee Wellie Wander Pack
“the pack was easy to use and the activities were enjoyable – my pupils had a great time and are still talking about it. It allows the children a hands on learning experience in and unfamiliar and exciting environment” – P1 Teacher
“We had great fun and learned lots of new and interesting things and are looking forward to developing our new ideas in our own outdoor area!” – Nursery Practitioner
I have facilitated CPD with Park Ranger Lisa to a range of for Angus teachers and Early Years Practitioners so they can bring their own groups to experience the richness of the park. The pack and resources are now available at Crombie to use (booking is essential through Crombie Country Park) You can also see a copy of the pack here
The project was funded by People Directorate – Arts and Cultural Education Team and Creative Scotland, Creative Learning Networks fund, developed with EDS Project Artist in Residence Louise Kirby.
I have been working on a new collection for Autumn Winter 2014 using my signature style of lovely organic movement using repetitive marks and textures in delicious colours.
This A/W 2014 Hallyburton Collection is inspired by the abundance of inspiration on my doorstep where I live on a Perthshire country estate. I’m continually inspired by the changing seasons and fascinated at the harmonisation of the flora and fauna blending together. I’m often found exploring knee deep amongst the grasses and dotted wild flowers, wandering through the woods of dappled trees and patchwork fields. I hope my designs perfectly capture the essence of my surroundings.
This new Autumn/Winter 2014 Hallyburton Collection uses a palette of greens and a hint of warm chestnut. Pattern artworks include my fascination of pheasants as I follows their footprints, textured of stacked logs and expressive dotty marks of the nature’s elements.
Collections can be licensed or I can be commissioned to create something bespoke for your products.
Full collection to be revealed soon. If you would like to be emailed a copy of my new collection or sent a hardcopy in the post please email me with your details. hello@louisekirby.com