Odd One Out vs Picasso

I have this picture of a painted plate in my studio on my inspiration board - it was painted by Picasso in 1957.  I knew Picasso had produced ceramic pieces and I thought this was one of those - but just recently I found out that this is actually an upcycled plate - I knew there was a reason I was drawn to it! Ok so maybe it was a bit about the dog too - and possibly more about the fact his name is Lump! too cute ;)

Anyway - it's kind of nice to know that (in a somewhat removed way!) I am following in the footsteps of an artist I admire so much.  A link to the cute story behind that plate here.  

All inspired to do a bit of research now - I've been checking out his other pieces.  It seems we both share a love of painting animals and silhouettes on to plates, loving the matador and bull silhouettes.... maybe I might be lucky enough to add one to my collection  - a girl can dream!

(other pics from Ro Gallery, Taglialatalla Galleries & Christies)

 

  

I'm so in love with.... Plates on walls! (yes still ;)

I know you know that I'm so in love with plates on walls, and yes I am still collecting images of displays I like.

Even though I am surrounded by plates and paint them every day - my walls sadly do not look quite as cool as these ones in the pictures.  I just haven't got around to hanging all my plates and it doesn't help that I keep selling them or giving them away!  One day I will show you how my walls are looking  - promise.

Here are some pictures from my travels around the internet - I love each and every one of these displays.  I love the ordered collections just as much as the randomly placed ones.  I adore the colourful groups but am equally in love with the monotone ones.  Perhaps this is why it is taking me so long to put my own collection together.  I would love to know what your favourites are.

 I have really tried to keep the sources of the pics this time - so top to bottom and left to right are......

eeek sorry! somewhere on Flickr, down and out chic, down and out chic, apartment therapy, design sponge, trulynaturallyme, design attractor, piterest, pinterest, down and out chic, design sponge, pinterest

Customised Plates - a little peek at the process....

I have been wanting to document the process of painting a customised plate for some time.  But I have never really photographed the stages, as I am usually too in the 'zone' to think about stopping and taking pics.  When I was asked recently to paint a rather amazing image, on a vintage plate that was to be a gift.  I thought it would be the perfect chance to show you all what is involved!  Hope you like......

I was commissioned by the lovely Cate - a very good customer of mine, who just happens to have a pretty impressive collection of my plates herself.

She thought it was about time to spread some Odd One Out love to her friend Tara, who has the most amazing tattoo of a rather saucy looking mermaid.  I love painting tattoos on plates so needless to say I was pretty excited about doing this one.  Here is the photo she gave me for inspiration.....

First thing to do was find a vintage plate that would complement the image, and Cate was keen for something with a nautical vibe.  I found a few options from my collection and Cate chose this vintage 1950s plate which had a super cool original yachting image on it.

 And here we go..........painting time!

I've developed this kind of - outline in dots technique - to map out the placement and the proportion of the illustration first.  Working with porcelain paint is rather difficult and if you go wrong it is much easier to remove a few dots than a big thick painted line.  I've always drawn and painted from the outside in and I find this works best for me on plates too!

I decide that she would look pretty cool holding on to the yacht and I want the seagulls to be flying around her head so I change the angle of her body just slightly.

Once I'm happy with the placement and how the proportion is looking I start filling in the outlines.

Because the porcelain paint dries really slowly you have to be careful where your hands are so you don't smudge the paint.  I always start from the top left and work my way down to the bottom right.  If you make a mistake you have to let it dry completely before trying to fix it or it can get very messy!  I have the original printed out to refer to as I go.  (Please excuse the dark photo - I do most of my painting at night.)






 Now is the hard part for me - I have to let it completely dry before I continue.  I really hate stopping painting, but leave it overnight.  Then I fix any details or lines that I don't like - repaint and let it dry again.

Next is the fun bit adding all the little details, like the scales and shading.  I always find faces really hard so I usually have a couple of goes at getting the expression just right.

I want her to look a bit special to I decide to add a bit of gold detailing.  Gold porcelain paint is super tricky to deal with too!  I add tiny little dots to give the scales and her hair a bit of a glow.

et Voila!  she is finished.  I love how this one turned out - a bit of a challenge but super fun to paint.

Thanks Cate!

Tattooed plate meets the original!  Hope you love your present Tara - what an awesome friend you have  - to think of such an original and personalised gift.

My Origami inspired plate range....

I love Origami - well I am completely useless at making it but I do love looking at it and funnily enough drawing it!  Something about those clean, sharp, straight lines look really awesome in illustrations.  Even though I can get really frustrated painting them, I keep persisting - you need such a steady hand and the thick porcelain paint and curved plates don't really do me any favours. 

As you know I tend to paint in themes - Tattoo's, Shadow Puppets etc, so I thought I would share some of my origami inspired designs.  I think they are beginning to form quite a cute little group now.

 

 

I would love to know if you have any requests or ideas for more!

♥♥♥

And I just have to show you the little book that was the inspiration behind it all....

How cute is that cover! 

I found this vintage 1960's children's 'how to' book about four years ago.  The cover was just irresistible and the little pages are all filled with cute illustrations and folding instructions.  Someone has lovingly completed all the projects and stuck them in their places on each page (I would never have had the patience as a kid!)  Best of all there is still a whole heap of that vintage Japanese paper filed away in the back - I just need to think of a special project to use it for :)  Check out some of the cool illustrations.....

                                                                                                 

I'm so in love with.... Le Souk Wallpaper!

Ok, this store (Le Souk) is just amazing.  I'm pretty sure I could fill up a container of goodies if I really let loose and spent up big.  But my absolute favourite thing of all is their wallpaper.

You know I have a bit of a thing for vintage plates, and for vintage plates on walls.  Well, I have no words - this is just................

AMAZING!!!!!

I am so in love - of course I would probably add real plates over the top of this for complete vintage plate overload, but I'm kinda silly like that.

and these wallpaper designs are pretty darn cute too!

                                     

Shadow Puppets - a new plate range!

I loved playing shadow puppets as a kid and now my 2 year old is discovering how fun they can be.  What a perfect edition to my hand painted vintage plates - and a bonus, they combine three of my favorite things to paint....

hands

silhouettes

& cute critters!

here are my first two of the range, there will be more to follow.  I am thinking a dog, a deer and possibly an elephant.  What was your favourite to make as a kid?  I am pretty sure I could only manage the bird and a sort of dog looking creature!

  

Oooh and I will be listing these ones on my Felt shop now - if any one is interested in buying the first ones!

 

My Vintage Week

Some lovely little finds last week.....

Oh so cute! miniature porcelain horses.  This was one of those try not to squeal out loud moments.  I have been looking for something similar for so long and now I have a pair!

and I have some exciting makeover plans for these two... stay tuned.

It's been so cold recently I think I am subconsciously compelled to buy everything warm and fluffy.

This little knee rug was so kooky looking with its strange grannyesque colour combinations (it looks a bit muted in the pic but there are actually fluro yarns in there) and at just $2 it really wanted to come home with me, so it did!

Turns out I needed a little knee rug in my studio - but man do I feel I have aged a tad sitting here typing with it on my knees.  Just as well you cant see me huh!

I actually have no excuse for buying these apart from the fact that I had never seen round cards before and they look kinda cool.

I'm sure I will find something to do with them one day - except for playing with them as it totally didn't occur to me at the time to count them first!

You see it really doesn't take much thinking on my part before some weird little object comes home with me - I have a very serious vintage addiction and no plans at all for rehab.

I try not to go out vintage shopping with an expectation of what I need or might find because it inevitably leads to disappointment and I find it means I'm too focused and I miss stuff.

But I really really needed to find some plates suitable for painting Mr Stag.  He is proving really popular and believe it or not in my STACKS of vintage plates (remind me to show you, because the collection is looking quite impressive - bordering on compulsive!) there are none suitable.

To my surprise I found five - just sitting there in one shop.  It was just like someone had hand picked them and had them waiting for me.  Yay!  And look at those two at the top - gorgeous.  No idea what they will turn out to be just yet.

                                                               

I'm so in love with.... Plates on walls!

Ok so you know by now that I love plates, especially decorated plates.  Where I love them most is on walls.  Now this was considered until quite recently to be the epitome of un-cool, very Nana and super twee.... blah blah blah.  But yay! they seem to have had a resurgence in popularity and quite rightly so.  The funny thing is with displaying plates is that they seem to get lonely very fast.  Put up one or two and your wall is soon crying out for more - it is dangerous - but so cool to see your collection spreading outwards and upwards.  Check out these pictures I have saved in my travels.  How gorgeous do they look in groups - I am completely in love!

I'm sorry but I collected these images quite a while ago (far before even considering I might write a blog) and have no record of their origins - if you recognise a pic please let me know so I can properly credit it.  Thanks!

          

                                                    

Tattooed Plates

When I first started painting on vintage plates it occurred to me that it was very much like tattooing.  I love the way that you have to adjust your image to the contours of the plate and either work with or hide little flaws.  I always try to incorporate the original plate design into my illustration by hiding or revealing certain parts.  I get really excited when a design is finished and it is hard to tell what image was on there first!

One of my first series of illustrations was in homage to the old school tattoo designs I just love.  Anchors and daggers, hearts and swallows I really love the nostalgic imagery and I think they suit the vintage plates so well.  Of course I had to include knuckle tattoos as I have always been so intrigued with the variations of four letter words that some people come up with.  My tattooed plates have proven really popular and sell very well.  I have also been lucky enough to have had some awesome commissions, where I have reproduced the tattoos of my clients on to vintage plates and even teacups!  How cool would it be to have a copy of your tattoo hanging on the wall or even using it to serve up a piece of cake to your guests!

I still have a couple of sketchbook pages of tattoo designs to complete - so watch this space & do let me know if you have any ideas you would like to see as well.