{ botanica 2013 }

Grevillea 'Loopy Lou' - watercolour on paper - by Pip Boydell 

You may remember a month or two ago I posted here about a new botanical piece that I had begun? Well, I'm pleased to let you know that it has been selected to exhibit at Botanica - one of Australia's most preeminent botanical art exhibitions, curated and hosted by the Royal Botanical Gardens of Sydney each year.

With all the exhibited artist's work appearing by invitation only, Botanica is held in high acclaim in Australia and internationally so I feel extremely humbled to have been asked to submit, let alone accepted and hung as part of this prestigious collection!

I still can't quite believe I made it through but in doing so I am really looking forward to heading down to Sydney for the opening which is tomorrow evening; to meet the other artists and of course see all the amazing work that I know will be just awe-inspiring (for me, anyway!).

For anyone that is in Sydney I highly encourage you to head along. Here are the details:

When: Saturday 13 April - Sunday 28 April 2013, 10 am-4 pm daily
Where: Joseph Maiden Theatre & Moore Room, Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney
Price: Free Entry. All works for sale
Enquiries: 9231 8182

All works are for sale (including my grevillea!), by enquiry through the Foundation & Friends at the Botanical Gardens at the phone number above (or you can contact me directly by email pip_boydell@hotmail.com).

So I'll wish you all a happy weekend early now - and I will check back in with some pics next week!
Pip x

Image - original artwork copyright Pip Boydell

{ you had me at calippo! }

I'm not going to lie, I get some weird and wonderful requests in this gig and I'm the first to admit that not every one is easy to crack. From the precision of a big botanical; to the delicacy of single flower; to the folds and creases of a shirt or getting the colours just so on an icy iceblock... as any creative person will attest, most days present with a rollercoaster of the daunting, the challenging, the peaceful and even the tiresome all in one. But then every now and then one comes along that is just plain fun and makes its way to paper so easily..... well, this was one of those!

This is Sarah & Oscar. I don't often talk about the people I do commissions for but, I wanted to share these two with you simply because they really are one of the kindest & loveliest couples I have ever met; and that their choice of commission was so quirky and fun. When Sarah asked if I would paint something as a birthday-come-wedding-anniversary gift to Oscar; we ummed and ahhed over a few possible subjects but in the end settled on a pair of Calippo iceblocks. These are a favourite of theirs, and I love that they chose this as a symbol of 'them' - its so fun and sweet and ever bright, and they just seem to smile back at you!

Sarah and Oscar - thank you guys again for having me create something so specail to you; that was so fun for me. You guys are the best; and like the title of this post... you had me at 'Calippo'!

See you again soon,
Pip x

Photos 1-4 taken by me on my iPhone; photos 5 & 6 kindly provided by Sarah.