{ pattern making }

If a pen (or pencil) is within arms length, I can't help but find myself scribbling and doodling shapes and lines, swirls and curls. It's something that has always been a bit of a mindless habit for me, howevee a little while ago I decided to take a different tact and properly draw some of these patterns I so love. Here's what happened. 

Pattern No. 3 in Red (295 x 295mm)

Pattern No. 2 in Sky Blue (205 x205mm)

These two pieces - 'Pattern No. 2 in Sky Blue' and 'Pattern No. 3 in Red' are now for sale. If you're interested and would like pricing or have any questions email me at pip_boydell@hotmail.com (both can be provided framed or unframed - however you like!). You might actually recognise these as similar to one I did for Black & Spiro last month - this one found it's way to the home of the very lovely Grace down in Adelaide. I wonder where in the world these two might end up?!

You may have noticed that I am loving this colour pairing right now... so much so that I managed to co-ordinate my outfit to my paintings yesterday without realising (see image 3rd down). Cute one Pip. Well I hope you are all having a lovely week out there! See you soon. 

Pip xx

Top 5 images - artwork and images by Pip Boydell. 6: via Instagram (user @abeachcottage) ; 7. Viap Quarter Life Prep; 8. BEE at Atlantic Pacific

{ colour wheel }

 From top: colour in my studio; a snippet of my latest bananas; pretty jonquils & a shell;

paint colours again; morning coffee in my studio (sparkles thanks to Lumie app); 

and lastly the full Banana Bunch painting.

Winter has well and truly hit and I do love all this cosiness and rugging up; but no matter what time of year I think I just need to have bright and fresh colour around me. These are a few pics from my studio over the last little while.... and yes those little squares of bright colourfulness are indeed paint cards! When I was growing up my parents owned a hardware store, and ever since I cannot help but go past these big walls of colourfulness without stealing a few chips. The perfect way to freshen up my little studio space on a cold dreary June day!

There's also a pic or two of my Banana Bunch painting which is being framed at the moment before going off to its new home in Adelaide. The story of this one was a bit serendipitous actually... I received an enquiry about another painting that had already sold, and at the time didn't know anything about this lovely (now) customer - but she got me just at the right time as I'd just finished these bananas, and thought I would send images of it on just in case she liked it too. Little did I know that her husband's family had actually a banana wholesesaling business for 20 years - so it had to be hers! This is what I love about what I do. Not only is creating these paintings such joy for me to do, but I love the stories of where they end up, and how they get there, and what they mean to people along the way.

Hope you're all staying warm in the chilly weather (and enjoying the Summer, for those in the northern hemisphere) - and I promise I will be back sooner rather than later!

Pip xx

{ a rosie-mary wedding }

The venue: The Moreton Club in New Farm, Brisbane.

A flower portrait... what a sweet little jonquil! 

Me on the left, and my two oldest and very best friends in the whole world on the right. 

Rosie in the middle... isn't she the most beautiful bride you've ever seen??!!!

The flowers were amazing. Hands down most beautiful bouquets ever.

 She had rosemary with each place setting - such a beautiful thought, and smelt divine!

Rosie and Tim. Love these two so much.

It was a whole week ago now that my beautiful best friend was married. I won't carry on too much (I could go on all day) but was the most beautiful and wonderful day you can imagine and one that I will remember forever. Rosie and Tim are such happy, kind-hearted, funny and loving people so it was only fitting that their special day felt just like that.... just thinking about it makes my little heart smile! I am very lucky to have two best friends, and the three of us have been just that for nearly 20 years. We really are more like sisters so after all these years, to be her bridesmaids, see her off and also (officially) welcome her husband into our little party of three was a pretty special thing. So much love!  

My gift to Rosie & Tim... a magnolia, a lime & rosemary. 

I very much struggle with whether to give my own artwork as gifts to people (it just feels so presumptuous and immodest of me!!) - but painting this for Rosie and Tim was more about the gesture and meaning than the product and just something I really wanted to do. It's a blooming magnolia, a lime with its little flowers, and then sprigs of rosemary entwined through. Each of these three things mean something special to Rosie and Tim (one of them is her namesake!) and painting this for them was without a doubt the most enjoyable thing I've yet created. I hope it lives with them for what I know will be a long, happy and full life together.

The happy couple are currently honeymooning their way around France, Italy and Spain (tough, hey) - but Rosie & Tim if you read this, thank you for having me be part of your special day. It was just perfect - and I can't wait for all the fun times ahead! 

Pip xx 

PS. Top image and table setting image courtesy of Elizabeth - I missed so many pics on the night so thank you for these! x

{ window paintings, polka dots & more }

Sorry it has been so long since my last post - all of a sudden the month of May seems to have all but passed! There's been lots happening but finally it has calmed down so hopefully I will be a bit more on deck form here on. Amongst other things last week I was working on these window display paintings for Anna Spiro, as part of the launch of her wallpaper range for Porters Paints last Thursday night. The evening was heaps of fun and a huge success, and it was lovely to share the success of what is such a huge achievement for Anna (imagine designing a range of wallpapers, no less for a brand like Porters. what a dream!) One was just a big watercolour of her logo in pink, and the other a painted version of the story behind the range which I used her custom colours and a few motifs from the papers themselves on... nothing very tricky but I must say I just love doing stuff like this, so it was really fun to work it in with her papers and colours. 

As I 'm sure you can imagine there was so many beautiful things to look at and these pics hardly touch the surface - but you can check out more pics at her post on Absolutely Beautiful Things.

I also managed to finish one more painting in time for the night which is now hanging in the showroom and available for sale - it's these cute little polka-dot swimmers. Email me at pip_boydell@hotmail.com if you'd like any details or are interested in purchasing!

So after this flurry of activity last week I have also had a huge weekend with the wedding of one of my best friends for which I was a bridesmaid. It was such an amazing wonderful happy day - wish we could do it all again - but I have some gorgeous pics and pretty things to share later in the week. Pop by and see. 

In the meantime - happy Monday!

Pip xx

{ ivy & piper mag feature + work for sale }

I'm excited to let you know that I've been featured in the latest edition of Ivy & Piper Magazine which launched online today. Brimming with beautiful things, reads and inspirations for a stylish home and life, it's always a treat when Ivy & Piper mag comes out; and the May/June 2012 edition doesn't disappoint! So I was very flattered when Elizabeth & Melanie (the very talented creators & editors of IVP) asked me to be involved - and of course couldn't be happier to be keeping company amongst the pages of this fabulous edition. Click here to have a read, the snippet on me is on page 9 and then the work appears on the following two spreads.

So as part of this, I've created a couple of pieces exclusively for Ivy & Piper which are now available for sale. Below are the two appearing in the mag - 'Chanel Exclusifs' and 'You can never be overdressed...' plus a third piece that is also now for sale, 'Lotus Flower'. Product details and prices are as follows (and each one also come professionally custom-framed in a white deep set box frame):

1. Chanel Exclusifs - features five of the limited edition Chanel scents. Watercolour & pigment ink on paper. White deep-set box frame; framed dimension 580mm w x 430mm h. $550.

Here was this one in progress....

2. "You can never be overdressed..." - Watercolour, pigment ink & gold leaf on paper. 

White deep-set box frame; framed dimension 350mm w x 450mm h. $350.

3. Lotus Flower - Watercolour & pigment ink on paper. 

White deep set box frame; framed dimension 405mm x 405mm. $350.

If you're interested in purchasing any of the above just email me - but be sure to get in quick as it will be a case of first-in best-dressed (mind the pun!). Please note prices are quoted in AUD and are for fully framed works; but exclude any shipping or handling required (this can be quoted separately and would be from Brisbane, Australia).  If there are any other details or additional images that you are after let me know - and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. 

I hope you like them!!

So again a huge you to Elizabeth and Melanie from Ivy & Piper for including me in their fabulous magazine, and congratulations to them again for curating a unique yet utterly on-trend and covetable mix of all things interiors. I can't wait to re-read again.. and again.. and again!

Enjoy the read, have a great week.

Pip xx