I thought that today I would share with you one of my newer art works.  This work is the first in a new style that has evolved over time through my love of layering landscapes, antique and aged surfaces and playing around with concepts of time as it passes.  One  thing I particularly love about this work is the fact that I have used photos I took on my travels in Europe a few years ago. These photos are of:  an ancient Greek sculpture of a young boy, a  Mesopotamian gilded glass bowl and some antique lace found in a Roman market. There are the Roman numerals from a clock in Sydney, an ancient wall in Venice and snippets of New Zealand landscape.  I love the idea of bringing works of art from ancient artists long dead and transporting them into the 21st century – honouring their creativity and giving it new life, to be seen again. So now as I write this I realize that I am also layering time as well as the actual images. Wow  – Fantastic!

Beginnings:Kadira Jennings ©2010

As you can appreciate there is also a global melding of cultures across time and space and a blending and melding of materials as well.  I have used a variety of techniques in this painting including gold leaf, transparent glazing and thicker scumbling of paint.  I also prepared the canvas in such a way that it has a very distressed and textured surface and it sits within the frame with ragged fraying edges. It’s like a page out of history, imperfect and filled with it’s own special stories for us to unravel.

Also I thought you might be interested to see the digital image that this work evolved from……

Beginnings - Digital Photo Art - Kadira Jennings ©2010

 One sunny Sunday afternoon Anne and I went into the Missouri heartland to a friend’s house for an afternoon tea party. We drove through the brown and straggling late summer cornfields  to a beautifully restored grand old country house. But what really caught my attention were these  kitchen delights.

Golden Sunflowers

 And for a closer look at de-light!

Large Filament Light Bulb

I love the filaments of these bulbs – almost like flower stamens themselves.

I came across this artist in a news article yesterday.  Jason de Caires Taylor’s underwater sculptures are absolutely stunning.  Below is one of his photos however I encourage you to go and look at his website.  Currently he is in the process of installing a gallery of life-sized people in Mexico’s Caribbean Sea. The purpose of this amazing sculpture is to create a new reef for coral, fish, and other marine life to help to save the natural reef which is slowly degrading.

Underwater Sculptures -Jason deCairs Taylor.

Never under estimate the power of art.  What an incredible vision in the first place and then to actually realize  it and put it into place.  The scale of this just blows me away!

A visit to the rose gardens in Kansas City Missouri provided a visual feast and bliss for the nostrils! Although I can’t share the gorgeous scent of these lovely blooms, I can share a special look at them.  As I was busy peering constantly through the camera lens, I’m afraid I neglected to get any of the names of these lovelies except one which did catch my attention, The New Zealand rose.  So being the creative sort I am I’ve made up my own name for each one.

I trust you will enjoy them as much as I did!

Double Delight ©2010 Kadira Jennings

‘Double Delight’ was my mother’s favourite rose and I love it my self.  It has the most divine perfume and looks stunningly beautiful as well – hence – double delight.

Golden Sun ©2010 Kadira Jennings

This beauty, ‘Golden Sun’  is the most exquisite golden yellow with a blush of peach on the outer edges.  And I love the little green lady bug that popped by to say hello.

Hot Pink Lady ©2010 Kadira Jennings

Next up is this incredibly vibrant hot pink number.  The colour really was almost electric in its intensity.

Orange Sherbet ©2010 Kadira Jennings

Just look at the beautiful oranges and greens here.  I thought ‘Orange Sherbet’ was a yummy name for this fabulous flower.

The New Zealand Rose ©2010 Kadira Jennings

Here we have ‘The New Zealand Rose’, a soft and gentle pink with a soft and gentle perfume, like the soft and gently rolling hills and bushland back home……..

End of Summer ©2010 Kadira Jennings

Last but not least, I’ve called this beauty ‘End of Summer’.  I feel it is full of the poignant beauty we feel in the air as summer moves into autumn and the seasons give the last of their bounty before the coming winter.  As you can see its past its best but what delicious colours.