Kelly Smith 11/24/19 Kelly Smith 11/24/19

POPPIES

"All across the meadows, many poppies blossomed, and they were so hypnotic and brilliant in colour they nearly dazzled Dorothy's eyes. "Aren't they beautiful?" the girl asked her companions, as she breathed in the spicy scent of the big, bright flowers."

– The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, L. Frank Baum.

As children we all imagine climbing through the back of our wardrobes into Narnia, falling down a rabbit hole into Wonderland, or getting swept up by a hurricane and landing with a giant thump in Oz.
Dorothy and her companions have long been a source of wonder to me. It wasn’t enough to create one interpretation of this gang, I had to dive in again – this time into a giant field of poppies.

”As she walked on her eyes grew very heavy, and soon she felt she must sit down to rest and to even sleep.”
– The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, L. Frank Baum.

Like Dorothy, I also found myself stepping out of black and white and into a world of full colour! It was a completely different way of working for me - and I enjoyed it so much.
(I’ve dabbled with client work previously, but never took the leap in my own work until now.)

In a nod to the Dorothy of L. Frank Baum, her shoes are not the shimmering ruby slippers we’ve come to know and love, but heels in the original silver - courtesy Prada, complete with blue bow!
Fun Fact: Dorothy’s shoes were changed to the famous ruby slippers in order to show off the brand new technicolour film for the 1938 release.
I also chose to focus only on the Cowardly Lion and Dorothy as those familiar with the story will know that the Tin Man and Scarecrow weren’t affected by the poisonous poppies - not being 100% human/animal/vegetable/mineral - and carry the two out of the fields before they fall asleep forever.

These sleepy beauties are my first new print of 2019 - just sneaking in before the end of the year.
As mentioned previously, my print shop is changing and from now on print releases will be a little more limited and available in one size/edition only.
So with that I give you the latest offering: “Poppies” is available in an edition of 20 prints only - in a lovely large A2 size - the best way to appreciate all of those tiny poppies in detail!
To purchase a print visit the shop here: www.birdyandme.com/shop
(For a sneaky pre-Christmas 10% discount use code: XMAS19)

Scroll on for more…

The Wizard of Oz, photographed by Annie Leibovitz for Vogue US, Dec 2005

“The Deadly Poppy Field,” illustration by W. W. Denslow

Kelly Smith 11/5/19 Kelly Smith 11/5/19

a botanical CHRISTMAS

2019 Christmas cards are here! With less than 7 weeks until Christmas, now’s the time to get in early with your holiday greetings to be sure they reach your loved ones in time for the festive season.
This year’s design is a spin on my ‘Botanist’ print - a nod to an Australian Christmas. Sadly there are no Winter Wonderlands to be found, but instead it’s a botanical-filled holiday here in the Southern Hemisphere with the scent of eucalyptus in the warm Summer air.
This year’s cards are available to purchase as a set of three (3) in my store, along with a very limited edition print. As always, every print order comes with a free card to gift to your intended (or keep for yourself!)
Click over to the shop here to order.

Kelly Smith 7/4/19 Kelly Smith 7/4/19

CAROLINA HERRERA / FIERCELY FEMALE

Last year I was asked to create a portrait of the classically chic New York-based, Venezuelan designer, Carolina Herrera, for Sourcebooks’ annual all-female-illustrated Fiercely Female calendar for 2020!

It was such a pleasure to be involved in such an empowering project that celebrates so many wonderfully inspiring and iconic women across all fields! Some of the WOW women featured this year include Aretha Franklin, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Lucille Ball, Josephine Baker and Valentina Tereshkova.

You can pick up a copy of the calendar in all good bookstores now!
For more information visit the Sourcebook page here: www.shop.sourcebooks.com

Kelly Smith 5/22/19 Kelly Smith 5/22/19

VALENTINO SPRING COUTURE

Having a baby will foil even the best laid plans.

Starting this illustration approximately 3 hours after the Valentino Spring Couture show hit Paris back in January, it has only been this week that I was able to finish it! Better late than never, I guess.
This collection was perhaps one of the most beautiful that Pierpaolo Piccioli has delivered for Valentino in recent memory.
Sumptuous and ethereal - each look was better than the last. I had grandiose ideas of illustrating numerous looks, however - as mentioned - babies get in the way. I’m just pleased that I was able to finish this one; combining one of my favourite gowns with the stunningly elfish beauty look by the always incredible Pat McGrath.

Enjoy more of my favourites below:

Photographed by Jamie Stoker / via vogue.co.uk

Kelly Smith 12/7/18 Kelly Smith 12/7/18

SNOW WHITE

In typical ‘Me’ fashion, I began this illustration almost two years ago! YIKES.
I finished the pencils on Snow, and then sat her on my ‘work in progress’ pile, a little mentally exhausted at the thought of having to draw her seven small companions. The only problem is that I then completely forgot to finish her!
It was only recently that I picked it back up, determined to complete my take on the beloved tale of ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,’ written by the Brothers Grimm.
My version depicts Snow as a confident, radiant Italian goddess - decked out in the finest garb this side of Milano - and surrounded by seven tiny men in the clearing in the woods that they call home; complete with forest creatures, wildflowers, oranges and lemons. Because, let’s face it, it’s not ALL about that apple.
Once again, I wasn’t overly interested in portraying the Prince, as he’s a bit of a background player in this story, and I preferred to keep the focus on Snow, herself.
Plus, who needs a Prince when you’re a #KWEEN surrounded by little Italian men in tailored suits?!

’Snow White’ has been added to my shop as a limited edition print of 40 A3, and 15 A2 prints, respectively. Click here to shop: www.birdyandme.com.au/shop

You can also find some of my favourite Snow inspired images below:

Carola Remer, photographed by Camilla Akrans, Vogue Germany, 2011

Yan Xu, photographed by Shxpir, Harper’s Bazaar China, 2013

Natalia Vodianova, photographed by Cuneyt Akeroglu, S Moda, 2018

Snow White, photographed by Irving Penn for Vogue, Dec 1946

Beverly Peele, photographed by Bruce Weber, Vogue, 1991

Shalom Harlow, photographed by Francois Nars, X-Ray

Gemma Ward, photographed by Steven Meisel, Vogue Italia, 2005

Kelly Smith 11/6/18 Kelly Smith 11/6/18

the NEW TREND

Philosophy Di Lorenzo Serafini F/W ‘18 Photograph by Sonny Vandevelde - www.sonnyphotos.com — Philosophy Di Lorenzo Serafini F/W ‘18
Photograph by Sonny Vandevelde - www.sonnyphotos.com

Recent work for OneTwo Agency for an event celebrating the first birthday of fashion retailer, The New Trend, which specialises in bringing luxury International designers to the racks of Australian consumers. The brief was to incorporate this stunning Philosophy Di Lorenzo Serafini polka-dot dress. Engulfed in a cloud of wisteria, this girl was used on invitations and coffee cups for the event.

Kelly Smith 11/1/18 Kelly Smith 11/1/18

a NUTCRACKIN' CHRISTMAS

It creeps up on us earlier and earlier every year, but even more so for those of us that need to prepare for the retail season. That’s right - Christmas is less than 8 weeks away!

My Christmas cards have become something of a tradition for me, and this year I wanted to combine one of my very favourite stories / ballets into the design. It’s been on my mind for so many years now but I hadn’t had the chance to fully dive in. So, in the same vein as my fairytale series, I present to you my take on ‘The Nutcracker.’
We see Clara, having magically shrunken down to the size of her gifted Nutcracker doll (the disguised Prince of The Land of Sweets), dancing and battling the night away in order to break the curse placed upon him by the evil (but still cute) Mouse King.

As a child I particularly loved one of its many animated variations, 1990s ‘The Nutcracker Prince’ but have since, of course, grown to appreciate its more original format in Tchaikovsky’s ballet.

It’s also a subjected that has enamoured both the fashion and beauty industries, with many a spectacular Christmas editorial for the likes of Vogue, W, M.A.C Cosmetics, and more…
You can find some of my favourites below. (Tim Walker certainly loves a ‘Nutcracker’ theme!)

For now though, I do hope you enjoy my version! I decided on a fresh green palette this year.
As usual, cards are available in very limited quantities, and once sold out will not be re-stocked.
Also, for the first time ever, I have made a VERY small print run of 10 limited edition prints for the Christmas décor enthusiasts that like to have something special to bring out once a year!
You can find both in my store now: www.birdyandme.com.au/shop

Karen Elson photographed by Tim Walker, Vogue UK, 2008

M.A.C Cosmetics ‘Nutcracker Sweet’ campaign, photographed by Tim Walker, 2016

Marion Cotillard photographed by Tim Walker, W Magazine, 2012

Natalia Vodianova photographed by Paolo Roversi, Vogue Russia, 2014

Shani Zigron photographed by Gustavo Papaleo, Vogue India, 2012

Paolo Sebastian 2018/2019 collection, Inspired by ‘The Nutcracker.’ via Vogue Australia

Kelly Smith 10/30/18 Kelly Smith 10/30/18

terrific timelines : FASHION

So thrilled to have worked with my friends at Laurence King Publishing for a fourth time on the brand new volume, ‘Terrific Timelines: Fashion.’

Conceived by Richard Ferguson and researched/written by Isabel Thomas, this interactive volume is one of a series of ‘press out & display’ books chronicling significant moments in history ; focussing this time on Fashion!
We’ve worked our way through the entirety of sartorial history and illustrated key looks from Ancient Egypt all the way to the present-day 2000s, including La Belle Epoque, the ‘New Look,’ and the Swinging Sixties!
Each figure can be pressed out and placed into her corresponding stand, creating a 3D timeline that can be displayed on any bookshelf.

I had so much fun working on this (discovering many an interesting fact as I went.)
Initially I assumed I’d immediately love anything post 1920s but some of my favourites to draw were the Elizabethan and Versailles gowns; such beautiful silhouettes and so detailed!
I mean, I got to draw Marie Antoinette in all of her powder-pink glory. I can die happy now.

These pop-up beauties are the best fash-ucation a kid (big or small) could ever need, and available now at your local bookstore or online at laurenceking.com.

I hope you like some of the sneeky peaks below!

Kelly Smith 10/24/18 Kelly Smith 10/24/18

harper's BAZAAR - HOUSE OF BAZAAR

I recently had the pleasure of illustrating for the pages of Harper’s Bazaar Arabia magazine in order to promote their annual ‘House of Bazaar’ event, held in partnership with Dubai’s Mall of the Emirates.

The house itself is comprised of four main ‘rooms’ which detail and display different areas of fashion, beauty, and lifestyle; these being the Fashion Closet, the Beauty Boudoir, the Nursery and the Wellness Room.

Held over the period of October 9-13, the House of Bazaar also featured a runway show and one-on-one conversations with fashion, beauty and lifestyle professionals including Victoria’s Secret legend, Alessandra Ambrosio, style influencers Karen Wazen-Bakhazi and Jessica Kahawaty (all of which I had the opportunity to illustrate.)

I have yet to get my hands on the printed magazine, but hoping to see it all in person soon!

For now, I hope you enjoy a selection of the illustrations and images from the magazine and event itself! You can read more via the official website here and also behind-scenes process via my agency’s news site here.

Thanks to Bazaar for inviting me to be a part of this special project! x

Kelly Smith 9/12/18 Kelly Smith 9/12/18

WONDERLAND

A subject I can never quite put to bed, ‘Alice in Wonderland’ has once again provided inspiration for my latest illustration and print in my Fairytales & Fables series.
It didn’t ease my fascination to recently visit the ‘Wonderland’ exhibit in Melbourne’s ACMI centre.
To see so many iterations of Lewis Carroll’s famous story, along with original artworks, manuscripts and various animation stills, was a treat beyond all others!
(Scroll down further for a few images from the exhibition.)

With a brain abuzz with Wonderland magic, and feeling inspired by a particular chapter in ‘Through the Looking Glass’ - ‘The Garden of Live Flowers’ - I decided to portray Alice in a garden bed surrounded by oversized, talking blooms.

'How is it you can all talk so nicely?' Alice said, hoping to get it into a better temper by a compliment. 'I've been in many gardens before, but none of the flowers could talk.'
'Put your hand down, and feel the ground,' said the Tiger-lily. 'Then you'll know why.
Alice did so. 'It's very hard,' she said, 'but I don't see what that has to do with it.'
'In most gardens,' the Tiger-lily said, 'they make the beds too soft — so that the flowers are always asleep.'
This sounded a very good reason, and Alice was quite pleased to know it. 'I never thought of that before!' she said.’
– Lewis Carroll.

Of course in this version we see Alice in all of her sartorial splendour with a little nod to the extraordinary impact she has had on the fashion and beauty industries via an imagined Diptyque scent Wonderland which would, of course, be used as a vase in its namesake habitat.
(As I, myself, do with my own empty vessels at home.)

I hope you like this latest ‘Alice’ illustration.

Prints are available in limited quantities in my shop here: www.birdyandme.com.au/shop

L-R Concept Art by Walt Disney Studios, Original Pencil Sketch by John Tenniel