GRANDIFLORA
I'm so excited to finally share my collaboration with the incredible Erin Flannery.
I first discovered Erin's work whilst clicking through a random website in 2007, where someone mentioned the amazing paintings of a local QLD artist. I clicked on a link and found myself immersed in a world of graphic, minimalist, black and white ladies.
I keenly followed her progress, and over the past 8 years (during which a new-found love of colour emerged) we have become pals - no doubt due to the magic of the bloggosphere, in which it's so easy to connect to your peers and become "internet friends" as we like to call ourselves.
To cut a long story short - my love for her work knows no bounds.
I have acquired a few of Erin's pieces over the years and each has a special place in my home.
As such, it became a no-brainer that I should ask her to collaborate with me on the special print above.
Lending her immeasurable brush skills to my pencil work, we have come up with our 'Grandiflora' print - one gorgeous lady with an incredible nest of colour bombed florals in her hair!
I can also think of no better time to post about it than today - the happy first day of Spring.
I mean, wouldn't it be great if we were all going about our business with a swarm of colourful swirls and stripes zig-zagging their way around our heads?
Limited to an edition of 50 only ( + a very special edition of 10 custom gold-leaf embellished prints) you can purchase your very own A2 reproduction via ours shops here:
www.birdyandme.bigcartel.com
-OR-
www.erinart.net
I'm just so happy to finally share this print with you all, it's been a long time in the making!
I hope you love it as much as we do.
x
P.S For a little more insight into our collab - head to Almost Famaus for a Q+A with both Erin and myself.
TRIUMPH BEAUTY-FULL WINDOWS
Earlier this year, I worked on quite a big project with design and art-direction agency, Neighbour UK,
for Triumph lingerie.
I illustrated what felt like squillions of individual blooms to be grouped into floral clusters - which have since been used to create floral window wonderlands in Triumph stores around the globe!
Peonies, roses, lilacs and more...
The images above were captured at the Triumph store in Milan, Italy. I love!
Illustrazioni di Kelly Smith has a nice ring to it I think....
If any of you happen to see the windows while you're out and about I'd love for you to post to Instagram and tag me in them!
Huge thanks to Neighbour for providing the imagery for this post and for asking me to be a part of such a lovely project.
x
DIOR AND I GIVEAWAY
On Sunday I went to see the brand new fashion documentary by Frédéric Tcheng, 'Dior and I'.
The film documents the appointment of the brilliant Raf Simons as new Creative Director of Dior and the subsequent weeks (8, in fact) that followed - the time in which he and his team had to entirely design and create the next Haute Couture collection. No small feat.
For those that follow fashion, and in particular the Couture collections, this could not be a more riveting film.
We see the moment that Raf is introduced to the Dior staff and the Atelier team (the incredibly talented tailors and dressmakers that create and assemble each design from Raf's vision.)
We see his design process, we meet the staff members, we discover the world of Couture.
We learn that 8 weeks to design and create an entire collection, Couture no less, is extreme.
Using some of the finest, most intricate, methods and processes in dressmaking; it's an artform.
Sometimes in the frenzied glamour that is the fashion world, the speed in which it moves and we consume, we forget to acknowledge the talented hands behind-the-scenes, the ones that work busily, stitching, cutting, crimping, and pressing, to bring the designer's incredible vision to life.
This film celebrates all of those involved in presenting the collection and it's a true feat to behold.
Amongst the chaos there are moments of genius, anxiety-ridden meetings, heart-melting confessions, and a true pride and sense of triumph in those final moments of "the show."
It's emotional and a joy to watch. When it ends you just want the whole thing to begin again.
I can't even begin to talk about the flower walls at the final presentation.
I still remember watching the collection's live show on my laptop at 1am (Australian time) my mouth agape at the breath-taking beauty of an entire house covered in fresh flowers.
To see how that stroke of genius came about was just another treasure.
To celebrate the release of the film, I've teamed up with Madman Entertainment to give away
10 double passes to see 'Dior and I' during it's theatrical run.
One major winner will also take home a DVD pack of fashion films, along with their film pass,
including 'The September Issue', 'Mademoiselle C', 'The Tents', and 'Bill Cunningham New York'.
Lucky duck!
To enter the competition hop on to social media and be sure to do the following:
INSTAGRAM: Follow @birdyandme, like and re-gram the competition image
using the hashtag #birdydiorcomp + tag @birdyandme in your post.
FACEBOOK: Follow the 'Birdy & Me' page, like and share the competition image.
Simple!
Be quick, though, as the competition ends TOMORROW!
Winners will be drawn at random and announced on Thursday, 2nd April.
5 winners will be drawn from each platform (including the major prize winner.)
Please also note that the competition is open to Australian residents only.
Good Luck!
For more information on the film, in cinemas now, visit: www.diorandimovie.com/australia
LA PETITE FLEUR
I haven't had a lot of time to work on new prints lately due to my workload (so many exciting things to come!)
but I've been plugging away slowly on this piece for about a month or so now, in between client projects/approvals.
It's so nice to finally be able to share the finished illustration with you!
A product of my love for all things décor, floral and Thumbelina-inspired, this brand new print is available for pre-order in my store now!
She may just be my new favourite lady; giving some serious Vogue vibes in her Dior/Valli-inspired gown.
For those of you in the Northern Hemisphere, Spring should just have sprung, so this one's for you, you lucky rascals.
If the Australian weather is anything to go by, my next girl might be wearing thermals and a LOT of angora....
Limited to an edition of 50 A3 prints only, you can order her here:
www.birdyandme.bigcartel.com
ALPHA-H
I recently had the pleasure of working on a beauty illustration for Australian skincare giant Alpha-H and their '15 Years of Liquid Gold' celebration.
I was first introduced to this product way back in my high school years and it quickly became the only (after many futile attempts with other products) saviour to my blotchy, teenaged skin.
I still use this product - every two to three days - to cleanse and rejuvenate my skin, but it's funny to think back on that awkward time while I sit here typing this post - all grown up and blemish free! Thanks Liquid Gold!
As a super special birthday treat, Alpha-H are offering my readers 10% off their entire range online until the end of the month! (31/3/15)
Simply enter the code KELLYLOVESAH during checkout. Huzzah!
For more information on Liquid Gold, and the celebratory events surrounding its anniversary, visit the website here: www.alpha-h.com
SARA ET LE FRENCHIE
It's been a couple of years since our last collaboration, but I recently had the pleasure of working with the crazy talented Zanita Whittington again!
Our latest venture features the always stunning Sara Donaldson of Harper & Harley, a whole lot of paint splatters, and Archie the French Bulldog. Hence the Parisian spin on the title of this post! Isn't he just the cutest?
I had so much fun getting messy with these images.
To see behind the scenes footage of the shoot, check out episode 7 of Fashion Bloggers which is airing on the Style Network in Australia, along with E! in the US, UK and Asia.
You can also read more about Zanita and her vision for the shoot in her interview with Lucky Magazine here.
Credits:
Photography: Zanita Whittington
Illustration: Kelly Smith
Model: Sara Donaldson & Archie
Make-Up: Christabel Draffin
Hair: Frankie Endersbee
Styling: Sara Donaldson
EPOCA THE SHOP
It might be the first day of Spring in Australia, but today's post brings with it the arrival of Autumn/Winter
and the new look book that I worked on for Tokyo label Epoca.
Based around three key trends, I created a few illustrations of the collection, including a little lace render for the cover.
It was such a fun project - especially with the 'less in more' concept to the illustrations, which I have been favouring lately.
Thanks to Takeshi from Zoology for involving me!
LA MAISON FAVART
As you may have noticed (due to the large lack of posts on my blog) I was a little bit absent for the month of April. This was due to my traveling around on my honeymoon!
A large portion of our time was spent in France, including a brief fling in Paris where we were so lucky to stay at the beautiful La Maison Favart.
La Maison Favart is a ridiculously beautiful boutique hotel in the heart of Paris, a short stroll from Opéra, Place Vendôme, and Tuileries, named after Charles-Simon Favart and Justine Duronceray. Their romantic history starts thusly;
Favart was the director of the Comic Opéra and became captivated by Duronceray during a stage performance of Les Fêtes Publiques. They were married on the 12th of December that very same year. And so began the incredible story of the most famous couple in the history of Parisian theatre; Monsier and Madame Favart.
Here's hoping some of their famous love story rubs off on us!
I was so pleased to be able to collaborate with the hotel on this illustration. After photographing every nook and gorgeous cranny for inspiration, I settled upon the Breakfast Room - my favourite! Every morning began with a croissant and a hot cup of tea, surrounded by sunshine and that glorious pink upholstery. Sadly without the perfectly tousled Parisian tresses and cascading gown. Le sigh...
I could hardly do it justice, but I do hope you like it as much as I do.
P.S YES that is a bathtub in the floor. And, who doesn't love a bath in the floor?
DEFINITELY NOT THIS GUY, that's for sure. Especially when paired with Champagne.
Cheers!
If you're fortunate enough to be traveling to Paris in the future, visit La Maison Favart's website here for more information: www.lamaisonfavart.com
VALENTINA ACQUA FLOREALE
I was so thrilled to be asked to participate in a new illustration project by Valentino
for their new fragrance Valentina Acqua Floreale, in which I had to create a series of illustrations that depicted the scent, bottle, and muse.
I've been a long-time wearer of the original Valentina scent so this, paired with the fact that it was VALENTINO, was such an exciting project to be a part of!
Acqua Floreale differs slightly from the original Valentina, adding notes of jasmine and orange blossom, however the essence of the fragrance stays the same; that sweet but playful scent offering an ethereal, girly elegance.
Along with the incredible Sabine Pieper and Bernadette Pascua (Decade Diary),
I was asked to interpret both the fragrance and the Valentina muse, Freja Beha Erichsen,through a series of illustrations, including a brief written synopsis of what the scent means to me:
Valentina Acqua Floreale speaks to me of a whimsical edge;
Its wearer a gamine beauty, a blend of feminine cool
lounging in a sun-kissed garden.
She wears a gown of immaculate beauty,
slightly crumpled from an early morning slumber,
her hair dishevelled from the previous evening's soiree
when all eyes were on her.
Now, in the garden, the sweet Summer scent of jasmine and blossoms remain,
soaked into her skin.
You can discover more on the Valentino Parfums website here:
www.en.parfums.valentino.com
A huge thank you to Valentino for inviting me to be a part of this beyond dreamy project.
x