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
LADY OF THE DEAD PHONE CASE
'Lady of the Dead' phone case - one of six designs available from The Dairy (www.thedairy.com)
Image Via The Dairy
SHOP UPDATE
Things have been relatively quiet on my blog over the last few months.
While I've been super busy with a lot of client work, I haven't had a lot of time for personal projects - including updating my shop!
However, I have just re-listed card sets, and there are a few new prints arriving in the coming months. Yay!
A number of prints have also now either sold out or are down to their final numbers, so if there's something you've had your eye on - don't waste time in grabbing it.
Shop here: www.birdyandme.bigcartel.com
KELLY X ERIN
A little peek at something a long time in the works with one of my favourite Australian artists, Erin Flannery.
Coming soon...
For more Erin visit her website: www.erinart.com
FLORAL FRENZY
She reads Vogue and she's "it" just like Alexa Chung!
She's 'La Petite Fleur' and she's my favourite print - maybe ever!
Cocooned in a pile of peonies, sweet peas and roses; a complete an utter floral frenzy!
www.birdyandme.bigcartel.com
COLLABORATION WITH THE DAIRY
Firstly, WOW. It's been a while between posts!
I've been so busy over the last two months on a string of big projects (more about which I can't wait to reveal soon) that I haven't had much time to update my blog or work on anything new for the shop.
I AM, however, thrilled to finally announce a brand new collaboration - you know they're my favourite!
I recently teamed up with Australian, Brisbane-based, company, The Dairy;
Creating capsule collections with many local artists and designers, they produce beautiful, high quality cases for your phone!
I had previously been aware of The Dairy's collections via the lovely images that filtered through my Instagram feed but a chance introduction to its founder, Cameron Parker, led to us discussing the possibility of my own little series.
Needless to say the conversation was a quick one, and within 24 hours Cam had sent me a sample of my work on one of the cases. I was so impressed by the quality that upon receiving it I immediately thought 'let's do this!'
In the words of Dorothy Boyd, he 'had me at hello.'
Sometimes it can be hard to admit that social media rules our lives, but the reality is that we have become a generation that is glued to our mobile devices; we talk, we photograph, we document.
Considering how much thought we put into our daily outfits, it's only natural that we should want to accessorise with our phones, too! It's fun to think that you can carry your favourite artwork around with you and that's what's so great about The Dairy - there's quite literally a case to suit every style and every mood. You can buy one, or buy them all!
My collection, consisting of some new and some previously loved and sold out editions, is available for most models of the iPhone and Samsung via The Dairy now.
www.thedairy.com
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