CHRISTMAS CARDS

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This year's Christmas cards have arrived a little bit early (although, when it comes to Christmas is there even such a thing?!) due to my being currently overseas.
To get a head start on the silly Santa season, and because I'm feeling festive after seeing all of the Christmas displays in NYC, I decided to put these beauties up in the shop now.

Taking inspiration from one of my favourite Christmas jingles, 'Kissing Santa Claus' is a play on the song made famous by Motown and the likes of Jackson 5 and The Ronettes. You might also remember Elaine crooning it out on Ally McBeal back in the 90s. Remember Ally McBeal?! The dancing baby?! Barry White?! Sigh...
It's just a super fun, flirtatious carol that I thought would be the perfect accompaniment to Christmas this year.

Available to purchase now in packs of 3 here: www.birdyandme.bigcartel.com
As always stock is limited so be quick to avoid missing out.

Please note that any orders placed on or prior to Friday, October 30th will be posted on Monday, November 2nd.

AMERICAN WOMAN

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Just a quick post to say 'Ta-Ta' as I'm about to head off to America for a much anticipated holiday!
There will be a few updates here and there (some exciting things on the horizon) but for the most part I'll be taking a few weeks to zone out, have fun, and soak up all that the good ol' U-S-of-A has to offer. No doubt I'll come home full of inspiration and many a Yankee-inspired post!
If you have any tips or suggestions feel free to leave them in the comments section below! I'd love to hear them.

ALSO - my shop WILL remain open while I'm away, however please note that any orders placed after October 5th will not be posted until November 2nd.
Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

For now, though, it's FAREWELL from me!
You can keep up with my adventures on Instagram where I will (try) to post highlights of my trip.

'LES PETIT FOURS' INTERNATIONAL GROUP SHOW

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Posting a sneaky detail of my piece 'Titania' [pencil, Copic markers, & digital colouring | Framed 50 x 50 cm]
for the upcoming 'Les Petit Fours' International Group Exhibition co-curated by Beautiful Bizarre Magazine and Friends of Leon Gallery Sydney.

The show opens Oct 22 from 6-8pm at Friends of Leon Gallery Sydney and runs until Nov 8.

I'll be posting more about my piece later, but if you would like to receive the collectors preview, please email: leon@friendsofleon.com

Full artist line-up and opening details: https://www.facebook.com/events/976022045787150/

THE BLACK SWAN

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Last week I went to my first ever ballet performance (of Swan Lake) and it was so magical!
The dancers make it look so effortless, but when you see the principals come out - in particular the Prima ballerina (Lina Seveliova of the Imperial Russian Ballet) in the title role of Odette, The Swan Queen - you realise just how disciplined, skilled, and incredible they are. The way that their bodies bend, curve and twist. It's stunning. I was also blown away by the mannerisms the Prima adopted, such as shaking her bowed head slightly as she emulated the preening swan.

Because I was too scared to attempt a photograph in the theatre (which you shouldn't do, anyway!) I used the above illustration from a 2011 commission for InStyle UK to accompany my post on Instagram. The stunning Mila Kunis as she appeared alongside Natalie Portman in Black Swan, the film based on a cast of dancers performing Swan Lake. I've no doubt that most of you would have already seen it, but if not - hop to it! With costumes by Rodarte and the most amazing performances, it's so beautiful (albeit creepy) to watch!
Of course, if you can catch a live performance you should definitely do it. I think I'm hooked.

Due to popular demand via Instagram I've decided to release the Mila illustration as an extemely limited edition print. Only 25 available worldwide.

If you'd like to purchase please visit my store here: www.birdyandme.bigcartel.com

Bottom image from The Imperial Russian Ballet's Swan Lake captured by Jared Taylor.

THE PINK DOOR

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One thing I have always loved looking at when I'm walking around are people's front doors, and nowhere is a pretty door more prevalent than in Europe where countries like Italy, France and Britain abound in beautifully ornate architecture.
Huge oak doors - in a variety of shapes, sizes and molds - stand before hidden gardens and courtyards; some delicately covered in blooming wisteria, others standing boldly in lacquered sorbet colours.
I'm forever taking photos of them and have none-so-subtly begged my husband to let us paint our front door pink. He's semi-agreed to "raspberry" but, hey, it's pretty much pink. I'll take it.

While I patiently wait for said raspberry door to arrive, I decided to draw my idea of the perfect pink door and bring it to my print shop. And here she is! A culmination of all of my favourite elements from the doors I've shot on my travels.
I can only imagine the beauty that lays behind it...a spiraling iron staircase extending from a parquet floor, perhaps?

Limited to an edition of 50 A3 prints only, you can purchase 'The Pink Door' from my store here:
www.birdyandme.bigcartel.com

I hope you like it!

Photographs all taken from my overseas travels in Paris, Carpentras, St.Emillion, and London.

BEAUTIFUL.BIZARRE MAGAZINE

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"In a splendor of style, elegance, and surreal botanical wonder, sinuous graphite lines and contrasting pops of color awaken a feminine beauty unlike any other. In this alluring paper space a pencil is more than lead and wood. It is the captive instrument of the creator, shaping the story of each delicate subject peering out from the page.
This is the work of Kelly Smith."

The extremely lovely/flattering words above come from the new issue of Beautiful.Bizarre magazine, in which I am very fortunate to be one of the featured artists.
Featuring 12 pages of illustrations and a little article from the lovely Bella Harris, Issue 010 of BB is available NOW both in printed and PDF format.
Visit beautifulbizarre.net for purchase + stockist info!

Thanks Danijela + Bella for the wonderful feature.

GRANDIFLORA

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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

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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

SHOP UPDATE

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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