A year of creative exploration: Part 2 from design to finished artwork
It’s always a surprise when I feel inspired to create another artwork on wood etched with the pyrograph. Why? Well because every time I finish a piece I am sure it is my last because the process usually ends up being intensely involved, long and at times arduous. Even though I say to myself I will create a more minimalistic piece I always get carried away. I’ve been looking to create things that take a shorter amount of time. Which actually doesn’t make sense now since I have also begun exploring textile arts and in particular embroidery which also needs considerable time to complete each piece! Go figure!!!
Athena’s Owl, a commissioned artwork
Athena’s Owl was a commissioned artwork for an Airbnb located in the centre of Athens. I was thrilled to receive this commission and amazed at the synchronicity of its subject matter as I had recently been sketching and exploring the idea of creating an artwork with an owl!
Golden Pelican mixed media on wood artwork
I had been wanting to start painting more birds in my artwork, and my brother, George S Blonsky, who is an extremely talented professional wildlife photographer, and whose work I love, nudged me to paint one of the birds he’s most known for photographing in a place called Lake Kerkini in northern Greece, namely the Dalmatian Pelicans. I have also visited the Lake with him and fell in love with these magnificent creatures, amongst others!
Summer Cocktail and what inspired my return to relief artwork on wood
This bold, bright and colourful artwork marks a return to my creating mixed media relief artwork on wood. Following a break of about two years, during which I researched and explored other techniques and a variety of painting skills and media I was -quite unexpectedly- inspired by some ceramic sculptural plant pots.
I painted my ceramic owl
Yup! That’s all that needs to be said! How do I know/decide how/what to paint them? Well, I often don’t know at first, so when I’m in dilemma as to how to decorate them I like to let my ceramic objects sit in front of me for a while, sometimes weeks, while I get on with other things.
I painted an old bamboo wind chime
Do you like wind chimes? I love them! I’ve had this old bamboo wind chime that I’ve been hanging on to and put on my ‘to do’ list since goodness knows when. So I am happy that I finally got around to doing it, and super happy with the result!
Happy Toucans Table Top
One of my favourite projects to date! This was a custom order [actually for my daughter as she was decorating her balcony in preparation for summer and she wanted something colourful to complement her tropical plants, which she is partial to. So, I decided to create a tropical-themed table top for her verandah table. This made me so happy!
The Greek Collection: Amalia
Over the past few weeks I’ve been working on the lady in the background pictured below and which finally marks the definitive beginning of a whole series/collection I want to create, namely, the Greek Collection.
Artwork: Evzone Marching
Following a recent trip into Athens to photograph the Evzones standing guard outside Parliament I was inspired to create this artwork. Actually, it’s something I’d long wanted to do (hence the photo shoot for reference). To be honest, I had originally planned to paint an evzone in his summer uniform but I forgot they were still wearing the winter one 🤓 but since I actually prefer the winter uniform with the bold indigo blue and red contrasting berets and detail I was only too happy 😊
Making of ‘Playing with my Demons’ – timelapse video
My latest artwork involving mixed media on wood with pyrography, to which I gave the title of “Playing with my Demons”.
‘The Gift’ – an illustration of Athena and Poseidon
My latest pyrography artwork, ‘The Gift’, (completed just before Christmas) was created in cooperation with children’s book author Mrs Yota Kotsauti at Ένα κείμενο, μία εικόνα to illustrate the story of the Greek gods Athena and Poseidon and the gift each of them gave to the Athenians competing for the city’s favor. It was a super opportunity for me as I’ve long wanted to try my hand -and imagination- at illustrating a story and in particular a subject which I love, Greek mythology!
An intuitive abstract painting that pushed my boundaries
While taking an indefinite break from working on wood with pyrography I felt a nudge -or maybe more of a growling push- to do something a bit abstract. To just play with some colours on canvas.
