A commission for Rosie and Alex

Celebrating their wonderful wedding and the happy memories surrounding a spectacular and eclectic day…

Theme:
Rosie and Alex ‘Sweet Peas in Africa’

Composition:
To include the cake, recipe, patterns and details, photographs of the event and sketches of elements of the day, hidden stories

Collage
Text in the background includes maps of meaningful places plus music scores of relevant songs

Style:
Bright and light with crisp colours taken from the photos and hidden details if the viewer looks closely.

 

Included:

  • Artwork 95 x 40cm

  • framed : (115 x 60 inc white frame

  • Certificate of authenticity

  • List of ‘ingredients’ and typed story of the piece

  • a card to accompany (for you to write)

  • link to the edited web page showing work in progress and the story of the artwork

  • card pack for you as a thank you

 

The brief ( from lovely Godmother Jane):

Although I don't want your 'creation' to be totally 'all about cake', I thought it might be useful to know a little about the background and how it evolved.   I am a very poor amateur cake decorator but love doing it for family and friends.

The brief from Rosie was 'Think sweet peas in Africa'.  Her and Alex had spent some time in Africa, Rosie (a maths teacher) loves all species/animals and her mother (my friend who originally came from Henley) grew sweet peas and other flowers for the wedding on their farm in rural Herefordshire. 

Alex and business partner own a company called DASH who make no calorie flavoured sparkling waters from wonky fruits - you may have seen it on the shelves when out shopping. 

If you want to illustrate a musical element (which I also like the idea of), The pieces sung by Alex's sister during the signing if the register (Aretha Franklin's 'I Say A Little Prayer' and Nat Kikng Cole's 'L-O-V-E' ) were absolutely magical - Lu is so very talented and her singing was very emotional. 

The wedding was just after coming out of lock-down so there was mask wearing - a tiny nod to that would be a sad reminder but I think a realistic touch. I hope you have the 'flavour' of the wedding !

 

STYLE…

IDEA 1

Love heart theme as a basis, the motif is inspired by ancient symbols of love and protection and will allow for intricate detail.

 

IDEA 2

‘Eclectic’ inspirations..

shapes, patterns and sketches from the day, layered with photos, colours and shapes to unify.. style ideas include scuba diving, flower garden and bubbles (DASH link) The images here are mostly flowers but the piece itself will be bespoke so these are just a start point.



 

aaaand the winner is Idea 2! ( minimal hearts, no butterflies, lol!)

CONTENT:

The cake will be a central theme.

Incorporating colours from the flowers, the story of the cake and different patterns and details about the cake within the hearts. Other details from the day and the photos.

The photos will be throughout (suggest black and white) and aspects sketched and overlaid ( the colour comes in here).

The artwork will be a one-off mixed media piece, first printed on etching paper, embellished and layered with paint and pencil.

The outcome will be a wonderful memory and something to pass down to future generations.

 

Studies:

So.. as a starting point I have painted sweet peas.. selecting the pinks from the bunches placed by the cake and around the wedding venue.

 

Inspired by Rosie’s bouquet, subtle antique pinks with splashes of blue ‘Love in the Mist’ and sculptural white blooms dotted with Gypsophila. A subtle palette and delicate arrangement, added collage on themes of flowers and wedding.

 

  • The garden theme was symbolic as Sweet peas were such a big feature

  • The colour palette is based on the bride’s bouquet and the sweet peas dotted around the wedding

  • the flowers are growing as this is the start of a marriage and the couple will grow together through time.

  • The circles will add to the eclectic feel and also represent bubbles in the DASH water!

  • African patterns from the cake icing dotted within the circles

The artwork as it happened…

 

A piece for Rosie and Alex on their 1st wedding anniversary
( created by Kirsten, with love from Jane)

Exuberant, full of life love and fun.. a piece that celebrates the wedding of Rosie and Alex. The story of their special day is told through this beautiful garden, with secret stories and hidden messages within the flowers and foliage. A piece that reflected the love and energy of the couple, an artwork with style and design, something they will love to put on a wall in their home!

Details are listed below x

  • Sweet peas using the palette of flowers that decorated the whole day

  • the cake – a culinary masterpiece created with love by Jane on the theme of ‘Sweet peas in Africa’

  • Photos of the wedding day

  • Initials and date on Rosie’s veil (one of Jane’s responsibilities was to ensure her veil was straight as she walked into church)

  • Dash can at the side of the road when the couple drove off in the MG

  • Donkey (will bring back many memories as she was a bit of a naughty donkey on the day!)

  • Rosie’s beautiful bouquet is painted along the top of the piece as if being ‘thrown’ in the traditional way. 4 images represent each quarter of their time as a married couple

  • Weobley church

  • text fragments for ‘flower, wedded and marry are collaged along the bottom edge

  • Bride and groom initials on a pretty sign used at the wedding

  • drawings inspired by the foliage on the fabric used for the cake presentation

  • African animals

  • a letter from Rosie to Jane

  • cake recipe

  • Alex in a mask ( a reference to Covid that held up the date of the wedding!

  • ‘Do it Wright’ sign

  • Badminton logo

  • Dash can ( printed for the guests )

  • map of Weobley, Monnington on Wye where reception was held

  • map includes Eardisley, which is where Rosie moved to from Henley at the age of 3 weeks

  • splashes of colours taken from the 4 flavours of ‘DASH’

 

The Final Piece:

Details…