Banksy Squirrel is finally complete!

I’ve been working on this painting since early January 2013. There have been several distractions, art shows, and other production tasks keeping me away from the easel. But finally, it is complete.

In between starting and finishing this piece, I watched Exit Through the Gift Shop, there was the Sotheby’s sale of ‘stolen’ Banksy mural cancelled at the 11th hour, a book was published called Banksy: The Man Behind the Wall by Will Ellsworth-Jones, and subsequent book reviews.

Banksy Squirrel, 24 x 35, Oil on Board, Carollyne Yardley, 2013

Since it took me so long to finish this piece, I was praying the entity known as Banksy didn’t pull a reveal in the meantime.  It would’ve ruined the idea of him being a Secret Squirrel.

Banksy is a pseudonymous England-based graffiti artist, political activist, film director, and painter.

My thoughts behind this piece started from the basic idea, that Bansky qualifies as a Secret Squirrel. Totally covert operations.

Then I started thinking about how many people must know who he is. And to rent city blocks for longs periods of time has to mean he’s got some friends in high places, or he’s way more white collar on the inside than he wants many to believe. So taking from the only things a casual reader like myself could know, or have been led to believe by the Banksy media machine is this:

He’s British, funny and smart as shit, has worn a black hoodie at least once in his lifetime, uses the logo seen here at his website, goes on spray painting holidays to the Separation Barrier, probably hopes for a better world  (little girl with hope balloon), and is anonymous.

And voila, this is Banksy Squirrel.

Read more about Banksy, or visit his website.

MORE ON SOTHEBY’S STORY HERE

Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images via Bloomberg

A man takes a mobile phone photo of an artwork attributed to Banksy. The stencilled image depicts a poor child making Union Jack flags on a sewing machine and was located on the wall of a Poundland discount shop in the Wood Green area of north London. The work was later removed and was to be auctioned in Miami. It was withdrawn moments before the auction.

Here are two super sweet silhouette paintings that will be available at my upcoming art show, Romancing the Squirrel. They each have ornate golden frames

Girl and Squirrel Silhouettes, 8 x 9 each, oil on board, 2013

Squirrel, Girl, and Butterfly Silhouettes, 13 x 19, oil on board, 2013

My first commission was a request made by a dear friend of mine, James (Jim) Mantle, Artist and Friend to the Environment.

James Mantle, is an alumni of the Nova Scotia School of Art and Design (circa 1980′s) and retired from the world of advertising and graphic design many years ago. While we both laugh about the good old days, we are  happy to be back to painting now. More about James Mantle below.

James asked me to paint an image of a British Tin Solider, as a gift for his mother on Valentines’ Day.  His mother, Betty Mantle had performed in a play in Britain just after WW2, and she maintained friendships with the other children in the play, all these years later.  James wanted to tie in this special memory for her with one of my “squirrels”. How lovely. Here “she” is below.

Tin Soldier Squirrel, Oil on board, 2013

Jim paints large spirit goddesses, inspired by his work cleaning Vancouver Island beaches using only his sailboat as transport, and his bare hands. He has removed hundreds of pounds of plastics, cigarette butts and styrofoam allowing the natural habitats of Islands like “Jimmy Chicken Island”, and others, to grow back vegetation, and encourage the wildlife to flourish.

His spirit goddesses are all intertwined with animal creates, painted by an automatic painting, guided by emotion and his sub consciousness. His works reminds me of Patrick Nagel, who worked as a graphic designer, had many commercial clients, and also did the album cover of rock group Duran Duran’s hit album, Rio.

By James Mantle

First painting of 2013. Sneak preview posted here, watch for upcoming show dates. Pop Surrealism.

Titled Romancing the Squirrel, and also known as Topiary Squirrel, and alternatively as “I Love You Big Bush Squirrel!”

Idea to riff of the popular culture movie from 1980′s called Romancing the Stone, where the plot was a treasure hunt to find the largest emerald in the world shaped like a heart called La Carazon.  This was my take on the idea using a heart, and emerald coloured squirrel found in a Victorian, topiary garden.

Romancing the Squirrel, 18 x 24, Oil on Board, 2013, Carollyne Yardley aka I Love you Big Bush Squirrel

Shows a young girl reaching up in adulation to a giant topiary squirrel set in a manicured garden maze. The title references the ’80′s film Romancing the Stone, about an adventurous treasure hunt.  The visual tension unherent in tamin g a wild creature within the higly manipulated branches of a topiary speak to the human interactions with nature, complicated by Victorian symbolism of the manicured garden as a reflection of virtue.

- Aaren Madden, Focus Magazine

Please remember to see my paintings at The ApARTment Gallery at 1016 Fort Street, Victoria BC until November 01, 2012.

If you are thinking of buying a unique wedding present, birthday, home decor or getting a jump start on Christmas presents, please consider buying a piece of original fine art.  Locally created, hand made, using recycled materials (the frames came from antique mirrors).

Have lunch at JJ Wonton Noodle House or Da Tandor, breakfast at Avalon, take in the show for something different this weekend!

http://www.theapartmentart.com/

The Mighty Aphrodite | Oil on Board | 2012 | Carollyne Yardley

Romance Squirrel | Oil on Board | 2012

I’m making a few miniature paintings for Christmas, they will be available for sale sometime in November. Please watch my blog for more details and locations to view and purchase.

Many thanks to everyone who has collected a piece (or two) of my artwork. Very much appreciated, and I hope you are all enjoying your squirrel buddy.

Here is a snapshot of one of them. They will all be a bit bundled for warm weather

Red Suit Squirrel | 6.25″ x 8″ | Oil on Board | 2012

CLICK ON IMAGE TO SEE LARGER

Revolution 9: Squirrel of Man, Oil on Board, 17.5 X 21.5 (after René Magritte) with frame

UPDATE December 2012: The book by Philip Willey called A Day in the Life is out and includes illustrations by: Carollyne Yardley, Lance Austin Olsen, Michael Lewis, Lyle Schultz, Robert Amos, Roy Green, Brad Pasutti, Darren White.

CLICK HERE FOR ARTIST LINKS AND BUY BOOK!

I was asked to participate in a project about John Lennon by Philip Willey. I rarely post a long description of my thought process in developing a piece, but this one is not as personal, so here it is.

I still need to let this dry and varnish, but was ready to post as is.

*The irony that I have posted this on the UN International Day of Peace has not been lost on me. Although it almost was, I just looked at my calendar. Ha.

I have finally finished, Charlotte’s Web!

Charlotte's Web (aka Spiderman) | 36 x 24, Oil on Board, 2012, Carollyne Yardley Click image to enlargeÂ

Along with a better photo of The Avenger

WOW – COVER SQUIRREL!

Cover 3829, July 19-25th, 2012 Issue
Local Painter Carollyne Yardley has gone Squirrelly for her art
Feature Pg 8
By MaryEllen Green

Thank you MaryEllen Green, Arts Editor, and Grant McKenzie, Editor, of Monday Magazine.

Monday Magazine, Cover Art 3829, Artist is nuts for squirrels, Issue July 19-25, 2012. Pg 8 by MaryEllen Green, Arts Editor

That squirrel is so big! I feel like a Lilliputian in Gulliver’s Travels!

Back in May 2012, I received an email from MaryEllen Green, the Arts Editor of Monday Magazine, asking if I had any upcoming art shows. She said she’d love to see one of my squirrels on the cover of Monday Magazine, and wanted to tie it into a show in future.

MaryEllen and Grant McKenzie (Editor of Monday) had seen Geisha Girl Squirrel on their travels for lunch, down the street from Monday Magazine headquarters, to The Clay Pigeon Restaurant. This is a fabby dab lunch, breakfast, and dinner spot, kitty corner to the Royal Theatre (at Blanshard and Broughton St.). They were both curious about the QR Code painted on the painting, and not having aQR code app on their smart phones they becamse curious, and more curious.

At the time I had work up at Sooke Harbour House, and was awaiting confirmation on whether I’d been accepted into the TD Art Gallery of Greater Victoria Paint In. I let her know about the Sooke show, and that I’d keep her posted in upcoming events.

Once I received confirmation that I’d been accepted to the Paint In, I emailed her right away. It worked out just great. I got to see so many people, many of whom had read the article, and came down to see my work, along with over 160 artists at the largest outdoor art show on Vancouver Island.

The interview itself, was a fun, cake induced afternoon.

MaryEllen came to my studio, and we drank tea and ate some lemon lavender cake from Delish Bakery. She asked me so many thoughtful questions, it really helped me to navigate the kinds of things people want to know.

“How to you paint, what materials, and why squirrels?”

I’ve come to better understand by reading other artists interviews, and now my own, that people want to connect with an artist on as many levels as possible. The more you can describe your art, the process, and inspirations, the more people can identify with a piece or add it to their own narrative.

I am absolutely delighted with both the cover and the article, and it has helped me to articulate even better my vision for future artworks.

From every part of my heart and all of me, I am overwhelmed with gratitude and joy.

THANK YOU!

Read article here: http://www.mondaymag.com/news/162947676.html

Monday Magazine Cover July 18 2012

Here is the latest painting off the easel called The Avenger.

The Avenger | Oil on Board | 16 x 22 | Carollyne Yardley

Partly influenced by Captain America and superheros, she bears the mark on her necklace of the Captain America logo, which also happens to be the same logo for my previous company called Star Global, and the logo I use for Carollyne Yardley Omnimedia.

The hat is inspired by a vintage Vogue hat from the 1920′s and also represents the winged cap worn by the Olympian god Hermes, the herald, or messenger, of the gods to humans, the protector of shepherds, literature and poets, athletics and sports, orators and wit, and of commerce in general.

The Avengers is a time collapsing portrait of a superhero of Yardley’s creation; the squirrel subject wears a 1980s era necklace with the Avengers (Captain America) logo (also the logo for Yardley’s current and former business ventures), a gown of apparently late Victorian vintage, and a bobbed 1920s hairdo adorned with the wings of Mercury. “She servers her justice swiftly”.

- Aaren Madden, Focus Magazine