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 It was withdrawn moments before the auction.

I am donating this painting to the CNIB Eye Appeal Art Event.

The CNIB Eye Appeal Art Event will be held on May 10, 2013 at the Crystal Garden in Victoria, BC.
Here is information about Banksy, and the online shop.

Squirrel Stole the Bansky Balloon (character study), 14″ x 11″, Oil on Board, 2013, Carollyne Yardley

The Balloon Girl

{From Stencil Revolution}
Banksys The Balloon Girl first started appearing on various London walls in 2002. The work has been known by several titles: There is Always Hope Balloon Girl, The Girl with the Red Balloon, and Red Heart, among others. The painting has been reproduced several times, not all containing the words There is Always Hope, though the most popular copies contains these words. The prints are available through many art dealers in various sizes. Reference here.

Banksy, The Balloon Girl

About the Event
The CNIB Eye Appeal Art Event is one of the most anticipated fundraisers for CNIB on Vancouver Island. Attendees will experience fine dining, breath-taking art and the opportunity to bid on unique items.

Through the help of over 200 locally and internationally renowned artists as well as various sponsors and volunteers, the CNIB Eye Appeal Art Event raises money to fund programs on Vancouver Island.  http://eyeappeal.org/

About CNIB

CNIB is a registered charity, passionately providing community-based support, knowledge and a national voice to ensure Canadians who are blind or partially sighted have the confidence, skills and opportunities to fully participate in life.To find out more, visit http://www.cnib.ca/ or call 1-800-563-2642.

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

Hello all,

Here is a sneak peak and a few of the miniature oil paintings that will be available for purchase this holiday season. They are all bundled up and thinking of how nice winter would be by the fireplace with you.

A lovely gift for someone who loves unique, hand made items, with love.

You’re collecting smiles, not just a squirrel.

These three little Jingle Buddies will be waiting for their new owners to take them home. Please stay tuned for gallery locations to view and purchase.

Gingerbread Squirrel | 5 x 7 | Oil on Board | 2012

 

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

 

Jingle Buddies together

 

Snowman Squirrel

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’ve just completed two more paintings. These will appear in a show opening on September 28th, 2012.

Mighty Aphrodite, 14 x 20, Oil on Board, Carollyne Yardley, 2012

One is called Mighty Aphrodite, after the Venus de Milo (Aphrodite) a sculpture of the Grecian goddess Aphrodite that was excavated on the island of Milo in Greece. Dating to around 100 BC and more commonly known as the Venus de Milo (in reference to the Roman name for the goddess of love). I used the classic squirrel face for this painting. The painting also makes reference to the Judgment of Paris.

By the Peacock, 16 X 20, Oil on Board, 2012, Carollyne Yardley

The other  piece is called By the Peacock. This is the first hybrid (or transgene) to have a partial human face, as opposed to human body. With her elongated neck and squirrel eyes, she looks a bit like Avatar. The peacock is a symbol of immortality because ancients believed that the peacock had flesh that did not decay after death. Also a symbol of renewal.

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