The Teaparty - Original Paintings

A Series of Adorable Teacups

This series underwent significant transformation during its creation. Initially, I painted all four backgrounds in ink, with the original idea of featuring frogs in teacups. The frogs were inspired by images from the Instagram page "Fantastic Froggos" (permission gratefully received), which showcases these delightful amphibians in creative poses and costumes.

My fascination with frogs stems from my favorite childhood book, Picasso, where a frog transforms from green to multi-colored after diving into a jar of jellybeans. Growing up, I also had two green tree frogs named "Picasso" and "Filbert." Unfortunately, their companionship was short-lived when I discovered Filbert in Picasso's mouth—an early lesson that frogs prefer solitude! Despite this, my love for these quirky creatures has endured.

The teacups in this series were chosen to complement the whimsical nature of the frogs and pigs. Two of the cups are Maxwell Williams designs from my family home, a sentimental nod to fond memories of my mother and grandmother humorously reading leftover coffee to predict fortunes.

This series holds deep personal meaning as it was created during a challenging period. I began it just before my mother’s cancer diagnosis and completed it while she was in palliative care. The creative process became a way to navigate my grief, and the paintings now carry a strong connection to her memory. My mother adored my work and shared my love for frogs, making this series especially significant.

The series evolved to include not just frogs, but also two teacup pigs—adorable and playful additions that reflect the shifts in my focus during this emotional time. These pigs bring a lighthearted charm and balance to the series. Hand-applied gold foil halos and/or crowns have been added to the backgrounds, placed behind/on the subjects, to elevate the compositions. The dynamic, reflective quality of the gold leaf enhances the whimsical, radiant energy of the works, creating a sense of light and joy.

All four original mixed media paintings (acrylic, Posca marker, and gold foil) feature muted backgrounds, each measuring 60 cm x 60 cm x 3.8 cm, and are framed in natural Tasmanian oak (framed size 63 cm x 63 cm x 4.5 cm).