Art in Bloom

We now have some confirmed dates for the launch of Jungle City, Edinburgh’s biggest outdoor art event. Tuesday August 16th all 130 animals will be unleashed on the Royal Botanic Gardens and they’ll stay there until Tuesday 6th September when they’ll hit the streets of the city.

There will be a day to meet the artists, currently Saturday 24th September (times to be confirmed) and then the online auction starts on 23rd September and runs until 2nd October. So if you fancy one of the animals to go in your hallway keep an eye on the online activity.

There will also be a grand auction at the National Museum of Scotland on 29th September where a selected few will be auctioned live.

The money raised will go to help secure the habitats of some of the worlds most endangered animals - elephants, tigers, orangutans, crocodiles and hornbills.

I will be looking forward to visiting Jeffrey on August 25th in the Royal Botanic Gardens and again on September 24th in the city. I’ll take lots of photos and post them for those of you who wont be able to make it but if you have the chance do go along and participate in this great event.

So Jeffrey left us on Thursday to head firstly to London and then on to Edinburgh. It was a sad day. The studio looks very grey without him and the weather is raining to suit the mood. But I will share some lovely pictures taken the day he left when we took him out into the garden to roam around! If you like the look of Jeffrey and think you have room for him in your garden then do follow his progress on the Jungle City website and participate in the auction that will be happening in September.

Jeffrey standing tall

Jeffrey shows off his Miltoniopsis orchids

Jeffrey turns tail in the Lavender

Jeffrey shows his Phalaenopsis side

Jeffrey in the rose bushes

Three views of Jeffrey's handsome face

Today has been spent with Tiger on the floor and a lot of concentration to get the slipper orchid working down the spine. I’m really pleased with it so I’ve taken a photo of the whole of the top view for you to see.

Paphiopedilum - Slipper Orchid

Tigers topside

Getting down to the detail now. Tiger is 98% covered and about 90% of the detail is done. Another couple of days and he will be complete. Tomorrow we take him down off the table so that we can do the top….how exciting.

Here are  a couple of photos to show the two different sides and what a different feel they have….

The Miltonia side

The Phalaenopsis side

Just a couple of close ups of the orchids for you to appreciate. The idea is that there are yellow and white orchids on one side of the Tiger and pinks and purples on the other. That way if you have him in your garden you can turn him around and have a different look!

Phalaenopsis and Oncidium

Miltoniopsis

As with Just Joey the first painting to be done is to give Tiger some character. So he has a face and tail. Just the first few coats. The last job to be done will be whiskers so that’s one to look forward to. I do have a little helper this year. Nicky helped me do some of the fancy footwork on Just Joey and she’s volunteered for the same job on Tiger. So look out for those Tiger Feet!

Tiger gets a face

Tiger tail

Phalaenopsis - moth orchids

Day one was the preparation – a couple of coats of a nice matte undercoat. Then begins the drawing. Tiger will display a selection of orchids – Phalaenopsis, Miltonia, Oncidium and a beautifully structured Paphiopedilum. Along with lots of foliage we hope he will look truly stunning.

Tiger face

Miltoniopsis

This blog started with the creation of an elephant, Just Joey, and now it continues with the creation of a Tiger.

Elephant Family contacted me in back in January and asked if I’d like to do another animal for them this year. As Just Joey was such a pleasure to do and he was much enjoyed by the public I was only too happy to be involved.

Life has delayed my starting this glorious animal but things are well under way now. He doesn’t have a name yet so we’ll just call him Tiger. Like Just Joey he will be an animal walking through flowers. This time I’ve chosen Orchids as they’re jungle flowers and appropriate to the event – Jungle City.

Naked and proud

View from behind

Waiting for decoration