Flights of multicoloured balls,  juxtaposed to a parade of 3 very different females: the characters from Bettina’s 2019 CIRCUS painting. 

Introducing a new spectrum of colours paying tribute to psychedelic art - curvilinear lines of limes, fuscia and blue, spiraling swirls of purple and cream - giving joy

Hand painted with a brush and fine oils
• original art
• painted on Arches Oil Paper (300gsm/140lb)
• framed in aluminium nickel profile, 45 mm
• 63 x 80 cm framed
• ready to hang; no framing required

A kaleidoscopic combination of soft colours and random overlapping shapes feature on this harlequinesk painting in shades ranging from Pearl Grey to Vert Benghal all the way to Ciel and Aqua.  It offers crisp tonal values and represents Bettina’s extensive work on the theme of the Harlequin which started in 1985. 

A source of fascination for the artist, this image offers a pensive representation that combines both the artist realistic and fantasy styles.

Hand painted with a brush and fine oils
• original art
• painted on Arches Oil Paper (300gsm/140lb)
• framed in aluminium nickel profile, 45 mm
• 63 x 80 cm framed
• ready to hang; no framing required

It is said that a CHARLENE is a unique and beautiful women - it was only fitting to stage a modern woman within dramatic shades of red: fiery, emotional, luxurious and proud. Muted shades from the lightest pink to the darkest burgundy make CHARLENE’s elegant appearance stand out..  

The background was inspired by 1960’s  jewellery design by Charles Loloma.  The inlay in this multi-stone cuff using fragments of Yellow Gold, Coral, Turquoise and Lapis Lazuli became interwoven into the outfit of the protagonist. 

Hand painted with a brush and fine oils
• original art
• painted on Arches Oil Paper (300gsm/140lb)
• framed in aluminium nickel profile, 45 mm
• 63 x 80 cm framed
• ready to hang; no framing required

Oil depicting a regal modern woman - SOPHIA is the woman of tomorrow, always changing, always re-inventing herself.  

An elegant Edwardian sapphire and diamond Latin cross pendant c.1910, set in platinum and gold provides the shapes for the background - with sapphire blue chosen as it disperses waves of light.   

Both, CHARLENE and SOPHIA are inspired by Dior Fashion. 

Hand painted with a brush and fine oils
• original art
• painted on Arches Oil Paper (300gsm/140lb)
• framed in aluminium nickel profile, 45 mm
• 63 x 80 cm framed
• ready to hang; no framing required

For ESTELA and JULIANA, I have drawn inspiration from fashion across different decades such as the original Christian Dior Couture dress design from 1953 (after a visit to the Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams exhibition at the V&A) – capturing an expression of regality through an alluring use of colour. 

JULIANA is proud; her face superbly modelled, but in her calm, determined gaze, there is not a hint of arrogance.   

Hand painted with a brush and fine oils
• original art
• painted on Arches Oil Paper (300gsm/140lb)
• framed in aluminium nickel profile, 45 mm
• 63 x 80 cm framed
• ready to hang; no framing required

For ESTELA and JULIANA, I have drawn inspiration from fashion across different decades such as the original Christian Dior Couture dress design from 1953 (after a visit to the Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams exhibition at the V&A) – capturing an expression of regality through an alluring use of colour.

Look into the eye of ESTELA: her thoughts are more absorbing than the scene around her. The beauty of her features keeps her at a discreet protective distance. 

Hand painted with a brush and fine oils
• original art
• painted on Arches Oil Paper (300gsm/140lb)
• framed in aluminium nickel profile, 45 mm
• 63 x 80 cm framed
• ready to hang; no framing required

RHAPSODY IN BLUE presents a selection of very different modern women as does WHO IS EVE?.   

Using a set of accented curves, I invite you to stroll from female protagonist to another, extending into the sky which has something surreal  about it.  

RHAPSODY IN BLUE  and  WHO IS EVE?  make a great pair; the paintings are framed in an identical aluminium nickel profile.

Hand painted with a brush and fine oils
• original art
• painted on Arches Oil Paper (300gsm/140lb)
• framed in aluminium nickel profile, 45 mm
• 59 x 75 cm 
• ready to hang; no framing required

WHO IS EVE? was inspired by the play ‘All About Eve’ (on London stage in early 2019) combined with the structure of Chinese ancestor paintings, drawing us in towards the centre. 

WHO IS EVE?  presents a selection of very different modern women as does RHAPSODY IN BLUE.  

Hand painted with a brush and fine oils
• original art
• painted on Arches Oil Paper (300gsm/140lb)
• framed in aluminium nickel profile, 45 mm
• 59 x 75 cm 
• ready to hang; no framing required

CELIA  (A Kaleidoscope of Colours) was the first fashion plus pop-art inspired oil portrait of 2019 in the series PORTRAITS MEETS POP, which is the overall concept of my art practice.  

CELIA uses a succession of lines, circles and swirling shapes. It explores the use of colour and shape further than any of the previous portraits, and led on to RHAPSODY IN BLUE  and  WHO IS EVE?

Hand painted with a brush and fine oils

• • original art
• • painted on Arches Oil Paper (300gsm/140lb)
• • framed in aluminium nickel profile, 45 mm
• • 58 x 74 cm
• • ready to hang; no framing required

Fashion inspired oil portrait for 2019

Hand painted with a brush and fine oils

• original art
• painted on Arches Oil Paper (300gsm/140lb)
• framed in aluminium bright steel profile, 45 mm
• 40 x 50 cm
• ready to hang; no framing required

This painting was part of the group exhibition  “A R T E  A  P A L A Z Z O ”  GALLERIA FARINI CONCEPT, Bologna, Italy  from 23 March to 6  April 2019.