Caffeine Girl 6
Looking back I found I hadn’t previously posted this painting.
It’s from a few years ago.. part of the “Caffeine Girl” series. Come to think of it, two of these works are currently hanging in Smart Artz Gallery in South Melbourne if you’re in the neighborhood. Actually, wait till after March 1st and you can catch The Wild Young Things there at the same time.
All the paintings from the series were/are approx 120×90 cm (4ft x 3ft) oil on canvas.
In regard to the Caffeine Girl series, I had a tentative title of “Café Girls” after the first two paintings were started but like most things, as it develops it takes on a life of it’s own.
The inclusion of the birds initially was to reflect or mirror the figures personality, but that’s not necessarily the case now in the later paintings.
Although it sounds a little strange, sometimes I feel like a painting is telling me what it wants rather than the other way around. It’s not always obvious even during the painting cycle what is going to reveal itself. You have a plan but a lot happens along the way. It’s an exciting part of the process of painting for me.
I don’t want to bore you with some long winded philosophical explanation about these works below as I really like it to be up to the viewer to decide on what it is or might represent.
What I will say is that when I look at these pieces I see something between the girl and the bird… something…. some mystery or something unsaid.
It may appear unsettling in one yet very subtle or innocent in another. This undercurrent appeals to me… creating something celebrating beauty but juxtaposing it with a darker subliminal element. However having said that, ascetically they are simply nice paintings to look at.
Caffeine Girl 6 belongs to the following groups:
Layered with Texture, Riginals and Sydney's Guide to Exhibitions
Dani Dreyer
What I like most here (apart from your skills) is that the girl and the bird are looking at the viewer. Think I agree with you, definitely something between the bird and the girl..
She is beautiful by the way and this is yet another amazing piece!!
Leith O'Malley replied
Thank you very much Dani, I appreciate your thoughts on this particular painting. Yes, it looks like we are interupting something doesn’t it lol!
Sinéad Costello
I love all of these caffeine girls :)
Leith O'Malley replied
Thanks Sinéad, and what a glorious, famous last name you have!
helene ruiz
wonderful !
Leith O'Malley replied
Yes, you are ;)
Holly Ringland
well, you know how i feel about black butterfly… and the rest of your caffeine girls are full of just as much engaging and intriguing energy. i love the use of birds in your work leith… always whispering in an ear, watching from a shoulder or in this case looking at the viewer with as much attitude as the gorgeous girl to demand a justified reason for interrupting what was obviously quite the moment. i love the angle of the little green parrot’s head! i’d love to be a fly on the wall and know their secrets. your work is spellbinding. i do love this.
Leith O'Malley replied
Hey thanks Holly, you always have a nice word to say and take the time to be descriptive about the things you like. I think having someone call my work “spellbinding” is one of the highest compliments I could hope for! Thanks for making my day :)
All I can muster in return after a long night is a Ramones catch cry.. You Rock!!
Alice McMahon ...
I don’t believe I’ve seen this girl and her feathered friend before. A delicious surprise with my morning coffee! I love how the table bisects the canvas on a diagonal. Really strong piece Leith – I can’t believe someone hasn’t snatched her up yet!
“sometimes I feel like a painting is telling me what it wants rather than the other way around. It’s not always obvious even during the painting cycle what is going to reveal itself.” I often feel this way, especially strong when working on a series that evolves and takes on a life of it’s own. Keep sharing the mystery.
Leith O'Malley replied
Hi Alice. This painting actually sold at the Caffeine Girl exhibition in Adelaide way back then (a couple of years ago). I just hadn’t posted it for some reason. Wasn’t entirely happy with it or something and it looked odd horizontal in comparison to the others. I don’t always post everything I do so I guess I should eventually get round to showing a few others.. plenty of time for all that though. Cheers!
AnitaInverarity
Very nice work x
Leith O'Malley replied
Thank you my friend!
Herkissable
Loving the whole bird thing you got going on Leith x
Leith O'Malley replied
.. and I’m loving that whole Warhol Building type thing you got going on Miss H!
Actually, I love anything which stands out or seems more original or unusual, and those building mixed medias of yours are damn fine works of art.
Stay on the path.. get a series together…dare I say it, build on it!
Then turn it all on it’s head and go in a different direction..
Life is serious, art is fun.. right?!
:)
Belinda Leopold
Awwww Gorgeous! (As always)
Leith O'Malley replied
Awwww thanks Belinda, and you are for saying so!
Belinda Leopold
You let me know when you wanna collaborate some time…..:p
Leith O'Malley replied
Sounds good to me Belinda albeit for some tyranny of distance and other paintings/mag work to complete being a stumbling block but who knows? Let me know what you have in mind.. cheers! :)
Herkissable
Thanks Leith!! ......your comments mean alot to me!! I value your opinion!!
Im thinking that this whole building thing is a way for me to go too….... lets see where it all ends up?!? Im gonna enjoy the ride hahahahahahahaaa…...... x
......and in the meantime …Ill be looking out for your wee birds I LUUUURV THEM!!
Rebekah Anderson
Again, just love this, Leith. I have no idea how you’re able to grip the viewer so immediately. I do adore the colours, but there’s something morein the way you’ve captured the sad, resigned look on the face that further secures my interest. Also love the title! Happen to be irreversibly fond of caffeine myself… :-). Thanks for sharing this
Leith O'Malley replied
Ha! Your welcome Rebekah and you sound like the perfect audience for my artwork.. go out and clone yourself ok :)
After coffee of course..
Kym Breeze
What an amazing series, love them all and it is really nice to see them all hanging at the gallery, how was the response from the public? did you have good sales?
The way you have portrayed the emotions and expressions in these is great…I like no.6 she has that look of “you would never guess what I am thinking/feeling, so why try, now go away and leave us to it” Your use of colour is great, would love to see these in life, very inspiring work, well done .
Leith O'Malley replied
Thankyou Kym, the response to these was great and all were sold bar two which currently are hanging or available for viewing/sale in Smart Artz gallery, South Melbourne.
Really glad you love the look of them all!
Happy painting :)
Midori Furze
Hi, Leith!!
Gorgeous series!!
Loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooove it!!
All on the wall together looks so great!!
How many coffee have you had today?
Leith O'Malley replied
I haven’t had any coffee Midori :(
I had a cup of tea this morning though.. haha!
Glad you like them!!
MistressZombie
Beautiful. I love the facial characteristics and the bold colours.
Leith O'Malley replied
Hey thanks Mz Zombie, a nice compliment!
Azzurra
♪♫♥♥ love it ♥♥♪♫♪♫♥♥ love it ♥♥♪♫♪♫♥♥ love it ♥♥♪♫♪♫♥♥ love it ♥♥♪♫♪♫♥♥ love it ♥♥♪♫
Ming Myaskovsky
Excellent work, her expression is priceless, very very nice, love her little bird as well!! :))
ambient-1
Amazing work!
Selkie
This is fantastic – i love the personality infusing her and the bird. Your faces are intriguing.
amanda marx
sweeet . . . can’t wait to see the real thing at smart artz . . . great portfolio
cheers
stephanie allison
This piece would be perfect in the painted ladies group!
♥
stephanie
annamora
they are beautifully and masterfully painted …
... also … they capture for me “the feel” I get looking at the people around being outside in the streets of Sydney for example …. (if I ever get there – I am usually ‘a recluse’) ..
:)
Leith O'Malley replied
Thanks for all the kind comments and faves my friend.. just wonderful to have your support like this.. have a great weekend :)
GittiArt
just love this one …amazing work,bravo !!!
Leith O'Malley replied
Thankyou! :)
ToastedGhost
Wickedly wonderful