Odilon Redon: Everyday beauty
michael steele michael steele

Odilon Redon: Everyday beauty

Odilon Redon is one of the artists from that I draw much inspiration in my own work. His later work, in particular, pastels and painting that explored the beauty of nature, seashells, butterflies, and flowers. Redon is an artist of the Symbolist movement. Symbolist artists and poets created artwork and poems in which imagery broke away from realism to gestural symbols and metaphors. Redon “believed that art could transcend the everyday and open onto a marvelous world of the mind.”

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The elusive blue
michael steele michael steele

The elusive blue

I remember watching an episode of Gardener’s World a few years ago, where horticulturist Monty Don talked about how rare the colour blue is in flowers, as the blue pigments reflect rather than absorb light.

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Vase with blue hyacinth
michael steele michael steele

Vase with blue hyacinth

Made the most of the mostly indoors weekend (with all the rain) by creating this new illustration of a blue hyacinth in a glass vase.

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Honeysuckle
michael steele michael steele

Honeysuckle

Do certain plants and flowers evoke memories to you? Honeysuckle brings back memories of childhood summers when friends and I would pick the flowers and taste the nectar.

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Three Peas in a Pod
Commission michael steele Commission michael steele

Three Peas in a Pod

Very honoured to work on this recent illustration commission for two friends Chris and Georgie to celebrate the birth of their baby boy, Monty. Georgie had the idea of three peas in a pod which I loved. The illustration I created is a botanical pea tendril with an opened pea pod with three peas inside. Congratulations Chris and Georgie, and welcome to the world Monty.

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Summer seashells
michael steele michael steele

Summer seashells

‘Summer seashells’ is an illustration inspired by the shells found on the beaches in the Coromandel region, New Zealand.

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Sandersonia aurantiaca
michael steele michael steele

Sandersonia aurantiaca

Sandersonia aurantiaca, commonly known as Chinese Lantern Lily, or Christmas Bells. My friend Yoan messaged me a photo of Sadersonia in a vase and suggested I create an illustration.

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Apricots and green gingham cloth
michael steele michael steele

Apricots and green gingham cloth

Here’s an illustration I made yesterday of three apricots on a green gingham cloth. I had a simple light green background version also, but I do like how the broad brush strokes of green worked for the gingham table cloth background.

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Pink peonies commission
michael steele michael steele

Pink peonies commission

My friend Camilla Belich recently got in touch to see if I could create a floral illustration for her. I’d created an artwork for her in June this year, on the ‘Bread and Roses’ Strike, and was delighted to be given a second commission.

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Helen Frankenthaler
michael steele michael steele

Helen Frankenthaler

One of my artist influence is the American artist Helen Frankenthaler (1928–2011). I admire her experimental approach to printmaking. She has been renounced for breaking the rules of traditional printmaking.

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My garden in November
Garden michael steele Garden michael steele

My garden in November

When I first planted my Chatham Island Forget-Me-Not I was a bit worry it wouldn’t survive the slugs and insects that seems to decimate the lush green leaves.

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Wisteria
michael steele michael steele

Wisteria

I always love seeing the old woody vines transform into cascades of light purple in spring/summer.

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Maurice Estève (France, 1904–2001)
michael steele michael steele

Maurice Estève (France, 1904–2001)

I recently discovered the artworks of the French artist Maurice Estève. Estève works have been described as ‘lyrical experiments with colorful interwoven forms” (Artnet). I love his skilled layering of colour and shapes, some strong and some opaque.

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Marigold illustration
michael steele michael steele

Marigold illustration

Marigold is a flower that brings to mind images of India. Hopefully one day I will get to visit. Friends that have visited have loved the country. Here’s an illustration I created last night.

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Spring in Martinborough
michael steele michael steele

Spring in Martinborough

I had a lovely weekend away in Martinborough with my partner. We stayed at Lacewood, in Martinborough. Lacewood is an impressive country venue. It has a grand main house and this little garden cabin/cottage amongst the green garden.

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Kōwhai illustration
michael steele michael steele

Kōwhai illustration

One of my favourite native New Zealand trees is the Kōwhai tree. It gets its name from the bright yellow flowers that bloom in the spring. Kōwhai, is the te reo Māori (Māori language) for yellow.

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Christmas cherries
michael steele michael steele

Christmas cherries

Here’s the illustration I made for my Christmas cherries card. In New Zealand, December marks the start of cherry season. Such a delicious fruit with a stunning deep rich red colour.

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