This morning I happened to read that on this day in 1959, a final conference on the Antarctic Treaty convened in Washington, D.C. After six weeks of negotiations the treaty was signed by 12 countries, demilitarising the continent and preserving it for free scientific study.
Hannah Lawson: Wildlife of Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctica, Illustrated seachart.
Which neatly ties in to my next Shelf Portrait painting on an Antarctica theme. Last month I spent a lovely morning with the Antarctic expedition guide, wildlife artist and photographer, Hannah Lawson. We had fun selecting which books should be included in the composition, and looking through her map artworks to choose a possible background for the painting. I’m so looking forward to starting (though I have several bespoke paintings to finish for Christmas before that can happen!)
‘Rainbow of Reads’ Limited edition Print
Of course, I can’t mention the Antarctic without introducing some Penguins, albeit the tattered paperback variety rather than the aquatic flightless birds from the family Spheniscidae of the order Sphenisciformes. !!
The Limited Edition print of Rainbow of Reads is my absolute favourite, and also the most popular, having now sold over half the prints of it’s edition!
Some of the Penguin goodies!
There will be plenty of other Penguin goodies on sale in the run up to (dare I say it…?) the festive season. You can find them on my website, or see me at:
This new Shelf-Portrait ‘Shackleton’s Hut’ was inspired by a shelf of battered Penguin books I came across in the reconstructed Antarctic explorers’ hut in the penguiin enclosure at London Zoo!! I’m very happy to say that it is finished and ready for showing at the Affordable Art Fair in Battersea this March, with Nicholas Bowlby Fine Art.
Racing to the finish line is a Shelf Portrait for the keen gardener ‘Saturday in my Garden’. I’m enjoying painting in some classic William Morris wallpaper in the background 🙂
‘Sarah’s Room’ ©rsw2019 oil on canvas 12×16″
‘Artists in Crime’ ©rsw2019 oil on canvas 16×16″