Branka Vidovic-Butler

Talking to Birds

2012-02-04T11:47:00.001-08:00

Little horse

2012-02-01T12:23:00.001-08:00

I'm posting lots of drawings at the moment because my work is taking me that way. I am actually working on an important painting, important to me that is, so I don't really have time to drag the sewing machine out as it tends to take up the whole day but it will be back.

Anyhow, here is a portrait of an icelandic horse who turned out like a quite happy little chap, with a smile and all...

Drawing on the right side of the brain

2012-01-31T11:45:00.001-08:00

Once I was talking to a friend of mine about drawing and happened to say that I think that any artist should be able to draw. What I meant is that an effort is needed in order to make some sort of representation not that it needs to be a wonderful drawing. A lady that happened to overhear what we said turned to me and said that she can't draw and what I was saying was rubbish. Well, each to it's own.

I am not great at drawing but I do enjoy it and I am trying to work on my drawing skills. I have been following Betty Edward's technique on drawing with the right brain.

Basically, it is a technique that gets the left brain to finally shut up and stop rushing and judging and let the right brain draw what it sees.

I am showing my attempts here in order to share the fact that drawing does not come down to talent but hard work and understanding of what we see. While I am good at drawing and painting my inner world, I hugely struggle with perception and lines as well as shadows and light. I see my self as 'straight-line dyslectic', understanding straight line as well as numbers poses a challenge for me. It takes me a lot of working out in order to be able to put it on paper while other things I breeze through. But in order to be a complete artist I need both so I there is nothing to it then try and improve.

I am particularly pleased with the chair as it was a real challenge to get it together. I started with the small space between chair rest and seat and worked my way out from there piecing it together. The portrait of my cat Missy was much quicker as she moves all the time. I managed to catch her shape on my plastic viewfinder (basically a plastic overhead sheet that I draw lines on while looking through it and it makes 3d into 2d) and then photographed her while she still sat there. From those two items I produced a much more realistic drawing then my previous attempts. This is also first time I have successfully used erasing technique to create highlights.

Mystery Object Competition

2012-01-23T14:16:00.001-08:00

Here we have a little mystery object, it is about 10 cm tall and not yet finished. It will be a very lovely beaded something. While I was creating it I thought it would be great to have a little competition. The winner gets this little thing and it will be very lovely, I promise!

Rules:

1. Guess what kind of creature this is and what is the purpose of the object? It does have practical use.

2. Post the answer on my blog as reply to this post. If you don't have a google account, it is easiest to post as anonymous but put your name in the main box!

3. Please share with all your friends!

4. Winner and the picture of the finished item is announced on Sunday 29th.

5. Good Luck!

Fox and rabbit

2012-01-17T13:14:00.000-08:00

Work inspired by Karolin Schnoor.

Day 7

2012-01-11T11:20:00.000-08:00

http://365artydays.blogspot.com/2012/01/day-seven-concept-for-new-painting.html

Day six

2012-01-10T10:45:00.000-08:00

http://365artydays.blogspot.com/

Re-photographed my projects in day light

2012-01-09T04:46:00.000-08:00

Daylight is always best for photographing, if you are not a pro and good with lights. The problem you get when trying to put light on your projects is that if using common light bulbs rather then specialist equipment, then the light will have a yellow tinge and if directed directly onto a project it will also create dark shadows which no amount of photoshopping can take out.

So make it right from the start and use daylight as much as possible. The best daylight is not glaring sunshine as that, as well, causes dark shadows, but a slightly overcast day.

Leonardo da Vinci instructs us that when building studio make sure it faces north as this is best light for painting and if the light is glaring then cover the yard with white sheets as this will have same effect as sky with light clouds. A good advice to follow, as I don't have a patio in southern Italy to bother me I'll just stick with english skies:) imagine the burden, all that sunshine...

Day Four: machine embroidery

2012-01-08T13:32:00.000-08:00

http://365artydays.blogspot.com/2012/01/day-four-machine-embroidery.html

Day three

2012-01-07T13:07:00.001-08:00

Day three of my arty project.

http://365artydays.blogspot.com/2012/01/day-three-owl-pin-cushion.html

New Blog: 365 arty days

2012-01-06T15:10:00.000-08:00

I decided that my new project needs to be graced with a brand new blog...although how I am to upkeep two blogs is a mystery...here goes: http://365artydays.blogspot.com/

365 days of making: day one

2012-01-05T15:39:00.000-08:00

I have decided, for new year, to set myself a challenge. Make, draw or paint something every day.
I always complain that I never do enough, never work enough, never produce enough so now I have something that I hope will make me do more. I intend to keep to it, no matter how small or large the task is (with few tweaks of course).

As a starting point I have taken a template from a magazine to make a book cover. I have then decided to customise my cover and machine embroider little birds on it. This took a whole lot of hours and as result, the photographs will have to wait until morning when the light is better.

Otherwise, most of these projects will be offered for sale, so if you like something for yourself or as a present for someone else, make me an offer as there will be no prices set, so whatever it is worth to you.

The little prince

2011-12-30T13:20:00.001-08:00

Magic feather story: fox and rabbit

2011-12-15T07:10:00.000-08:00

A story by Paul and Branka Butler

The beautiful brown hare and the ruddy red fox were bestfriends. One day the two friends decided that they would like to be somethingdifferent. They were bored being just Hare and fox, surely they could changethemselves into something better and more interesting. The hare had decidedthat he would like to be a bear, large, gruff and powerful, the fox had decidedthat she would like to be a pretty young girl so that she could enjoy dressingup in fine clothes. After a long conversation the pair decided to run offthrough the forest and to the top of the mountain to see the eagle, he was sovery wise after all.

The eagle, who had seen them coming up the winding mountainpath, looked down his considerable beak and said, with great aplomb. ' here isone of my wonderful magic feathers', the two friends took it with glee, ' whatshall we do with it? they chimed together. 'Tie the feather between the two ofyou at the height of the next full moon' he stated gravely,' then you must jumpthe tiny bright brook at the lowest point of the valley three times, if you dothis your dreams will come true'. A very excited hare and fox scampered downfrom the eagles aerie and amongst many dreams of a huge brown bear and a prettygirl the two went home and waited for the next full moon.

As the full moon came up in all its pale glory two weekslater, the hare and the fox hurried down to the brook. They carefully tied themagic feather between them and tried to jump over together, they tried andtried, they fell into the water, they fell into the mud, they got wet and theygot cold, but, eventually, they managed to jump gracefully together for threetimes over the brook, just as the eagle had said. In the pale moonlight theysat together and they waited...and they waited...and they waited, in fact theywaited all that night and all the next day and all the followingnight...nothing happened. They were still a beautiful brown hare and awonderful ruddy fox.

Disappointed and very sure that the eagle had cheated them,they made their way back to the top of the eagles mountain. The eagle of coursesaw them coming. The exhausted pair flopped down by the eagles nest and blurtedout' you cheated us! we are just the same! nothing changed!'. The eagle for hispart looked at them with a smile on his beak and said gently' you cheatedyourself, look at you, you are wonderful. You Hare you can run like the wind,you can leap like a kangaroo and you coat is the finest fur, and you fox, youhave such a beautiful red coat, it's the envy of the forest, you can hunt likeno other animal and you are the master of disguise. No amount of trickery canchange who you are, you should be happy with yourself you are both wonderfuland beautiful. What you can change is the type of person you are and the typeof person you want to be. Go back to your homes and be happy with yourselvesdon't try to change, just be happy'.

The Hare and the fox returned to their homes and thoughtabout what the eagle had said, they both changed, they found that everythingthey wanted to be was already inside them and all they needed to do was chooseto be that. The magic in the eagles feather was mighty indeed.

Desire, Pain, Anger and Sorrow

2011-12-12T04:12:00.000-08:00

Desire

Pain

Anger

Sorrow

These are some recent paintings I have been working on. I have always drawn horses and believe it or not I can draw a realistic, pretty horse but I choose not to as there are so many other people who can do that as well. My horses represent my feelings and my use of the horse figure is contemporary. Humans have always used and abused animals as vehicles for their own desires. A horse is never just an animal, it has been connected to human culture for so long that an image of a horse automatically brings on all manners of thoughts and feelings.

A horse, in our culture, carries a heavy burden of expectation but is also as easily discarded when finished with and turned into glue.
We are keen on our fantasies and desires but rarely face up to the truth of our nature. Through our culture we glorify ourselves, we believe we are noble and good, we watch endless amounts of stories about ourselves that all, in the end, turn out to be a pre-conceived truth of superiority and goodness of human spirit.
While in reality we have turned into a race of greedy murderers devouring and destroying everything in our way, sacrificing a whole planet in chase of comfort, in desire to fill our bellies and bodies with the dying breaths of earth.
A change, a true change requires only one thing - a honest look inside.

Daughter of Eve

2011-12-05T09:34:00.001-08:00

A stressed bird

2011-11-28T05:12:00.001-08:00

Started a ceramica class just for fun but results are varied, the bird came out ok. The pottery is just a large unknown to me, you never know what to expect when a piece comes out of the kiln.

Angels

2011-11-21T05:19:00.001-08:00

I almost forgotten what they looked like, it has been such a long time I painted my angels. But it seems they are still there, still with me.

Moon hare running

2011-11-09T05:05:00.001-08:00

More collage pages

2011-11-07T06:42:00.000-08:00

Magic feather

2011-11-07T05:17:00.000-08:00

I made this in response of seeing Jude Hill's lovely project about feathers. Since I like feathers and embroidery I thought I'll make something too...here it is, although it's not exactly an image of a magic feather but more of a story about the magic feather.

the Anger and the Pain

2011-11-03T06:18:00.001-07:00

These are details of larger drawings using chalk on black. Not ready to publish the whole thing just yet. And also new website design is under way...http://www.brankavidovicbutler.com/

2011-10-26T15:51:00.001-07:00

2011-10-24T10:22:00.001-07:00

Explorations into Chris Berens-land

2011-10-12T07:48:00.001-07:00

Alexander

2011-10-05T05:14:00.001-07:00

2011-10-03T05:04:00.001-07:00

Todays theme - lions

2011-09-29T09:24:00.001-07:00

Apparently...

New doll in making

2011-09-28T04:35:00.001-07:00

Decided it is timefor a new doll. This time i'm trying to make a yoga/krishna doll so it is going to be blue. Have never before dyed fabric for a doll so it will be exciting. At the moment i have no idea what the next step is except for blue but that is part of being creative. And also a recent drawing while at a very difficult but rewarding seminar. And also new icon in making and of course a couple of knitting projects:)
Considering that socks are for husband's size 10 feet, he might get them for xmas

2011-09-20T08:26:00.001-07:00

Egg tempera on paper.

Even artists have hobbies

2011-09-19T04:39:00.001-07:00

The weekend has been spend in plotting and knitting, knitting, plotting and then some tile making, just for fun.

It seems that if I could I would kill him

2011-09-14T06:37:00.000-07:00

Pencil on paper.Doing some analog drawing following excellent advice from Betty Edwards, and it seems that all kind of stuff is creeping out. I am consciously trying to change my art from illustrative to a deeper, fuller version of what really perceive and believe. A step I have needed to take for a long time but not had enough courage for. With some support from people who love me and whom I love, I am trying to move away from the shallow waters where i like to dwell into deeper oceans of my true feelings. At the moment - feeling very brave.

Icaros

2011-09-14T02:08:00.000-07:00

A3 - pastel on paperI felt like Icaros for a long time, always falling and failing, sometimes I still feel it but less and less...I will have to go and find out how I feel now so I can draw that too.

Grandad's Funeral

2011-09-12T04:41:00.000-07:00

A3 - Pastel on paper

The First Assistant is in position to help

2011-08-30T04:25:00.000-07:00

We have three cats but Missy is the one who is most keen to help when I work, she particularly enjoys anything that has to do with gold. Her helping involves: eating gold leaf, playing with gesso panels, licking gelatine, stealing brushes and sleeping.

Zbogom (with God's grace)

2011-08-26T02:54:00.000-07:00

The Moon Hare

2011-08-23T04:17:00.004-07:00

Miniature Icons

2011-07-21T06:04:00.001-07:00

Little 5×5cm portable icons

Michael

Gabriel

In ancient days Knights, pilgrims and travellers would take a small alter or icon with them where ever they went. The purpose of these icons was to provide protection and also a voice to god. Archangel Michael is the first prince and the guardian of heaven, he would even at times stand in for god himself (book of Daniel), while Archangel Gabriel is the messenger of god, both icons are exceptionally powerful and would often be taken in both the Christian and Muslim religion as a way to get messages and prayers to god, to ask for physical protection from the angels and also to stay in touch with the family at home through prayer and meditation.

The practice of the portable Icon is very rare in these modern days, but here offered for sale is an Icon made in the same way as they were made in the ancient days. Each Icon is made by hand over hours and hours of work and laboured over in the same way. This Icon is a reproduction and interpretation of a 15th century Icon from the Novgorod school. It would make a great gift for a loved one that travels or also one that is sick or in need of heavenly protection.

Loki's Lexikon

2011-07-06T09:23:00.000-07:00

As you have noticed the banner has changed from my name into a new name of 'Loki's Lexikon". The change is due to me opening an Etsy shop under the same name (even artists have to eat). Loki's Lexikon conveys the meaning behind me art as it is led a lot by fairy tales, myths, legends and dreams. The creatures inhibiting my world are invented by me in their appearance but have much longer histories with the humanity. I see my roll as artist to keep this imagery alive and feed it back out to the audience, sparking memories and images of their own within themselves.
When I met my partner, he was always very serious. He started teaching me Tai Chi but our lessons got nowhere because, very quickly, I would get bored and lose focus, because everything was explained and showed in an old, very traditional, but also quite soulless way. When I asked why, my partner replied that it was the way of teaching in the Orient and that was what he knew. I said that I didn't get it and it was boring. He got confused because his teaching came from pure lines and is one of the best there are. I yawned...We had to stop there and both do some thinking. I had to readjust my attitude towards traditional teaching, he got to rethink if everything really was a matter of life and death seriousness.
When we came back to it, my partner asked me what we should do about teaching, i replied: we should play more. And we do, we still have serious conversations as they are necessary and we still do very traditional lessons as they are necessary too, but not all the time.
As this seems rather far away from Loki's Lexikon, let me get back to the point. The point is: ability to play even as a grown up, ability to approach things with an open, inquisitive and light hearted manner. As we grow up, we become more rigid, serious and focused in our 'grown up-ness' as we should be, but there should also be times for us where we can play and follow our curiosity because it is there creativity lives. And creativity is something we all have, we only need to find a path to it.

In Loki's Lexikon you will find serious images and traditional icons, but also light hearted illustrations of various characters. My intention is that you will get one for yourself, one you like and connect with and every time you look at it, you will allow yourself to play.

Below are two such images. Enjoy!
And the way to the shop is: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LokisLexikon?ref=pr_shop

Icon of Archangel Michael

2011-07-04T06:35:00.000-07:00

originally I was not supposed to paint the icon of Michael, only Gabriel. The Icon of Gabriel I intended for my dying grandmother. I wanted to give her something from my heart, something precious but also something she could understand and link to, so I started out to make gabriel, but as I went along I suddenly found myself convinced that I needed to paint the pair, Gabriel and Michael. I managed to do the guilding before realising that there was no way I would manage both in the short space of time so I concentrated on gabriel. Below is a picture where he was originally hung on the wall of my grandmother's tiny house. My grandmother managed to stay there only for another week after we left. She is now to sick and lives with my auntie. Where the icon is hanging I don't know but I am hoping it gives her comfort.

Michael hangs on the wall above my head, as the first thing I did was to finish painting. It gives me courage and strength to carry on, and for you who know me, you will know I need both :)

New Doll- Carolin

2011-07-04T04:54:00.001-07:00

I Can't believe I finished another doll, just in time for a friend's birthday. This particular
dolly has been in pieces for three years now but I finally decided that that was enough and got working. Carolin has curly hear which is acrylic yarn, wetted, wound on knitting needles and the dried under the grill in the oven. Her face is painted with acrylic paint, further she has machine embroidered clothes which are made with aid of water soluble fabric and finally she has shoes made in same manner with hand made laces. Very happy with that!

Boy and the rabbit

2011-06-08T10:53:00.002-07:00

Talking to the birds

2011-06-08T10:53:00.001-07:00

Daniel

2011-06-08T10:50:00.000-07:00

A new doll - Spirit

2011-06-08T10:43:00.000-07:00

I started this doll out of a scrap of brown tweed and cut my own pattern..six months ago or so...Then I waited for the right idea to come to me, once I made the head and especially the face I decided I wanted a doll that is some kind of manifestation of earth spirit. I proceeded then to make hair which turned out fine but then I got carried away and made completely the wrong clothes for her. She was wearing a kimono at that stage that took a lot of effort but looked wrong. I decided to take a step back and try something else. By chance I found a little scrap of soft greenish material that was just perfect, using no pattern at all I just wrapped it and sew it on her there and then. With the addition of a small animal skin that I picked up on a country fair and embroidered slippers, the doll might be complete now.

Sometimes simple solutions are the best ones.

It will become

2011-05-25T06:24:00.000-07:00

an embroidery given that the artist gets some time off after finishing with the website :)

Swan bading

2011-05-24T07:08:00.000-07:00

Busy Spring

2011-04-26T03:04:00.000-07:00

This spring has been devoted to making and painting of two major new icons, replicas of the Novgorod style and as such quite difficult. Previously I have been focusing on painting and small guilded areas but these two icons of archangels Michael and Gabriel have been heavily layerd with gold. Perfectionist, as I am, the guilding had taken about four weeks but I have finally moved on...
These icons are also my stars of my new film, but more information about that is coming soon.
Below is the image of Gabriel, guilded but not yet started painting...

The little deer

2011-04-26T03:00:00.000-07:00

2011-03-13T12:13:00.003-07:00

2011-03-13T12:13:00.001-07:00

2011-03-13T12:11:00.000-07:00

2011-03-07T09:06:00.001-08:00

2011-03-07T09:04:00.000-08:00

More doodles from sketchbook

2011-01-31T05:10:00.000-08:00

I have some work in progress but nothing is ready yet. I have decided that it is time to exhibit so now Im planning a solo exhibition in July in a small local gallery ( http://www.castleparkarts.co.uk/) Of course that includes a complete revision of work and lots of painting and dolly making as that is what I will be exhibiting. And also I am about to upgrade my printer to a new super-duper-photo-quality-makes-you-a-cupper-as-well so I will have ability to make quality A4 prints, so a small shop on etsy.com is to appear :)

www.brankavidovicbutler.com

2011-01-26T07:08:00.001-08:00

Collage

2011-01-20T04:21:00.000-08:00

Another two pages from the collage book, there is only a few pages left and then I can buy another book and start from beginning :) I have been working on this one for at least three years now but I do leave it for months at the time. Paul wants me to try and publish it but as usual I don't think anyone would want it.
Anyway, thank you all for encouragement, it is nice too see that there are people looking at the blog, it means a world to me :)

World spirit (winter)

2011-01-14T03:58:00.000-08:00

World spirit

2011-01-12T09:58:00.001-08:00

Into the new year

2011-01-12T09:54:00.000-08:00

Wishing you all peaceful holidays

2010-12-22T04:44:00.000-08:00

God Jul och Gott Nytt År
Čestit Božić i Sretna Nova Godina!

Indian inspired doodles

2010-12-08T06:52:00.001-08:00

Icons - St Francis and his heart

2010-12-03T05:29:00.000-08:00

Two of my icon paintings made using traditional egg tempera technique. The images show sketch and the finished paintings.

Staying true to your heart

2010-12-01T07:42:00.000-08:00

Sleeping

2010-11-30T05:08:00.000-08:00

2010-11-23T12:38:00.000-08:00

You win some but more often you lose..and then you try again

2010-11-22T07:31:00.001-08:00

Some images from my latest (unsuccessful) proposal. As any kind of creative will confirm, you just keep trying...

Turtle

2010-11-15T04:28:00.001-08:00

Mama and baby

2010-11-15T04:25:00.000-08:00

Apologies for somewhat blurry image, these paintings are too large for the scanner so I take the picture of them and upload, with varying success I might add.

Molly Dolly

2010-11-15T04:21:00.000-08:00

A dolly I just recently finished and who already has a new owner...Molly.

Collage

2010-11-04T11:17:00.001-07:00

These are a few examples of my collage making which I do mainly in sketch books. I obsessively gather "pretty" pictures, images I like and combine them in pictures. It is a good way to relax and also save all those images which otherwise would end up in the bin.
And I have also been known to destroy a book or two in my hunt for colors and shapes...only the cheap ones though...

Things that creep into my sleep..

2010-10-04T05:11:00.001-07:00

Queen of Cherries

2010-09-17T06:18:00.000-07:00

Queen of Cherries was a project I carried out while at the uni but rather then just being a project it is an ongoing process of thought. The Queen refers to a time in my early childhood when I was formed as a person. It is a core of myself, a place within where I can take refuge when things get difficult. It is also from the Queen's throne, a branch high up in the branches of the cherry tree, a place only blackbirds, bees and curious little girls frequent during hot, lazy summer afternoons in rural Croatia. from all other marvellous activities of creativity happen.

Creativity is something we all possess. You might think only artistic people possess creativity but if you look within yourself, you will find this place. A creativity is a hidden skill that pops out in most unusual circumstances, when you a planning a trip or a meal, or a present to give, or solving a work related problem.
Creativity applies to most unusual circumstances. Not long ago I watched a documentary about Lovelock, a british scientist and inventor, a Nobel price winner and inventor of the Gaia theory who made all this amazing work in his shed, with his old fashioned tools. There was nothing swanky or flash in there like a high end laboratory you would expect from someone as gifted and intelligent as Lovelock. But...that was his creative space, he said, because being a physicist demanded creative thinking...which happened in his old shed...

So find a branch and become a Queen or a King of your domain..

Family tree

2010-09-13T06:53:00.001-07:00

Oden

2010-09-13T06:52:00.002-07:00

George

2010-09-13T06:52:00.001-07:00

-eat the apple, Eva

2010-09-13T06:06:00.001-07:00

Flower

2010-09-13T06:04:00.000-07:00

Little boy

2010-09-13T06:03:00.001-07:00

Sleeping

2010-09-13T06:02:00.000-07:00

World Spirit

2010-09-13T06:01:00.002-07:00

5&5000 years

2010-09-13T06:01:00.001-07:00

Persephone

2010-09-13T05:59:00.002-07:00

My head

2010-09-13T05:59:00.001-07:00

Matthew

2010-09-13T05:58:00.001-07:00

Sarah (not for you)

2010-09-13T05:56:00.013-07:00

Waiting at the doctors

2010-08-31T10:48:00.000-07:00

Red Rabbit

2010-08-27T04:11:00.001-07:00

I dreamt that an eagle came..

2010-08-22T10:13:00.000-07:00

Tapestry to be

2010-08-16T08:27:00.000-07:00

I drew this after mooching in a book about angels. The idea is to turn it into a tapestry, we will see what happens...

Two of my cats

2010-08-02T06:04:00.001-07:00

Closed eyes

2010-08-02T06:02:00.001-07:00

Tempera

2010-06-28T08:14:00.000-07:00

I have recently started a course in tempera painting. I love the expression, colours and atmosphere of icons so I decided I wanted to try. It has been a most humbling process. We work under guidance of Lynette Howells Moore, an experienced artist and teacher, who is teaching us old methods of icon painting. Mostly, it is a very slow process, everything takes ages and the pain has to be applied in a very particular fashion. Mostly, I like grinding paint out of the pigment, my application has not been very successful but I hope to improve.
It certainly has been an exercise in patience and temperance....

Daniel and the lion

2010-06-28T07:48:00.000-07:00

Some older work - A better world must be possible

2010-05-28T07:00:00.000-07:00

2010-02-21T11:33:00.000-08:00

New blog

2010-02-18T13:44:00.000-08:00

I am at the moment running two blogs. The second one is "The Mancunian Project", which is about stories, communities and identities. So there might be some cross referencing. Check it out at www.mancunianproject.blogspot.com

Behind curtains...

2010-02-18T13:39:00.000-08:00

my life is unfolding.

Imagination is a funny thing 2

2010-02-08T09:12:00.000-08:00

Imagination is a funny thing...

2010-02-03T15:25:00.000-08:00