A Murder of Crows
Artwork details: Gouache, with gold leaf over a red ground., 22.5 x 11 inches (57 x 28 cm), 2011.
If you are interested in the process of making this painting, and in particular the handling of the gold leaf, have a look at this facebook album:http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150358116315730.398719.22600840729
This painting was inspired by the term 'A Murder of Crows' - a 'Murder' being, of course, the correct collective noun for a bunch of crows. There are a lot of very fanciful and inventive collective nouns. I once remember hearing that the Victorians were fond of making them up, and of course a quick scan around the internet will reveal that people are still avidly inventing new ones. However, a Murder of Crows is a collective noun of some venerability, whose origins are, apparently, lost in the mists of the mists of the 15th century: http://www.word-detective.com/2009/02/22/murder-of-crows-etc/. A curious and unsettling expression handed down through the centuries, it's one of my favourite collective nouns, though perhaps there are others that are suitable subjects for a painting... I must do a little research.
This painting, I will admit, was uncommonly hard work for me because of its lack of colour. I thought of this painting as executed in a range of sludge-colours, which is a little unfair, now I see the final result. At one point I broke the rules and we have a small but feisty character in a red corset. Maybe she is a robin, a feisty bird itself. Or maybe I just added the splash of red to balance the striking whites of the magpie-like characters towards the right of the picture. Magpies, of course, are a kind of crow, with a great deal of suspicious stories attached to them. I leave the interpretation up to you.
Below you will find several very much enlarged sections of the painting to show you some very close-up details
All images and prints are © Nancy Farmer. Please email me if you wish to reproduce any of these images, or see my permissions page in the 'info' section.
Original
Title: A Murder of Crows
Media: Gouache, with gold leaf over a red ground.,
Image size: 22.5 x 11 inches (57 x 28 cm),
Frame: framed with glass in front
Reserved for exhibition
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Prints
Open edition, signed prints are available for this image.
Open edition prints:
| price | paper size | aproximate image size | buy | other info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £29.00 | A3+ | 18.5 x 8.2 inch / 47 x 21 cm |
Discount for multiple purchase:
I offer a discount on several open edition prints bought at once (they do not have to be the same image). Using the buttons below you can order 4 prints at once. Please list the titles of the prints in the text field below before clicking the 'Buy Me' button. Please note - the prices below do not include the few images which are available only as limited editions. A list of these is in the limited edition section of the prints page in the shop. If you would rather email me instead I am happy to complete orders personally.
| total price | description | buy | other info |
|---|---|---|---|
| £24 | 4 x A5 open edition prints
(£6.00 each) |
Does not include limited editions |
|
| £48 | 4 x A4 open edition prints
(£12.00 each) |
Does not include limited editions |
|
| £92 | 4 x A3+ open edition prints
(£23.00 each) |
Does not include limited editions |
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I have a shopping cart which will allow you to purchase prints, cards, etc, and some small original pieces. Where no shopping cart button is shown (or if you'd just like more information) please contact me. You can use a variety of methods to pay for things through the website, including credit card, paypal, and by cheque. For more information please see my Purchase Information page.