Artist Marcia Priestley, of Bibi Ana + Co., has released a new collection that, while inspired by animals and plants, combines them in a uniquely abstract way. “I fell in love with the challenge of combining two antithetical subjects from our natural environment to create one compatible, organic, yet lively statement,” says Marcia.
For example, ‘Tiger Plant’ (Marcia’s favourite from the new collection) looks almost like an animal print save for its green and blue hues. Similarly, ‘Palm Birds Pink Lake East’ is a line sketch that combines a palm tree and stork bird rendered in gorgeous peach, blush and green tones.
“Other pieces in this collection that are reminiscent of animal print include ‘Outbloom Night.’ I particularly love the way this piece has muted tones with a soft chalk-like finish that looks like plants at dusk,” says Marcia referring to one of two round pieces that feature in the range.
‘Wild Wisteria’ is brimming with 1970’s inspired tones – mustard, terracotta, khaki and navy make for a vigorous mix. “It has a colossal amount of colour and texture and it’s such a fun piece. Interestingly, it works so well when combined with old pieces of furniture as it injects new life into them,” says Marcia who currently has the piece at home paired with an old Asian sideboard.
Another round piece, ‘Posy & Posey’ is loaded with colour and texture – avocado and sage green jostle for attention alongside rust and blush tones. “It was an interesting piece to paint because each individual segment, or petal, of each flower has quite a lot of texture which was needed to give it depth,” says Marcia.
Rather amusingly, Marcia’s decision to create a couple of circular canvasses was borne out of a desire to avoid moving to a new house! “I love the aesthetic of a round window in a home as it feels so calming. But the problem was, I didn’t want to build a new house to get one, so I painted a picture on a round canvas to give me the closest effect I’m going to get to a round window!”
The smallest piece in the collection, ‘Foliole’ is another of her most cherished pieces – in it, the artist has homed in on the structure of a leaf. “It’s got a thriving organic nature about it which, to look at, feels so gentle and easy on the eye.”
Photography: Leon Schoots | Styling: Aisha Chaudhry for Greenhouse Interiors, assisted by Sophie Lennon | Furniture: Make Your House A Home
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