11.7.10

Bird Art - Rainbow Bee Eater 2

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This artwork is a portrait illustration of Rainbow Bee Eaters, a native australian species of bird. The image is by contemporary Australian artist Di Mathews aka Diavma, copyright Hexagonal Mandala 2010.
I saw this bird in our yard for the first time recently. It was swooping over the vine on our shed and fence trying to catch the insects. This is my newest image and it is available on 12x16 inch, 100% cotton archival paper. eMail me for details

26.6.10

Stylised Bird Print

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Created in a style inspired by my formal training in printmaking this bird and insect illustration echoes the bold strength of a woodcut or linoblock print, digitally painted it also incorporates the fluid paint-like surfaces created with a pressure sensitive pen.
A colourful Aussie artwork by contemporary Australian Artist Di Mathews, copyright Hexagonal Mandala 2010.

5.6.10

guinea pig artwork


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A pet portrait is unusual subject for Di Mathews, usually prefering to illustrated wildlife. But this image is of her daughter's baby guinea pig. This little piggy goes on sale, 100% cotton, 240gm, A3 archival art paper, open edition print.

31.5.10

Chainmaille Pendants


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A sneak-peak at some of my original design chainmaille pendants.
For more info on my jewellery see: My Jewellery Blog

4.5.10

Australian Bird art - Rainbow Bee Eater

Click image to enlarge
This artwork is a portrait illustration of Rainbow Bee Eaters, a native australian species of bird. The image is by contemporary Australian artist Di Mathews aka Diavma, copyright Hexagonal Mandala 2010.
I saw this bird in our yard for the first time recently. It was swooping over the vine on our shed and fence trying to catch the insects. The bees in the foreground are a native Australian Blue Banded Bee, another visitor to our garden.
This is my newest image and it is available on 12x16 inch, 100% cotton archival paper.

Australian Bird art - Flame Robins

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This artwork is a portrait of Flame Robins, a native australian species of bird. The imge is by Di Mathews aka Diavma, copyright Hexagonal Mandala 2010.
This little robin is found on the south eastern corner of Australia (From south queensland , down NSW, around victoria almost to South Australia. as well as Tasmania. It was created through the sugestion of Julie, from Tasmania. Julie has a collection of my bird portraits and wanted to see a flame robin added to the collection. I have only ever seen the bird near my home once. It was a rare sight.

7.4.10

Frangipani Dragonfly Artwork

This is a 3D digitally rendered artwork by Australian contemporary artist Di Mathews aka Diavma. Copyright Hexagonal Mandala. This art image is a botanical study of frangipani blooms and an insect illustration.

The Plumeria is a West Indian plant, also known as a Frangipani, which is named after the inventor Marquis Frangipani. As a child My bedroom window overlooked two frangipani trees (a white and pink variety). Then when I married and moved into my new home I took a cutting from each tree and planted them in our garden. They now tower over our front rooms offering shade relief in the hot Australian summer mornings. During the day they are often filled with sparrows flitting around after insects, and at night they often host big green tree frogs. I've noticed it is the time of year to spot dragonfly again. The image shows a mature dragonfly at rest, with its wings typically dropped down flat. They have 4 wings that more as independent pairs. Walking though the grasses at the edge of the quiet sports field in the evening sees dragonflies take flight for safer branches. Their huge eyes seeing up to 5 or 6 meters away. Their bodies are strong and streamlined for flight.

Majestic presence
Weighted wings in breezeless calm
metallic flight machine

Rise and hover still,
suspended hangs above me
eyes unblinking stare

3.4.10

Grumpy green tree frog

Click on image to enlarge.
A green tree frog illustration titled: "When I say Get!" is an artwork by Australian Contemporary Artist Di Mathews aka Diavma. Copyright Hexagonal Mandala.

This is one of the big Green Tree Frogs that frequent my back yard. My favourite species of local frog. Quite friendly they usually doesn’t mind human company, always appearing very brave & dignified. This species amusingly will sit quietly and pose for you to photograph or draw until they tire of the attention, then they will simply turn their back on you as if to inform you that you're dismissed. This particular day the frog decided it had tolerated me long enough and told me in no uncertain terms. After me ignoring his dismissals and continually photographing him he finally stood up tall and then leaped into my long hair, entangling himself and repetitively weeing all over me. My teenage son had to come and untangle him. Looking at the photos and his body language that I captured I should have seen it coming as he gave me warning, I was just so wrapped in what I was doing I did not pay attention to what he was telling me.

They have a bold personality which this image captures well.

In the mythology of many cultures frogs are linked to cleansing, healing and creative powers. The change from egg to tadpole then metamorphosis to frog is often used to symbolise the awakening of ones creativity and recognising one's own power of adaptation. A frog is a symbolic reminder of our own ability to grow and mature when faced with difficult situations. A strong frog population is an indication of a healthy ecology due to their sensitivity to changes and toxins in their environment. Frogs therefore are naturally symbols of a peaceful, harmonious coexistence and interdependence with nature. Frogs because of this sensitivity serve as a strong lesson about our own interdependence within a fragile eco-system. Teaching a connection with the earth and everything on it. Sadly numbers of frogs now seem to be dwindling.

Folk wisdom tells that dreaming of a frog means
good fortune, happiness and great friendships.
May your dreams be filled with frogs...

11.3.10

Frog Art - Dinner Date & Two Bee or Not To Be.


Click on images to enlarge.

1st image Title: "Two Bee Or Not To Be"
One of the small Tree Frogs that frequent my back yard, sneakily manoeuvring around the branch of a flowering gum tree where two bees happily go about their business. The warm colours of the frog and branch emphasised with the cooling colours and shade of the gum leaves. The different surface qualities of the tough flat leaves, the delicate detailed flowers and the soft live flesh of the frog create interesting contrasts. The title "Two Bees Or Not To Be" add a touch of amusement and engages the viewer in an imaginary story line. The suggested movement captured within the pose of the frog confirms that a possible story is about to unfold.

2nd image Title: "Dinner Date"
This is one of the small Tree Frogs that frequent my back yard, boldly suspended from a flowering gum tree, and happily offering a resting spot for a tired lacewing. The warm skin colours of the frog are emphasised with the cooling colours and shade of the gum leaves. The title "Dinner Date" add a touch of amusement and engages the viewer in an imaginary story line.

In the mythology of many cultures frogs are linked to cleansing, healing and creative powers. The change from egg to tadpole then metamorphosis to frog is often used to symbolise the awakening of ones creativity and recognising one's own power of adaptation. A frog is a symbolic reminder of our own ability to grow and mature when faced with difficult situations. A strong frog population is an indication of a healthy ecology due to their sensitivity to changes and toxins in their environment. Frogs therefore are naturally symbols of a peaceful, harmonious coexistence and interdependence with nature. Frogs because of this sensitivity serve as a strong lesson about our own interdependence within a fragile eco-system. Teaching a connection with the earth and everything on it. Sadly numbers of frogs now seem to be dwindling.

Folk wisdom tells that dreaming of a frog means
good fortune, happiness and great friendships.
May your dreams be filled with frogs...

Both artworks are original wildlife illustrations by Contemporary Australian artist Di Mathews aka Diavma. Art and Text are Copyright Hexagonal Mandala 2010.

9.3.10

Jewellery making


Click images to enlarge.
A slight detour from my usual art.
During this last year I have been teaching myself how to make chainmaille jewellery. The first image is a bronze and blue byzantine bracelet. The second example is an orange, blue, bronze and green box weave bracelet with a copper flower toggle. I've also been making some interesting little mandala pendants using the same type of jump-rings. Some of my first experiments were creating chainmaille ACEO (art collector cards). If you check my current eBay listings for Diavma, you might find a few listed.

5.3.10

Australian bush dreaming ART





Click on images to enlarge.

The Australian environment offers artistic potential for exploration of exciting textures and colours.

When I enter the bush I tend to be on the lookout for insect species or new plants or exciting textures to photograph, so I wanted to create Australian landscape artworks that reflected my personal experiences.

Rather than recreate the local scenery I wanted to express an intimate approach to nature. I attempted to create artistic abstracts that remain fresh and alive capturing the essence of the lush bushland of the east coast. The detailed suggestions of texture echoing the dappled light that sneaks through the canopy of the eucalypt forest in the Australian bush. Each artwork in the series contains Australian insects camouflaging themselves within the abstractions of colour and light.

The title of the series is "Bush Dreaming"
These images are 4 out of a series of 9 that I have just completed. They are examples of digital landscape art by Australian contemporary artist Di Mathews, aka Diavma. Copyright belongs at all times to Hexagonal Mandala 2010. They are currently available for sale on 100% cotton, archival, acid free paper, size 16x12 inch = 30x42cm.

20.2.10

BIRD - Cockatoo Art

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These are sulphur Crested Cockatoos, a digital painting by Contemporary Australian Artist Di Mathews aka Diavma, This example of wildlife illustration is Copyright Hexagonal Mandala. Cockies are an Australian bird, they make great pets.

Green tree frog in Australian Wildflowers

Click Image to enlarge
Green tree frog in Australian wildflowers is my latest 3D art. Image by Di Mathews aka Diavma, Copyright Hexagonal Mandala 2010. I enjoyed modelling the native blooms, These are flowers native to the east coast of Australia. My mischievous little frog peeps through the foliage. This botanical and frog artwork is available for sale as a 12x16 inch print on archival art paper.

Folk wisdom tells that dreaming of a frog means
good fortune, happiness and great friendships.
May your dreams be filled with frogs...


3D digital art - botanical flowers

Left click image to enlarge
Digital art by Contemporary Australian Artist Di Mathews aka Diavma, copyright Hexagonal Mandala 2010. These 2 images are created by sculpting the forms directly into 3D virtual space within the computer. The models are my own creation, sculpted from live plant specimens from my garden. The finished artworks are available as 12x16 inch archival prints, on 240gm, 100% cotton paper. These will be part of my series of botanical studies. The first image is a Coleus in flower (actually 3 differnt varieties of the plant) and the second is a pink geranium. Both plants are easy to grow and require very little looking after as Im not much interested in gardening.

14.2.10

Australian frog artworks

Title: Tree Frog
Title: Kerfersteins tree frog
Title: Rocket frog (Litoria Nasuta)
Title: Striped Burrowing Frog (Litoria alboguttata)
Title: Freen Tree Frog

Left Click images to see larger versions
Each of these Australian frog artwork images is from a series of Frog illustrations by Australian contemporary artist Di Mathews aka Diavma. Copyright Hexagonal Mandala 2010. The frog artwork is created by digital painting directly onto a computer using a pressure sensitive electronic pen and a digital drawing board. The resulting artwork is available on 240gm, 100% cotton, acid free, archival artist paper. More from this series can be seen in earlier uploads.

6.2.10

Ladybird and Rose Artwork

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Title: Roses and Ladybird" by Contemporary Australian Artist Di Mathews / aka Diavma. This image is the newest from a series of botanical studies. The roses are digital 3D models based on live specimens from my yard. The ones I have growing are white roses but I decided for this render to add colour. The Ladybird is also my original model. It reminds me of the paintings you see on biscuit tins and chocolate boxes, ideal I guess since it is only a week or so to Valentines day.

Frogs in magnolia artwork

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This render is one of todays artworks. Titled "Frogs on Magnolia", by Artist Di Mathews, Copyright Hexagonal Mandala 2010.

The flowers are modeled from a tree that grows 2 doors down from my house. Im always amazed at magnolias in bloom, all flower and stem with no leaves makes them look magical. I decided to emphasise the pinkness of the flo9wer by placing it in dusk lighting, whispy pink clouds, etc....

2.2.10

Blue Triangle Butterfly Artworks


Click on images to enlarge.

This butterfly (Graphium Sarpedon Choredon) is commonly known as a Blue Triangle Butterfly, because its wing colour is black to dark brown with blue areas which joins to make a triangle. The females and males look almost the same, but when you look carefully you can see that the male has a fringe of scent-bearing hairs along the inner edges of his hind wings which he uses it to disperse scent to the female.

Butterflies are instantly familiar and universally popular. They do not bite, sting, carry disease or (in adult form) do any serious damage. Butterflies are considered the jewel of creation and are popular among collectors. They are the symbol of the souls immortality that physical death does not destroy, and in their pleasing, fluttering flight they are associated with Eros the god of love.

These first three images are by Contemporary Australian artist Di Mathews aka Diavma. Copyright Hexagonal Mandala 2010. They are digital 3D rendered artwork showing the Graphium Sarpedon Choredon on various species of eucalyptus. The background textures echo the textures of local trees, creating three works which are very native to my area of the world. All of the digital models used are my own original sculpted 3D meshes.

All three artworks are presented on one sheet of high quality art paper, creating a tryptich to be framed as one unit.

This image of the Blue Triangle Butterfly (Graphium Sarpedon Choredon) differs from the previous three. While it shows the same species as the 3 images above, the artwork is executed in a different manner. It is hand painted using a pressure sensitive electronic pen and a digital graphics tablet. This sort of approach to image making is the same as traditional painting and drawing techniques, only the drawing tool translates it directly onto a computer rather than a paper or canvas surface. Each stroke of the artists hand is recorded and its sensitivity to the pressure applied with each pen stroke dictates the breadth and intensity of the line it creates.

24.1.10

Owl ACEO Art


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Two owl ACEO (artist original collector cards). Created by digital painting with electronic pen. Each card measures 2.5x3.5 inch. Painted by Di Mathews aka Diavma. Copyright Hexagonal Mandala 2010.

22.1.10

Australian Bush Rat - Rattus fuscipes

click on image to see larger version

Australian Bush Rat - Rattus fuscipes (aka Bogul). These are painted portraits of a resident of our yard, we have had a breeding pair for a few years. While they have had residence in tunnels under our tadpole pond we have not had any mice or rats come into our house. Prior to these we would get rodents come in off the nearby farms, gnawing their way through our house each winter. We place bird seed out for them every night. And just on dusk we get to see them scamper out of the bushes with their latest batch of youngens for a feed.

These Hexagonal Mandala images are approx 12x16inches on 100% cotton archival artist paper.

More info on Bush rats

17.1.10

Australian Tree Frog artwork

Title: Northern River Frog
Title: Green Tree Frog
Title: Bleating Tree Frog
Title: Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog
Title: Southern Bell Tree Frog

Left Click images to see larger versions

Each of these Australian frog artwork images is from a series of Frog illustrations by Australian contemporary artist Di Mathews aka Diavma. Copyright Hexagonal Mandala 2010. The frog artwork is created by digital painting directly onto a computer using a pressure sensitive electronic pen and a digital drawing board. The resulting artwork is available on 240gm, 100% cotton, acid free, archival artist paper.

7.1.10

3D digital art - Original botanical studies


(click on image to see larger versions)

Artworks of floral arrangements need to capture the life within the subject matter. They lend themselves to fluid line, organic shape and a wonderful selection of colour. All of the frangipani, roses and native Aussie banksia, gum tree and wattle featured in this series are modelled from live specimens. Attention is paid to the structure of the blooms and how they grow. These 3 images are from a series of digitally produced artworks on the theme of the botanical studies. They are all sculpted by myself in virtual 3D space. To do this, points and changes in direction of surface planes are plotted in 3D virtual space within the computer, creating a 3D representation of the blooms structure that can be rotated and viewed from any angle within the computer. A combination of photographic and hand painted textures are applied to surface of these constructed models. The textured models are then arranged in a composition with various surface qualities assigned to each of the parts. Lighting effects similar to a traditional photo-studio work are applied to these compositions which are then render as 2D images. The rendered images are often touched-up by hand prior to printing. These models used and the resulting images are originals by artist Di Mathews (aka - Diavma - Hexagonal Mandala). The images are subject to copyright. Printed archival images are available for purchase.

5.1.10

Quick Sketch of flight

Im still fascinated and challenged by the idea of capturing flight in an image. I've done a lot of observing and photographing, I guess the next step is to get some quick sketches done. This is the first attempt.