Loralin Toney
Oscines: Bird & Botanical
Ravens and crows are birds we all know. We think of them as highly intelligent and devoted family members. They can be hard to miss; crows cawing in the cities and ravens croaking in the country. In my own life a family of Ravens nests near my home and I often see them overhead.
In my recent series, crows & ravens are interwoven with blooming vines; rugosa roses, sweet peas and blackberries. Using owers to express feeling without words has been used for centuries. The language of owers is called Floriography.
Ravens and crows often symbolize death or change. Birds in general are considered carriers or messengers to and from the afterworld. With this in mind I created these works to express my emotions about caregiving, family and loss. Recently the grandparents I cared for passed. My cousins and I had been devoted to keeping them in their home. We were their caregivers for 7 years.
Sanctum
These paintings are reminiscent of those private observational moments when one is in forest or garden and there is a becoming.... so present and spellbinding. Porcelain illustrations that imply sacredness of even the most minutiae of understory existence.
Though usually I call myself a sculptor, this winter I devoted myself to just painting. For a few years now I have been obsessing on the ground floor of forests and gardens. My imagination takes off on its own expressing in a whimsical fantastical style. Not long after I began painting fungi, insects and flowers I discovered the Forest Floor paintings of Otto Marseus, and other Dutch flower masters. Among what I am drawn to is their lively botany, their darkness and the prey/predator scenes.
Each of these porcelain paintings are made freehand with china paints that are layered and fired in a kiln. Many of these works have 5 layers or more. Once each painting was finished I crafted a custom wooden frame to fit. Each is finished to be archival, uv protected and dust prohibitive.
Wild Orchids
Loralin's current work echoes the naturalist eras of the past. Times of explorative worship of the natural world and its tensions.The Wild Orchid series reference orchids and their cycles with whimsy and wonder. The wall pieces are the Exotics, orchids from other states and continents. The 3d sculptures are native northwest orchids. "My passion to create this year is inspired by the innocent mutualism of different plants and pollinators. Recently I personally discovered the native orchids of the northwest and aspire to conjure their imagery."
Her past work spans many symbolic and mythological themes, a foundation for her current botanical sculpture. Often the imagery reflects on insect cycles and predator/prey aspects playing out their dramas below beautiful flora. The simplicity and collaboration of nature suggests an evolution we as humans can aspire to. One may see similarities to the flower and underworld paintings of the 1600's In Europe.
-- Bio --
Being mostly self taught, Loralin has a background of ceramic production art and numerous skills in carpentry and braising. Much of the current work is done in two studios, one while taking care of her grandparents, and the other space is off grid in the woods. Living close to nature in quiet solitude is an environment conductive to creation.
Her experiences have paved the way to combining classic materials in detailed and diminutive constuctions. Each Orchid artwork can take months to finish, and includes hundreds of components. Working in difficult mediums of translucent porcelain and china paints she continues the sculpture with formed copper foliage. In the last steps, the work is finished with crystals and silk velvets which creates additional luxury and texture.
Altogether these works direct the viewer to reflect on the wonder of evolution in flora. Perhaps encouraging one to consider the tiny and often overlooked orchids of our area. The artist intends that the sculptures invoke your own precious moment of blissful adoration... of something rare in the forest.
Find out more about Loralin and her process at loralin.com
Oscines: Bird & Botanical
Ravens and crows are birds we all know. We think of them as highly intelligent and devoted family members. They can be hard to miss; crows cawing in the cities and ravens croaking in the country. In my own life a family of Ravens nests near my home and I often see them overhead.
In my recent series, crows & ravens are interwoven with blooming vines; rugosa roses, sweet peas and blackberries. Using owers to express feeling without words has been used for centuries. The language of owers is called Floriography.
Ravens and crows often symbolize death or change. Birds in general are considered carriers or messengers to and from the afterworld. With this in mind I created these works to express my emotions about caregiving, family and loss. Recently the grandparents I cared for passed. My cousins and I had been devoted to keeping them in their home. We were their caregivers for 7 years.
Sanctum
These paintings are reminiscent of those private observational moments when one is in forest or garden and there is a becoming.... so present and spellbinding. Porcelain illustrations that imply sacredness of even the most minutiae of understory existence.
Though usually I call myself a sculptor, this winter I devoted myself to just painting. For a few years now I have been obsessing on the ground floor of forests and gardens. My imagination takes off on its own expressing in a whimsical fantastical style. Not long after I began painting fungi, insects and flowers I discovered the Forest Floor paintings of Otto Marseus, and other Dutch flower masters. Among what I am drawn to is their lively botany, their darkness and the prey/predator scenes.
Each of these porcelain paintings are made freehand with china paints that are layered and fired in a kiln. Many of these works have 5 layers or more. Once each painting was finished I crafted a custom wooden frame to fit. Each is finished to be archival, uv protected and dust prohibitive.
Wild Orchids
Loralin's current work echoes the naturalist eras of the past. Times of explorative worship of the natural world and its tensions.The Wild Orchid series reference orchids and their cycles with whimsy and wonder. The wall pieces are the Exotics, orchids from other states and continents. The 3d sculptures are native northwest orchids. "My passion to create this year is inspired by the innocent mutualism of different plants and pollinators. Recently I personally discovered the native orchids of the northwest and aspire to conjure their imagery."
Her past work spans many symbolic and mythological themes, a foundation for her current botanical sculpture. Often the imagery reflects on insect cycles and predator/prey aspects playing out their dramas below beautiful flora. The simplicity and collaboration of nature suggests an evolution we as humans can aspire to. One may see similarities to the flower and underworld paintings of the 1600's In Europe.
-- Bio --
Being mostly self taught, Loralin has a background of ceramic production art and numerous skills in carpentry and braising. Much of the current work is done in two studios, one while taking care of her grandparents, and the other space is off grid in the woods. Living close to nature in quiet solitude is an environment conductive to creation.
Her experiences have paved the way to combining classic materials in detailed and diminutive constuctions. Each Orchid artwork can take months to finish, and includes hundreds of components. Working in difficult mediums of translucent porcelain and china paints she continues the sculpture with formed copper foliage. In the last steps, the work is finished with crystals and silk velvets which creates additional luxury and texture.
Altogether these works direct the viewer to reflect on the wonder of evolution in flora. Perhaps encouraging one to consider the tiny and often overlooked orchids of our area. The artist intends that the sculptures invoke your own precious moment of blissful adoration... of something rare in the forest.
Find out more about Loralin and her process at loralin.com
Oscines: Bird & Botanical
Sanctum
Wild Orchids
