'Clarence' Budgie Drypoint Etching Ed. 2 of 3

When I was little we had budgerigars, canaries and finches along with a menagerie of other pets and creatures. Budgies are such playful characters. I remember trying to teach them to talk and dance. I hope Clarence's cheerful face brings a little joy to you.

This is a Drypoint Etching which was created by drawing with a sharp tool directly onto a printing plate. The ink is then applied and rubbed into the grooves and scratches. A print is then taken by pressing damp paper over the plate. I love this technique or its direct drawing on the plate and the velvety line that is created by the burr of the scratched plate.

Edition size: Three. Once the edition is sold out it will not be unavailable again.

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More work coming soon! I’m Michelle McKinnon, a South Gippsland based artist working primarily with oil paint, creating native flora still life paintings and limited edition art prints.

My practice centers on still life paintings of Australian native flora. I’m drawn to their character and quiet beauty, as well as their strong structural, almost architectural qualities. A single stem or carefully arranged grouping can hold just as much presence as a wider landscape.

I grow many native plants in my own garden, not only for their beauty but as food and shelter for local birds and insects. Spending time observing these plants — how they grow, move, and are structured — is an important part of my process. I often create my compositions from imagination and memory, using what I’ve studied and observed to sketch and develop each painting in the studio.