ABOUT THE ARTWORK
 
2023
Pen and ink
A3
 
Several years ago, I answered a set of questions to help give an indication of the kind of career paths that would best suit me. Of course, most of them were art-related. Interestingly, interior designer was at the very top of the list - that was a bit of a surprise - a nice surprise. I’ve always been interested in decor, furniture and the like. Perhaps if I’d done the questionnaire back before entering tertiary studies my life may have taken a different path. I have, however, dabbled in interior design over the years as evidenced in my home and believe that there will come a time - in the Great City to Come - when I will be able to pursue it in a far more substantial way.
 
William Morris has won the hearts of many design-conscious men, women and children for over a century now - including mine. While his personal beliefs tend to verge from my own, I do love his approach to design and his exhortation to “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be beautiful or believe to be useful.” His beautiful “The Strawberry Thief” design was the inspiration for a pen and ink design that I created when my students and I were exploring his work with the intention to create designs that could be placed on various products. I chose to draw a sparrow resting in a blackberry bush for my design and stylised the shape of the branches and leaves - giving it a ‘Victorian’ feel.
 
The frame was found tucked away in an Antique store in Yarra Glen, Victoria. It was covered in dust, had broken glass and was looking very tired. It received a makeover - using gold and black paint. While choosing the matboards at the framers, I was delighted to discover they had a red-velvet option! The end result captured the Victorian-era feel that I was aiming for perfectly.
 
I named the design ‘Blackberry Harvest’ as a reminder to myself of Jesus’ teaching: “Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?” Matthew 6:26
 
This image will print best on Hahnemühle German Etching paper.
 
 
ABOUT THE PRINTS
 
Most of my original artworks are available in archival quality print form and are printed using the giclée process by ACME et al in Steels Creek, Victoria. Each stage of the printing process is carefully overseen by James, the printer (with nearly three decades of industry experience), to ensure the highest quality product. These prints are made to last for decades with minimal fading and are printed on high-end, sturdy papers.
 
Because the prints are made on demand and printed individually rather being mass-produced, please allow between two to three weeks for processing and delivery of your order (or a little longer for customers outside of Australia).
 
Please note that framing is not included with print purchases. Each print will, however, include a margin/blank border around the image to allow for framing so that as much of the artwork as possible can be seen when framed.
 
POSTAGE
 
Prints will be mailed directly from ACME et al (in most cases) to the customer. The cost of postage is included within the overall price of the print for customers within Australia. An additional fee of $20.00 AUD will be required for international customers.
 
CUSTOM MADE
 
If you would prefer a different print size to those listed, custom sizing can be arranged through email. This also applies if you would prefer an image to be printed on canvas (unstretched). Contact me at info@robertkingdomart.com to discuss options. 
 
It is helpful to note that the original sizes/dimensions of my artworks vary and this can impact how well the images translate across to different ratios of print/framing sizes. Some outer parts of an image may be lost/cropped because of this. Original artworks that are smaller in size can only be enlarged so much before losing definition.