Tapestry Tales: Bird in Paradise, 2025

by Renee Bott

Jane Austen, though not a gardener in practice, possessed a keen appreciation for the beauty and order of gardens. From the classic English park to the carefully curated estate garden, and even her own eclectic home garden where vegetables mingled with flowers, Austen found inspiration in the natural world. Her heroines often took brisk walks around orchards, a testament to Austen's own love for the outdoors.

"Tapestry Tales: Bird in Paradise" draws inspiration from verdant tapestry imagery dating back to the 1700s. Within the painted trees, flowers, and shrubs, I've interspersed collaged color Xerox elements. These elements include text from Austen’s novels, as well as color Xeroxes of her handwriting. This combination emphasizes the idea that stories can be told in myriad ways – visually, verbally, or through a combination of both.

The painting explores the concept of romance and our tendency to romanticize the past, symbolized by the use of imagery borrowed from antique tapestries and rendered in rich, evocative colors. The title itself is a play on words, referencing the way tapestries of old told visual stories of famous tales. The "Bird in Paradise" also subtly alludes to the Garden of Eden.

I am drawn to many aspects of a simpler time, particularly the era before the internet. I especially miss the lost art of handwritten letters. Handwriting, unlike typed communication, reveals so much about the author, offering a glimpse into their personality and emotions.