This piece was composed to feel ethereal, built from cool blues and pearlescent textures that catch and shift under light. Layers of fabric, pearls, and hand-created papers create the illusion of flowing movement within a carefully constructed surface — soft, dimensional, and quietly luminous.

Rather than making a bold statement, Pearls of the Sea leans into refinement. It’s calm, feminine, and a little dreamlike — the kind of work that rewards a closer look as the materials reveal themselves.

This work is part of my Opulent Whimsy Series. Inspired by the imaginative window displays of Brown Thomas Department Stores in Dublin, the Opulent Whimsy series celebrates the theatrical elegance of fashion, fantasy, and façade. Each piece is constructed from quilting fabrics, tissue paper, magazine imagery, handcrafted papers, and acrylic paint — layered to build texture, shimmer, and dimensional depth.

What looks painted at first glance is often assembled instead: stitched, torn, collaged, and gilded. These figures live somewhere between mannequin and muse — playful, feminine, and a little surreal. Opulent Whimsy is my love letter to three-dimensional display, and to the joy of making something beautifully over-the-top on purpose.

Details

• Medium: Mixed media, collage

• Surface: Watercolour paper (mounted)

• Size: 14 x 11 in

• Framing: Framed (overall framed size 18 x 22 in)

• Includes: Certificate of Authenticity

• Shipping: Free shipping in Canada. U.S. flat rate calculated at checkout. International shipping by quote (please contact for rates).