Girl with a Hydrangea Hat

Artist's notes on style, materials and inspiration:

When my son was very small, his word for flowers was 'wowies', and we still call them that today. This elegant wowie girl is wearing her removable blue hydrangea headdress that also doubles as a fancy hat, with a body decoration of hydrangea leaves and a ladybird, against the natural wood background. Her hair continues the hydrangea flower pattern. Hydrangeas are called Ajisai in Japan and are synonymous with the 'fifth' season, tsuyu (which means plum rain because it happens just as the Japanese plums begin to ripen) - it is a humid rainy time, with a mixture of sunshine and showers on most days - and hydrangeas absolutely thrive in it and look spectacular, as does this girl!

My pieces are painted in a naïve and simple style, with visible brush strokes and differing paint consistencies. It is important to note that these dolls are made from real wood which will have naturally occurring markings and grain, and sometimes there will be small amount of bleeding along the grain, or knots, which is to be expected when using untreated wood - please make sure you consult the pictures carefully before purchasing. She has been finished in a top coat of matt acrylic.

A note about 'Wood Girls'
This girl was turned from poplar by a production turner, and then added to and hand painted in the U.K. by me, a British artist. The headdress is laser cut from poplar plywood. I love exploring the patterns and scenes encountered by me on my travels and in daily life.

Painted with a blue bear head and the year on the base.
Approximately 20.5cm high, without headdress, 23cm when wearing headdress.
Please note: THIS IS NOT A TOY and should be kept out of the reach of children.