BALLERINAS
Ballet and opera have always been a grand inspiration for Mccreedy, from his diverse love for nature and inspiration, from wild animals to his immense passion and allure for the female form, especially ballet.
Mccreedy is greatly driven by music and sounds which evoke deep emotions for him and his work. The master of Ballet art, Edgar Degas, is an artist who has inspired Mccreedy through the years. In this series of ballerina paintings. Mccreedy states: "Degas ballerina sculptures, paintings, and drawings have moved me immensely. They have brought tears to my eyes, just as live ballet performances and opera concerts have done."
In this body of work, Mccreedy wanted to evoke all the emotions that he has experienced and gone through, to try and capture moments in time, allowing the viewer to be drawn into this profound experience. The allure of ballerinas captured in motion to create a less literal appearance, especially in shades of blue, lies in their ability to capture the ethereal beauty and grace of ballet dancers. Only eight in the world will be painted in this collection.
One of the unique paintings in this collection has a 220-carat sapphire and diamond necklace embedded into the chandelier of the painting. The stones are created by famed art collector and jewelry designer - Suzanne Syz - who is also a collector of Mccreedy's art.
A percentage of the sale of this specific rare painting will be donated to Innovation Africa to provide clean drinking water throughout Africa.
It has taken Mccreedy decades to have delved deep into the world of dance and art. The interplay of delicate brushstrokes and the mesmerising blue hues create a sense of enchantment, transporting the viewer to a realm where movement and art merge effortlessly. In showcasing Mccreedy's fascination for chaos theory we see in this body of work the chaos and perfect structure come to life.
Now, finally, after 10 years of dedication and passion, Mccreedy is thrilled to announce his Ballerina solo exhibition in Paris, taking place in front of the magnificent Eiffel Tower inside the Art Basel Collectors Lounge with Netjets. "I am excited to share my artistic interpretation of ballerinas with the world during the Art Basel in Paris."
PORTRAITS
PALM TREES
This body of palm tree, jungle paintings invites readers to witness semi-recognizable and timeless landscapes inhabited by peculiar forms that encapsulate the fragility of nature. An ode to his childhood in Sub Saharan Africa, these works are an attempt to stare into the face of nature, riddled with mysteries and deep thoughts. To be in the now with the wild, mystical adventure of the unknown power of the natural world, to be transported into a world where art and nature intertwine, the vibrant colors and intricate details of Mccreedy’s paintings come alive, and the harmony of the jungle resonates deep within your soul. “Blue Jungle Symphony” is an experience that will leave you inspired and motivated to champion the preservation of our planet’s natural force.
The inspiration also comes from the tropical islands off the coast of Southern Africa. His favorite palm trees are known as the “Lala Palm” and the “Duo Palm” native to the Eastern Afrotropics. They occur in North and Eastern Africa from Egypt and Somalia to Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa. They are also found all over the Okavango Delta, the coastal flats of Madagascar and on Juan de Nova Island in the Mozambique Channel Islands.
For Mccreedy; these palms symbolize mystical feelings on sacred lands, riddled with mystery and voyage. His palm trees and oasis-like paintings bring the viewer’s awareness to our increasing alienation from natural worlds. Lush forms inhabited by deep blue movements with powerful chiaroscuro methods that take you into his thought process mastering the manipulation of a colour with his erasing technique of thick oil hues, creating timeless forms. He takes the viewer into another dimension, taking part in the greater conversation.
ALTER EGO WILDLIFE
The mystery of the colour blue has always been a powerful force in storytelling. It has been used to convey a wide range of emotions, from sadness and despair to joy and hope. In the narrative “Alter Ego Wildlife” directed by the artist, the colour blue serves as a powerful tool to explore the complex relationship between one self and a wild animal.
These wildlife paintings remind people of special moments in their lives by capturing the beauty and majesty of the natural world. They evoke memories of past adventures and personal moments spent in nature. The vibrant colours and intricate details of the animals bring to life the beauty of the wild, reminding us of the allure and serenity that can be found in nature. These paintings can also bring back fond memories of times spent with family and friends, reminding us of the importance of cherishing and protecting our natural world.
The narrative follows the journey of the artist and his love for conservation, wildlife and especially wild cats. A young man, Mccreedy embarks on a journey to reconnect with his inner self. Along the way, he meets these wild animals, in the wild of course and without interaction as wild animals need to be left in their natural habitat. Mccreedy’s fascination for the leopard in particular is a deep passionate love story. The two form an unlikely bond, filled with enchantment. The colour blue is used to visually represent this relationship, as well as the mystery and complexity of the human experience.
The paintings are truly unique and unlike any other, capturing the beauty and wildness of the creatures. They are vivid and alive with Mccreedy’s blue colour, texture, and emotion. The artist has an uncanny ability to capture the spirit of the animal, creating a mesmerizing and captivating work of art. Every painting is a unique representation of the animal and no two are ever the same.
Throughout the narrative of this body of work the blue colour palette is used to convey a sense of desire and awe. The cats are often seen in the artist’s vision, which gives it an otherworldly quality. The colour also serves to emphasize the contrast between the human world and the wild animal's world. The signature Mccreedy palette helps to create a dream-like atmosphere as if the two worlds are connected in some way.
His colour is also used to convey the emotions of the characters. When Mccreedy is feeling sad or lost, and in contrast, when he is feeling hopeful and determined, the blue palette helps to emphasize these emotions.
His use of his blue in the “Alter Ego Wildlife” is a powerful tool to explore the complex relationship between one self and a wild animal, the patterns in blue help to emphasize the mystery and complexity of the human experience, as well as the contrast between the human world and the wild animal's world. Mccreedy is able to effectively tell a story about the power of connection and the beauty of the natural world.
MY BLUE NARRATIVE
This work is the culmination of Mccreedy’s career to date. It is highly auto-biographical as it pulls inspiration from all the sources that define him. Much like a writer maintains a diary, this grand piece serves as a means for Mccreedy to articulate his journey as an artist. Just as reading another individual’s personal reflections conjures up impressions of intimacy, vulnerability and empathy – so too does this work. There is a great deal of discovery and interpretation to participate in here, as is the case with the genre of auto- biography.
At the onset, it is laden with the recurring symbols and archetypes that populate Mccreedy’s canvases: images of nature, the butterfly, Venetian guards, a skull, the grand gestural abstract strokes that he uses to depict Chaos Theory and his signature blue pigment. However, upon further investigation, one can also see elements that differentiate this piece from both of those series as well. The first element is the addition of depictions of geographical locations that hold tremendous meaning for Mccreedy. The centre of the piece features two rather disparate images of trees. On the right centre square there is a row of Cyprus trees that Mccreedy encountered while on a weekend trip to the South of France. As ever, the long road and tunnel-like effect of the perpendicular trees spoke to him. In the left centre square are a row of Palms from his native Southern Africa (Botswana and Angola). The juxtaposition of these two tree images deeply reflect his reality as an expat living abroad, feeling most at home in nature. Infringing upon the Palms is an explosive white ray of light which extends to the upper left corner of the canvas coming to a crescendo in a majestic Alpine peek.
Another element that is differentiating in this narrative are Mccreedy’s precepts, sayings that have long attracted, inspired and captivated him. As this was worked on over many months, many of the precepts have been painted over, others remain partially visible and a few have been highlighted. The viewer is thus engaged in a game of decoding and deciphering. Finally, as this is all painted on former BDF (Botswana Defense Force, anti-poaching) ex-military tents that have been hand-sewn together, the medium on which the narrative is depicted, is in-and-of itself very poignant to him as a South African born artist living in the diaspora.
The result is a grand scale painterly narrative that is complex and multi-layered in its depth, impact and meaning; it is an essential account of Mccreedy’s work.