Surrounded by Love

A gift that expresses love and caring... or for those who love flowers. "I wanted to make a figure with her face in the flowers, taking them in with her senses - smelling them, feeling the petals against her face; feeling safe in that surround. So this piece could say to someone that they are loved by those around them... if a person is experiencing difficulty, it could be a reminder of family and friends who support and are there for them. Or it could be a way to say to one special person that all of your love is surrounding them (more of a romantic interpretation)... or just a little gift for someone who loves to garden... I like that people read this piece differently. The choice of red poppies was influenced by trips to France, seeing fields of poppies. The red poppy symbolises remembrance, so this piece could be a tribute to those who served our country." - Susan Lordi. The ornament includes a gift tag with sentiment 'Abundant love surrounds you'.

Approx. Dimensions: 13cmH 5cmW 6cmD

Willow Tree

Artist Susan Lordi hand carves the original of each Willow Tree sculpture. Using family and friends as models, Susan tries to capture a moment in time, or express a feeling. Pieces are cast from her original carvings, and then individually painted by hand. Softly washed colours, carved and metal accents, and representative icons of nature mark Susan’s work.

Her figures continue to evolve as she identifies emotions so important for us to convey, and renders them in simple, pure gestures. These art forms beautifully express love, closeness, healing, courage, hope…all the emotions of a life well lived.

The name Willow Tree was chosen to symbolise all that is gestural and beckoning. The figures are columnar in design, like a tree, and often carry natural objects or animals as metaphors for human virtues or qualities…rosemary for remembrance, a bird for healing, flowers for beauty. The sculptures are rendered so as to suggest elegance, simplicity, peace and serenity. Forms reveal their expressions through body gestures only…a tilt of the head, placement of the hands, a turn of the body.

Emotions are left to the viewer to discern, which makes them personal and powerful. ‘Willow Tree is not necessarily a likeness, it’s a way of conveying emotion…a reminder of someone we want to keep close, or a memory that we want to touch, or see.

I hope that people can recognise subtle expressions or gestures of those they love, and from that, be able to select pieces that are uniquely meaningful for them.’ Susan Lordi