New Collection: Bohemian Llamas Bring Whimsy to Wall Décor

I can’t be the only one who has noticed that llamas are literally everywhere right now in home décor – on pillows, mugs, blankets, and so much more! I have to admit, at first, I didn’t understand the fascination. I thought, “okay, I guess they are kind of cute, but…really?!” I decided I had to go watch them for myself for at least a little while.

I drove up to a winery by my house that I go to from time-to-time that, oddly enough, also has a petting zoo of a whole bunch of adorable animals, including llamas and their goofy cousins, the alpaca. I watched how the llamas moved around, chewed grass and stood so proudly in the heat of the mid-day sun. Their floppy haircuts and silly smiles instantly won my heart. From that moment on I, too, was a llama fan.

When I went home, I knew I had a paint a collection inspired by these incredibly unique animals. During my research, I learned more about the regions that they are from and that the word llama is actually a Quechua word that has been adopted into English. The bright reds, greens, and blues used by the Quechua in their clothing was the final inspiration that I drew from for this collection. I tried my best to incorporate bold, bright reds throughout the collection – even adding some flower crowns and decorative saddles to some of the llamas in my work to bring a modern bohemian vibe.

This entire collection was painted with Dr. Ph. Martin’s Hydrus Liquid Watercolor Inks, which are a great way to maintain that bold color evident in many of the pieces. I’ve recently become a big fan of working with them because it’s a little easier to retain a concentrated color without looking too washed out like some other watercolors.

I toped many of these pieces off with floral accents and patterns – reminisce of Peruvian wildflower fields. Though I may have been skeptical about these furry little (or, rather, not so little!) guys at first, I am absolutely and completely in love with the new set of prints. There is something so special about llamas – and I hope that these prints bring as much joy to you as they have to me!