Inklings

Blue Tea in the West

2010-12-08T17:15:00.006+13:00

Finished, finally. Blue Tea in the West celebrates more of the lovely West Coast beaches. . . in the fine bone china of a crazy teaset. 600 x 300 x 30 - oil on acrylic base on canvas.

Finishing touches on the Wonderland painting

2010-12-02T22:02:00.004+13:00

A bit of translucent oil colour over the background and this painting is done!

Jenny in Wonderland

2010-11-10T13:48:00.003+13:00

This is the base for another oil painting. I sometimes feel I should just stop now, because I'm enjoying the textures so much.

Sipping the Blues in the West

2010-11-10T13:46:00.003+13:00

And here are the cups again, this time on a blue background, and with three West Coast beaches painted on their surfaces.
Oil on an acrylic base, painted on boxed canvas.

Trouble Brewing

2010-09-09T12:52:00.002+12:00

This is the third in my series of 'Trouble Brewing' paintings. Love the textures, and sense of bone china against the light.

Luminous teacups I and II

2010-09-01T16:07:00.003+12:00

These have been great fun to do. Oils on canvas, with a translucent white just bringing up the fragility of the teacup china.

Time for tea in the West

2010-07-03T13:36:00.007+12:00

I like this oil painting, which is almost finished. It has taken a while to work on it, getting the background nicely set amongst the cups. West coast beaches - Piha in foreground cup, Bethells and Karekare - sit rather pleasantly on cups that normally have flowers.

Acrylic 'Underlying All'

2010-05-14T22:12:00.005+12:00

Just enjoying the concept of a sense of clockwork precision underneath the most organic and random of chaotic life . . .

Experimenting with mixed media

2010-05-06T21:44:00.003+12:00

I am working on an idea about the organic and mechanic - and trying out oils over acrylics at the same time. It's a work in progress. . .

Finished Piha II

2009-10-20T06:36:00.002+13:00

Series of Cups paintings

2009-10-15T19:57:00.005+13:00

I think I finished this today - I'm calling it 'A cup of tea at Piha'. Quite like the various textures that happened as this painting changed and grew.

I'm starting a couple of paintings using cups as the theme. Might just leave the cute little oval with its china cups without any more 'meaning' but the larger painting below is going to form the base for a painting within a painting. I want to do another picture on the cups' surface.

Piha II

2009-10-14T13:56:00.006+13:00

My friend John took a lovely photo of Piha beach - from further inland behind the estuary. I've been learning some more oil painting techniques, and thought I'd try my hand at putting them to practice on this image.
It is by no means finished yet, but coming along nicely. I particularly like the translucent effect, and oh, what a joy to work in oils again.

Super City

2009-06-03T16:20:00.003+12:00

This is one of those paintings I just keep fiddling with. I've got to stop now. It was turning out too blue, and after staring at it for a week or so, and seeing it get bluer and bluer (in my view), I had to do something drastic. I think it looks better now.

Waitamata I

2009-05-14T11:57:00.006+12:00

I've been fiddling with this painting for the last few days. REALLY enjoying getting back in to it, and the textures and lines in it. It's on wood with sides, and the deep ruts and groves behind the paint make my toes curl with happiness when I scrape paint across them.
Needed more colour, so I added it below. . .

Mmmmmm

There's more than meets the eye

2009-04-15T19:45:00.003+12:00

And this one is called 'There's more than meets the Eye'.
It is an acrylic on canvas, and 460 x 460 x 40mm in size.

The Cycle of Life

2009-04-15T19:44:00.002+12:00

This one is finished now - 760 x 380 x 40mm in size. Acrylic on canvas.

The Cycle of Life and Moonman

2009-04-13T20:32:00.004+12:00

Working on a couple of paintings at the moment, not quite finished. This one shows the evolution of a cyclist through their life from babe to old woman in mobile scooter. Everything is spinning, including the pathway.
and this one is just growing quietly into its own message - I'm not sure what that is yet. But this is what it looks like now.

Take the Higher Way

2008-12-04T13:32:00.005+13:00

Love this quote, and still feel I could paint it better. But here's the first attempt. This acrylic is 760 x 380 x 40mm in size and hopefully captures the idea that there's an easy path of low resistance in life, or there's a choice to make a difference or respond better, at more cost to oneself.

This painting has since been sold! (April 09)

Keep to the straight and narrow

2008-10-19T11:17:00.002+13:00

This acrylic embodies all the I feel about diet restrictions and the terrible temptations that assault everyday life - Keep to the Straight and Narrow - IF ONLY!

Mt Ngauruhoe

2008-10-08T17:11:00.002+13:00

600 x 600 x 40 acrylic painting on board of this wonderful mountain the centre of the North Island. Taken from the crater of Tongiriro. Great textures in the crater and surrounding hillside.

Bookworld

2008-09-29T16:41:00.005+13:00

Finally, after all this time, another painting! This is an acrylic on wood - deep sides - with some collage work in the book, and varnished warmly in shellac, for that golden high gloss glow.
I wanted to convey the exciting and pleasurable experience gained recently through a pile of books I've found - like discovering a vein of silver in the mine at last. The different worlds that open up, the brilliance of the colour and life, and the juxtaposition against my own rather dull greyish existence (hah!).

JUST SOLD 7 Oct 08

Amended Carp pic

2008-09-29T16:39:00.004+13:00

I've amended this painting - I just felt the background was getting in the way, and I like the toned down nature of the white in this now. And the play on words: Carpe Deum actually means 'God is a Fish', when I wanted in fact Carpe Diem, which means Seize the Day. Either way, it works!

Carp

2008-03-07T15:38:00.004+13:00

And UNLIKE the painting of an EXTINCT creature below, this one we have in profusion - unfortunately introduced from Asia and filling many of our rivers. They are a real pest. But beautiful.
. . . and naturally, I'm using a thick layer of shellac again, which really brings out the dusky gold.
. . . it could all turn to custard if the varnish doesn't dry smoothly. Love the combination of gold and rich blue.

Moa

2008-03-07T15:32:00.006+13:00

SOLD 7 Oct 08

This is my Moa painting - done about a month or so ago, the start of what was going to be 'extinct birds of New Zealand' series, but typically, maybe the only one. In case you don't know what a Moa was, check it out below - it was pretty exceptional, and was hunted to extinction a couple of centuries ago by the Maori.I wanted to do a friendly type painting which looked a bit like a child's early alphabet. . . and I wanted an excuse to use shellac for the first time. I really slathered it on the beak.

Sir Edmund Hillary

2008-01-14T12:43:00.000+13:00

Just to commemorate the glorious life of Sir Edmund Hillary, who died last Friday, I have painted this acrylic - 380 x 770 x 40. Liked the way the rough nature of the painting reflects something of the man himself.
This one is still for sale!

Elsewhere

2007-12-13T08:15:00.000+13:00

Here it is - a dream of far off places, when right there at the feet, is a world so many would give much to enjoy. This is a large acrylic on canvas, 910 x 610 x 40mm, and done for the first time, in a background of sienna brown, which gives it all such a rich look.

Get There In Your Own Good Time

2007-12-04T11:25:00.000+13:00

This one is a fun look at the relentless force that TIME is, and how we all deal with it differently. We are all going in the same direction, but it's HOW we go, and in what STYLE. It is 760 x 380 x 40 in size, and is acrylic on canvas.

Each To His Own in Teapot Town

2007-11-30T17:18:00.001+13:00

This acrylic on canvas is 760 x 380 x 40mm in size, and SO colourful and FUN. Took a while to do, but well, worth it I think. This is what comes of buying so many bone china teasets on Trademe.

Bethells Beach, West Coast

2007-11-21T19:28:00.001+13:00

Here's another of the wild West Coast series. I did this for a friend's birthday - he took the photo and I did the painting. It's quite hard getting the play on water and the shadow of the rock in the smooth shiny black sand.

Storm in a Teacup

2007-10-27T09:50:00.001+13:00

Really enjoyed doing this acrylic triptych. Each one is 320 x 240 x 40 mm, and painted on the sides. Must be because I'm buying so many bone china trios these days!

A Call at Parnell

2007-10-23T14:17:00.001+13:00

Found this face mesmerizing when I saw it in the paper. This is quite a big acrylic on board piece at 700 x 700 x 40mm. I placed the face in Parnell Village and quite like the dappled sketchy nature of it.

Soil Sisters

2007-10-13T14:40:00.001+13:00

An acrylic done to illustrate a friend's poem. 700 x 700 x 40 on board, self-framed and black sides.

From Muriwai Beach

2007-10-05T12:53:00.001+13:00

This is a large acrylic, 1020 x 400 x 40 mm in size, with thick paint strokes to capture the wildness of this coastline so close to my own home.

Leave the City for a While

2007-10-04T11:33:00.000+13:00

Here's another quirky one - probably a reaction to my own need to get out of the city once in a while.
Ah, Dr Seuss, you have so much to answer for!

WAY BACK on the RURAL ROAD

2007-09-11T13:46:00.001+12:00

I'm keenly working on a range of 600 x 600 x 40mm wooden boards at the moment. Just for a striking change, here's a nostalgic nod to rural New Zealand.

Second Auckland painting

2007-09-04T15:09:00.000+12:00

and I thought I'd have another go at an Auckland painting - using that style of mine that is more like a woodcut. Quite like the Dr Seuss'ish feel to this one.

Volcanic Vision

2007-08-29T15:28:00.001+12:00

I'm going to try again for the Auckland telephone book cover, and this is my latest entry. It's 600mm square on board. Hopefully captures the Polynesian influence, the volcanoes, sky tower, and islands in the harbour.

Second Cello painting

2007-08-22T09:58:00.001+12:00

So, here's the second cello painting in acrylics I've done. AND I've got the cello out and played it recently, which makes it even more in keeping. Just sold the previous cello painting. I'll have to keep going until the urge ceases.

The Cellist I

2007-07-20T14:51:00.001+12:00

Just felt a bit flat lately - and not much work on IN the studio on the house, so I've taken to slashing colour around in the shed instead. Got a couple of paintings on the go, this is the first.
And since I last put the painting on here, I've amended it, and like it better. . . see below
What I REALLY like is that the cello (and the whole background) was in gold, so that the sun catches it and adds its own gloss. Sigh.

From Bethells

2007-06-15T16:30:00.001+12:00

I couldn't help it - a little flavour of our West Coast beaches - this taken from a high point on Bethells Beach. Quite hard to capture the mood of that tempestuous stretch of ocean, but I had fun anyway.
and actually, when the light catches the painting at different points, it seems to add to the moodiness.
. . . this is an acrylic on board.

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE

2007-06-13T16:46:00.001+12:00

So here's another acrylic - on canvas this time - measuring 1220 x 300 x 40 mm, so quite large. I was thinking of time, and how it seems to enclose so much within its machinations, and not particularly friendly!
I also liked the idea of the shape of a Grandfather clock, so it's hinted at, without being too obvious.

There's More to Life than the Visible World

2007-06-06T16:39:00.000+12:00

This one was fun to do. I did a stencil of the planet and then filled in all the details. Lots of texture (even evident behind the background colour - there are strips of different height).
The usual little houses, fences, trees and the odd person. There's even a tiny Sky Tower marking the spot as Auckland.

At Last When She Looked She Saw Herself As She Really Was

2007-05-31T15:20:00.000+12:00

Here it is, the latest, done on board that was shaped in a circle with sides as well, so the most expensive frame to buy. Really enjoyed doing this one, and adding paua shell and gold and silver.
Words appear all around the edge. . .
Paua crown and earring. . .
and necklace. . .
I hope it looks a bit like a mirror and I hope it says something positive about who we really are. . .

The third version of "Let Us Run"

2007-05-29T16:27:00.000+12:00

There's some lens flare on this unfortunately, but it's the third version of same painting, and all three now sold. Might have to do another just to keep the 'template'!! Ha ha. They're all a bit different. This one the older lady has a bag and the guy an umbrella, and they are DESPERATE. . .
. . . this one is cleaner in execution and the guy isn't in any hurry. . .
and this one is a small painting, and darker.

Third sale of this painting!

2007-05-23T10:30:00.000+12:00

Okay, this is the second version of 'Let Us Run Into the Light' - sold in the weekend. (The first sold a week ago). I am now working on a third one which is already sold too. What a success!

Midnight by the Tree of Good and Evil

2007-05-12T17:13:00.000+12:00

. . . here's the next one. The voting (which included a few emails direct) said that quirky was the way to go, so I'm going there. This painting is an acrylic on thin framed canvas, split in two, and the theme pretty obvious.
My cartoon instinct has really come to the fore, but quite like the depth of the sky, and the moment of decision hanging there, literally.

In the right light, you can add so much to the atmosphere.

We Made It!

2007-05-09T12:46:00.000+12:00

I did this acrylic just for the fun of it. Very quick and splatter all over it. Call it 'We Made It' - hope the sense of celebration and exhaustion come through.

Final 'Window on the World' painting

2007-05-03T11:27:00.000+12:00

Voting time. . .
I think this one is finished! VERY textural acrylic, and lots of fun to do. I'm in a quandary though. I have so many styles that I am sometimes not sure what direction to go down. Would LOVE some feedback, so if you have time. . .
THIS style I call 1) quirky, so if you like them most please say, then there's
2) my detailed landscape in oil style: or 3) my whimsical landscape acrylic style:or 4) my slightly quirky acrylic based on real people style: WHERE do I head? Would like to do enough to one day have some kind of show. Looking forward to your responses! THANKS

Window on World

2007-05-01T15:55:00.000+12:00

I've started a new painting - trying out the lovely thick textural base you can put behind an acrylic. This is the frame to what goes in the window. Still working on that!
It's called "Window on the World" and the foreground is all in greys and blacks, and the window will be full of life and colour. Not sure what to put in it yet, but getting ideas thick and fast.
See the lovely textures possible. . .
MMMMMmmmmm. . . hessian skirt, woven chairback. This I love.

It's been a while, but here's a touch of whimsy

2007-04-26T10:35:00.000+12:00

. . . don't know why these moods come upon me, but just felt like giving in to the cartoonist within. This is an acrylic, with lots of texture, and wild movement. I call it "Let Us Run Into the Light". Thinking about how dark a day can feel, even a lifetime, and given the choice, which we do have, I'd RUN into the Light. You gotta have faith.
Got some texture going in those dresses. . .
and some good splatter of colour and white in the 'sun'.

Two new acrylics of Auckland

2007-03-29T08:20:00.000+12:00

I've obtained some large framed boxed wood to work against, and tried acrylics for the first time in doing this 'woodcutty' style. Quite like the speed it is possible to work in, and the textures of fast drying acrylic. Once again, I'm doing various views of Auckland city, partly because I've done a couple for the police, and I'm going to try and sell these two maybe at the Easter show coming up. I've included a closeup of this one, underneath, to show the textures that happen. Great aye?

and here's the other one, which is on a square wood base, and a bit more like the telephone book cover than previous. Fun fun fun.

Nearly finished - as good as. . .

2007-03-25T16:36:00.000+12:00

Only fiddly things left, so I'm calling this 'Breakfast at the Bach' done.

Almost there on Police and Bach paintings. . .

2007-03-23T12:14:00.000+12:00

Okay, remember, this is an acrylic, so it dries AS YOU PAINT! I'm enjoying painting it, but the close up appearance is so much looser and 'scruffier' than an oil. Ah well. Not far off finishing it now. Just got to take out all the light from the white areas apart from the window.
. . . and here's the police oil painting, which is somewhat different. AND the racecourse is stridently apparent in bottom right corner - just as well it is going to someone who loves racehorses and hopefully can forgive the donkey-like appearance of these ones.

The Latest Police Commission

2007-03-20T10:27:00.000+12:00

Work has started on this oil painting of Auckland City, for someone leaving there for Wellington. Nice fish eye sort of look, with the volcanoes popping up all over the place, and bottom right, the Ellerslie Racecourse because he is a great racehorse fan. Quite enjoying this one, and might do one or two more just to sell on TradeMe.

Breakfast at the Beach - NEW

2007-03-16T14:02:00.000+13:00

Just on this acrylic lark, I've started another big one on framed board, about 1m x 700 in size. I get to the stage (like now) where I think I should stop before I ruin it. This is called 'Breakfast at the Bach'.
and I finished the three little panels of the Owl and the Pussycat. Glad I put the words on now.

Finished three today. . .

2007-03-15T17:29:00.000+13:00

This is 'Ngaroto Sunrise' which I think I've finished. It's an oil and quite small compared to the others.
AND here is the lady in 'La Patisserie' ready to serve you at last. The oils in this are laid on thick and juicy, similarly to the icing and cream on the cakes. I hope she likes it! (I'm going to show the painting to her before hanging it at Ngaroto.)

. . . and finally, this rather hastily rendered pic in acrylic of 'Jemma turns Nineteen'. I wavered a great deal doing this. Because it had to be done quickly, I'm a little taken aback by the relative roughness compared to the oils. For a moment today, I was so miserable about it, I almost gave up. Not sure even now it is what I want. Ah well. . . time will tell.

Oh my!! Acrylics are FAST. . .

2007-03-14T17:35:00.000+13:00

Well that was fun! I've bought a couple of prepared boards with sides, and bought some acrylics to try them out, and spent the afternoon rushing to get the paint on before it dries. I'm think I'm on to something here. Something looser and wilder and maybe more ME!! It is not finished yet but this will be 'Jemma turns 19'. I think I like acrylics. . .

La Patisserie and Ngaroto Sunrise

2007-03-13T15:03:00.000+13:00

Neither of these are finished yet - I just find it useful to see them at various stages and wonder if they looked better THEN. The top one is a misty autumn sunrise at Ngaroto, walking along the road toward the Nursery. Haven't got the brilliance of the light through the trees yet. This isn't a big painting, but I quite like the dramatic lighting.
. . . and the kind lady at La Patisserie in Te Awamutu is still waiting for your order. The longer she waits, the better and more mouth watering the selection to choose from. They're still not completely 'iced' or 'baked' yet.

Finished: Ngaroto Garden 1 and Aotearoa 1

2007-03-12T14:06:00.000+13:00

Ah well, whether Peter likes it or not, this is the Ngaroto tree and garden pic, with lots of texture and shape (I think), and distant rolling hills. HOPEFULLY he'll let me put it up in his cafe. Watch this space.(Of course, don't feel any pressure, Peter!)
. . . and the one below is the final of two that I did for the Easter Show. This one is more detailed and dynamic. Aotearoa (for those Americans who read this) is 'land of the long white cloud'.

Progress on Gardens, Waterfall and Patisserie

2007-03-07T15:15:00.000+13:00

I started this one at the same time as the others, but have put enough background in it to have something to show. Her hair is not in yet, but this lovely French woman and her husband run the French cafe in Te Awamutu 'La Patisserie'. I am looking forward to doing lovely rich textural cakes and breads in her cabinet. Shame I can't have a coffee from the machine while I wait.
. . . and now the Ngaroto gardens tree has branches and twigs and a pathway. . .
. . . and I think I'm finished this one, with a soft glow of mist rising from the side of the waterfall. Unfortunately there's some lens flare on this so not as dramatic as the last pic of it.

Ngaroto gardens and Waitakere Waterfall

2007-03-05T15:09:00.000+13:00

Ah, the illustrator is coming out in me, whether I like it or not. These aren't finished by any means, but here they both are so far. Top one is a waterfall in Waitakere, to go with the bush walk painting. Bottom one is a view through Ngaroto Nurseries gardens toward the countryside. Love working in palette knife on the textures of the shrubs and trees.

Three new ones on the go - make that FOUR!

2007-02-28T18:04:00.000+13:00

1. Along the lines of the Approaching Aotearoa painting I did, this one I call Country Cross-section, the merging of North and South Islands, and the sky and sea squeezed in between.
I'm doing another painting for Ngaroto Nurseries cafe, and have chosen this scene with the countryside behind, to get a good portrait shaped picture for the cafe wall. At the moment it is all just texture and base.
and finally. . . some small triptych for a friend's birthday, of the Owl and the Pussycat, just for fun. This is the middle one, and no detail in it as yet.
They all show coming and going of the boat and the cat trailing it's paw in the water. FUN FUN FUN.

Spring in the Waitakere Ranges

2007-02-20T11:40:00.000+13:00

We're getting some foliage now. . . SO important in anything to do with NZ bush. Thank heavens for the palette knife technique or it'd take forever to do it all. Hopefully it's improving not getting worse.
Still have to pick out detail and sharpen up some things, but we're close. The silver fern in the foreground is too light but that'll change once it all dries and I get stuck into it again.

Last of the Cafe Painting and ongoing bush

2007-02-19T13:45:00.000+13:00

Okay, well this is the last of Megan's painting, which will get delivered either this week or the next. I'm quite happy with the way it turned out.
This is the ongoing bush walk painting, with some of the green starting to show through now.

Two more on the go. . .

2007-02-16T10:19:00.000+13:00

While I wait for paint to dry on the cafe painting, I have a few other things on the go. This is one I am calling 'Aotearoa - the Land of the Long White Cloud'. Just like the idea of what the Maori must have felt approaching NZ from the sea, which was vast and endless, and the sky which filled the horizon, and then they saw the cloud which hung over New Zealand, caught between the two forms. Simple but a nice design.
and someone I did work for on his logo etc, hiking in the Waitakere Ranges, had a photo of a bush walk, and I'm keen to paint that one. This is its' beginning. . .

Not long to go!

2007-02-15T11:48:00.000+13:00

Okay, we're down to the details now, with the cakes and cups etc. I really like the life in this painting, I prefer it to the earlier "Pink Cafe" one. Anyway, here's hoping Megan does too! This is one of the cakes she was famous for making. Need to let it dry to pick up the highlights.

Filling in the details. . .

2007-02-13T10:29:00.000+13:00

Now we're starting to see some life in this painting. I love getting to this stage, when the colour can be put on in rich broad strokes and some depth coming into the scene. I'm heading onto the table now, and getting that cake to look real and that coffee hot. Got to wait until paint dries again. Sigh.

Megans Cafe painting part two

2007-02-11T15:26:00.000+13:00

Okay, I've been doing some more on this now that it's dryer. Just remember (Megan!) that sometimes it gets worse before it gets better, and I'm laying down background to both faces and scene before I tighten it up again. That's the plan anyway. Still a way to go.

Presentation of Police painting

2007-02-09T17:22:00.000+13:00

Very exciting day today, having taken these paintings in to the District HQ and put them on wall. The police all seem quite pleased with the painting (whew) and now want letterheads and stationery with this kind of view on them to brand them.

MEANWHILE. . .I'm continuing to work on Megan's painting, with more this weekend now that the first layer/s are dry. Watch this space.

Megan's Cafe Painting

2007-02-06T16:24:00.000+13:00

I've started a cafe painting for Megan, who commissioned it after seeing "Ladies at Pink Cafe" (see earlier in blog). Hoping I'm capturing the fun and essence of what she wants. This is it so far, with quite a bit more to do, but wanted to get the characters done first. Some of you may recognise the other faces, but I tried to make them just general faces, expect for Megan's which I'd like to look a bit like her.

Final stages of painting.

2007-01-30T17:08:00.000+13:00

Well, it's only odd details now, that probably won't show up on a distant photograph. SO, it's nearly done! Hope you like. Fun exercise working out textures and colours. Helen and I had a hamburger on the crater rim of Mt Eden last night, and it was weird seeing my painting stretched out before me. Made a much needed readjustment to the back of the museum and added the new dome roof.

Continuing the Police Oil painting (see before)

2007-01-29T11:30:00.000+13:00

Continuing this painting - as the oil dries - I've now reached the Fifth phase, with a couple more to do. The sequence of pictures as follows:

Three new bird paintings

2007-01-26T11:16:00.000+13:00

Trying my hand at NATIVE BIRDS. They are:

Wood pigeons. . .

Waxeyes and . . .

the good old TUI.

Oil triptych for the Police

2007-01-24T15:36:00.000+13:00

Oh, the real excitement of some COMMISSIONED work. This is a group of three canvases for the Auckland City District Police boardroom, which is where they not only have conferences but get interviewed by media, and I have the joy of providing the backdrop for such salubrious activities. I've measured area, and purchased three very large expensive canvases, and then dropped some black into background except for sky. . .

Then I've used an oil crayon to loosely draw in the elements. (The more I can keep it loose, the better they seem to look).

After that it's just a case of honing in and deciding how best to capture the details. So far, it's the sky and the sea, and some slashes of colour for tree and building.

as you can see on the closeup, I prefer the effect gained when the texture of the background can be 'brushed' through with rough brush and light colour.

I'm about a third of the way there. . . watch this space.

A couple of new ink and gouache paintings

2007-01-18T22:05:00.000+13:00

Did two more paintings tonight, to sell (I hope).
First one is of a Rotorua Polynesian Spa building, from a distance. This one I DO quite like. It's more inky and less precise, and it's that whimsy I love. The other is of houses in Wellington, which I think works quite well in this medium.

Ngaroto Tree at Dusk

2007-01-08T16:42:00.000+13:00

Very happy with this oil painting of a wonderful tree at Peter's home. Almost gave up at the beginning but layer upon layer later, and I think I have what I wanted.

Two new oil paintings in process

2007-01-07T19:05:00.000+13:00

I have a number of projects on the go. This is a canvas, done in oils, of a beautiful tree and sunset at Ngaroto Nurseries. It isn't finished yet, but well on the way. Hard to get the golden sunset and the filigree of leaves right, but the gist is there.

A BIGGER project I have underway is to paint some of my friends as Kings or Queens or Dukes etc from ancient times. I have some free wooden panels which I'm using to try out the technique of gesso texture under oil paint. It's interesting but the paintings are going to be heavy. I want to have an exhibition which I can have for free at a friend's cafe she is opening soon. Got some good ideas, and I'm starting with myself, so as to get the practice one over. It needs a lot more work, but the gist is there. Jennifer the Valkyrie. Appropriate.

Latest painting to go with Lakeside one. . .

2007-01-06T21:28:00.000+13:00

I worked on a second painting - to go with the earlier one I did - and finished it today. Hoping to sell both of these as a package on Trade Me.
Both done in that gouache resist style which I love so much. I call this one 'Toi tois at Bethells Beach'.

Just sold St Mary's church, Parnell

2007-01-06T10:05:00.000+13:00

Here's an oldy but a goody that just sold on Trade Me. Apparently this will be a wedding present to someone getting married in this church soon, so even better!
And great to have the money during the low January break time. Whew.

Frantic flurry of painting time. . .

2006-12-29T16:00:00.000+13:00

Okay, now that I run my own business, and it's holidays, and I have nothing better to do, I've been bitten badly by the oil painting bug. I've found a large long panel of wood (three in fact) quite heavy, but fun to paint on because it is so smooth. Problem is, I'll need a lot more oil paint than I presently have. Gulp.
Anyway, here's the progress on this panel, which I think I've finished. NOW I have ideas tumbling around for more paintings, nothing like this one, but using same black background and rich jewel colours. Watch this space. Of course, any comments greatly appreciated.

Lakeside Residence

2006-12-08T16:29:00.000+13:00

The start of a new series of paintings over summer. Hopefully to sell . . .

More recent paintings. . .

2006-11-03T17:07:00.000+13:00

Oh well, I have been working - I'm now in my Wild Line Design studio, and as part of that work I'm looking at cards for Christmas, and just in general. These were a few ideas.

This is my next entry for the white pages phone book cover - IT's called 'Latte landscape' and pretty much describes what it is to be an Aucklander to me.

And these two are the Christmas card ideas I had for two local large organisations - I'm hoping they want them. They are Auckland, and done in my inimitable ink and gouache style.

Some cartoons for my dissertation

2006-05-02T15:27:00.000+12:00

Thought I'd better keep working on some 'wild line' cartoons, in keeping with the theme of my dissertation. This is just an example of hand rendered linework, with PhotoShop filling in the textures and background. The top cartoon will go in my dissertation and is more specifically about the Wild Line, and that's what the hunters are hiding from. Need to more on this theme. The one below is just an example of filling in in Photoshop.

New illustrations

2006-04-23T12:01:00.000+12:00

This is a practice of the gesso and varnish technique. I just wanted to see what delightful wee textures I could get out of the quartet playing.

And this is the roof picture I have to do for an assignment at AUT. Just wanted to show two techniques together. The woodcutty look and the gesso and varnish.

This is a gesso and varnish style I particularly like: it gives a nice texture and you can rub back the colour or blend it on the paper. This one is based on a picture received recently from Dublin.
Ah, to be there among the craick again!

Some of the illustrative stuff

2006-02-27T21:31:00.000+13:00

I've done a few children's book illustrations in my last decade or so. . . not with any PUBLISHED success, but maybe one day soon. Here is a range of different styles, some more ME than others, but just to give you an idea.
This was done for a telephone book cover competition before the tree got chopped down. THAT dates it, huh?? But being winner of this year's competition I can without shame put this picture up here.
This was actually received warmly by a book publisher but in the end didn't go ahead. It is in near finished form. "What's a Weta? wondered Wendy"
Friend Cathy and I did a bike tour around bits of England, and this was a painting that came out of that. What fun to do it all again.

More gouache paintings

2006-02-11T15:30:00.000+13:00

This is a painting I did of Auckland, from Remuera, with Rangitoto in the background.
This is one of the building on the corner of Ponsonby ROad, and the other is in the same genre as the Last of the Mohicans painting. None of these are framed, and would all look good in a black frame. . .

More of the gouache paintings

2006-02-08T21:18:00.000+13:00

This is a painting of the old Kestrel ferry that used to go between Devonport and Auckland, often with a jazz band on board, until a few years ago.
This was my first gouache and ink resist painting, which thrilled me so much, I kept up the technique. It is of a group of buildings in Prague.

Ah, 'Last of the Mohicans' really affected me. Still love the style of inky woodcut look that so suits this subject.

This was done with another, for a friend, from photos in Indonesia. He has the first, and best of the two.

Some of the oils

2006-02-08T15:28:00.000+13:00

This is called 'the ladies at Pink Cafe' and is a palette knife oil of Lorna, Helen, Jem and I who were with some others at this cafe a year or so ago. I love the rough effect of the palette knife and the lively line and colour.
On a different theme and feeling entirely, this is the church in Atlanta meeting in Sweetwater Park for a change. Sarah, Jim and Luke Degier, Mike Broadie, and Cherie are the folks with their backs to you. Love the chain of arms shining through. . .
Another palette knife painting of a chocolate shop in Belgium. It is quite big and gives a nice soft golden glow through the choc shop window.
My personal favourite, one of the first I did, and of Gene and the church in Lithia Springs meeting in the evening, with a soft light shining from above.

The start of putting my art 'out there'

2006-01-26T15:56:00.000+13:00

These I did today on brown paper, just for the fun of it. Join me in a cuppa, won't you?