Storm in a Teacup

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

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

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

From Muriwai Beach

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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"

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!

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

. . . 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!

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

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

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.