A monochrome study

Watercolour on paper 40cm x 30cm

This was done a while ago as an exercise with some students.  I am working on a few larger pictures at present so don't have much work to share.  Life does get busy this time of year as we all know.

Self Portrait

16 x 20 in. Acrylic on canvas panel

There is not a lot to say about this one!  I like the light on the face. It was a good exercise and thankfully not too fiddled with.

Okiwi Valley

Acrylic on Board 6in X 6in
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This pretty valley basin lies over the hill from our bay, it has a small cluster of houses that couldn't even be called a village. I have always liked the silver ribbon of the estuary that snakes across the valley when the sun hits its surface.  This was a very quick rendering done in less than an hour.

transformation

Acrylic on board  60cm x 60cm
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This is a little different for me primary colours on a stark black background. I conceived the idea, did a quick thumbnail sketch and just went for it, maybe a little too hasty as it didn't really turn out as I intended. I did have fun painting those caterpillars though.

Laythan out fishing.

Acrylic on board  6 x 6 in. Sold (as a commission)

This is my grandson out with his Dad doing some fishing and looking really cool in his dark wrap around shades.  I found the skin tones quite challenging on this painting. The idea was to try and capture the feel of a bright sunny day, and get something of a likeness too I guess. Of course the sun glasses make it a lot easier for me.  Anyway they caught fish, which is the main thing.

Around the Mount

Acrylic on canvas panel 16 in x 20 in.

A favorite place of ours is the city of Tauranga and the nearby beach holiday town of Mount Maunganui, or 'the mount' as its affectionately known.  There is a coastal walkway around this iconic mountain, (actually a large hill, but I might get shot for saying that),  the path has an almost constant stream of runners, fitness walkers and families strolling around this beautiful spot. On a sunny day it is just glorious, the walk takes about 45 minutes and is worth the effort.  This picture captures the scene well.

Two Old Pines

Conte' pastel drawing on paper.  12 in. x 14 in.

I have spent the day recycling picture frames by removing the old paintings and cleaning up the frames and glass from surface dirt, ready for some new work.  Then I went through a folder of paintings and drawings from the last year or so.  Many of these pieces of work I had not considered worth framing and basically shoved them away in this folder.  I picked what I thought were the best of the bunch and matched them in size and style to the used frames, (which are still in good condition!).
In one afternoon I managed to frame and matt five paintings and this little drawing above. It really is amazing what a frame can do for a painting.  I am quite chuffed really, it was like instant mass production, paintings ready to hang, or better still, sell.

Wild weather Awana Beach.  16 x 20 acrylic on board.

This is a first attempt at a seascape. I have always avoided the subject because they looked so darn hard to paint.  The fact is this was a fun subject to do, I loved the misty background and faint land masses.
Perhaps it goes without saying that it was painted in the warmth and dry of the studio!

At the end of Kaitoki beach

Acrylic on board. 6 x 6 inches.

Okay, here we go. I have had some problems with my computer, which seems to be working now, so
getting back to small, not so daily, paintings.  This rather quick sketch of a favorite spot on the island has a nice loose spontanious feel, which is impossible to get when painting too carefully, I rather like it.

Bad hair day

45cm x 20cm  watercolour on Saunders Waterford paper

I find chickens very comical in the way they look and move. They seem to be able to morf themselves into some pretty amazing shapes.  This was a playful attempt at that aspect of their make up. There were no hidden motives or adgenda's here ladies, just plain old fun!    sold

The Rooster Rules Okay!

Watercolour on Saunders Waterford 300gsm.

This cocky little fellow just fell off the brush one day.  I love that when it happens, I was painting really fast which helps combat timidity and dithering - always the death-nell to loose and free water colour.
I finished this piece off with a few quick strokes from a charcoal pencil. It has a fresh spontaneous feel which I love, its often elusive to capture, but just great it happens.

Painting not available

Pohutakawa Flower

6x6in. Acrylic on board.

This is probably our most recognized national flower in NZ.  The trees are particularly suited to the coastal environment and thrive around our beaches and coast line.  The trees flower in late December to  January which is appropriate for the Christmas season.  They look amazing in flower, all ablaze in glorious red.

People Watching

6 x 6 Acrylic on board.
I spotted these two enjoying the sun and the locals going past and thought it would make a nice picture. I think it works.
I am experimenting with framing at the present and trying to find the right moulding to suit these small paintings.  I have decided that a plain wide black moulding suits best.  I'll post some samples when I have them ready.

Oil and veges

Acrylic on board 6 x 6 in.  

I am trying to paint these in under an hour, but don't think I have managed to do it yet. There is an interesting dynamic that happens when I am able to paint fast and with a simple abandon. It is still necessary to pay attention to the little details, without getting fussy and slowing the painting process.

Small daily paintings

The Road Home (acrylic) 6 X 6
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I have started doing these small paintings as a way of loosening up and doing some painting on a regular basis.  They are for sale, so please contact me if you are interested in anything you see here. I will be posting them on a regular basis, hopefully.

Aotea Island

Painting not available
This montage acrylic painting is 90x30cm. The right hand side shows the view from the top of the ridge adjacent the bay where we live on this beautiful island. The scene is broken and inter-dispersed with other iconic images of this magical place.  The writing is a poem I wrote specifically for the painting, it reads.

Aotea, island of islands, of secluded little bays and hidden secret places,
Pristine long sandy shores and wetlands that team with life.
Her mountains clothed in cloud, and gullies very deep, all tattooed with shady paths
and mossy stone filled streams.
Cliffs of timeless granite seem to hold you in place, aloft here on the ocean 
away from the cities frantic pace.

Fern Study

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Now, back to some Acrylic's.  This was painted last year in the Inspire Painting School that a friend of mine and I run here on Great Barrier Island each year.  It is just a typical clump of ferns hanging from a bank, that anyone would walk past every day.  It made a nice painting and sold pretty quick.

Behold the Bridegroom Comes

This image was created for a conference brochure back in 2002.

some older work

These were done back in the late '90's  when my wife Lynne, and I had our gallery.

Hope

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I like the way the light and shade played over this monument.  It was fun to paint as well. I placed the background in later and decided on a sky with dark clouds on one side, which helped also to punch out the white of the wing.  It seemed right to place a bird in flight, suggesting freedom, and making a contrast with the idea of a grave monument.  I called it 'Hope' because there always is, if we have the faith to believe it.

Matapouri Bay

This is one of my all time favourite paintings. Its small 10 x 8 in.  It was painted really fast, in about 45 minutes, which is why, I think, it is so fresh and free.

The White Jug

Acrylic on canvas panel. 16 x 20 in.

I belong to an on-line artist community called 'The Compete Artist'.  Richard Robinson administers and owns the site, he is also an amazing painter. Richard puts up a monthly painting challenge, this was one of the subjects. I am pretty pleased with the result.
I also did a version in watercolour.

Watercolour on paper (obviously)