Here is a new painting in progress (early stages) that is inspired by the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary and features the Little Spotted Kiwi/Kiwi pukupuku. I have spent much time in this nearly 700 hectare "ecological island” located just up the road from my studio, even before it became a sanctuary. The Waimārama sanctuary is the largest fenced sanctuary in New Zealand's South Island and the second largest in the country. It is the only sanctuary to feature mature New Zealand beech forest and is abundant in beautiful local native fauna. I have include some of my favourites in this painting, the Kawakawa, Kowaowao and more.
Camp Stream Hut, a historic musterers hut on the Te Araroa trail near Tekapo with Roundhill in the background. A magical place to visit, especially in the late afternoon although once the sun falls it becomes bitterly cold. On this particular trip the walk out was sodden with snow melt and my feet lost feeling in the last main river. Brr…
Inspired by an almost dreamlike trip along ridge lines, past Lake Morgan and to the top of Mt O’Shanessy the painting is slowly taking shape. I really wanted to capture those warm, golden, summer West Coast rays that you...
While the mountains are freezing and the nights are long it's one of the best times of the year to settle in and put some quality time into painting… I have been making excellent progress on the artworks behind me in the above photo, already adding in lots of detail layers and rich washes of colour. Yet there's...
