The Kawakawa, mountain flax (wharariki) and cabbage tree (tī kōuka) are progressing steadily. Its been challenging entwining the kawakawa and wharariki together within the shadowing. More detail aspects seem to make themselves known and need to be included. The lineal texture on the wharariki fronds, the tiny veins on the kawakawa and making sure the kawakawa looper holes make sense. Thinking of “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” book here…
Also it is quite amazing to note the broad range of greens, blues and yellows needed to shape the fauna. The many layers of paint are giving it a rich, lush appearance which is never captured on camera.
A while ago I explored the Arthurs Pass area with my good friend Dulkara, we walked up the Taramaku River, bush bashed through the thick & steep bush up to the open tops where we spent three days traversing the ridges. On the second afternoon, after lots of up and down ridge-line scrambling we approached Lake Morgan...
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...
