 This one is for my fellow kiwi artists! If you're just starting out or struggling to find art or packaging suppliers in New Zealand I've compiled a small list of all my favourites.
I love variety in my job as a portrait artist and it's always fun when a customer includes their furry friends in the portrait.
One of the most frequent portrait requests I receive is for a 1st wedding anniversary gift. The 1st anniversary is traditionally symbolized by paper which makes a portrait the perfect gift.
 My dear Nana and Poppa I often paint commissions for people who want a special artwork to remember their loved one. I am always honoured to be trusted with creating a memorial portrait. Sometimes people want a portrait of their loved one who has died with a grandchild they had not met or someone they don’t have a photograph with. This can be such a meaningful gift or a keepsake that can be passed on through generations. The image above is a portrait I painted for my Dad in memory of his Mum and Dad, Maureen and Ivan, dearly loved Nana and Poppa to my sister and I.
 The pekapeka or long tailed bat is an endangered native creature which is found throughout the mainland, Stewart Island, Hauturu-o-Toi/Little Barrier and Aotea/Great Barrier Islands and Kapiti Island. I did a little bit of research before painting this cutie and learned that they like to fly along forest edges at dusk and produce only one offspring per year. They can fly at 60 kmph and a bat colony can have a range of more than 100 km2. These bats like to eat small moths, mosquitoes and beetles.
Starting each new painting is an exciting process. Getting the lines of the face or posture just right, choosing the colours that make the figure come to life and most importantly finding that special essence that makes a person unique are all aspects of portraiture that must be worked through.
O tall and stately thou stand What gentle curves dost thou display Towering o'er the lowly can Thou effervescence lights the way To take a sip from thy glorious neck To taste where lemon and fizzy meet Willingly we will make the trek To Paeroa to see thy image in concrete
Surprise the mum or dad to be with a gift voucher for a pregnancy portrait or a newborn baby portrait. This is a very special and personal present for someone who is expecting a baby and is a gift that can be treasured for years. A portrait gift certificate can be a great gift for a gender reveal party, baby shower or any other celebration of a new baby or pregnancy.
My kiwiana art collection started when I decided to paint an L&P bottle. Inspired by the giant one in nearby Paeroa and the blooming Kowhai trees in spring, I sketched out my painting idea. From that painting and creative process came more ideas for New Zealand inspired artworks. My ideas for art usually come to me at night when I should be asleep or on my weekly bush walks.
Decorating your child’s room can be a special way of preparing for their birth or connecting with your toddler or older child. For kiwi kids, art can be a way to link them to their roots and help them learn about the country they live in.
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My BlogWelcome to my scribblings about art, the creative process and stuff I like. Archives
October 2024
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