Mangaokewa

The first painting from all the reference photographs taken during our trip to New Zealand.

This was jsut a perfect spot for our picnic lunch.

That band of darker forest across the middle could have done with something to break it up.

Never mind it was fun to do. Painted on a half sheet of Arches.

Bright light

The title was all we were given for the half-term assignment.

This was almost more geometry than painting. I kept taking the sky darker to try and make the light really shine. It ended up somewhere between Alien and Bladerunner. The problem is more about the reflections on the tower, I think.

Tea pot

Completed in class today. We followed the tutor's demonstration. The teapot certainly shines.

Tin Cans

Done as "voluntary" homework, as the exercise in class had been pretty dismal.

It turned out pretty well, and no-one has criticised me for leaving the background loose. Somehow it makes the tins sharper and the shine more noticeable.

Well received both on WC and in class today.

Leaving Home

This was painted in response the February invitation to paint on Wetcanvas. It doesn't have a lot to do with Hawaii but I did use the first reference painting for the sea and land, ad added the boat from my own photograph.

I'm quite pleased with it, but wish that the horizon had not been so close to the centre.

New Zealand sketches -5

Archway Island Nelson. Vanessa had joined us and the cruise through the Abel Tasman National Park was one of the highlights of our time together.

New Zealand sketches -4

This is Lake Wanaka, which we passed after driving through the Haast pass. It had rained for a day an a half all the way down the West Coast, and it was such a relief when we came out of the pass the sunshine and this beautiful lake.

New Zealand sketches -3

These are The Remarkables, viewed from our balcony at the Motel in Queenstown. This was one of our favourite places, and the view of the mountains above the lake was just magical. On the first evening the setting sun lit them up, and you felt that you could touch them. They featured as the slopes of Dimrill Dale in Lord of the Rings.

New Zealand sketches -2

This was the view from our Motel at Rotorua. A great outlook even though it was a little bit out of the town.

New Zealand sketches -1

This flower was growing on the balcony of our Motel in Paihia. It was such an unusual colour that I had to have a go at painting it. The background really didn't come out too well.