The Boats of Opua - Bullion Rover

This is the seventh little oil in my latest project, The Boats of Opua. I've seen the Bullion Rover in Opua more than once, so my guess is that it is a New Zealand boat - possibly a local one.

At first I painted it with the boatyard behind it, but it was so busy I wiped off most of the other boats and just suggested a couple in the water behind the Bullion.  I wonder how it got its name?
I'm learning a lot with this latest project. My bird project was all about simplification of subject matter. Painting small oils of boats makes me concentrate on values and color, otherwise the boat gets lost in the clutter of the background, other boats, reflections, etc.

The Boats of Opua - Bullion Rover

8" x 6" oil on gessoed board, unframed

US $125 plus $7 shipping

SOLD

The Boats of Opua - "The Gannet"

I started a painting project a while ago and now that I'm back at home in Opua, New Zealand, I'll do some more boat pieces for the project titled, The Boats of Opua.  Opua is usually the first port of call for yachts sailing the Pacific. This is where they go through biosecurity and immigration. It is also a great place for armchair sailors like me to wander around the docks...admiring the boats, wondering where they're going and where they've been.

This is the Gannet, from Falmouth, Maine.  I saw this yacht a few months ago, so perhaps by now it has sailed on to another port. When the painting is dry, I'll paint the name on the boat.

The Boats of Opua 4 - "The Gannet"

Original oil on gessoed board, 8" x 6" unframed

US $125 plus $10 shipping

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Today - An Oil Study of a Pukeko

Yesterday's study was a Common Moorhen, found in North America (and perhaps elsewhere?).  Today's study is a Pukeko, one of my favorite New Zealand birds.  The Pukeko (poo - keck - oh) is is a New Zealand icon.  In addition to seeing them in paddocks, estuaries and even alongside the road, tourist shops are loaded with pukeko souvenirs.  The bird is about the size of a large chicken.  They can fly long distances and also swim.  They eat mainly plant material which they hold parrot-fashion with one foot. There is a similar bird in the South Island called a Takahe - though it is flightless and much heavier.

185 - Pukeko

7" x 5" oil on board, unframed

$75 plus $6 shipping within the U.S.

SOLD