A Pied Stilt

Today's little oil study is a 5" x 7" of pied stilts, a New Zealand species, similar to the black-necked stilt found in North America.  I see pied stilts and oyster catchers on the beach near my home in New Zealand but they're also found along rivers and pastureland, as with the black-necked stilt.

281 - Pied Stilt

5" x 7" oil study on gessoed board

US$85 plus $7 shipping

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Bob

I love painting cows!  This little guy is named 'Bob'.

Bob

7" x 7" oil on gessoed panel

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Field Sketching

Whether you're into painting birds or people, sketching is so very important in your growth as an artist.  I've got lots of sketch books that I've kept while travelling but not many of birds and animals other than those critters that stand still for a very long time, such as flamingo, stilts, etc.  I recently discovered Youtube and have been using it as a resource for sketching birds.  Rather than stop the video,  I sketch the birds while in motion. The beauty of using youtube is that you have a second chance to get it right by replaying the video. These are some of my quick studies done from youtube.  I wouldn't use youtube images for finished paintings that you plan to sell as the images are protected by copyright.

I use a soft pencil - sometimes a ballpoint or fine-line pen and I try hard not to erase.  If I need to smudge or soften a line, I use a kneaded eraser.  As we all know, the more you do something, the better you'll get - so becoming better at field sketching moving birds, is my new goal.

New Zealand White-faced Heron

Poaka

New Zealand Pied Stilts

Kereru

New Zealand Pigeon

I'm Teaching a Watercolor Workshop on Tiritiri Matangi

There are 3 spots open for my watercolor workshop this coming weekend, March 2 and 3rd, near Auckland, New Zealand.

I'm donating my time to teach the workshop to benefit Tiritiri Matangi, a sanctuary for many of New Zealand's native birds.  The predator-free island is just a short ferry ride from Auckland.  We'll spend the first day hiking on the island with several guides, observing birds in their native habitat.  While the guides tell us about the birds, I'll chat about gathering reference (taking notes, sketching and photographing) as preparation for studio paintings.  If time allows, I'll do a quick watercolor demo before heading back to the mainland on the ferry.  The following morning, we meet at a classroom in Birkenhead and will spend the day painting birds.  I'll do a demo in the morning, then you can paint the same bird as me (I'll provide the reference material), or you can bring your own photographs and paint your own bird.  I'll spend time with each of you while you're painting. In the afternoon, I'll do another demo - then you paint until quitting time at 4 pm.

If you are interested contact:  Mary-Ann Rowland at sotmmanager@clear.net.nz.

If you have any questions, email me or give me a call at 09 402-5014.

I'm Back in the Studio!

It's been a long time since I've been in my studio, which was in Sedona, Arizona and is now in Opua, New Zealand.  I sold my Arizona house in October, arrived in New Zealand on December 6th and I had a house under contract by Christmas.  Move-in day was January 18th but my 20' container with all my 'stuff' didn't arrive for another week - though parts of my big easel are still to be delivered. My new hometown is in the Bay of Islands, called the Winterless North because of the subtropical climate.  I found a cute little house on two acres of native bush, just a mile from the beach and a couple of miles from Paihia.

This is the first day I've had a studio to work in - so I decided to get back into shape by painting a little winter robin for my 75 for 75 project.

280 - Winter Robin

7" x 5" oil on board

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Kia Ora from New Zealand

I arrived in New Zealand on December 6th and as of the 14th, I have a house under contract.  There are a lot of hoops to jump through before it is officially mine but I have my fingers crossed that all will go according to plan. I'll be in the Bay of Islands in Northland,  about three hours north of Auckland.  Also known as The Winterless North, I am so very happy to be here.  As I write this, it is snowing at my old house in Northern Arizona.  I don't miss it.

Though New Zealand will be my primary residence, I will return to the U.S. twice a year. I'll also continue to do The Waterfowl Festival (November - Easton, Maryland) and Art for the Sangres (late September in Westcliffe, Colorado).

In a few years, I'd like to teach small workshops at my home and studio in the Bay of Islands, both to American students and New Zealanders.  The workshops will be limited to just a few students - and I may also offer room and board!  Ahhh - then you'll discover that I'm not the greatest cook.  But perhaps I can have meals catered! But for now, it is all on hold as I take time to rediscover my native country, dip my toes in the ocean, and feel very grateful for the opportunity to come home again.

Gallery Show at the Santa Ysabel Gallery - San Diego County

Next Saturday afternoon, Dec 1st 2012, I will be one third of a three-person show at the Santa Ysabel Gallery, Santa Ysabel, California.  Santa Ysabel is just a wide spot in the road between Ramona and Julian in San Diego County - but the gallery is well-known for landscape paintings.  Owner Annie Rowley,  is respected for supporting and promoting the tradition of painting plein air.

The three-person exhibition is titled, Aotearoa, Land of the Long White Cloud, and will show the work that Joe Garcia, Joanne Hanson (my sister!) and I painted in New Zealand this year.  There will be an artist's reception Saturday, December 1, 4-8 pm and will hang through Jnuary 6, 2013.  The gallery is located at the intersection of Hwy 78 and Hwy 79 in Santa Ysabel.  For more information, contact Annie at 760 765-1676.  If you're heading east on hwy 78, the gallery is on the left just past the hwy 79 turnoff.  I hope you can make it to the show.  If you know of any New Zealanders in the San Diego area, perhaps you could let them know about the exhibition.  Thanks!

The morning after the opening, my sister and I will be making a mad dash back to Arizona as we fly to New Zealand on December 4th to house-hunt!  After many years in the U.S, I'm moving back to New Zealand...but will continue to have a foot in both the U.S. and NZ. 

High Tide at Sandspit

7" x 7" oil on board

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Flight Through Mangroves

7" x 7" oil on board

available at the Santa Ysabel Gallery

Big Changes Ahead!

The last month has been chaotic.  I've sold my house in Oak Creek Canyon (north of Sedona, Arizona) and international shippers have packed up almost everything I own in a 20' container.  It is now on a container ship in the Bering Sea, heading towards Asia.  The first stop is in China but eventually the ship will arrive in New Zealand on December 2nd, just a few days before I arrive.  I have a couple of weeks to find a house, buy it and have my container delivered and unpacked in my new abode.  I am hoping my new studio will have a view of the South Pacific or perhaps a mangrove edged inlet!  New Zealand will be my primary residence but I will return to the U.S. twice a year for a couple of months per trip.

Before leaving for New Zealand, I'll be attending  The Waterfowl Festival which happens next weekend in Easton, Maryland.  This is one of the smaller oils that I'll have with me at the festival. 

Shades of Blue

8" x 8" oil on panel
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A Time in September

When I'm not packing, I'm working on paintings for Art for the Sangres, a one day/evening show to be held on September 29th in Westcliffe, Colorado.  It's a small town at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in southern Colorado with wide-open plains that are home to deer, elk and pronghorn antelope.  If the autumn color is on schedule, I'd like to spend a day painting the brilliant yellow aspen at the foot of the mountains.  Westcliffe is 7800 altitude, so the winters are hard.  On previous  Art for the Sangres weekends, we've had snow in Westcliffe, but we've also had temps of 78 F.  I'm hoping for beautiful color!

I originally intended to put a bear in this 24" x 36" oil, A Time in September,  but I couldn't find a place to put him - and the idea of a bear seemed to disturb the peace, so I left him out. I've framed
this in a 3" wide dull-gold frame....and love the way it looks!

A Time in September

24" x 36" oil on Ampersand Cradleboard
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I've had people ask about my plans to return to live in New Zealand.  I'm originally from Warkworth, about 45 minutes north of NZ's largest city, Auckland.  Warkworth is now considered part of the 'super city' of Auckland and real estate prices are through the roof, so I'm looking further north.  I've been shovelling snow for 35 winters and I am d-o-n-e!  Another reason why I am looking for a house in The Winterless North.  I'm cross-eyed from looking at houses online and have almost used up 5 gB limit for the month, with another ten days to go, but it seems that the New Zealand's Northland will win out. 

On to a new adventure!

Mountain Trails Gallery in Sedona, Arizona

I am pleased to announce that I am now represented by Mountain Trails Gallery in Sedona, Arizona - with two galleries (upstairs and downstairs) in Tlaquepaque.  Besides being a top-notch gallery, lots of my artist friends including Sandy Scott, Susan Kliewer and Betty Carr are already represented by Mountain Trials, so this will be a good match.  The gallery participates in  First Friday, an art gallery tour held the first Friday of each month.  This and other events at Tlaquepaque will give me the opportunity to paint at the gallery.  As I tend to be a hermit, this is good thing!  

Painting at Mountain Trails Gallery last night.