Mitre Peak - work in progress

So this what I've been up to - a rather time consuming piece I must say! The image is a simple one but the paint effect in the sky and lake consist of many layers built up using a very fine brush. It's acylic on boxed canvas and still needing refinement. I plan to sharpen the lines and glaze over parts of the mountain and it's reflection.

I also went to Athol this week and hung a couple of my smaller pieces - Fields of Gold and Nathalias World.

Rich landscapes of Southland NZ

"Fields of Gold" acrylic on canvas. Based on the landscapes around northern southland, nz. I think I may be over winter (which is odd because it's actually my favourite season) but it seems that I'm coveting blue skies and golden fields - it's been a recurring theme lately in my work. I attempted a seascape the other night but just had to walk away, it really really wasnt working! So I did this instead - as usual I shall stare at it for awhile and if nothing needs changing I shall sign and varnish it.

My new series of NZ Landscapes

I enjoyed painting Central Gold so much that I've moved into a whole series based around the NZ landscapes. This piece "Shifting Sands" is still unfinished but I think showing some promise. I need to integrate the lake into the picture, as it stands it looks out of place. I'm enjoying the freedom of this style, I need to refine the technique more but I'm definitely enjoying the process. The landscapes of New Zealand affect people in so many ways, I enjoy listening to locals talk about the scenery that surrounds them and taking away with me the way they feel and trying to put it out on canvas. When I hear people discussing Central Otago for instance their words are injected with pride and a sense of history. The often rugged coastlines evoke feelings of freedom. For me I love to capture these feelings on canvas as often they are a mirror image of emotions I have in other facets of my life.
It's a more than pleasant way to bide my time until I can continue with my World series.

Back into painting

So it's been awhile since I've posted anything, I've got a good excuse though. My Mums been down visiting, I hadn't seen her for three years. So of course painting took a back seat this last couple of weeks. She's just left for the airport and yes I blubbed like a baby! I'm guessing that I'll be homesick again for awhile. It'll be interesting to see how that affects my work. The lesson I learnt this week was definitely that you're never to old to miss your mum!
It's been an emotional few weeks - we had to have one of our cats put to sleep because she was poisoned, that was a learning curve I wish my girls didnt have to experience. A serious amount of pride as I will soon have work exhibiting in the "Gift of Art" gallery in Christchurch(more on that later it deserves a whole post of it's own) Then the joy of seeing mum and the sadness as she left - I'm figuring that will linger for awhile.
Anyway must away to paint before the school run this avy.