New Paintings

Once I started to discuss this painting with people I realised how many layers of meaning it had.
To put it simply, I discovered that the Tui is considered the messenger between cultures to the Maori people.
The bird houses not only represent our home Aotearoa and the Tui going between cultures but also the history of migration, starting with the Maori people represented by the Marae. The goldminers (stone cottage) and the diversity of cultures they brought to New Zealand and then of course the colonial migration (the villa). Today we now have many cultures that make up our beautiful country.
The Kōwhai portrays the inclusion of these cultures as the flower of friendship.

Series 1
Set of 12 Acrylic on wooden discs.

Taonga o Aotearoa celebrates the flora and fauna of New Zealand.

These taonga are treasures to the people of New Zealand.
Taonga means to be highly prized which also includes socially or culturally valuable objects, concepts, natural resources, ideas and techniques.

This is the first series of these miniature paintings, that can be collected as sets and added to, to make larger pieces.

What I loved about painting these miniatures is that they are uniquely individual and by structuring a painting this way I could include so many star elements rather than just a few in a painting.
It was exciting to build the set, making it into a sizeable and interesting piece of art.

This painting has to be my happiest yet!
It’s a continuation from ‘As Fresh as a Daisy’. It celebrates the transitions and changes we are constantly adapting to as we go through life. This is represented by the Monach Butterfly.
It also symbolises how we view and adjust to those changes, hopefully with a sunny disposition.
I’ve brought forward the wild flowers that are often an additional element to my paintings, this time making them the star of the show!

This painting not only celebrates our native Admiral Butterfly but also brings forward the wild flowers that are often an additional element to my paintings, rather than the star of the show!