Lion Rock and the Piha Coast
This is one of the earliest paintings that I painted and dates from around 1988. It is a view of Piha (a very popular surfing destination on the West Coast of Auckland) from the hills to the South. I painted it from a photograph in a calendar. Since then, I have taken all my own photos to paint. (Oil on canvas board, 400mm x 300mm)
Kaitoke Regional Reserve, Upper Hutt
I took the photo on which this painting is based at the location where the “Rivendell” sequence was shot in the filming of the Lord of the Rings movie. (Located near the Kaitoke reservoir north of Upper Hutt.) It has long been a favourite place of mine, as I used to spend quite a bit of time here when I was in my teens, and it not only has good memories for me, but also an ambience that for me is unmatched anywhere else. (Oil on stretched canvas, 400mm x 300mm)
Eternity
This is an example of how I have tried to capture an aspect of my feelings in a painting, in this case, with a very limited palette, using Utramarine Blue, Burnt Umber and Titanium White. I saw this row of trees when driving to the beach near Waverley. I took the photo on which I based this painting on the way back. I have given it the title of "Eternity", as sometimes when I look into a big blue sky and watch the clouds drift past, I feel as though I can look into eternity. The appearance of trees in silhouette is something else that I remember impressed me at a young age. I think that this painting embodies both aspects quite well. (Oil on canvas stretched over 35mm wooden frame, 510mm x 410mm)
Mavora Lakes
This is one of my favourite places. It has yet to be completed, after I didn't like work I did since this photo was taken. It will get done one day! (Oil on canvas board, 910mm x 610mm.)
Mowhanau Beach
This was painted on location at around 3pm on Sunday 27th May 2007. It has been rare for me to paint directly from a subject, but with the encouragement of Janet Kortlever who was tutoring me at the time, I have been doing this more often. I like the result, which was achieved quite quickly, and I think a bit more freedom of expression than I have previously achieved. (Oil on canvas board, 300mm x 220mm)
Mowhanau Dusk
This was painted wet-on-wet in a single session in December 2008. It is based on a photo that I took in 2012. It shows Mowhanau beach shortly after sunset with the tide out. (Oil on canvas board, 460mm x 350mm)
Mowhanau Sketch
Although this was done as an exercise in an art class with Janet Kortlever as tutor, I think that the results are pleasing. Because I used cartridge paper, it wrinkled a bit, so this scanned image doesn't really do the finished product "justice" in my opinion. (Mixed Media - pencil, wax crayon, ink and acrylic on cartridge paper.)
Kapiti Island
This is a view of Kapiti Island as viewed from along Paraparaumu Beach. (Lower west coast of the North Island.) It was composed from three separate photographs, and done as a birthday present for family. I worked as quickly as I could on this one to keep my style as free and open as I could, rather than concern myself with detail. (Acrylic on textured card, 300mm x 150mm.)
Misty Buller River
I took the photo this painting was based on, standing on wet grass in light drizzle. I hope the painting captures something of the dampness I felt that day. It is an area of great beauty, and I hope to do more paintings of the West Coast, Haast and Buller rivers.
Volcanic Rock and Driftwood
Volcanic Rock and Driftwood. (Pencil on paper.)
Shell
Shell. (Pencil and Ink on paper.)
Draped Cloth
Draped Cloth. (Pencil on paper.)