Snow Beasts

image from Advocacy Britannica

There is something rather amazing about animals that have evolved to survive some of the most extreme conditions on the planet. The Arctic and other similar environments have influenced the evolution of such creatures as polar bears, arctic wolves and snow leopards. Like many folk who are aware of the increasing issues associated with global warming, how these stunning creatures will continue to survive in altered climates is a something that is of concern to me.

image fromThe Guardian

Sir David Attenborough is one of my biggest heroes and I have so loved watching the programme Frozen Planet that was screened earlier on in the year. Like many of his documentaries, it has been the source of inspiration for my latest series; 'Snow Beasts.'

'Polar Bear' 2013

This series was attempting to explore notions around how animals who are dependant on arctic conditions could potentially survived in an environment where the temperature has increases. Already places are having issues with wild animals hunting / foraging closer to inhabited areas, due to habitat loss. Animals who are domesticated face a greater chance of survival.

Peruvian Llamas

Peruvian llamas as pictured here are marked with coloured tassels on their ears to note their bloodlines and ownership. This inspired me to experiment with similar adornments on wild animals who live in cooler climes.

'Snow Leopared' and 'Arctic Wolf'  the initial idea

This was my initial idea, but while painting them, I started thinking that conceptually it was a great idea, actually having these amazing wild beasts with their ears pierced like cattle made me cringe. Also there was that 80's association . . .

I was not about to add war paint.

So in the end I edited out the ear tassels and I am very pleased with the results. It still alludes the ideas that I was exploring without being lost to 80's pop music references.

'Snow Leopard' 2013

'Arctic Wolf'' 2013

The limited edition giclee prints of these, both in A3 and A4 format will be available for purchase at the Auckland Art and Craft Fair. It is this Saturday the 29th of June at the Edge in the Aotea Centre.

If you can't get there, they will eventually be available too.

Pink Ribbon Breakfast

Yesterday in little ol' Kingsland we had a fabulous time at Crafternoon Tea, partially due to the delightful company and wonderful browsers and customers. I think that the scrummy baking that lovlies like Emma from The Little Card Factory, Alice from Absolutely Alice and Kylie from Broken Bits (whose excellent idea it was), might have had something to do with it too.

Yes we had cake for breakfast!

Well I can bake, however not consistently. It is not a skill I aim to develop as I seem to end up eating it all which does not do fabulous things for the figure. Instead I decided to do what I am good at, and paint a pink animal. The first thing that sprung to mind was a pig, which are cute, but not necessarily what people would like to have on their walls. The next idea was of course, a flamingo. They have such a lovely retro feel to them, combined with their stunning colour, I decided they would be the beastie to paint.

Their gorgeous hue is derived from the krill they eat.

Here is the final illustration here, which I framed using a pink ribbon and reference old copperplate flourishes. 

It is painted on 300gsm water-colour paper and available on Felt

From this water-colour I did a limited edition series of 25. There are still 15 at this stage left which I would love to move quickly so as I can get the funds to the NZBCF. There are available to purchase too, just follow this link to ellaquaint on Felt

Little A5 digital prints on 185 gsm watercolour paper.

This poor blog has been so neglected this year, in part due to the number of markets I have been doing and I fear that it will stay a little quiet due to the fact that I am back in the class room again too. Hopefully I won't neglect it entirely but my apologies if it gets even quieter.

More Wee Beasties

I so enjoyed painting the first lot of Timorous Beasties that I decided to paint some more.

Standing Fawn

Standing Fawn had the cutest pose so I just had to paint him. I think that I might have to have paint some more deer as their coats layer up so nicely with watery washes then textured brush marks layered up over the top.

Little Lop

Little Lop, well lop bunnies are pretty delightful but this guy took the cake.

Sparrow

Sparrows are one of my favourite introduced birds. This guy looked so sweet all fluffed up into his feathers. Should you be interested in purchasing any of these cuties, you can find them on our ellaCute store on etsy. Ooo there is a sale happening there also!

ellaCute

Happy New Year! We hope you have all had a fabulous start to your 2012. 

The start of new years are the perfect time to progress with new endeavours, we have decided to get super serious and kick-start a store on Etsy. Unfortunately our name ellaquaint was taken but someone else for their store so we adapted, as we clever kiwis do, and decided to call our new shop ellaCute, but we are still ellaQuaint everywhere else.

Now that  procrastination has taken place in the form of redesigning the banner, I figure I had better finish some of the real new projects now. Here is the link to ellaCute

New Manu

Well, my trusty printer threw a wobbly and refused to print on the 270gms watercolour paper that I so loved. Actually I am amazed that I got away with it for so long as I would have to run the dehumidifier for at least a day before printing to get it to go through the machine. On the bright side, it encouraged me to take the step of getting some works professionally printed and I am thrilled with the results.

Ruru 2011

They are prints based on original watercolour illustrations that I did. They are then printed using archival pigmented inks upon Hahnemuhle William Turner paper, which is 310gms in weight and designed specifically  for creating archivally sound digital reproductions.

Huia 2011

 Another wonderful thing about this paper is that it is matt and has a similar texture to watercolour paper. It also has a lovely velvety effect within the dark tones of the images, which reinforces the depth that I try to achieve in the layering up of different hues.

Piwakawaka 2011

I am also stoked not to have to be stressing about sourcing the crazy paper and battling with my printer anymore. The number of times it nearly got thrown through the window!

Should you be interested in checking out these new additions to the ellaQuaint aviary, further images are available for viewing on link to Felt.

Spring Beasties

Well at times it does appear that spring has indeed sprung. My mum has just gotten back from a trip overseas where she spent some time catching up with my Uncle and Auntie who live in Surrey. Hearing about my Uncle's latest gardening escapes reminded me of my first encounter with foxes and other Beatrix Potteresque animals. This inspired my latest series of animal paintings / prints which are based on the idea of 'In my Uncle's garden'. It appears that 'free-range' gardening runs in the family, there is nothing quite like finding 'susprises' that self-seed in among the weeds. That is when they finally get cleared themselves.

My ummmm, 'vege-patch'

When I was nine, I was lucky to be taken on an amazing trip over to England and Europe by my mum. Part of the reason for this was to meet my Uncle and Auntie for the first time. We stayed with them in their gorgeous three storied terraced house, but I was astounded by the wildness of their back garden. The lawns were about knee height which was in stark contrast to my own experience of the gardens of my mum and grand parents. We asked about why the garden was so unkempt and was told that my Uncle was worried about squashing the toads that lived there. He also liked the fact that other animals felt free to live there and the frequent visitors from Richmond Park which was very near by. Those visitors included a fox with her wee cubs, I was woken one morning quite early to be told to peer out of the window. Sure enough there was the vixen with her offspring sneaking through under the fence, hunting for toads.

Nearly thirty years later the garden now boasts a whole lot of free-ranging trees. The latest resident within the suburban wilderness is now a badger. This was the starting point for this collection, they will be available for purchase soon.

New Favourite Illustrator

In Your Soul are Infinitely Precious Things That Cannot
 Be Taken From You

Artists that explore the relationships between people and animals, people and people and people and the natural environment capture my interest. Those that have great technical ability combined with an inventive approach I am likely to love. Fumi Mini Nakamara is one of those. This first work is from the Our Hands Will Eventually Destroy Everything Beautiful series. More can be found here
Fumi Mini Nakamura's website 








 

Your Secret is Safe with Us



Her works are just beautiful, she uses coloured pencil with subtley that can only be described as sophistocated. Here we can see the artist trying to convey the responsibility that we as humans have to the environment around us. Nakamura's clusters of natural forms, animals and humans reinforces ideas of the interconectiveness of all things, a notion that appeals to me greatly within my own work and others. 

 



 

Every Promise is Meant to be Broken

These two works are from the Himitsu Series that she produced between 2007 - 2009. Here Nakamuru explores the connections between people and birds, such lovely lyrical works.

You can also follow this link to a great article in Hi Fructose Fumi Mini Nakamara in Hi Fructose

Eye Balm

  
Pattern, and obsessive compulsive detailing are elements that I am attracted to when viewing a work of art. As a lover of William Morris patterns, I was delighted to come across the illustrations of Anna Emilia. She has a wonderful sense of colour that to me evokes winter in the 1940's.



William Morris Willow Leaf

  
Her attention to detail captures your attention and is perfectly balanced with her use of negative space and airy white backgrounds. This takes the Victorian 'more is more' type fussiness and infuses it with and simplistic elegance that allows you to appreciate the natural forms that Anna Emilia has rendered.



Anna Emilia Apple Blossom Meadow


To see more of Anna Emilia's work you can check out her website here

http://www.annaemilia.com/index.html

or her blog http://annaemilial.blogspot.com/

Fresh Beginnings

Well after many hours thinking about it, wistfully discussing it I am back in the saddle. It looks like it might not be just myself either which will be fantastic. My crazy cousin Liz Thomas, who is also an artist has come up with many projects that we could work on together.

Because the array of ideas that we have had has been ridiculous, I have decided to branch out and dabble in other areas apart from just paint. Illustration has always been a passion and I am so inspired right now by the many, many talented people that are out and about. However, my manu (birds) will not be forgotten. In fact there are many schemes my brain is devising as to how to explore them further . . .

A new beginning needs a fresh identity.