OnceIt

If you have not been introduced to the fantastic sales that appear on Onceit, you might like to join up as some cute and quaint things are about to emerge on there.

They specialize in designer brands and fabulous artisans whose wares include jewellery, fashion, accessories, home wares and more

I only have a limited number of invites so . . .

Invitation to Onceit

 . . . and I hear there might be some manu on there too.

SALE!

This weekend there is a sale on Ella Thomas original acrylic paintings. It applies to lo-tech sales only I am afraid. You can check them out either at . . .

Silo Park Night Markets and Cinema
5-10pm
Silo Park
Corner of Beaumont and Jellicoe Sts


'Land of the Long White Cloud' is screening at 9pm

or the first fabulous

Handmade Titirangi Market
10-2pm Kaurilands Primary School
109 Atkinson Rd
Auckland

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.

What the Cat Dragged In



 Riroriro Iti  . . . asleep

I have always been rather proud of my 'special' cat, for the last few years she has hardly caught anything at all. Well, about 3 months ago she got diagnosed with a thyroid condition. Despite medication she is still acting like a cat 10 years younger, especially today which saw her catching not one, but two birds! Rotten little  . . . . . . . .

My two laptops



 This little cutie managed to survive, thankfully. Unfortunately it is too small and hasn't quite got flying sorted yet so it looks like I have a new wee beastie to look after for a wee while. It turns out it is a baby riroriro, grey warbler. Initially I wasn't sure because it's eyes are brown. Apparently they don't turn red until adulthood.

I wonder how long that is going to take. Until then I think I will be catching insects and trying to create better housing for it.

a bird in the hand . . . is kind of cranky.

As I was researching images on the net, I came across quite a few images of birds actually being held. In the process of monitering and assisting them, of course it can't be helped. It got me thinking about different notions around the saying 'A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.'

a peeved piwakawaka

How old fashioned the values are behind that expression. With regard to endangered species and ecological ideals, it is completely the reverse now-a-days; we want them to be free and to be reestablishing themselves in our forests.

a beautiful kokako

I have to admit that I was silly and didn't record where I got these images, so if I 'borrowed' them from you. Please let me know and please may I use them :)

Here you can view the paintings that resulted from these ideas
http://ellathomaspaintings.blogspot.com/2011/02/bird-in-hand.html

Layer upon Layer

The darker a painting is, the more washes of paint that went into it. Tui in particular take quite a bit of working up to achieve the depth of colour that creates a similar lustrous effect like that on their feathers.

The first couple of layers rough out the shape, while the next ones start defining the tui's form.

Once the form is starting to take place, the planes of the feathers are worked up; until lastly the details within her plumage.

 

Finally she is finished, with the addition of her poi and collar feathers.

You can see additional images on Toggle, where she is available for purchase
http://www.toggle.co.nz/ella-thomas.html