merry christmas

Well, Christmas has struck already and before we know it, the New Year will have begun. I have to admit that I was very spoiled by my friends and family. Of note, I recieved 'Eagle's Complete Trees and Shrubs of New Zealand' by Audrey Eagle, published by Te Papa Press. The range of plant species is phenomenal and illustrations superb. Eagle has wonderful perceptual ability and an excellent eye for detail. Having borrowed her books from the library previously, I have learned much from observing her images. I am sooo happy to now have a set of my own, thanks Mum! xx

puawananga tui

Puawananga is a native clematis, the blooms are absolutely gorgeous. Here I experimented with combining the creamy, white flowers and our delightful tui on a mild green background. A vintage wallpaper pattern features in the background, it was reworked back into with hues reminiscent of retro decor. I was thrilled with how this tryptich turned out. In my opinion it is very visually pleasing.

pohutukawa tieke

While on Tiritiri Matangi, I was amazed at how plentiful the tieke (saddle backs) were. Having never seen one before in my entire life, it was such a treat to see one, let alone in the wild. They would hang out in little whanau clusters, cheeky and nosy, chattering like Woody Wood pecker. It was interesting to find out that tieke mate for life, you usually don't associate that with birds.

fantails and roses

I have been remiss in the upkeep of this blog. Since getting back from Tiri I have frantically been trying to get caught up with work etc; and got out of the habit. The background of this work was an experiment with overlapping fragments of vintage lace and doileys. I think that there is more to explore in the idea of playing with 'fan'tails and lace. Something that could be experimented with further next year. Because the painting had a vintage feel with the doilies I decided to go with it. The roses worked wonderfully, one of my favourite ones happened to be flowering so I used that to base the painted ones on. The exaggeration of the serpentine nature of the stems added interest to the composition and linked all three panels together beautifully.

tiritiri matangi

Recently I was fortunate to go to Tiritiri Matangi in the harbour. It is a DOC reserve, one of the few predator-free areas in New Zealand. We can thank the hard work of many volunteers and DOC workers for having the privilege to enjoy such a precious environment. Going there is like traveling back in time, to how I would imagine Aotearoa would have been without human intervention. On Tiri reside many different bird species including rare and endangered birds such as kokako, hihi (stitchbird), tieke (saddleback), takahe, spotted kiwi, just to name a few.


It is amazing walking through the bush and hearing so many different bird calls, choruses of korimako (bellbird), tieke giggling at you in whanau groups at every turn. Of course you cannot forget our tui, seem to revel in imitating any bird that is around them. Shy kakariki that try and hide from you as soon as they sense your presence and little popokotea (whitehead) that twitter around in hyperactive clusters.


This photograph of Rangitoto viewed above ti (cabbage trees of different varieties) reminds me of the cover image of '200 years of New Zealand Painting.' The lush regenerating bush is a result of hundreds of people and children contributing their time and energy to help to create this precious environment. There are so many birds on the island that it will be some time still before all of the trees are mature enough to provide food for all of the birds. To assist with this additional food is put out by the rangers and researchers.


I have further been inspired in my art making and now have personalities to add to the manu that are depict within my paintings. Unfortunately my own photographs are not the best. I don't think that National Geographic will come knocking for my photographic talents. I will have to go back sometime soon just to add to the experiences that I have already had there.

kia ora kereru

Today I went for the usual walk up my local mountain. It was a gorgeous sunny day, very few clouds in the sky and a lovely cooling breeze. Enjoying the view as I walked clockwise, around the road, a sudden movement in the tree tops to my left caught my attention. I looked up and was fortunate to see a kereru perching high up in a eucalyptus tree. It mate then fluttered up next to it. They were as well-fed as the ones I had depicted within my painting. Surprisingly wood pigeons can be very fluid, graceful fliers. Two days ago I witnessed one fly vertically above the very same tree. It then stalled, and in a perfect, parabolic arc dived back down, out of view. Just beautiful.

Three times in two weeks. It is weird, am I noticing birds more since I have been painting them? Maybe they have recently moved into the neighbourhood.

Harakeke Tui

I completed this work today. After completing the comissoned piece, I couldn't resist doing another tui work. I had a new image that I was keen to give a try and I am thrilled about how the tui turned out. Unfortunately I also go a call from the library about the very same, and other library books. I don't think that I will be thrilled about the incurred fines! Serves me right. The harakeke or flax is slightly transparent which contrasts with the solidity of the birds.

A Lovely Surprise

Getting out-of-doors, in and amongst nature is something that I find productive for my art making, but also calming for my spirit. My regular walk is a wonderful way to start the morning. I leave the house half asleep and inarticulate, to return refreshed, revitalized and ready to face the day. Oh, and face what ever ideas I need to resolve and paintings I need to continue upon from yesterday. It is a lovely little ritual.

I was walking up Maungawhau (Mt Eden, one of Auckland's very special volcanic cones) the other day. A retreat from the hustle and stink of the city. There are many gorgeous native trees up there and you can frequently hear and see tui, swallows and other birds. After reaching the summit and having all of the cobwebs blown out of my head by a brisk South Easterly. I started to make my way down through the track that passes by the kumera pits. Overhead flew a cluster of birds, it was a silhouette that I had not seen up there before. They were larger forms that I was used to seeing, my immediate assumption was that they were sea-birds. Maybe they had flown inland to avoid some of the shonky weather that we had been having. The shape of them was not right for a seabird however. As it turned out, after getting a close up view of one's chest, the white and grey-blue determined that they were kereru! I don't think that I had ever seen them anywhere in Auckland except for out in the Waitakeres. It made my day.

Pohutukawa Tui

Ella Thomas 2007
Triptych 3 canvases
305mm x 405mm
Archival acrylics on canvas




Another work that I added the finishing details yesterday. It was a private commission which is to be gifted to a family over in America. I am thrilled with how it has turned out, the composition I find pleasing; the layering and contrast within the colour palette.

Tui are one of Aotearoa's most iconic birds. It has a vivacious personality and delightful song. The pohutakawa, New Zealand's christmas tree that lines our coast lines with velvet splashes of crimson.

Porokaiwhiri Kereru

Ella Thomas 2007

Triptych 3 canvases

305mm x 405mm

Archival acrylics on canvas

This is a work that I finished this week. I am so happy with how the layered colours have captured the luminescent quality of the kereru feathers. They are such hilaroius birds and look like they just shouldn't be able to fly because they are so fat.

Porokaiwhiri is the Pigeonwood tree that provides berries which Kereru love to devour.

Kereru is the New Zealand wood pigeon.