This is a record of my art making, the experiences that I have in everyday life that inspire me and a document of the paintings that I produce. Sometimes I will mention different facts or stories that bear some relevance to manu / birds and New Zealand native flora. One of the key ideas within my work is the celebration of the uniqueness of the native species within Aotearoa / New Zealand.

Thursday, October 25, 2007

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.

3 comments:

kennytt said...

Kia ora Ella - Your painting "Harakeke Tui" is absolutely amazing!! I followed the auction on TradeMe (didn't bid) as it surpassed my budget)You have a beautiful gift, the increase in prices you are recieving at auction confirm this- you deserve every accolade-although im not Nga Puhi, none the less I am so very proud as a maori -kia kaha e hine, a, ka haere tonu to mahi peita pai rawa o nga manu o te ngahere- na Ken Te Tau.

ella thomas said...

Kia ora Ken, I have only just found this, I am still getting used to this blog thing. Thank you so very much for your beautiful comments, I was very moved. I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and have had a fantastic start to your new year. Tēnā rawa atu koe, Ella.

kennytt said...

Kia Ora Ella,

I've been trying to make contact with you.

Would you do a commission piece for me?

I've been bidding on your painting for a while now.
I was almost tempted to win the auction for Karaka Tui and did bid initially until I viewed your blog site and saw Harakeke Tui again.
That painting is magnificent and has that wow factor (to me anyway)

I have a love for our Tui, I live next the bush and have watched them increase in numbers as the possums have bee eradicated.

My wife weaves Harakeke hence my love of this particular painting.

I kick myself for not winning that auction.
During that auction I remember that the person who eventually won it posted a comment to say that they didn't like the Tui that was upside down.... for anyone who has ever watched Tui feed know that they feed upside down especially when feeding on the flowering Harakeke and the Kowhai, you captured the moment beautifully.... I can't figure out why the person who made the negative comment eventually went on to win that auction.

Anyway, I follow your auctions in the hope that something similar appears.

Thank-you Ella, you are such a wonderful artist I wish you every success.

Na Ken Te Tau

k.tetau@paradise.net.nz
(04)2377630 -home
0274876599 - mobile


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About Me

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Auckland, New Zealand
Ella Thomas is a contemporary artist who lives in Auckland, Aotearoa. She is of Ngapuhi descent and has a passion for the beauty of the whenua (land), the sea and for the unique flora and fauna of New Zealand. The concepts that are explored within Ella's work are based upon notions of conservation, ecological balance and extinction. Her paintings often feature nostalgic patterns reminiscent of the mid to late 1800's, the era when European colonization occurred. It was during this time that many unique species of birds became extinct. The rarer a bird became, the more prized a specimen of it became. Alive or dead. Much of Ella's paintings are celebrations of the unique character of our surviving taonga (treasures). Ella has a Bachelor of Visual Arts and has been working within arts related industries for many years. She has paintings in collections nationwide, Australia, England and the USA. Finally the plunge has been taken and Ella has committed herself to fulfilling a dream, that of becoming a full-time artist.