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.

Saturday, December 29, 2007

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

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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.