tui mouku

Diptych 2 canvases 305mm x 225mm x 35mm
Archival quality acrylics and gesso on canvas


This was a commission that I really enjoyed working upon, it features a tui perched among flowers of ngutu-kaka (kaka beak). I am really happy with how I have managed to further explore playing with simplified kowhaiwhai forms in the tui's collar feathers. The background has layered up silhouetted of mouku (hen and chicken fern).

tui teo

Triptych 3 pieces 205 mm x 205 mm x 35mm
Archival quality acrylics and gesso on canvas





With this painting I was drawn into experimenting with layering silhouettes of kowhai leaves and hand painted realistic images. I was also wanting to see the effect of not including kowhai blooms, . An interesting development seems to be occurring with how I am rendering the birds, particularly tui. Their eyes are getting bigger and bigger.

manuka riroriro 2008

The little riroriro (grey warbler) was awarded 'Bird of the Year' in 2007. It is quite an amazing little bird, despite pipiwharauroa (shining cuckoo) parasitism riroriro are still quite common. Instead of having just one breeding round during spring, riroriro actually have two, one of them being earlier than that of the pipiwharauroa. This has enabled them to survive where other birds wouldn't have. They also adapt quickly to most environments, even in suburbia. I was lucky enough to see one on Tiritiri Matangi, they are so small(about 100mm) and delightful. Initially I mistook it for a rifleman, but later found out that there are none on the island.

Triptych, 3 canvases 205mm x 405mm x 35mm
Archival acrylics and gesso on canvas

I am really happy with how these paintings turned out. The subtle layering worked well, riroriro colouring and feathers are just beautiful. Manuka flowers and the darker branches proved to be the ideal backdrop for the triptych.

ngutu-kaka tui

2008
Triptych 3 canvases
305mm x 405mm x 35mm
Archival quality acrylics and gesso on canvas



Within this triptych I got a little carried away with the details within the tui plumage and the abundance of ngutu-kaka (kaka beak) flowers and foliage. In my opinion the effect is lovely even if the painting took quite some time to complete.

In the wild the ngutu-kaka is rare, browsing pests like possums and feral goats have contributed greatly to this. Thankfully it is a popular tree in gardens so it is safe from extinction.

tui kahukura

2008
diptych
2 canvases 305mm x 225mm x 35mm
Archival quality acrylics and gesso on canvas


This little diptych is the second work that I have completed this year, it was a commission piece. As well as a tui perched on flowering pohutukawa, to the left a kahukura, native red admiral flutters. Kahukura also has some other lovely meanings; to be multicoloured, a rainbow as well as a cloak coloured with red ochre. The composition works wonderfully within the double landscape format.

tui tahi

2007
Triptych 3 canvases
615mm x 405mm
Archival quality acrylics and gesso on canvas

Here I experimented with using a single tui within a central format. The canvases are of a longer format than I have used previously but work wonderfully with the vertical nature of harakeke.

puataua korimako

2007
Triptych 3 canvases
225mm x 305mm
Archival quality acrylics, spraypaint and gesso on canvas



I love this painting to pieces. The mistiness of the background reminds me of how light filters through the bush at dawn. This is one of the times when the korimako are particularly vocal with their delightful call. Contrasting beautifully with the freshness of the greens within the korimako's (bellbird's) feathers, are the rich, earthy browns. Puataua is another of our lovely native clematis species.