Barren Land

 

Barren Land

 Oil on linen on MDF

150x197mm

 $250

I haven't ever been witness to this small amount of snow on our mountain for this time of year. It's been very warm and mild.  This view is from the beach at Komene Rd where I walk every day, rain or shine. The farmer who runs stock there, has been clearing new ground and put in water troughs.  It occurred to me as I painted this that it is a very elemental image : air - the blue sky, earth, water - the snow and the trough, and fire being the volcano, Mt Taranaki.

Regular visitors to this blog will have noticed I haven't been posting much. I have been working on larger paintings. Also, I'm finding that the small works are no longer selling like they used to. However, I enjoy painting them anyway, and will continue to do so as long as I can afford to. I got quite a shock when I went to order more paint supplies recently and found that the price has literally gone up by 100% here in NZ! In fact, for the first time it was cheaper for me to order internationally and pay the freight and import tax. This is a long round-about way of justifying why I've decided to put my prices up!  I've kept the price of these paintings deliberately low over the last eight years or so , so that anyone can afford them. But I'd rather not sell them for a reasonable price than not sell them for a pittance. This is also a good thing for my collectors who have supported me, as their collections are now officially worth more!

Another bit of news:  I am part of the Taranaki Arts Trail which takes place this weekend, for those living in or visiting Taranaki.

High Cloud on The Mountain

High Cloud on The Mountain

Oil on linen on MDF

100x130mm

$150

Studio Window With View of The Mountain

Studio Window With View of The Mountain
Oil on linen on MDF
258x170mm

$200
sold

A film crew for Sticky Pictures are arriving tomorrow making a documentary for the TVNZ arts show, "The Gravy". It is to feature Mt Taranaki and it's influence on local artists. I've been asked to be involved and it seemed too good an opportunity to let slip by so I've said yes. Our mountain is often hidden behind cloud, but the last few days have been clear blue skies and so yesterday I took the opportunity to paint the view from my studio window. I found it a challenge trying to get the tonal contrasts between the inside and the outside views balanced. Also I was in a bit of a hurry what with fading light, so the perspective is decidedly wonky! But I like the way the mountain is bisected by the sashes of the window panes. One day I may do a larger more resolved version.

Postcard From MDS - Homage From PJH

Postcard From MDS - Homage From PJH
Oil on gessoed hardboard
210x210mm

This is a painting for a fundraising event for the Taranaki Womens Refuge. You can read more about it at my Another Day blog. http://paul-hutchinson.blogspot.com/

Mountain Through the Window

Mountain Through the Window
Oil on linen on MDF
55x70mm

$90

Sold

Mountain With Cloud 2.25.09

Mountain With Cloud May 09
Oil on linen on MDF

65x112mm

$100

sold

A lively sketch painted this morning. It's on a slightly coarser weave of linen which was interesting to work on.

Mt Taranaki With Low Snow

Mount Taranaki With Low Snow

Oil on linen on MDF

82x98mm
$80

A quick sketch of the fresh snow on the mountain. The light goes so fast.

Mountain and Cloud 23.4.09

Mountain and Cloud 23.4.09
Oil on mahogany on MDF
105x140mm

sold

Mt Taranaki from my studio window. I like trying different surfaces for paintings and this one was done on a piece of mahogany veneer that I laminated onto the MDF board and then gessoed in the usual way. It's nice painting on wood and I wanted to keep the subtle grain of the wood, so this encouraged me to use thinner paint and softer brushes. This subtlety is of course completely lost in the pixels of cyberspace.

Mountain, Cloud and Shadow

Mountain, Cloud and Shadow
Oil on gessoed board
135x115mm

$80

sold

This is a very quick sketch done from memory.

Lahar Hills From Komene Road

Lahar Hills From Komene Road
Oil on gessoed board

150x240mm
$200

sold

I ventured a bit further afield for this one and drove just down the main road. Komene Rd is one of the many little roads branching off down towards the sea. It has access to the beach and is where I walk my dog nearly every day. These little hillocks are everywhere here in South Taranaki. The result of of mudflows, or lahars, from our dormant volcano, Mt Taranaki.

Taranaki June 27, 07

Taranaki June 27, 07
Oil on linen mounted on acid free foamboard

36x100mm

$100

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It was a glorious midwinter's day here yesterday. I painted this tiny miniature from my studio window in the late afternoon.

Mt Taranaki - Western Summit

Mt Taranaki - Western Summit
Oil on gessoed board

60x60mm

NFS

This tiny postage stamp sized miniature was a commision for someone who wanted a small painting of the Mountain. It was to be painted on a 60x60mm size support to fit a specific frame, but the image size to be only 40x40mm! I found it quite a challenge painting this subject at that scale. It occurred to me that painting on that tight scale is a bit like a sport such as shooting. It's a combination of intense concentration, controlled breathing and muscle control. When you get a critical brushstroke in just the right place it's like scoring a bullseye!