Dead Leaf

Dead Leaf

Oil on linen on MDF

68x95mm

$120

This is the second painting of this particular subject recently. It is a small dead and curled up leaf from a Pohutakawa tree. I thought it looked like a small boat. And a boat is often used as an archetypal symbol of the transition between life and death.

Old Leaf

Old Leaf

Oil on linen on MDF

$120

I think I just turned one over.

Postcard From Puniho

Postcard From Puniho

Oil on linen on MDF

135x187mm

$200
sold

The view from the back door.

Pohutakawa

Pohutakawa
Oil on gessoed board
135x100mm

$100

sold



I've long been meaning to paint some of the pohutakawa trees in flower with their dramatic crimson blossoms. Usually I miss the opportunity by leaving it too long, however this season I decided to just go for it and paint the one outside my studio. I literally stuck the painting board to the back door with buetac and painted it in situ. It was a windy day and the branches were being tossed around a lot and the sun came and went so it was constantly changing. But that is all par for the course with plein air painting!


Here it is stuck to the door:

Pohutakawa Leaf

Pohutakawa Leaf
Oil on gessoed board
105x80mm

sold

Another one for the Kina Show. I thought I'd just paint a single leaf and I liked the way this one was half red and half green.

Some good news. I was awarded the first prize in the watercolour section of the Taranaki Art Awards for my "Smooth Banana" that I blogged here a while back.

Pohutakawa Branch With New Growth

Pohutakawa Branch With New Growth
Oil on gessoed board

195x195mm

$400

This was painted for an exhibition at Kina Gallery on a theme of the Pohutakawa tree. I decided to paint just a branch and I liked the idea of the contrast between the old worm eaten leaves with the new spring growth.