Animal antics and a hasty escape

I am starting back to front in this posting...but before I digress any further I just want to declare that I am NOT going to mention anything about the weather! I have looked back on the few blogs I have written and it appears that I am weather obsessed...which may be the case, but for this blog posting it is all about my latest artwork fresh of the easel. It has the longest title I have ever concocted in my career as an artist... so introducing the title... 'The main characters didn't like where the plot was going so made a hasty escape' or in short title...'A hasty escape' Yes a long title to a pretty quirky artwork! This would work as an illustration to a book, however there is no book ( any writers out there who wish to write a story around this artwork feel free!) The story has been rumbling around inside my imagination for quite awhile now and the inspiration has come from my love for 'little people' and my passion for reading. The one thing that upsets me is starting a book and wading through the first few chapters and it doesn't seem to be going anywhere or the writing style is like eating stale toast and then it's equally not nice when you don't gel with the main characters. That is when I put my book down in the failed pile. So with all that in my mind I came up with the idea ....what would happen if the main characters didn't like the storyline or plot and escaped out of the book and ran away! I imagined the author has left his story writing and has gone to make a cup of tea or running an errand and it is while she/he is away they do a runner! Clever characters! Although I am worried about how the dog is going to get down the paper clips. I am hoping the pooch gets down safely along the owner..I think the man in the blue sweater offers to help them both down....meanwhile the author comes back to sit down with his cup of tea and OH NO! he can't write anymore...The old writers block has got him...what happens next is a mystery to me. Maybe I've got writers block now!?!

while we are all thinking about small people escaping how about the antics of miniature animals!Again with my love of all things tiny I have had since my childhood been captivated with early Brittons plastic animals. I still have a few originals that have been saved from my childhood, however they are pretty chewed up..just recently I have started acquiring these little beauties again and enjoy having a little photographic fun with them as I am sharing with you now at the top the photo is called 'PIGGY BACK' and the next just above is 'MUMMY PIG WITH HER PIGLET PILE UP!

Now for my finale ...'why did the chicken cross the road?' because he had a trike...of course!

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By the way the weather today has been perfection! Springing sunshine and puffy little white clouds gamboling around in the blue sky like new born lambs!

 

Miss Daffodil, her friends and an organ grinder

 This photograph is a view looking south out of Wellington Harbour across to the South island. On a clear day one can see the snowy peaks of the Kaikoura Range glinting in the sun. As you can tell by this photo there isn't any sunshine, however the morning felt silken,soft and definitely spring like! The harbour was like a pond and Ruby ( you can just spy her on the lower right corner, yes, its a bit like spot the dog!) was keen for her morning walk  along the beach front. After chasing balls and meeting up with her doggie friends we aim for the village and open up the shoppe.
The week before the weather was miserable with storms and then turning on a sixpence the weather this week heralded a true sense of spring with a gentle warmth in the sun... a huge sigh of relief was echoing around the village. Mother Nature parades her Spring glory; The grandeur of Magnolia blooms, rich pink camellias and Kowhai trees with blooms of golden droplets that can be spied in nearly every local garden. The biggest star in the flower realm is of course the Daffodil. With its sunshine yellow colour it  is captivating everyone's attention by either popping up in gardens or being sold by the bucket load at every florist, dairy or fruit store.

I am inspired every year by Spring flowers and this year it was the turn of Miss Daffodil to be showcased . Being the showy girl she is Miss Daffodil entered the 'Spring Bonnet' competition. With her glowing yellow petals radiating out from her golden bonnet like sun rays she really didn't have much competition and proudly accepted first prize! Second prize went to Miss Tulip and third prize went to Miss Magnolia. Miss Daffodil is showing off her beauty at most places near you...hurrah for Spring! Miss Daffodil, beaming, nods in agreement!

                                                                    Tui Tango

 

Miss Camellia awaits her time

In both of these artworks I have a half man/bird. Let me introduce to you another native bird...Mr Tui, slightly larger than a blackbird and bedecked with shiny black and dark green feathers with a tuft of white fluff on his throat his throat. All very aristocratic and slightly pompous. Living where I do  which is almost rural by the sea we also have the benefit of government protected bush land on our adjacent hillsides. So come Spring the bush teems with fervent bird life and Mr Tui is without doubt  the loudest when it comes to birdsong. I can only describe it as melodic gurgling..from low toots through to swooping crescendos of cackling! In my artworks I am showing Mr Tui behaving as a paramour dancing amongst Spring shrubs and trees. In 'Miss Camellia awaits her time' you can see in the background  Miss Daphne is in a passionate embrace with Mr Tui as he flirts and flits from bush to tree. As Spring evolves  Miss Camellia resplendent in her spring robe waits rather impatiently for the attentions of Mr Tui because her blooming time is almost over.

Mr Tui does have a true love in Spring. With the giddy golden blooms of Miss Kowhai Mr Tui goes into a spin. It is a match made in heaven!. When Mr Tui sips on Miss Kowhai's golden nectar it sends him into a crazy dance of passion! It isn't unusual to walk past a Kowhai tree that's populated by several Tui's. Apart from the raucous birdsong, drunken brawls of territory bagging can happen. This all reminds me of drunken sailors squabbling outside a seafaring pub....all the while Miss Kowhai watches on delighted but slightly bemused! Her blooming time in Spring is brief so to celebrate the union of these two lovers I have painted them embraced in a passionate dance.....The Tui Tango!

To finish on a 'spring is in the air' note...here is a photograph of a local character called Mr Moonen   
playing his vintage Organ grinder on Rimu st. The sound that emanates from these gorgeous music making machines is captivating. One can't help but feel joyful when you listen to the music it creates...I can just imagine my flower folk and the Tui's twirling and dancing up and down the street...rapturously in love with life and living in the moment of movement... and I would have joined in and for a glorious second I could imagine that I was in Paris...Paris by the sea!
Suddenly a gentle spring shower breaks the spell. Mr Moonen wheels is music maker away. Families turn their attention to shopping for dinner and soon the street is empty....time to close me thinks it"s Five o'clock ....in the distance I can hear Mr Tui singing Goodnight..I wonder who he will flirt with tomorrow? 

Feeling ginger, weather haus and Hans and Gretel

I am thinking most people would know what this is and I'm guessing quite a few would own a Weather Haus, especially if you are from Europe. Like it's cousin the cuckoo clock I believe their  origins hail from  Germany and Switzerland and they not only cute,but practical too. I was given this dear little kitsch Weather Haus by a dear friend for Christmas and I just cherish it. Everyday without fail either Hans or Gretel ( not exactly original names, but nothing else seemed appropriate ) would pop out and really instruct me on the wily ways of our daily weather. This winter that is turning into Spring has really given them a work out. Poor darlings...absolutely no rest!
My last post was all about embracing Spring with yellow Daffodils. Well it seems the minute I posted the blog we had a massive hail storm. The sun strived to shine afterwards, but a howling southerly storm whipped any golden glow out the sky and for the next few days Winter returned like an angry tiger ripping trees over and lifting roofs off houses and it even closed our 'one-way in and out road' that connects Eastbourne to the outside world with wild waves cascading over the road littering it with huge tree trunks and debris. Then to add to the mix I went down with a serious head cold which included an inner ear infection, yucky!, but luckily I did manage to finish my latest Artwork inspired by my little Weather Haus and Hans and Gretel.

  

The title of this art work basically sums up how I think our locals feel;

'Even Hans and Gretel needed a break from the weather'

Just looking how Hans and Gretel who seemed to be in and out of their little house with such alacrity I was beginning to sense that they might be getting a little fed up with their job and the inclement weather. So they decided a break was what was needed and with their bags packed and followed by their deer ( well I couldn't let them be left behind could I? ) they departed for a much desired holiday! I finished this artwork and promptly fell sick the next day. So unlike Hans and Gretel off on holiday I  put a note on my shoppe door 'Not well, in bed,but back soon'. We just need the sun to shine it's healing light and heat to lift our spirits and entice Hans and Gretel back. Funnily, I do a rough sketch before I translate it on to canvas..and when I came to paint  Gretel she really did develop a kind of 'pissed off' look with not too much painting input from me and poor old Hans well I have seen that look before on my husband when they know they are in the wrong, but even though they are listening to their partners..it is sort of going in one ear and straight out the other! Which brings me to another title that might work...

"That's the last time I go on a working Holiday with you!"

Bless us all and roll on Spring...Pretty please........

Tins, Daffodils and Fantails

 In New Zealand Spring is not officially here until September the 1st, but we are experiencing days that are slightly warmer and then we start to see all those fabulous Spring flowers! We are already seeing buckets of Daffodils for sale at florists and markets and honestly every year I always fall in love all over again with this elegant but modest flower! The sun may not be shining, but the glow of yellow and gold they emanate can not help but raise a smile and a sense of joy! So I have been buying loads for the shop mainly for display...but also just to inspire customers to get happy.
I have been inspired by the daffs to create a yellow and aqua window display. Starting with a retro tin that once upon a time used to store Cadburys drinking chocolate and then I found the absolutely perfect shade of Daffodil yellow lampshade. Then its the job of my very clever husband to up-cycle the components and make up a 'one off' lamp. I'm in love with it and I am feeling a little reluctant to sell it. I have called it 'The happy lamp'. Beside the lamp is a simple is a little ceramic house that covers a tea light and behind the lamp is a framed print of an art work I painted several years ago.

The title is written on the Artwork...A very Rare Fantail...sometimes it just feels right to include writing on an artwork. No rhyme or reason however the space seemed to dictate that a balance of text in white would work...moving right a long.... for those who don't know much about our native birds the Fantail is one the daintiest and cheerfully cheeky birds that are commonly found in bush throughout New Zealand and easily a favourite of mine. Our house backs onto the bush and every now then I get to enjoy a little display of Fantails flitting and doing aerial acrobatics. Not shy of humans they seem to be natural entertainers with a song that sounds like pips and squeaks. The captivating quality of this delightful bird is their tail which opens up into a fan.
Obviously the fanned tail doesn't look as opulent as the one I have painted ...my imagination just went on a little stretch of the truth and here is, indeed A very rare Fantail with its tail that's morphed into a real fan. The fan is embellished with native New Zealand flowers and blooms. Kowhai and Pohutukawa just to name a few. Once spring has settled and the cherry blossoms have almost finished the Kowhai tree suddenly erupts into a cascade of golden blooms like large droplets of glistening jewels. when they are in bloom another native bird the 'Tui' comes out to feed on its nectar...but wait... I am leading you into another artwork story...it's time isn't due just yet..for now the Daffodil rules my heart and imagination..I can feel a painting starting to emerge.

Butterflies and Postcards

I have a passion or Magpie tendencies to make collections out of all sorts of nostalgic vintage bits and bobs. Here I have a photo of a few of my vintage postcards. I keep them in a large retro suitcase and I think over the years I have collected hundreds. Initially being the visual artist I am it would be the picture on the front of the P.C that may have been the attraction. my number one love being flowers in any format, closely followed by animals and lastly quirky pics of us homo sapiens. On the written side this opens up quite another love. The actual written word, the brief stories that are revealed to me, some are romantic others just wishing a happy birthday or Xmas and occasionally the card that bears very important news, joyful or sad. Each one in their own right are captivating. so apart from the written message I then look at the written P.C as a stunning little gem of an artwork in it's entirety. The calligraphy, everyone unique. Even the shade of the faded ink or paper, smudges, scribbles and colourful postage stamps with ink stamps revealing their date of being sent is...all incidental art to me.

                                          Title of this collage; Sending you all my love

Taking these PCs lovely as they are I like to explore one of my favourite artistic endeavors which involves assemblage or re-assemblage. I liken the written text on the PCs to the fleeting nature of the flight of butterflies. Words touching down briefly and then flying off into the mystery of the universe. How can we capture these words and make them into a precious composition...to be admired like the rare groupings of captured butterflies we often see now in musty museum collections.
I started by scanning the original PCs so I didn't ruin them which would be very sad. Then using a template I traced out three different sizes of butterflies using one PC for each of them. That way I felt they would look like individual species of butterflies. I love the way I can see little fragments of words written in such lovely handwriting. the second butterfly carries the address of where it was going to fly too and at its very heart is the little warmth of colour with the stamp. The cutting and placement is somewhat fiddly but so rewarding. In a box frame I can enjoy the collage/assemblage until it finds a new home.
 

                                         Title of this collage: Dear Heart........
                                    
                                         A close up...all those lovely little words and xxxxx

Being new to blogging and all things slightly techie like placement of photos,text and the odd spelling mistake...I do apologise....I will get the hang of it ...my dear friend Ellen Giggenbach will definitely give me another lesson...Bless her and bless you for reading this blog!
Onwards and upwards! 

Getting to know me....

These photos show my business and passion. I am a working artist living in Eastbourne a tiny little village which shares the harbour with New Zealand's capital city Wellington. We have a small main shopping street with the usual Butchers, fruit shop, dairy, deli,cafe, library and me...and me is called Annie's Art and Treasures. basically the space is where I have a studio in the back and out front is my where my artwork is displayed along side a mixture of new and old wares. I think my life is pretty ideal..I walk to work with Ruby,my trusty little dog and open the shoppe by 11am and juggle getting artwork done and playing retailer until 5pm then its back home again. As I said this shoppe is my passion...and I call it a shoppe (pronounced Sssh HOPE) because I strive to make the experience of being in my space inspirational, hopeful and basically to give people the warm fuzzies..well I'd like to think I do...Oh and lots of humour..nothing like making people smile and laugh!

Right now being the end of winter (hoorah) I am having a yellow dot sale, with 15%plus off most stuff. I have loads of fresh flowers always on display and with Spring just around the corner yellow daffodils are my favourite. Sunshine even on a gloomy grey day. I live for colour in my life..the shoppe is bright and bursting like a rainbow,but I also enjoy and need quiet and  calming colours. The abstract on show I painted to reflect the subdued winter palette that surrounds us living on the harbours edge. It's entitled 'All is calm' Life can be so hectic I am hoping this artwork will be bought by someone who really needs to feed off its gentle demeanor and hang it in a nice quiet spot like the bedroom or quiet den.

you've probably noticed I have two distinct styles or genres. My whimsical figurative artwork is what most people know me for...but like a lot of artists we seek new ideas all the time, I guess that's called 'creating' hence I love painting abstract work dealing with colour and emotion.I love assemblage,box art and photography. If you follow my blog I will take you on my journey being an artist. Showing you what inspires me, what I'm creating at the time and the daily happenings of my funny little shoppe...see you soon.

Happy first day

Hello this is very first post and I am very excited! This artwork is called A Winters Maiden. As an after thought this is my furry muse RubyLulu