Spring and early summer are busy times in New Zealand's  art scene. 
Most of the years exhibitions fall into this time so forward planning is necessary to ensure we have art for each exhibition we have signed up for.
It means less art is produced during this time, but more people get to see what we've been working on.  It is an exciting time!

​You can see my exhibition plan here. 

As a wildlife artist is is also an amazing time to see the critters who are active after their winter quiet.
 
The cicada crawl out of the earth, the frogs produce a raucous night symphony,  the shining cuckoo returns from the Solomon Islands and call for mates, the boy stoats roam the countryside and the grey warbler call returns to serenade my gardening tasks.

The camera is never far from me and many an hour is spent watching the antics of critters getting on with the seasonal tasks of procreation. 

People also emerge at this time of year. We have folk visiting for Art Retreats and Studio Visits. Our Wildside Art Group attendance improves along with the better weather and Hinewai Reserve visitors increase exponentially. 

Despite the numerous tugs on my time, spring and early summer really is a wonderful season!

Although, I do have a few works planned out and ready for those times I can't get photos of the birds and critters I am watching. 
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Sometimes it is a request from one of you that actions a certain bird. 

Currently on the drawing board is a bellbird. I had a message from a woman who likes my style and wondered if I had a bellbird. I replied that it was one I had ​planned out but not started.

Then she told me that the bellbird became special to her during lockdown. There was no traffic noise to overshadow the bellbirds call. She listened and enjoyed them calling near her home. Then we all went back to our busy noisy lives. Now when she hears a bellbird it reminds her to slow down.
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I love this story! So, instead of finishing my yellow-eyed penguin, I reworked the planning of my bellbird and started layering in the details. About half way through, approximately 10 hours work, I was visited by a bumblebee. This bumblebee reminded me that I have not yet found time to draw it by pooping on the bellbird drawing! 

So, back to the start. The good thing about having to restart an artwork is that the little things that were not wrong but could have been better can be made better. 

If you are keen to see my work, I currently have work on display at the Ashburton Art Society 56th Annual Art Exhibition at the Ashburton Art Gallery, and the Feathered Friends Exhibition at Te Huanui Gallery in Darfield (which includes the four miniatures above). 
Prints and cards are available the Artisan Lab in Little River and at Fishermans Bay Garden.
Coming up this month I will be a part of the Uno Sqaure Exhibition at Art on Tyne in Oamaru, The Akaroa Gallery Cash and Carry Exhibition and the Ngaio Marsh Retirement Village Exhibition.
Then in early Dec I will have my prints and cards at the Mandeville Craft Festival in North Canterbury.
​More details are here.