​My studio has been closed all summer. I have missed the wonderful visitors who call in and share a cuppa on the deck. It all started on Dec 15th. 

​Cyclone Ruby stalled over the Eastern Bays of Banks Peninsula. It rained. It rained and it just kept on raining. 
By late afternoon we were flooding. Streams were roaring into torrents and slips were falling. It got worse as the evening came. The water rolled up my 240 square metre vegetable garden, the greenhouses, vegetable cages, garden shed, garden art, the garden edging and all of my beautiful recycled totara post fence. It all disappeared downstream and out to sea. 
We watched the telephone pole and the power pole very gently slide into the torrent and leave our valley. 

​Looking out the kitchen window I could see Fantail Falls valley disintegrate and fall onto the valley floor. Rocks and trees were tumbled in the waves that fell from the valley each time another gully gave way. It was terrifying.
​
We were trapped. Water covered the valley above the house and below the house.  With no power, no phone and no mobile reception we couldn't call for help so we packed ready to evacuate to the chook house with plastic sheets due to the leaking roof, sleeping bags, a cooker, a pot, some teabags and some apples. I put our important things on the top bunk then walked through my studio. I looked around at the art on the walls, the art products on the shelves and the unfinished art on the easel. I turned my back knowing I may not see it again. We stood at the door and watched the water rise ready to escape out the back door if the water got to the doorstep.

As quickly as the water rose, it fell again. It no longer threatened the house. The kakariki aviary was still standing. The metre of water that had be gushing through it dropped down to a few inches and the structure stopped shuddering. The water was still rushing in a 40 metre wide torrent from the hedge in front of the house right across the valley. We were lucky Cyclone Ruby had dropped most of her moisture. She continued to rain through the night and into the next day but the flood was ever so slowly receding.

The next day we surveyed the damage. What a mess!

I'm writing this three months later. Roading crews have been amazing getting us access and they have been out here ever since improving it. As long as it doesn't rain I can now get my little "town" car out. Our road is still closed to non-residents, and we have to allow an extra half hour travel time as the crews move diggers and trucks to let us go by. 
Independent Line Services 'planted' a new pole and got our power up and running in a week. 
It took Spark five weeks to get their service folk to string our phone line along a fence and through some trees so we had communication again. Sadly, it is still in that same state with my partner having to patch it when the neighbour's sheep rub against it breaking the connection.
After two and a half months we got a septic system again. We could wash dishes without having to take the bucket outside to empty and joy of joys, we could flush the loo. 
We got the water running again so we could start cleaning up. There will be ongoing issues and we may need a new supply, but friends have been great at letting us "borrow" water when needed. 
We've had days and weeks of diggers on the property clearing debris and teams clearing fences. There's still more to do, but it is beginning to come together.
Civil Defence turned up seven days after the event, followed by the news media. Since then we have had site visits from insurers, assessors, building inspectors, structural engineers, contractors, Ecan, road crews, Council, Chorus, Downers, electrician, the list feels endless.

​Other visitors have included the wildlife that surrounds us. Despite the pain of losing so many critters, especially in the streams, we still have an abundance of wildlife visitors.

​​We have a long way to go to be past the flood, but some things are wonderful. My partner cleaned out the slosh and slop from the bottom of the kakariki house when the waters went down. He tipped the debris in a washout across the road. A few weeks later tiny sunflower seedlings popped up. Despite them germinating so late in the summer, they all flowered with their bright, sunny, smiley faces and we have been enjoying stepping out the gate - no longer shocked by the devastation but greeted by the bright sunflowers.  

Prior to Cyclone Ruby's disruptive visit, I had been preparing for a busy summer of studio visits. I plan to be open again in the spring and would love you to come out for a Studio Visit and a cuppa on the deck. 

Did you know it costs nothing but a moment of your time to help out a small business? 

As an artist I am aware that many people who see my art will not be in a position to purchase it. 
It may not appeal to them, it may not fit their decor or it may not be within their budget.
And that is okay. 
Many of my friends run a small business.
Although I don't need what they have on offer I still want to support them.

Here are five actions you can take that will cost you nothing yet will support the businesses you like.

#1
Sign up for their email newsletters 
Thank you to all those who have done this for me. 
(Here is my email sign up link: https://www.triciahewlettart.nz/contact.html )

#2
Read the newsletter and if there is anything in it that you think might interest a friend, forward it to them drawing their attention to it.

#3
Like/follow the business on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, LinkedIn or any platform they and you share.

#4
Like, Comment and Share the small business posts on Social Media. 
A like is great, a comment is wonderful, but a share is spectacular when it comes to social media algorithms. It means the platform will automatically share that post with others as well. The more people who see it, the more chance of finding a purchaser. 

​#5
Visit the business website occasionally.
​The more times a website is visited, the more likely it is to be shown in a search engine. And, if you see something on the website a friend might like, forward to it them. 

Will you be visiting Banks Peninsula at Easter? 

If so, plan a trip to the Eastern Bays to visit my studio.
Open from 10 to 4 on Fri, Sat, Sun & Mon.

You will see original artworks, prints, cards,
art mugs, totes and journals.
You can meet our Kakariki,
stroll through 100 Aker Wood to meet Pooh and friends,
have a cuppa on the deck 
and learn more about Hinewai Reserve.

Follow the signs from the scenic route at the Long Bay Road / Summit Road intersection. 
For enquiries pop online here. 

First, let me thank you all for your support, purchases and goodwill throughout the past year. 
I raise my glass to you!

Actually, I don't drink alcohol, so my glass is filled with wonderful fresh water run down from the hills of Hinewai Reserve. 
We have recently had the most refreshing rain. I'm sorry for all those camping over the Christmas holidays. I know rainfalls and tents are not always the greatest friends, hopefully though, you can  appreciate how much the whenua, the flora and the fauna were in need of this liquid blessing.
​Now with some moisture about, we are able to relax and enjoy the abundance of new life in our valley. 

Since my last blog I've not completed many artworks, but I have been spending time out and about, watching the birds and critters, following their antics and learning so much more from them. I've been attending numerous art events. I've had some folk in learning and sharing their art endeavours and I've had so many wonderful visitors to my studio. Long may it continue.

I wish you a healthy and happy 2021, filled with whatever it is that makes your heart sing.

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. 
​
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.
​
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.

I have a raft of art events booked in between now and Xmas all over Canterbury. 

Like everyone else, Covid is impacting what I can and can not do.
These events are on again - off again, postponed and cancelled on an almost weekly basis so I have been hesitating before sending out information on where I am exhibiting.

​Today I decided to send out what I have confirmed at this time.
I'll keep my website up to date so do check out the About Page, scroll down and you'll see a list of the events I am currently booked in for.

If you are out and about over the next few months, you might like to check out some of these art events.

You'll find my work there, alongside other amazing artists, and for some events
I will be there in person as well.

Upcoming Exhibitions

Postponed - New date to be advised
Akaroa Winter Market
Trinity Church, Akaroa

September 18-19, 2020
Mt Pleasant School Art Exhibition
Mt Pleasant Community Centre, ChCh

September 25 to October 29, 2020
Arts Canterbury at Te Huanui Art Gallery
Te Huanui Gallery, Darfield.

October 18, 2020 (12 noon to 4 pm)
Governors Bay Fete
Governors Bay, Banks Peninsula

October 19 to November 13, 2020
Ashburton Society of Arts 56th Annual Exhibition
Ashburton Art Gallery

October 30 to November 26, 2020
Feathered Friends Exhibition
​Te Huanui Art Gallery in Darfield

Opening November 2, 2020
Uno Square - On the Freezer Wall
Art on Tyne, Tyne Street, Oamaru

November 13 to December 20, 2020
Akaroa Gallery Annual Cash and Carry
1 Rue Pompallier, Akaroa

November 20-22, 2020
Forever Art
Ngaio March Retirement Home

November 28-29, 2020
Akaroa House and Garden Tour
Fishermans Bay Garden
Artist in Residence

Sunday 6  Dec, 2020
Mandeville Craft Festival
https://mandevillecraftfestival.co.nz/locate-us/

*****
Other days I'll be back in the studio working towards these events, so feel free to book in a
Studio Visit. Details and contact form can be found here.

I also have work available at...

The Artisan Lab - Little River
Cards and Framed Prints
Akaroa Gallery
Cards
Mr Peacock, Akaroa
Framed prints
Fishermans Bay Garden (from late Sept)
Cards, Prints and Framed Prints

Supporting me while supporting these local businesses is a win:win for us all.

Each year as I grow my art business, I add something new. This year it is Studio Visits. 
The plan is that folk who are looking for something to do on Banks Peninsula
​can make contact and book a visit. 
Visitors get a drive in the country, take a look at my art, meet our resident Kakariki
and join me for a cuppa and chat on the deck.
If you have youngsters, they can seek out Pooh Bear and Tigger in 100 Acre Wood
and then if interested there are choices of walks you can enjoy through Hinewai Reserve,
where you can seek out the wildlife you've seen in the studio.
It's all free
so if you know anyone heading towards Akaroa or Banks Peninsula
​who might be interested, please ask them to get in touch. 

We had an amazing autumn for Fantails - piwakawaka - and even now in the depth of winter they are still flittering about the garden and the studio.
Fantails breed a few times through the summer if the conditions are suitable, so by autumn there are often a number of them flitting about and feeding up before the cold weather hits.
These are very short lived birds and at only 8 grams, many don't survive the cold.
With the last few winters being quite mild, the numbers have built up and we have dozens of them following us around, coming inside to check out the studio
and pooping on my art if I forget to cover it.
I've had to restart one artwork three times now!
You'd think I would have learnt the first time. 

Remember if you are interested in any of my art, have a question or just want to make contact,
you can send a message ...
*post a comment on this blog
​*email at info@triciahewlettart.nz
* my website https://www.triciahewlettart.nz/contact.html
*Facebook https://www.facebook.com/triciahewlettartist
*Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/triciahewlettartist/

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog.
Nga mihi,
Tricia Hewlett

I was accepted into The Christchurch Art Show  and began preparing for this huge event.
Then we had a pandemic.
The result is that The Christchurch Art Show is going online this year.
What a learning curve!
Not only do I need to create, scan, print, frame and prepare my art work,
I also need to photograph it, and create a video of me. 

If you have ever tried to photograph a framed artwork with glass you will know this is not an easy task. I tried different filters, rooms, positions, outside, times of day (and night), lighting and even waited for overcast weather in the hope the clouds would filter the light to avoid the glare
...but all to no avail. 

I did have professional scans of all my artwork prior to framing, and considered using them, but they didn't show the finished product. Then I had a brainwave ... I recreated the frame, matt and image (all to size) in publisher. This required measuring each component of the original artworks. The overall size, the width of the frame, the width of the matt board, top, bottom and sides, and the size of the image. In the end I was happy with the result - and pleased I'd chosen black frames which I was able to recreate. 

So with the photography sorted I then set my mind to the video. Again, not an area I know about. All I knew was I wanted the video to look good as it would be my presence at the show. 

The Christchurch Art Show's point of difference is that they encourage the artists the be there, to manage their own artworks, but more importantly to meet the potential buyers. Online this is being achieved via video introductions and having artists at the end of the telephone throughout the event.

So, the video had to look good. After a few attempts with my point and shot camera I put an SOS out to the team at Happen Films.  They create inspiring films and podcasts about people making a positive difference in the world. Do take a look at Jordan and Antoinette's website   https://happenfilms.com/  They are also the talent behind the Hinewai Film.

Luckily, the country went to level 2 (covid) which meant we could get together. Jordan and Antionette drove out here, recorded, filmed and had a cuppa. The following week Jordan began two weeks in lockdown on his way to see his sick mother in Australia, so had the opportunity to edit my video. 

Thanks to the amazing team at Happen Films I now have a great video introducing me to the online audience of the ChCh Art Show.  You'll need to go to the show June 18-21 to see it.
​

Opening Night tickets for the Christchurch Art Show are available here: 
 https://www.chchartshow.co.nz/opening-night-tickets.html 
Opening Night: Thursday 18th June 2020, 7:30pm. 
This is your first chance to view the art at our exclusive opening night!

Online Show Day Tickets are FREE!!! 
Show days are Friday 19th - Sunday 21st June 2020
To access the free show days a link will be published on 
www.chchartshow.co.nz from Friday June 19th 2020!
Click on the link and it will take you to our online Christchurch Art Show
where so many talented Kiwi's have  produced art of all media and styles for your enjoyment.

I'd love to hear what you think of The "Online" Christchurch Art Show.
You can leave a message on this blog, send a message from the contact page, my facebook page, via instagram or by email: info@triciahewlettart.nz
​

Click on the video to see a Shining Cuckoo Fledgling

Shining Cuckoos have been abundant this summer.
They arrive back in NZ each spring and announce themselves with their distinctive call.
Before long they mate and find a foster nest where they lay their eggs. The foster parents are NZ's second smallest bird, the Grey Warbler / Riroriro. These little birds sit on the eggs, then work tirelessly to feed their huge baby. 
Once fledged and grown, the Shining Cuckoo fly off to the Solomon Islands during February. 
We wait until September to hear them call again.

Here's a shining cuckoo I've been working on...

As many of you will know, my inspiration comes from the critters and wildlife around my home at Hinewai Reserve on Banks Peninsula.
Summer is an amazing time, birds are breeding, lizards are basking and bugs are beetling.

My camera is always handy and here are some of the shots that may end up in drawings...​

Thanks for reading my blog.
If you are keen to follow my Facebook posts you can find them here:
www.facebook.com/triciahewlettartist
Click on page like to keep up to date.

Nga mihi,
Tricia Hewlett