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!

Spring and summer are full of inspiration for a nature artist.

We have abundant bird life around us here on Hinewai Reserve and have been watching Shining Cuckoo calling and flirting, Blackbirds nest building, California Quail corralling their eight chicks each time they see us coming, Brown Creeper fledglings being evicted from the garden shed, Grey Warbler chick being fed...it has been an amazing breeding season for so many birds. 

With all this activity I have spent many hours sitting outside with my camera attempting to capture a posture, look or group that I can use for another artwork. 

I use a Panasonic Point and Shoot camera, but it does have a great zoom and 4K so although my photos won't win competitions, that's not what they are taken for. As long as I can get enough detail  to see the feathers and features I am content.

​All these new images have arrived at the right time as I have been accepted into the Christchurch Art Show in June. I will have to work very hard to have enough work to display. For those who have not seen this show, it is massive! There are many artists and so much to see. Take a look at the short video on the ChCh Art Show homepage: 
 https://www.chchartshow.co.nz/
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The last few months of 2019 were a whirlwind of exhibitions and shows. Thank you to all the people I met: the art purchasers, the art appreciators, the artists, and the art event organisers. It was a blast. Here are a few photos of some exhibitions.

If there is any art here that interests you, feel free to ask about it. 
Some of these photos are original works, some prints.
My prints are available in A4 unframed or framed in two sizes. 

Thanks for following my blog.
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or if you would like me to include anything
different in my blogs

Nga mihi, Tricia
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edIt's been busy times...
Once again the Pegasus Art Show team put on a great weekend show.
I was an Artist in Residence at this show so got to meet so many wonderful folk. 

It is such a treat to be able to spend the whole weekend talking art with such a wide range of people. There are the established artists - all willing to share their knowledge, those like myself who are becoming more established and those starting out. There are the art lovers who spend time appreciating the work of each and every artist, and the art skimmers who stop to enjoy the art that "speaks"to them. There are those who come just to see one artists work and sometimes get sidetracked by another artists work . There are the hidden artists, not yet ready or prepared to claim the title and those that claim they have no artistic talent whatsoever.  

Each person I spoke to was interesting and interested. What a treat!

The Pumanawa Gallery in the Christchurch Arts Centre is worth a visit just to see the gorgeous building, to look up and see the work the Arts Centre has put into earthquake strengthening so we can still use it and of course for the wonderful exhibitions held there.
It is upstairs at the end of a corridor above the Christchurch i-site.
This is definitely worth a visit to see who is exhibiting when you are in the city.

Thanks for following my blog.
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or if you would like me to include anything
different in my blogs

Nga mihi, Tricia

Welcome to Tricia Hewlett Artist's
"Window on the World"

I have been in the "business of art" for a year. To celebrate this milestone, I have set up a new website www.triciahewlettart.nz, linking my felt.co.nz shop for sales and this blog page for information.

If you have a moment, please take a look at my website and feel free to offer any advice or critique you feel would make it a better experience for art appreciators.

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​Thanks for taking the time to check out my new blog.
​Nga Mihi, Tricia