Sources of inspiration
The colour of summer
Hawkes Bay Summer 2
Hawke's Bay Summer
Sometimes the inspiration for my paintings comes from models I have made and photographed in different lighting conditions. Other times I am inspired by places I’ve been, things I’ve seen or how I have felt.
Colour can evoke emotions and memories, and that is what I tried to capture with these paintings.
Family holiday heaven
One of our family's favourite places to go for a summer holiday is Hawke’s Bay, on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand.
We have a favourite holiday house that we rent to get away from it all, on the outskirts of the small town of Havelock North. It's in the middle of fields, beside a river, and within walking and cycling distance of cafes and a great supermarket. There are also wineries nearby too. A perfect balance of town and country!
Long hot summer
Hawke’s Bay has some of the most reliably lovely summer weather and long sunshine hours. The people are friendly and relaxed, and is beautiful (like most of New Zealand!), with big skies.
Our holidays there always involve lots of sun, swimming, beaches, and yummy food.
The summer when I painted these two paintings Hawke’s Bay was having a severe drought - in stark contrast to Wellington, where we live, which was having the coldest, wettest summer in years.
Driving from the lush greens of home to the dry ochres and blue skies of the Hawke’s Bay region was such a vivid (and welcome) contrast.
Colour and shadows representing memories
These two paintings of Hawke's Bay represent my memory of a happy family holiday, in blazing hot sun, in one of my happy places.
Here is a good place to find out more about Hawke’s Bay (known for it's beaches, wineries, cycleways, fresh produce, farmers markets & great weather): https://www.hawkesbaynz.com
This photo is from another year, when it was much greener in Hawke’s Bay. It’s such a beautiful view from the top of TeMata Peak that I just had to add it in here too!
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